CLARION CALL'S CENTURY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 13

CLARION CALL'S CENTURY

Despite his wide Separation from the r#st in matter of poundage Clarion Call was backed down to good second.favouritism in the Century Hurdles, and he justified the confidence by putting up a splendid performance to score narrowly from John Charles, who was a little unlucky in the middle running. The result of this race was a testimony to the skill of the club's handicapper in estimating that the winner so much superior on his best form ,to his opposition, despite the good past Winning efforts of most of them. _ Clarion Call was held well in check for a round while Contact and John Charles were making the running, but he was never further back than third, and when Sporting Song dropped his rider at the hurdle commencing the last round he was able to assume charge along the inner. After that he first settled the pretensions of Brigadore and Journet, and over the last half-mile he kept the challenging John Charles always just at bay, finally scoring by half a length. It was Clarion Call s first win this season, but back in August he beat all except Jolly Beggar in the Grand National hurdles and he has only recently resumed after a spell since Riccarton If he hsd not been a shade disappointing at Te Rapa last month he would have been at Ellerslie on Saturday for the Great Northern Hurdles, a race that he had practically won when he dropped his rider at the last fence twelve months ago. It is now intended to attempt the Wanganui jumping double with the Wanganui Steeplechase on Wednesday, and as he is still susceptible to further improvement he may rank as one of the most versatile and proficient jumpers in the Dominion at the close of the winter session. John Charlos. benefited with his race ?t Foxton. was possibly a shade un-M-ky to lose, and this without disrTaping Iho effort of the winner. .iHmh'h.c excellently, he settled down lp spfiond place-and was holding his pnjiition easily when Sporting Song dropped his rider and carried him

out wide. That sent him back to fourth, and, though it was not long before he was up alongside Clauon Call the reserve he needed to draw on to get there took its toll and he could not head off the topweight. Moreover, over the last round he had to race on the outside of the leader, whereas with ordinary luck he might have kept a berth on the rail. Brigadore, who was third a lengtli and a half back, ran in patches. He was looming up menacingly along the back for a space, and after dropping out possibly through being squeezed, he was running on again at the close. Journet was beaten half a mile from home and was only a poor fourth..Ruaform ran fairly without ever being a prospect. Contact made the running out clear for a round and then faded from the front line, finally finishing down the course. Sporting Song had just taken the lead when his rider, P. Burgess, became unbalanced and fell after jumping the fence in front of the stand. It looked for a moment as if Burgess might have been kicked by a passing horse, but he was soon on his feet and had escaped with only a shaking.