CONCLUDING DAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1374, 24 August 1916, Page 20

CONCLUDING DAY.

HARBOUR LIGHT WINS HURDLES. CAPTAIN MACKY THE STEEPLECHASE. The Grand National meeting was brought to a successful conclusion on Saturday. The weather was fine and the course in nice order. The sum of £49,387 was handled on the totalisator, making £138,959 for the meeting, compared with £134,596 for the 1915 Grand National fixture, an increase of £4363. Critic, the favourite, had a comfortable victory in the Aylesbury Steeplechase, with which proceedings opened. He was always in first or second place, and at the finish won nicely from Ikowai. The latter was made rather much use of going along the back, and this found him wanting at the finish. Critic, on the other hand, was nicely handled all through. Debonaire threw out at the first fence, and when Otupai came down in front of the stand it looked as if he had broken his neck. After lying still for a few minutes he got up, evidently being only winded.

Most of the baker’s dozen that went out to contest the Heathcote Handicap found solid support, Oxenhope being just a slightly better favourite than Ringform and the Chokebore pair, Battle Eve and San Sebastian. For half the journey Fabrikoff looked to have more than oidinary prospects so free.y was he bowling along in front. A, hen asked tor a final effort, however, the faint-hearted son of Menschikoff compounded badly. Then Heeltap took charge, and stalling off strong challenges by Ringform and Goldenlyce won comfortably. Of £5750 invested on the Styx Hurdle Race, Sleight-of-Hand carried more than a third of the money, finishing up the strongest favourite of the meeting. Mishaps came early, for Free toppled over at the first obstacle, an example subsequently followed by Spectual and Worcester. With half a mile gone Sleight-of-Hand was well clear of his field, and from this out the race was a mere procession. Sleight-of-Hand’s jumping was much smarter than that of most of his opponents, who were a mediocre lot. For some unfathomable reason backers made Golden March favourite for the Sydenham Hurdles, though

there was nothing in either of his previous displays at the meeting to

warrant it. Pursefiller also had a strong following, as did Marconi, who looked in much better racing trim as the result of his earlier exertions. After losing several lengths at the start, Pursefiller rushed to the front soon after passing Cutts’, and going along the back she had opened up a useful lead, jumping in rare style. Harbour Light and Tararu Jack were always well placed, and though Pursefiller was first over the last obstacle Harbour Light wore her down in the run to the post, gaining the verdict by a bare neck. Leonta put in a wellsustained effort over the last halfmile, which gained him third place, his form being much better than in the big hurdles on the second day. Crib again had a bad passage, while Golden March was well beaten a long way from home.

There were quite a number of falls in the Lincoln Steeplechase, the first to come to grief being Queen’s Post, who toppled over at Cutts’ and broke her neck. Idealism, Bravest, Fagot, Black Sea, Bransfield and Recnarge aiso found the obstacles too formidable at subsequent stages of the journey. Merrie Laa maae play through the first rounds, but soon afterwards Captain Macky disposed of him. The latter headed Merrie Lad, Bransfield, New York, Braeburn, Lady Bibbero and Ngatoa all along the back, and was never headed, winning comfortably by four lengths. Braeburn put up a fine effort under his big load, but tiring in the run home had to divide second honours with the fasternnishing Lady Bibbero. Varnish followed up his first day’s success by accounting for a big field in the Redcliffe Handicap, but this time his success was well anticipated. Fiery Cross and Sir Tarka looked likely to fight out the finish, till the winner stepped on the scene, and only heads divided them. The concluding event, the Selwyn Handicap, saw thirteen go to the post, War Tax being a strong favourite, with Yes, Derby Day and Encore all well backed. The favourite showed up prominently, but suffered a neck defeat from Encore, who put in a brilliant run in the straight. Yes looked a probable winner but wearied of the contest as the post was approached,, missing second honours by a length. The results were: — AYLESBURY STEEPLECHASE of 200 sovs. About two miles and a-half. 1 — O. C. E. Brewer’s blk g Critic, by Lethe — Waihora, aged, 9.11 (H. Reid) 1 2 — Ikowai, 11.8 (O. Reid) 2 3 — Nita, 11.5 (Trail!) 3 Also started; 4 Wellwood 10.13 (Griffiths), 5 Traditor 10.12 (G. Fielding), 8 Otupai 10.5 (Lawrence), 6 Kaupokonui 9.12 (O’Connell), 11 Fairy Finn 9.12 (Lorigan), 10 Rerekohu 9.7 (B. Poulgrain). 7 Tairiki 9.7 (Anderton), 9 Precious Metal' 9.7 (McSweeney), 12 Debonaire 9.7 (Willis),. Debonaire lost his rider, while Otupai fell. Won comfortably by three lengths, eight lengths separating second and third. Kaupokonui was fourth. Time, smin 12 2-ssec. HEATHCOTE HANDICAP of 35050v5.. Seven furlongs. 4— J. J. Corry’s b g Heeltap, by Achilles — Zealandia Cole, 6yrs, 9.8 (W. Price) ■ 1 2— Ringform, 10.0 (C. Emerson) ... 2 3 — Goldenlyte. 9.13 (Syd. Reid) .... 3 Also started: S Rorke’s Drift 11.8 (W. Robinson ), 1 Oxenhope ■ 11.3 (B. Deeley ), 5 Meltchikoff 10.9 (A. Wormaid), 3 Battle Eve 10.0 (F. E. Jones), 3 San Sebastian (H. Y r oungj, 6 Comely 9.3 (W. Bell), 9 Fabrikoff 9.2 (C. J. Pine),. 11 Ogier 9.0 <H. Donovan), 12 Gnome 9.0 (Campbell), 10 Caraid Dileas 9.0> (Crerer). Won by,a length, a similar distance separating second and third. Time. Imin 34 2-ssec. HUNTERS’ PLATE HANDICAP of 140 sovs. One mile and a-half. 2—AV. H. L. Christie’s blk g Compulsion, by Crichton — Monte Carlo mare, 6yrs, 12.3 (Mr. S. Barr) 1 4— Bill Terry. 12.0 (Mr. W. Glasson) 2 I—Cron1 —Cron Park, 11.10, 51b allow. (Mr. W. J. Short) 3 Also started: 3 Sabrenui 12.13 (Mr. AV. McDonald), 8 Kingsway 12.9. 51b allow. (Mr. W. E. Simes), 9 Northern 11.6 (Owner), 5 Prenez Garde 11.4 (Mr. B. Brooker), 6 Kaiwhakahaere 11.0 (MrN. Pilkington), 7 Dear Annie 11.0 (Mr. T. S. Pratt). AVon by a length, four lengths between second and third. Sabrenui was fourth, Time, 2min 53 2-ssec. STYX HURDLE HANDICAP of 200 sovs. Once round and a distance. I—F. Armstrong's b g Sleight of Hand, by Mystification — AVonderland mare, oyrs, 11.11 (A. McDonald) 1 4— St. Curio, 9.0 <S. Henderson) ... 2 5— Sartosta, 9.3 (P. AA r ormald) 3 Also started: 6 Worcester 9.13 (J. Anderton).. 7 Trireme 912 (G. Fielding), 2 Spectual 9.5 (R. Edwards), 8 Free 9.4 (W. Scobie), 3 Union Jack 9.3 (R. Thompson) 9 Sport 9.0 (L. Hagerty). Free fell at the first hurdle and Spectual came to grief at Cutt’s. Worcester fell at the mile post. Won by four lengths, half a dozen lengths separating second and third. Union Jack was fourth. Time, 3min 9 2-ssec.

SYDENHAM HURDLE HANDICAP of s~oosovs. One mile and three-quart-10 — N. Brown's ch g Harbour Light, by Sylvia Park —Rau Rau, aged, 16.2 0 (J. Deerey) 1 2 — F. J. Lysnar’s br m Pursefiller, 11.0 (F. Flynn} - 4—T. Bristol’s b g Leonta, 9.12 (L. Coleman) 3 Also started: 6 Crib 11.3 (J. Olsen), 5 Art 11.2 (D. McKay), 3 Marconi 10.9 (S. Henderson), S Tararu Jack 10.5 (A. Wormaid), 9 Gladful 9.13 (W. Bush), 7 Kilmeny 9.9 (H. McSweeney), 1 Golden March 9.5 (A. McDonald). Gladful fell at the hurdle in front of the stand. Won by a neck, half a length between second and third. Tararu Jack was fourth. Time, 3min 29 3LINCOLN STEEPLECHASE of 600sovs. About three miles. 11 — A. Carroll’s br g Captain Macky., by The Officer —Voltigeur mare, aged, 9.7 (J. O’Connell) 1 I—V. H. Collelo’s br g Braeburn, 12.6 (J. Deerey) * 3— J. P. Hathaway's b m Lady Bibbero, 9.7 (R. Edwards) Also started: 10 Ngatoa 10.11 (A. Julian}, 5 Bransfield 10.10 (W. Scobie), 5 Queen’s Post 10.9 (R. Thompson), 4 New York 10.9 (A. McDonald), 9 Fagot 10. S (F. Flynn), 2 Merry Lad 10.5 (H. Burt), 3 Idealism 10.1 (W. Bush), 13 Bravest 9.13 (P. Brody), 7 Black Sea 9.9 (G. Fielding). 12 Recharge 9.7 (Stan Reid). Queen’s Post and Idealism fell at Cutt’s, while Fagot ran off at the post and rails, and Bravest at the first of the kennels double. Black Sea fell at the second of the stand double, Recharge coming to grief at the sod wall. At the post and rails Bransfield unseated his rider, who remounted and continued the race. Won by four lengths. Braeburn dead-heating with Lady Bibbero, who finished fast, for second place. Ngatoa was fourth. Time, 6min 12 2-ssec. REDCLIFFS HANDICAP of 200sovs. Seven furlongs. I—W.1 —W. A. Nicholls’ b g V arnish, by Varco —Prudish, 4yrs. 10.4 (W. Bell) 1 4— Fiery Cross, 9.9 (J. Campbell) - . 2 B—Sir8 —Sir Tarka, 10.0 (W. O’Halloran) 3 Also started: 10 San Sebastian 10.7 (F E. Jones), 11 Multum 9.12 (Oliver), 17 Melford 9.9 (G. J. Pine), 5 Antwerp 9.9 (O. McCarten), 2 Achilleus 9.6 (H. Goldfinch), 14 Treadfire 9.3 (B. Deeley), 3 Samiel 9.2- (A. Wormaid), 7 Moneymaker 9.1 (J. Olsen), 16 Canrobur 9.0 (W. Robinson), 12 Ballyhar 9.0 (W. Price), 6 Grand Idea 9.0 (J. Buchanan), 15 Riga 9.0 (Griffiths), 13 Bomb 9.0 (A. Reid). 9 Gohlen Prince 9.0 (C. Emerson). Won by a length, a neck separating second and third. Antwerp was fourth. Time. Imin 32 4-ssec. SELWYN HANDICAP of 250sovs. Six furlongs. 4—A. W. Rutherford’s (junr.) b g Encore, by Maniapoto — Applause, aged, 10.11 (A. Oliver) 1 I—war1 —war Tax, 9.0 (B. Deeley) 2 .2—Yes, 9.4 (A. Wormaid) , 3 Also started: 6 Battle Eve 10.3 (F. E. Jones), 3 Derby Day 9.S (J. Miller), 7 Obsono 9.5 (W. O’Halloran), 5 Marsa 9.2 (A. Wilson), 11 Pyjama 9.3 (H. Donovan), 12 Caraid Dileas 9.3 (J. Crerar), 8 Peronilla 9.0 (C. Emerson), 9 Sir Malt 9.0 (G. J. Pine), 10 Icilma 9.0 (J. Olsen), 13 Malvolia 9.0 (W. Scobie). Won by a neck, two lengths between second and third. Pyjama was fourth. Time, lmin 19sec.