South Riding Takes Hurdles Honours; Brookby Song Repeats In Steeples

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 June 1948, Page 3

South Riding Takes Hurdles Honours; Brookby Song Repeats In Steeples

(Special) ' AUCKLAND, June 8 Features of the first two days of the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting were the success of the maiden hurdler South Riding in the Great Northern Hurdles after breaking down when he jumped the last hurdle, and the effortless win of Brookby Song in the Great Northern Steeplechase, an event in which he triumphed

la .st year. These were outstanding features and the rich stakes for the two jumping events made them the most important of their nature in the winter racing campaign. But another feature on Saturday was the feat of the Morrinsville stable of Messrs. D and R. Douglas in carrying oft the two divisions of the Cornwall Handicap, the first with Valley Boy, who had also won a division last year, and the second with Lyn Vaals.

Taking the lead entering the straight and having an advantage of just under two lengths ovtr Corineus when he reached the final hurdle, South Riding registered his first success over the battens when he won the Great Northern Hurdles on Saturday after a terrific duel over the last furlong with the favourite. The photo-chart showed that he had won by a nose only, but South Riding was gallant in victory, for his rider said that his mount broke down on landing over the final obstacle. After i that Corineus drew level with him, 1 but the Bulandshar-Artless gelding just managed to get a shade the advantage in the final stride. It was a fitting finale to a grand race, and backers of South Riding collected a solid double-figure dividend. South Riding was always about the middle of the field until maKing for the home turn, where he ran up to the pacemaker. The latter revealed that he is the possessor of pace and he has the natural aptitude for jumping of Hunting Song’s progeny. He was not beaten until more than two miles had been covered and if he has suffered no ill effects more should be | heard of him. Corineus, bracketed with Bright I Fox, disputed favouritism with 800- j lamskee in an aggregate pool of I £41,480, and he ' was always fairly ; handy. Actually, he received a bet- 1 ter run than his conqueror, for he ' was on the rails most of the way. « When Victory Song went away into an early lead he led a bunched field round the first bend out of the straight, tailing thexfield at this juncture being Ernada, Good Armour, Red Glare and Hippodrome, with Race Chum last. Boolamskee was quickly into a good position and he maintained it passing the post the second time, where he was trailing Victory Song (several lengths clear), Montello d’Oro and Hunting Mac;. Following them were Foxstar. Brookby Song, Red Glare South Riding, Ernada and Corineus, not a great deal separating this group. The rest of the story has been told. Boolamskee began to lose ground at the five furlongs. Into the straight South Riding piloted Victory Song, Corineus, with Ernada and Boolamskee following at short intervals. The winner s stablemate, Ernada, ran on trongly for a modest third, five lengths from South Riding, and Good Armour, Boolamskee, Victory Song and Hippodrome were next to arrive at intervals. Bright Fox was a bad last. The race was remarkably free from mishaps, Miss Contact and Vassilikos being the only casualties until Montello d’Oro, always prominent, fell at the penultimate hurdle. Good Armour’s effort was a good one. Boolamskee and Victory Song should improve. CORNWALL DIVISIONS Val.ey Boy ran down his field in the final stages of the first division of the Cornwall Handicap. With his coupled stablemate Lyn Vaals outstaying the second division, the dividend each way was unusually good. In the first division Prince Chat tried to win all the way and he neariy brought it off, but at the finish he could only just hold off Double Chance for second. Black Ace and Sylis were close up. Carrying half a stone overweight, Lyn Vaals registered a fine performance to win the second division, for she was off the course most of the way and then won well from the fastfinishing Honora and Earldale, with Citation and Conspiracy next. Citation is a likely improver. From an outside post position in the Members’ Handicap General Victory did not take long to get to the front and he showed the way to the turn, but he was a beaten horse at the• (’.stance. Ascot Lad, fairly handy througnout, was too good for the fastfinishing Rosslare (at double figures, this one), Bridge Watcher and Super Vaals. The last-named is an early prospect. Brown Derby was not sighted after starting from Number 24. G.N. STEEPLECHASE Again displaying a marked partiality for the Ellers ie course, Brookby Song took charge with over two and a-half miles of lhe Great Northern Steeplechase still to be covered, and, fencing brilliantly throughout, he was never in danger of being caught on the last circuit. It was his second win of the event in successive years, he having scored under 11.9 last June. It was a splendid display, and Brookby Song was cheered to the echo from the time he landed safely over the final brush hurdle until he returned to the enclosure. It was Surpeen who made the running in the early part, the topweight joining him at the water jump, where Golden Reign; Dualin, Abbey Lu and Sir Waimai were handy. Setting out on the second lap Brookby Song had drawn away from his opponents and, taking the double opposite the stands, he was about a dozen lengths clear of Go’den Reign (who fell at the next fence, the sod wall). Abbey Lu, Aharis and Sir Waimai, who were still in the running, with the favourite. Good Armout, and Town Survey commencing to r*ove forward from the rear Going up rne hill the third time the leader was ten lengths to the good from Sir Waimai and Abbey Lu, with a gap to Town Survey and another interval to Good Armour. From this point it was only a question of Brookby Song standing up, and he came home to score very comfortably. Town Survey finished strongly into