BEST STAYER IN N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 266, 9 November 1937, Page 4

BEST STAYER IN N.Z.

SUCCESS OF CERNE ABBAS

CHARACTERISTIC EFFORT

Cerne Abbas graded herself leading stayer in commission in the Dominion at present by her line finishing effort to win the New Zealand Cup, principal event on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Metropolitan meeting on Saturday. This mare occasionally goes a bad race, but her form for some time past has generally been very sound and she earned this year’s Cup honours entirely on her merits, writes "Rangatira” in the Evening Post.

The race was run to suit Cerne Abbas, who was able to take up a place early' in the contest from which she was always within challenging range of the front. When the field had properly sorted itself out after the first half-mile she was in eleventh position, on the fence, and she remained thereabouts till the straight. Once on the home stretch, however, C. Goulsbro’ brought her off the rail, and a sustained run out on the track over the last furlong and a half saw her catching Wild Chase in the last 50 yards and going on to win by half a length.

It was an effort characteristic of a true stayer. Cerne Abbas was the favourite, but not a great deal better backed than Queen of Song, Small Boy, and Sunee, and so she was at an excellent win price. Her performance justified the high opinion that has recently been formed about her. As her breeding and performances have so lately been reviewed, it is unnecessary to deal ydth them again, except to note that with this victory she has brought her record to seven wins and nine minnor placings in forty starts for £3463 in stakes, an excellent return for the 240 guineas Mr. C. N. Draper, of Dunedin, paid for her at the yearling sales. Cerne Abbas is the fifth mare in the last six years to win the New Zealand Cup, a unique achievement for the sex, which in other times has been successful in the Dominion premier two-miler only at random intervals. Paper Money Stayers. A feature of the race was the filling of the minor places by the two progeny of Paper Money «in the field, Wild Chase and Silver Streak. Only once before, by Overdrawn, has a Paper Money horse been placed in the Cup. One must hesitate in future to condemn the Paper Moneys when the quistion is about possible stamina. Wild Chase was ridden a near perfect race by L. J. Ellis. The first to show out, he allowed Boomerang and then Tauramai to head him off before the first half-mile; but the only other horse after that who ever passed him in the running (excepting the winner at the close) was Cottingham. He was fourth in behind these horses in reaching the straight, and as the leaders began to tire Ellis let him gradually assume charge. Nearing the distance Ellis finally called on him to go in earnest for the judge, which he was still capable of essaying, but when Cerne Abbas swept down on him he was just able to frustrate the danger and went under in the last 50 yards. Ellis narrowly failed to win three New Zealand Cups in sequence. He still has a chance to record the treble in the Auckland Cup. Silver Streak surprised by the dash with which he finished. He was seven or eight places back most of the way, but he was able to come through with a challenge in the later stages and thus secure the other dividend place a couple of lengths behind Wild Chase. Friesland's Fourth. Friesland, who finished fourth, was just in front of Cerne Abbas from the start, but whereas the mare moved out for room when challenging he threaded a passage through the tiring leaders. On this showing there is reason to believe he will later win over longer distances, for he at least demonstrated that he is not lacking in stamina. Queen of Song was best of the remainder, but as she was ahead of Friesland and Cerne Abbas to the straight she had every reasonable chance had she been good enough. Linguist, who followed Wild Chase to the straight, hung on to be sixth; and Trebleack, really the only horse to make a pronounced forward move al any stage of the running, was seventh. Argentic and Sunee passed beaten horses, but both were disappointing. Sunee was at the rear with Small Boy almost all the trip and was still there on reaching the straight. Boomerang probably settled his chance by electing to take up the role of pacemaker. As such he went a splendid race. Tauramai tried for a mile to oust him from the lead, but he slipped away a length clear at the half-mile and was still going along well racing to the straight. Once on the home stretch, however, he began to feel the effects of the pressure from behind, and below the false rail he had to retire from the struggle. Tauramai was beaten earlier and Cottingham at about the same time. A disappointment was Rebel Lad, who was handily placed for half the journey and then faded, finishing last. Hazoor made only a brief effort along the back. Lowenberg was never at any stage in the visible picture. A furlong from the post Might, who had been going a fair race, fell, and Small Boy toppled over him. Small Boy’s rider, H. N. Wiggins, suffered from shock, but otherwise all parties escaped injury. Neither horse would have finished near the money. Small Boy was always well back near the rear. Except for this incident the contest was free of trouble or interference, the only time there was any shifting about being a few moments as the leaders were tiring shortly after entering the straight. RACES AT FLEMINGTON THE WINNING OWNERS THE TRUMP EARNS MOST. MELBOURNE. Nov. 8. Mr. E. Eccles heads the list of winning owners at the Victorian Racing Club’s meeting. His cheque amounted to £7760, all with the exception of £6O, won by The Trump. Mr. E. E. Clarke is second with £3250 won by Hua in the Derby; Mr. C. Hambly third with £2250 netted by Mohican’s two wins, and Mr. I. L. Coop was fourth and received £2177 for three minor placings by Willie ' Win.