MONEY IN JUMPERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 33, 7 August 1936, Page 13

MONEY IN JUMPERS

POOLEY BRIDGE'S RECORD

The. consistent form of the betteri.class hurdlers and steeplechasers in Australia.and New Zealand this winter has revealed that it is still possible for a good jumper to.win a lot of money. In South Australia Gnair, victor in the Great Eastern Steeples at Onkaparinga, was the main contributor- to. his owner'is £3792 in stakes for the season; in Victoria Pooley Bridge, winner of the Grand National and Australian Hurdles, has won over £4000, and Santa Casa, favourite for the Australian Seeples tomorrow, has won already approximately £1500 this winter ; 'and in New Zealand Billy Boy, winner of the Great Northern Steeples and two other cross-country events recently,, earned £1470 in stakes for the season just closed. '

Pooley Bridge, the Victorian "star," completed a sequence last Saturday that had only once previously been achieved. Back in 1911 the South Australian hurdler Arquebuse captured the V.R.C. Grand .National, Doutta Galla, and Australian Hurdles in line, and this was the feat that Pooley Bridge also accomplished. \ Pooley Bridge, who was almost a complete failure oh the flat—he failed repeatedly in small races in the country—found his right sphere when he had his attentipn turned to. hurdling. It is only about 18 months since he began hurdle racing, and although he did not win over jumps last winter, he has more than made ..amends , this winter. . -■•■ •:?■.■ ....-■-' ..,-.... '

I Like 'many other great jumpers, Pooley Bridge began at the bottom of the ladder and gradually worked his way to. the. forefront of . Australian hurdlers. During the present winter he has-won! no ■'■fewer than ten hurdle events, apart frcm a dead heat for first. He began with a' win in a maiden hurdle at Ascot. -His vise to fame was rapid, the gelding, crowning his efforts by. his,great win on the Grand National Hurdles, which he has since followed with winsin the Doiitta Galla, and Australian Hurdlos; Since Pooloy.,Bridge , began hurdleracing he has earned £4395, as the subjoined table indicates:— i AtilTouc Years. - ; C Second W.Y. Trial jj Hurdles ■■'..... i! 0 Second M.V. Trial Hurdles liO At I'Ko Yeitrs.' Won Ascot lUlden Hurdles v 100 Won Ascot Trial Hurdles. 110 Second V.It.U. October Hurdles. ......... 100 Won it.V. \ la Mta Hurdles 20U Won Vnlloj1 Elurdlcs no AVon Ascot .Biurdles ' 200 Won V.R.C; N.Y. Hurdles ............ 330 Dead-heat first V.A.T.G. Hnwtli'nrn Hurdles 2i"i Won Tort riifllp i Hurdle's ;.... . 3iil» Won Ci.\. Hurdles ..-.-. 10HO AVon Doiitta flall.i Hurdles' SSO Won Australian Hurdles ......... 1050 Total ......,..."..'..... ... £4395 Pboley- Bridge has ;only just turned six years old, so has the opportunity of figuring among the big stake-win-ning jumpers in Australia. Mosstrooper leads the way .with £13,941, and other prize-money won by other notable jumpers has, been: — Roisel, £11,295;. Palbi, £7382; Haoma, £7287; Clan Robert, £6996; Sandhurst, £6930;' Bribery, £5056; and Redleap, £5049. ••. .-••..