THE C.J.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 911, 22 August 1907, Page 5

THE C.J.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

SECOND AND THIRD DAYS. The prospect of seeing a fine race for the Grand National Hurdles attracted a big crowd to Riccarton on Thursday last. The weather was exceptional for winter, fine though a trifle chilly, as the afternoon wore on. The thousand pound hurdle event was full of interest, but after going a mile and a-half it was apparent that, bar mishap, Shrapnel, who was jumping . beautifully, would win. Nothing had a chance with the Workman gelding in the run home, and he gained the double honour of winning easily, and of establishing a fresh record for the race. The other races provided plenty of excitement, while backers were in a speculative mood. The sum of £20,887 being put through the machine. This represents an increase of £3314 over the amount handled on the same day a year ago. The racing commenced with the Hunt Cup; Mr A. S. Elworthy’s two fine looking hunters, Craigmore and Albury, were considered to have the best chances of winning. Craigmore was in the lead for nearly a mile when he was joined by Sir James, the pair running along in company over the next half-mile, when Sir James drew out, and easily holding the opposition in the straight, came on and won by three lengths from Wahine; Albury finished third, half-a-length behind Wahine. Deerslayer and Posthaste were fourth and fifth; Rosemorn and Stormy Petrel fell. There were ten starters for the Summer Handicap; Ancycle was sent out a strong favourite, but never looked like having a winning chance. Mangrove was first away, but Giovanni and Czar Kolohol soon joined in; with two furlongs gone Steplink had run up into first place and showed the way round the bend with Giovanni, Czar Kolohol and Hinupai following in that order. There was little to choose between the leaders when the straight was reached, but at the distance Fandango, who got badly away, put in his claim, and after a short tussle with Czar Kolohol, beat him by a length and a-half, Outer was close up third, followed by Giovanni and West Wind. The August Handicap attracted fifteen starters, of whom Eons was made favourite, with Helen Portland and Jolly Friar next in demand. Mr Piper effected a good start, all getting away On even terms; Ingleneuk, De Witte, and Waihuku were soon prominent, the first-nained singling herself out at the end of the first furlong, and continuing on in front, Ingleneuk

was well clear of Waihuku, Probable, and Jack Ashore by the time the straight was reached. But at the distance the Stepniak filly fell right back, leaving Probable in charge. Waihuku, Jolly Friar, Jack Ashore, and Eons were all handy, with De Witte coming fast from the rear. A great race home resulted in Probable beating De Witte by a head, with Waihuku half-a-length away third, Jolly Friar fourth, and Jack Ashore fifth. After a short luncheon interval, backers were asked to do business on the Grand National Hurdles. Twenty-two horses figured on the card, Kiatere was withdrawn because of his attention being confined to the Steeplechase; Le Beau was amiss, while Top Rose had broken down on the first day. Lull was installed favourite, Merriwai came a close second, then Shrapnel and Paritutu; the outsiders of the party being Levant, Stronghold, Stayboy, and Cavalry; this quartette having less than one hundred pounds apiece invested on them. It was a fine sight to see nineteen horses come down the straight almost in line. The first hurdle was rapped hard by several horses, the first over was Lull, with Stronghold, Te Uira and Shrapnel almost locked together. Passing the stand, Shrapnel had taken up the running, and at Cutts’ he jumped the hurdle just clear of Te Uira, after whom came Sen Sim, Paritutu, Landlock and Lady Hune, with Idasa and Creusot bringing up the rear. Very little change in positions took place in the next half-mile, Shrapnel being still in the lead at the mile post; while Te Uira and Paritutu were just behind the leader, who began to put on pace go-

ing round the turn. He landed in the straight well clear of Sen Sim, Paritutu, Ability, Leeside, and Te Uira, the others being strung out. Once over the last hurdle, Shrapnel increased his lead and won easily by four lengths from Paritutu, who beat Ability by two lengths; next in order coming Leeside, Southern Cross, Sen Sim, Levant, Merriwai, and Te Uira, the last two to finish being Cavalry and Stronghold. Time 3.44 3-ssecs., which constitutes a world’s record. After the excitement of the National Hurdles had subsided, the Beaufort Steeples occupied attention. The supporters of Kiatere were very strong, and sent him out favourite. When he fell at the sod wall just past Cutts’, there was no end of disappointment. At this stage Irish was just in front of Nadador, after whom came Pipi and Hikaroa. Nadador was first into the straight, jumping the last fence well clear of Irish, and she had no difficulty in beating him in the run home by nearly three lengths; Hikaroa was third, and Pipi fourth. St. Kooringa, and Loch Fyne also fell, and Romany Lad ran off. The Islington Handicap brought out twelve starters, Medallist and Buccleugh going out first and second favourites. The latter with Mataari got- Off the mark sinartly, and with White Cockade were leading at the

entrance to the straight. Soon afterwards Buccleugh drew out, and easily holding his own beat Medallist by two and a-half lengths; Clanchattan was third, then came Mataari and Whakewehi. In the Spreydon Hack Hurdles, Kaipetipeti and Waipu practically had the race to themselves. At the entrance to the straight the former winning comfortably by three lengths, Golden Comb was third, two lengths further away, Royal Shell fourth. A very poor lot faced the starter in the Woolston Plate; Takaro soon got in front, being hard ridden by Derrett throughout, and managed to hold this advantage to the finish, winning by four lengths from Jolly Roger, who was two lengths in front of Strathfillan, third. The third day turned out beautifully fine, the weather being more like that usually experienced in November. Speculation was again brisk, the sum of £19,199 being put through the totalisator, making a total of £61,641 for three days, as against £52,077 last year. There were one or two regrettable incidents in the Ladies’ Bracelet; Merriwai bolted at the start, his rider, A. Fj, Douglas, straining himself so badly in attempting to pull the horse up, that he could not take part in the race. This left only three starters, Lull being opposed by two moderate animals in Last Ensign and Westwind. The latter stumbled after passing the halfmile post and broke his off foreleg, having to be destroyed. Lull won in an easy canter. In the Lincoln Steeplechase, Slow Tom, when appearing to be winning comfortably, broke down at the last fence, and swerving, interfered with Nadador, who was running second. In the run home

Slow Tom just managed to last long enough to win on three legs, by a length from Nadador, who beat Kiatere by two lengths. A protest against Slow Tom for crossing, proved fatal, the stewards upholding it, and awarding the stake to Nadador, Slow Tom being disqualified. Several who saw what took place are strongly of the opinion that Slow Tom was winning easily when he swerved, and that he did not interfere with Nadador sufficiently to alter the result of the race. The stewards, however, are all powerful in matters of this kind, and Slow Tom had to go out. The race provided a pretty exhibition of jumping, Irish, Loch Fyne, and St. Kooringa came down, all the others completing the journey without mishap. Nine saddled up for the Styx Hurdles, Gatch-em being selected favourite, with Kaiapetipeti next. Catch-’em and Kaipetipeti piloted the field along at a solid pace for a mile, when the favourite had had enough. Golden Comb joined Kaipetipeti at the last hurdle, and beat him in the run home by half-a-length; Stronghold was four lengths away third, and Southern Cross fourth. In the Sydenham Hurdiqs the public went strongly for the National winner Shrapnel with Sen Sim next in demand. Aftei*' a good race, Sen Sim, whb was in the

lead practically all the way, beat Shrapnel by three lengths; Ben Jonson, who made a faulty jump at the mile post, being another five lengths away third; with Idhsa and Abilitynext. Landlock, who was With the leaders in the early part of the race, fell at the third hurdle. One of the best betting races at the meeting came next. In the Heathcote Handicap there were eight starters, six of them being well backed. De Witte and Medallist received most support, but neither finished among the first three. Manjess and Mataari came away from the field at the top of the straight, the former gaining an easy win by four lengths from the Saracen gelding, who was two lengths in front of Whakawehi, Probable came next. Another fairly easy victory was gained by Ingleneuk in the Selwyn Handicap. The Benzoin filly hopped away smartly and never being headed, beat Czar Kolohol by three lengths, Clanchattan heading the others, who were strung out at the finish. Neither of the favourites, Grandstand or Eons could get near the leaders at any part of the race. The Final Hurdles produced another spirited betting race, Leeside carrying the most money. Wild Cat cut out the running, and at Cutts she and Southern Gross were out by themselves, fully ten lengths clear of their field. • RuiSung along the back, Levant moved up to Wild Cat at the top turn and was out in front, with Lady Hune making up her ground. Levant easily maintained her advantage in the straight and won by three lengths from Lady Hune, who beat Ability by a length. The racing concluded with the Hunters’ Plate, run over a mile and a-half on the flat. Makuri led for half-a-mile when the field closed up. Canton went to the front at the five furlongs’ post and never being seriously troubled, won by three lengths from Pallada, who was half-a-length in front of Makuri.