BIRKBECKS STEEPLECHASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 115, 18 May 1931, Page 4

BIRKBECKS STEEPLECHASE

BLACK DUKE WINS CONNOLLY

WANGANUI MEETING CONCLUDES

(By ‘

“KESTREL")

Willi a better attendance than was the ease on Thursday, the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter met ting' was concluded under most favourable conditions, the weather being perfect and the track conditions splendid. The racing was of an interesting nature, and the Wanganui Steeplechase, contested by a field of ten, saw six complete the course, the winner turning up in the favourite, Birkbeck. who last week won the Egmont Steeplechase. The consistent Black Duke won the Connolly Handicap, and the open sprint was won by Richfield, who had won the Empire Handicap on Thursday. Taken altogether it was a successful meeting considering the times, and the result should at least be satisfactory.

A pleasing feature of the afteroou'. ; racing was the entire absence of any serious accident in spite of a couple of falls in the big steeplechase. Flying Swift came to grief after going a mile and a-half, his rider. A. McGregor, suffering bruises and shock. Call Again collided with the riderless horse and had to be pulled up. Then Disrank fell at the last obstacle and his rider, A. Jenkins, was sent for what looked like a nasty roll but did not suffer injury. In the first race, the May Hurdles, The Warden lost his rider at the first hurdle, but the horse did not come down. There was a fall in the Farewell Handicap, Royal Songster getting on the heels of Inevitable as the field swung round the turn for home, but his rider, R. McTavish, was not hurt. At a subsequent inquiry it was decided that, as the oeurrence was entirely accidental, no blame could be attached to anyone. In the Wanganui Steeplechase Aurora. Borealis was pulled up after jumping the fence near the four-furlong post. She was walked back to the saddling paddock and appeared to favour her near foreleg a little. The trouble appeared to be in the shoulder and it was later announcing that she would not race again this season. A considerable amount of interest was attached to Hector Gray's attempt to reach his ‘‘century,for prior tn the commencement of the day’s racing he had to his credit a total of 98 winners during the pre-sent racing season. His first mount, installed favourite, Banbridge, whom he steered to victory, a head to the good, and thus his tally stood at 99. The next race saw him astride Grand Jury, but third was the best he could do. Paitonu. Manifesto and Aston were ridden by Gray in the last three events on the programme and each of them was the first choice of backers, hut none managed to gain a placing. Thus the position is that Gray is set to register his hundredth winning ride of the season the next time he is on a winner. Tn spite of the fact that the six t-> finish in the Wanganui Steeplechase were strung out at intervals when the post was reached, it was a satisfactory race and was won by a very consistent sort of ’chaser. Birkbeck won the Egmont Steeplechase at Hawera last week, and as that race was run over the same distance as the Wanganui Steeplechase and the winner cut a considerable number of seconds off the time recorded, it looks as if Birkbeck is going to prove on of the ’chasing finds of the season. Omeo was apparently expected to run a better race than he did in the Grandstand Steeplechase, judging by the tao tics adopted, and he was kept nearer the leaders than was the case on Thursday. The result was that he was in the firing-line at the finish, but no struck a better one at the weights. Nukumai ran a sterling race and was finishing on. Copey also ran quite a good ,iace. High Heather, running in the colours of his new owner, Mr F. E. Eastoi, again showed extravagant action at some of his fences and it was this, coupled with the effort*, of his rider to restrain him instead of letting him run at his fences, that brought about his defeat. He is too free a goer to run otherwise than tn front of his field. Kaokaoroa ran a fair race. Flying Swift did not appear to have much chance when he fell, nor did Call Again when he collided with Flying Swift. Disrank might have got a place but for falling at the hencoop, the last obstacle to be jumped. Aurora Borealis was well up with her field a mile from home but had no chance when she was pulled up. The other jumping event, the May Hurdles, saw Zippor score an easy win, making his third successive victory in a little over a week. He led all the way and gave an impressive display of hurdling, though he chanced a couple of the obstacles. Perle de Leon improved nn his first day’s display to beat all but the winner, and Carinthia was kept closer up than on Thursday, securing third money in a good finish. Callamart was another that did well, but the well-backed Easterly was a great disappointment. The Warden jolted his rider out of the saddle. The Connolly Handicap race was mark'd by a considerable amount of bumping, but Black Duke showed his class by standing all the knocks and winning convincingly. Cashier ran a much improved race compared with his showing on Thursday ami appeared to surprise even his connections, judging by the price he paid for second. Malayan was in the leading division throughout and just failed over the concluding stages. Shrewd and Chopin ran good races but Paitonu, who went down very sore, was a great disappointment. The open sprint saw Richfield, winner of the Empire Handicap on Thursday. filling another winning role. Well hack on the turn for home, he ran round his field at the distance and there was nothing in it with the Acre gelding a' the finish. Chief Link ran one of his best races to date to get second money, while Ridgmount was handy at the finish after being in the leading division all the way. Gold Dawn appears dm> for a win soon, but Aston was very disappointing. Knollmere went under to Pcwa in th** Gonville Hack Handicap because he was made to carry his weight all the wav. Pewa won strictly on his merits but Grand Jury, badly placed two fur longs from home, was catching Knoll mere at every stride. Joyspear, Aus tioneer and Spearform ran fair races but were outclassed. In a weak field fnr the Trial Hack Handicap the favourite. Banbridge, well handled by Gray, scored nicely from Royal Bengal, though the margin in his favour was only a narrow one. Taka-

Pakitere when she won the Purua Hack ! Handicap in a tight finish with Chief Savage. Pakitere paid a fine dividend, i while Chief Savage’s supporters would [have shared a price of close on a score [had he won. The well-backed OrbyV Choice got away badly, “floated” for a couple of furlongs, and finally could only finish fifth. The favourite, Manifesto, has been bettor handled. Totalisator investments during the day reached a total of £13,551 10s compared with £23,524 on the corresponding day of the .1930 meeting. The total for the two days was £24,678, as compared with £46,090 last year. Zippor’s Third on End. Seven started in the May Hurdles and Zippor was installed favourite at a short price, with Easterly (£324) and Perle de Leon (£228) the only others backed. Zippor went to the front and led over the first hurdle, being clear of Callamart, Carinthia and The Warden. but the last-named lost his rider here. Past the stands Zippor was ten lengths in front of Carinthia and Callamart, with Perle de Leon handy and Easterly tailed off. Running into the back stretch Zippor was two lengthahead of Callamart, Perle de Leon am’ Carinthia, followed by Royal Acre, but Perdle de ran up to the leader or the turn for home, where Carinthia and Callamart were also in close attendance In the run to the judge Zippor held off Perle do Leon's challenge and held his own to win comfortably by a length Carinthia was a neck behind Perle do Leon and then came Callamart, with a gap back to Royal Acre.

Favourite Comes Home Again Banbridgo (£446) and Takahue (£418) carried more than half the investments in the Trial Hack Handicap. When the barrier went up Royal Bengal went out in the lead, followed by Valma, Takahue, Manuiri and Landmark, and this order was maintained down the back and across the top. Royal Bengal, Valma and Banbridge came round the turn together, with Takahue and Manuiri behind them. Once they straightened up .Banbridge range.] (alongside Royal Bengal and beat him home by a head. Takahue was a length and a-half away, followed by Landmark and Manuiri. Pewa Beats Knollmere. Knollmcre (£653) was a very hot favourite for the Gonville Hack Handicap, more than twice as well backed as Grand Jury (£299) and Pewa (£241). and the trio filled the places, though not in that order. Knollmere went to the front when the tapes went up and was followed up and out of the straight by Pewa, Joyspear and Grand Jury, with a gap back to Malahat, Spearform and Auctioneer. Pewa followed Knoll mere into the back stretch and the only change was that Auctioneer moved up ahead of Grand Jury. Half a mile from home Knollmcre was just in front of Pewa, Joyspear, Auctioneer and Grand Jury, with Malahat next, but Pewa was right up with the favourite on the home turn, followed by Malahat, Aurtionecr. Joyspear, Spearform and Grand Jury. The last-named got a run on the rails at the distance but had to come on the outside of Pewa and Knollmere. and at the post he was still threequarters of a length away in third place, Pewa beating Knollmere by half a length for first place. Then in a line after a gap of a couple of lengths camo Joyspear, Auctioneer and Spearform, with Miss Hastings next. Birkbeck ’ s Steeplechase. Fine Acre was the only defection when the Wanganui Steeplechase field paraded, leaving ten contestants, and Birkbeck (£361) was preferred to High Heather (£329), with Omeo (£324) only a little less in favour. High Heather again went out in front, showing the way over the first fence to Disrank (who jumped badly), Birkbeck, Call Again. Kaokaoroa and Nukumai. Passing the stands the first time High Heather was well dear of Kaokaoroa, Disrank. Birk beck. Nukumai. Omeo and Copey, and but for Kaokaoroa dropping back there was little alteration until they had done more than H circuit. Then'Birk beck ran up to the loader and was actually in front when they jumped the double again. Disrank, Omeo. Nukumai, Kaokaoroa and Aurora Borealis were next, while Flying Swift foil at the fence a furlong further on and interfered with ( all Again, who was pulled up. Thus they raced down the back stretch, where Omeo and Nukumai closed on High Heather and Disrank, the quartet being just behind Birkbeck. The favourite and Omeo raced for the last obstacle together, followed by Nukumai. Disrank, High Heather and Copey, Aurora Borealis having been pulled up three furlongs from home. Disrank came to grief at the last hurdle. Over the final stages Birk beck was doing it. well to beat Omeo by two lengths, with Nukumai three lengths further back. After a gap of five lengths came Copey. and High Heather and Kaokaoroa followed at interBlack Duke Gets Home. The ten carded for the Connolly Handicap paraded, ami barkers went for Paitonu (£585), though 'here was a lot of money for Black Duke (£465), with Cashier (£10(5) rather neglected at a double-figure price. Paitonu and Pahu were slow to move out, and Panther and Malayan led Cashier. Mouton Treasury and Black Djuke out from the tapes, the first-named pair being four lengths ahead as they raced past the stands, where Moutoa Treasury, Black Duke. Cashier, Shrewd and Calamine were

of the picture half a mile from home and Malayan, Calamine, Cashier and Black Duke were the leaders at this stage. Calamine and Malayan led round the turn from Black Duke, Cashier, Shrewd, Paitonu and Chopin, but once the judge was in sight Black Vukasserted himself and held off Cashier to win by threequarters of a length, with Malayan two lengths back, third, just in front of Shrewd. Chopin was fifth and Palin. Calamine and Moutoa Treasury followed in that order. Pakitere’s Good Price. Manifesto (£5(50) carried a good deal more than Golden Shadow (£342) in the Purua Hack Handicap, with Pakitcre (£158) at a good price and Chief Savage (£76) at long otitis. Nightspeaker. Leisure, Manifesto. Chief Savage, Pakitere and Golden Shadow was the order out from the tapes but Manifesto soon I showed out and led past the half-mile from Leisure. Night speaker and Chief Savage, with Pakitere in the next bunch. Nightspeaker and Chief Savage were the first into the straight from Pakitere, Manifesto. Leisure. Golden i Shadow and Nimble, but Pakitere p»r. I in a claim at the. distance and beat I Chief Savage by a head. Two length.-| away was Night speaker, closely followed by Golden Shadow, and then came Orby's Choice, Nimble, Seneschal an I Manifesto. Richfield Wins Again. Strong support for Aston (£822) an 1 Inevitable (£551) enabled Richfield (£314) to return a good price in the Farewell Handicap, on which there was a. good pool. When the barrier went up Ridgmount. Inevitable, Tea Queen, Aston and Chief Link showed out, but before they had gone two furlongs Aston was in front and was followed by Ridgemount, Tea Queen. Inevitable, Chief Link, Gold Dawn and Richfield. Across the top and into the straight Aston and Ridgmount were weil clear of Gold Dawn, Inevitable, Chief Link. Tea Queen and Richfield, but the lastnamed came round his field with great, ease and ran home an easy winner, two lengths in front of Chief Link. Hail a length back was Ridgemount, with Gold Dawn, Aston. Reremoana and Tea Queen next. Royal Songster got on the heels of Inevitable two furlongs from home and fell. DETAILS OF RESULTS. MAY HURDLES. (Of £150; one mile five furlongs). 1— Zippor (Mr W. Henderson) aged, by King John—Landrail, 11.3, M. Natta 1 3_Perle de Leon, 9.13, D. O’Connor 2 7 Carinthia, 11.13, F. Thomson .. 3 (Winner trained by J. Griffiths, Hastings). Also:— s_Callamart, 9.7. A. Campbell .... -I 4—Royal Acre, 11.0, H. Dulicu .. 5 2 Easterly, 10.9, K. Robinson .... 6 6—The Warden, 9.0, F. Foster (lost rider) 11 Zippor won easily by a length, with the third horse a neck away. Time 2min. 58 2-ssec. TRIAL HACK HANDICAP. (Of £100; 7*4 furlongs). 1— Banbridge (Mr S. Campbell) b.g. 4 yrs., by Tonbridge—Cushla, 8.7, H. Gray 4 Royal Bengal, 8.6. J. Barry .... 2 2 Takahue. 9.0, L. G. Morris .... (Winner trained by J. Fryer, Hawera) Also:— 3 Landmark. 5.12, 11. Goldfinch. .. 4 5 Manuiri, 8.6, B. H. Morris .. 5 (j—Valma, 8.2, L. Dulicu 6 Won by a head, third horse a length and a-half away. Time Imin. 32 l-ssec. GONVILLE HACK HANDICAP. (Of £120; one mile and a distance). 3 Pewa (Mr F. Ormond) b.g., 3 yrs. by Arausio —Parearau 9.2 A. E. Ellis 1 1— Knollmere, 9.10, L. G. Morris .. - 2 Grand Jury, 9.2, H. Gray • • • • • • (Winner trained by W. McKinnon, Green meadows). Also: 4 Joyspear, B.G, T. Green 4 8 — Auctioneer, 7.12, J. Barry .... o 6 Spearform, 8.0, W. Broughton .. 6 7 Miss Hastings, 7.10. A. Dick .. s_Malahat, 8.1, R. McTavish .... 8 Won by half a length, with Grand Jury threequarters of a length away. Timo Imin. 56 3-ssec. WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE. (Of £250; about 2% miles). 1— BIRKBECK (Mr R. J. McDonald) br. g., aged, b;, Birkdale— Fotheringay, 10.2, A. McDonald I 3 OMEO (Mr A. Lite) b.g., aged by Quarantine —Munitioness, 10.11, L. Jarvis - 4 NUKUMAI (Mr S. G. Davidson), b.g., aged, by Manchineel— St. Clements mare, 10.6, K. Robinson ’’ (Winner trained by Mrs A. McDonald, A wapuni). Also:— 5 Copey, 9.5, I. Tucker 4 2 High Heather, 9.8, L. Dulieu .. 5 10—Kaokaroa, 9.0, A. Griffiths .... 6 6 Aurora Borealis, 12.0. H. Dulicu. pulled up 7 Flying Swift, 10.2, A McGregor, fell 0 8 — Disrank, 9.8. A. Jenkins, fell .. 9 Call Again, 9.5, M. Michcn, pulled up Won by two lengths, with Nukumai three lengths back. Timo smin. 2-sscc*. CONNOLLY HANDICAP. (Of £2OO ; one mile and a-quartcr). 2 BLACK DUKE (Mr D. P. Wilson), blk. g., aged, by Balboa— Inatra, A. E. Didham 1 6 CASHIER (Mr T. A. Duncan) b.g., 5 yrs., by Paper Money—lsabel, 7.7. C. Brodie 2 S—MALAYAN (Mr B. IL Edkins) b.h„ 4 yrs., by ('lain—-Malay, 7.5, J. Gunn 3 (Winner trained by owner, Wingatui). Also:— 7 Shrewd, 7.0. W. McDowell .... -I 5 Chopin, 7.10, IL Stocking .... 5 3 I’aliu. 7.9, K. Voitre 6 4 Calamine, 7.4, J. M. Fine .... 7 9 Moutoa Treasury, 7.10, S. Wilson S 10— Panther, 8.2, L. Dulicu 9 1 — Paitonu, 8.10, H. Gray .10 Black Duke won by Ihreequartcrs of :i length, with two lengths between second and third. Time 2min. 7 1 ssoc. I’UHUA HACK HANDICAP. <Of £120; six furlongs). 7 Pakitere (Mr F. Ormond i b.f., by Arausio—To Aupaki, 8.11, A. E. Ellis 1 9 Chief Savage, 7.2, W. Broughton 2 6 Nightspeaker, 7.4 A, K. Voitre .. 3 (Winner trained by W. McKinnon, Greenmeadows). Also:— 2 Golden Shadow, 7.13. .1. McDowell 4 3 Orby’s Choice, 9 0, R. Reed .. 5 10 — Nimble. 7.0, 11. Stockley .... <• 5 Seneschal, 7.1 A. C. Brodie .. .. 7 .1 Manifesto. 8.10, H. (-ray S

s—Leisure,5 —Leisure, 8.13, B. 11. Morris .... I 4—Zarcne, 8.5, T. Green 10 Won by n head, with the third I two lengths away. Time Imin. 14 4-5 FA REW ELL HAN DICAP. , (Of £150; six furlongs). 3—RICHFIELD (Mr W. Paterson) br.g.. 6 vrs., bv Acre —Pergola, 8.8, B. IL* Morris .. I j L—CHIEF LINK (Mr A. Alexander), 7.4, K. Voitre - 5 RIDGEMOL’NT (Mr R. Johnson) 8.3, R. Reed 3 1 Also:—• ' B—Gold8 —Gold Dawn, 7.2. J. M. Pine .... 1 1 — Aston. 8.11. 11. Gray 5 • 9 —Reremoana, 8.3, I. Barry .. .. 6 7—Tea Queen, 7.2. J. Gunn 7 2 Inevitable, 8.1. G. Humphrey .. S 10—Cuticle. 7.0, W. J. McDowell .. 9 6 Royal Songster, 7.9 A, R. Mc- ' Tavish. fell 0 Richfield won by two lengths, with the third horse half a length back. Time Imin. 13 4-ssec. RACING IN AUSTRALIA FIXTURE AT RANDWICK STATELY’S NARROW WIN Received May 17, 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, May 16. Tattcrsall's Club held a meeting at Randwick to-day in line weather. Tattersall's Stakes resulted: —Stately 5.6 (Pratt) .1, Sarchion J.2 (Davidson) 2, Lady Doris 7.9 (Ross) 3. Fifteen started. It was a great finish, the former New Zealander winning by a long head, with four lengths between second and third. Time 2.6. AT MOONEE VALLEY CATKIN WINS HURDLE RACE Received May 17, 5.5 p.m. MELBOURNE, May 17. Races were held at Moonee Valley yesterday. The ex-New Zealand horse Catkin won the hurdle race, as follows: Banya Hurdle.—Catkin 10.5 (Wise) 1, Arcadius 10.3 (Winksf 2, Kendler 10.10 (Inkson) 3. Twelve started. Neck; two lengths. Time 3.474. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION PHAR LAP’S RECOVERY MELBOURNE, Alay 16. Phar Lap has mad? a splendid recovery from kidney trouble contracted during the autumn carnival. Ho will be put into training at the end of the month. KENTUCKY DERBY TWENTY GRAND'S VICTORY NEW TRACK RECORD SET, Received May 17, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, May 16. At Louisville the Kentucky Derby was won by the threc-ycar-old colt Twenty Grand, belonging to Mrs Payne Whitney. The colt established a new record for the track, running the mile and a-quarter in 2min. 1 4-ssec. The prize was 50,000 dollars. This is America’s premier race. THE TE KUITI MEETING REHANDICAPS DECLARED The handicapper, Mr W. P. Russell, has issued the following rehandicap;-. for the opening day of the To Kuiti Racing Club’s meeting, the original imposts being given in parentheses:— Kopaki Hurdles.—Mountain Heath 10.4 (9.11). President’s Handicap.— Black Duke 9.10 (9.6). King Country Steeplechase.— Mate 10.5 (10.2). FROM KOATANUI STUD CLASSIC WINNERS SIRED LIMOND’S PROGENY LEAD With quite a numocr of visiting sportsmen in Wanganui for the races, it is timely to recall the part that Wanganui has played in lhe direction of breeding winners in New Zealand and Australia, and at the same time refer to the wonderful run of successes that stands to the credit of one of the Koatanui sires, Limond. The outstanding feature of the 193031 racing season is the number of victories in classic events registered by the progeny of Limond, who was imported to New Zealand about cloven years ago by Mr G. M. Currie, of the Koatanui stud. Since last August Limond progeny have won quite classic races —seven in New Zealand and two in Australia. The list of winners is made up as follows: — New Zealand Wanganui Guineas. —Cylinder, by Limond. Avondale Guineas. —Cylinder, by Liniond. Great Northern Guineas. —Karapoti, by General Latour. Hawke’s Bay Guineas. —Lady Pam, by Limond. Dunedin Guineas.—Gustavo, by *Solf erino. New Zealand Derby.—Cylinder, by Limond. New Zealand Oaks.— Praise, by Limond. Great Northern Derby--Karapoti, by General Latour. ' New Zealand ISt. Leger. Lady Pam. by Limond. Great Northern Oaks. - Lady Pam, by Limond. Great Northern SI. Leger.—Karapoti. General Latour. Australia Adelaide Guineas.—Aximus, by Lauius. Rosehill Guineas.—Balloon King, by Air Balloon. Port Adelaide Guineas. —Baccho Sakao, by Eastern Monarch. Australian Jockey Club's lilerby. - T reg ilia, l»y Treclnru.

Caulfield Guineas.— Green Wave, by G roenst cad. Queensland Guineas.—-Irish Smile, by Eudorus. South Australian Derby. Indunn, by A malli. Victoria Derby.— Balloon King, by Air Balloon. Victoria Oaks.—Barbette, by Top Gallant. West Australian Derby.—Braun illy, by Beau Fils. V.R.C. St. Leger. —Veilmond, by Limond. A.J.C. St. Leger.- Veilmond, by Limond. West Australian St. Leger. Wood Arab, by Backw I.