CANTERBURY J.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1015, 19 August 1909, Page 5

CANTERBURY J.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SECOND DAY. Although a cold north-east wind blew across the course, the climatic conditions were very favourable for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National Hurdle Day. There was again a large attendance, and speculation was very brisk, the slim of £19,848 passing through the totalisator as against £19,239 on the same

BY

day last year. In addition to this big turnover, 60 bookmakers’ fees enriched the club to the extent of £790. The course was again in excellent order, as evidenced by the fast time?, put up n the August and Islington Handicaps. The Grand National Hurdle Race furnished an exc’ting contest up to the distance, but after this stage Compass came away with a fine run and finished up a winner by two lengths from Pikopo. A PROMISING HUNTER. Racing commenced with the Hunt Club Cup. There were ten starters, Lovell being at once selected favourite. The race is easily described. Lovell made the pace a cracker from the start and at one stage of the journey he was leading his field by a dozen lengths. At the mile post Glengariff got on terras with the leader, but he came a cropper at the sod wall where Matengatenga also came down. Lovell was out by himself when the straight was reached, and he won very easily by four lengths from Deer-

slayer, who was five lengths in front of Stormy Petrel.

FAVOURITES PROMINENT. The Summer Handicap also brought out ten starters, Wet Day and Whistlecraft carrying most money. The public were right in their selections. Whistlecraft, after being in a handy position from the start, came right away from below the distance, and beat Wet Day by three lengths, Merry Lass being a similar distance away third just in front of Continuance. AN EXCITING FINISH. The August Handicap furnished the most exciting contest of the day, and also provided the most spirited betting race. Penates, Mundic, Los Angelos, Inez, Rock Ferry and Claymore were all backed heavily by their stable connections. Mundic got away very badly, while Inez moved off very smartly, closely followed by Bonny Glen and Silkweb as they swept round the top turn. Penates and Los Angeles joined the leading division half-

“SOLUTION.”

way down the straight, and at the distance Los Angelos got on even terms with Inez- Then ensued a splendid finish, Los Angelos winning in great style by half a head. Bonny Glen was a neck away third, followed closely by Penates, Mundic and Volodia. COMPASS WINS THE NATIONAL HURDLES. Then came the great race of the day, the National Hurdles. Fifteen horses figured on the card, but Rendrock failed to face the starter. Auratus was sent out favourite, while Compass, Tau'ra and Ben Jonson came next in the betting. Mr. Piper got his field away on even terms, and at the first hurdle Pukehui led Auratus md Truira. As they passed the stand, Auratus went to the front, followed by Pukenui, Tauira, Pikopo and Ben Jensen. Going down the back, Auratus was still in front, with Ben Jonson, Compass and P kopo next. Rounding the turn Ben Jonson led, Auratus and Pikopo making a forward move. Pikopo looked all over a win-

ner at the last hurdle, but Compass caught him in the last hundred yards, and won by two lengths. Ben Jonson was a length and a-half behind Pikopo, then came Auratus, Scotty, Tauira, Southern Cross and Lionheart. THE BEAUFORT STEEPLECHASE. With the excitement of the hurdle race over, several horses that competed in the Grand National Steeplechase came out to fight their battles over again in the Beaufort Steeplechase Handicap. Seven horses started, but only four completed the course, Eurus unseating his rider at the sod wall, and Mocassin and Moosken also came down. Eldorado, who started favourite, practically led throughout, and after giving a fine exhibition of jumping, he ran home an easy winner, three lengths in front of Capitol, who beat the plodding Wanganui by five lengths, with Diplomatic four lengths further back fourth. A FAVOURITE FAILS BADLY. Seven horses saddled up for the Spreydon Hack Hurdles, Kelso being

backed down to a very short price. In the early* stages of the race Slaney, Claremont and Lapland showed up prominently, but at the mile post Claremont and Polyanthus drew out from the others, and at the last hurdle Claremont was slightly in front of Polyanthus, when he made a blunder and came to grief. Polyanthus thus went on and won comfortably by two lengths from Slaney, Lapland being third, and Kelso fourth. GWENDOLINA’S VICTORY. A fine field of fifteen saddled up for the Islington Flat Handicap, Northeast going out a very strong favourite. The field got away on even terms, North-east and Grenadier being the quickest to get on their legs. This pair led All Guns, Longner and Merrie Zealand at the six-furlong post, but just before reaching the straight . North-east drew out from Grenadier-Half-way down, however, North-east fell back, and Gwendolina joined Grenadier, Merrie Zealand, Longner and King Post. Inside the distance Gwendolina asserted herself, and finishing up her task well, beat Grenadier by a length and a-half, with Merrie Zealand close up third, followed by King Post, Longner and North-east. ANOTHER FAVOURITE SCORES. The Woolston Plate fell to Zetland, who was sent out a staunch favourite. But he had his work cut out to beat Gold Braid, who was finishing strongly over the last furlong. Equivocate was a good third, and Bravery was close up fourth. THIRD DAY. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National Meeting was brought to a close on Saturday under very favourable climatic conditions. The racing was again interesting, some of the finishes being exceptionally close. The totalisator turnover for the week amounted to £59,081, an increase of £2055 compared with the previous year. HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASE. Racing commenced with the Hunt Club Steeplechase, for which Glengariff was sent out a strong favourite. The North Islander always held a winning position, and after leading practically all the way, showed too much pace for his companions in the run home, and won by three lengths from Gammon, who was a neck in front of Farley. NORTH-EAST FAILS. The Heathcote Handicap, seven furlongs, saw North-east go out a strong favourite, while Sweet Angelas was also in great demand. Stratagem, Sweet Angelas, All Guns and Bonny Glen comprised the leading division in the early part of the race, but below the distance Bonny Glen moved up, and getting in front in the last hundred yards went on and won comfortably by two lengths from Sweet Angelas, who beat Stratagem by two lengths for second position. Northeast and Iranui were fourth and fifth. SLANEY SCORES. A small field of six starters contacted the Styx Hurdles. Lapland and Slaney showed the way, with Farley Grove and Polyanthus close handy. Lapland was the first to retire, leaving Slaney and Farley Grove on terms at the last hurdle. Here Slaney made a bad jump and nearly came down, but catching Farley Grove in the last fifty yards won by three lengths, Polyanthus being third two lengths away. AUCKLAND HORSES PROMINENT. The Sydenham Hurdles produced some spirited betting, Ben Jonson being sorted out as the best of good things. The race was a pretty one to watch. At the hurdle opposite the stand Southern Cross, Showman and Kairoma were in charge, but passing Cutts’ the last-named retired, and at the mile-post Showman was four lengths in front of Southern Cross and Ben Jonson, the next three being Scotty, Gold Dust and Compass. At the six-furlong post Scotty and Ben Jonson drew right away from the field, and this pair jumped the last hurdle together, but once on the flat Scotty had Ben Jonson’s measure, and

beat him by a length. Southern Cross finished eight lengths away, followed by Ringman, Compass, Gold Dust and Whatakura, Kairoma beinglast. ELDORADO SCORES AGAIN. Five saddled up for the Lincoln Steeplechase, including three National candidates, Nadador, Burus and Eldorado. Wairaka and Eldorado led the field over half the distance, when Eurus moved up, but making two bad ■jumps he retired. Eldorado had the National winner’s measure on the flat and won comfortably by a length, with Wairaka a dozen lengths away third. KING POST SCORES. The Redcliff Handicap fell to Kingpost, who, after being badly placed in the early ' stages of the race, came with a strong run on the outside and won by a length from Eaglestone, who was three lengths in front on Qhiarian. Continuance. and Ringdove fourth and fifth. LOS ANGELOS’ SECOND WIN. Ten horses saddled up for the Selwyn Handicap, Longner being made a hot favourite. Sea King, Federal and Longner got off the mark smartly and 1 round the turn, Longner being first into the straight. At the distance Federal and Sea King retired, while Los Angelos put in a strong run, and, catching Longner, by a length. Prim being third a length away. THE HUNTERS’ PLATE. . The Hunters’ Plate proved a good thing for Tyrannic, 'who, after leading all the way, won easily by a length from Blytheboy, Sea Dog being six lengths away third.