STEEPLES SURPRISE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 13

STEEPLES SURPRISE

IRISH COMET'S WIN

GREAT NORTHERN MEETING

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, June 9. Glorious weather attracted 30,000 I people to Ellerslie for the second day jof the Auckland Racing Club's Winter j Meeting today. Outsiders were again successful in the chief races, Irish Comet accounting for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Armacburt the King George Handicap. The 13-year-old Irish C.met who returned over a score,.was the veteran of the field, and the oldest horse ever to win the race, the oldest previous victors being Dick and Billy Boy, who were 11 years old when they won. Totalisator investments were £72,189 10s, against £40,037 10s on the same day last yedr, an increase of £32,152. For the two days the total is £122,530 10s, compared with £84,288 10s last year, an increase of £38,242. ALL, THE WAI. All Irish, an odds-on fancy, led all the way in the Hunt Cup and won nicely from Lochiel Lad,, who went a fine race and may prove more than useful when seasoned. Kinkle was alongside Lochiel Lad when he nearly -ipped out, four fences from home, the next fence bringing down the tiring Rozel. Englishman lost his rider at the first jump and Bells of Bow crashed at the foot of the hill, the first tims. Tangled, the fourth and last horse home gave an improved showing. All Irish'was all out at the finish, but he will improve. FIRST-DAK FORM REPEATED. Erndale repeated his first day's form to win the Ranfurly Handicap, although he had to be hard ridden to shake off Alyth and Valspear. The. latter was in front from the barrier until within half a furlong of the finish, Pirate King being behind him negotiating the home turn, .vhere Erndale was in seventh position on the rails, Alyth, Very Glad, Philemup, and Abbess of Whitby being ahead of him. Here Erndale came through with a sustained run to head off Alyth and Valspear, the trio being clear of Philemup, Hutana, Very Glad, Pirate King, and Survoy, this quintet being bunched. Grand City and Captain Bruce were badly left. The heavier ground again suited Erndale, while Alyth also went splendidly, and Valspear may return to the winning list at any time. The best races among the others came from Philemup, Pirate King (these two drew the outside marbles), and Hutana; ATTRACTIVE WIN. Lord Val led practically all the way in the Remuera Hurdles, except for a couple of occasions, when Huskie ran up to him and was in front temporarily. Lord Val and Huskie were on terms coming round for the last obstacles, with Jolly Beggar handy, and Master Musk and Prince of Orange some lengths back. The first trio staged a fine race from the final hurdle, when Lord Val asserted himself to win from Huskie and Jolly Beggar, witn Master Musk fourth. The winner scorec so well, outstaying Huskie and Jolly Beggar, that it is possible the check in the Great Northern Hurdles had more effect on him, that was apparent Huskie made a bad jump at the fence opposite the judge's box, and before he had quite recovered his balance he was rushed to the front. Jolly Beggar went well all the way, the weight in the going proving beyond him, although he was not assisted by faulty jumping at the third and fifth hurdles. Master Musk fenced indifferently, and Prince of Orange, after being close up behind Lord Val md Huskie at the five furlongs, faded out. Lap Up was outclassed. SPLENDID CONTEST. Although seven horses had a chance of winning the Great Northern Steeplechase on the hill the last time, Irish Comet went right away coming down, and he only had to stand up to win. He sprang a big surprise, paying a dividend short of a quarter of a century. It was a splendid contest, and throughout the long journey, not one of' the thirteen • starters fell, although nine finished. Pahu dropped his rider at the five furlongs, the last time, and it was at this point that Roxy, Saint Musk, and Black Marlin were pulled up. • The early pacemaker wes Saint Musk, but he did not get far before "Valpeen took up the running and he maintained his advantage until four fences from home, by which time Irish Comet, who made a fine burst going up the hill, had command. Here Valpeen jumped up to the leader, and Forest Glow, Erination, Don Erma, Billy Boy, and Allegretto were all close enough. However, Irish Comet continued his dashing run and he literally ran away from Valpeen on the down grade, while Forest Glow and Allegretto were closing on Valpeen. Irish Comet was not bothered in the run from the final fence to win rather easily from' Valpeen. . .There was a gap of eight lengths back to Allegretto, Don Erma, and Forest Glow, who were at length, intervals, Billy Boy and Royal Limond being much further back. Erination and Free Air whipped the field in. It must be very- many years since a good-sized Great Northern Steeplechase field got through without an actual fall. Irish Comet revealed rare stamina, and jumping well apparentlyhad the measure of the leaders at any part in the final circuit. Fergus, who is having an excellent meeting, narrowly missed winning the Northern double, as he was also on the second horse in the big hurdles. Valpeen ran one of his best-races, and .had he not pulled c bit, ■ might have made Irish Comet's task much harder. Allegretto covered a lot more ground than anything else in the race, and pulled himself about a good deal. Under the circumstances, his performance was a really good one. Don Erma made a couple of faulty jumps, so that his effort, apart from this, was quite good. Forest Glow was likely three furlongs from home, and as at Hawera and Te Rapa, he failed to come on. Billy Boy went fairly well in ground that might not have suited him and Royal Limond plodded along. Erination'went a fine race for well over three miles and then stopped badly. The pool on the race a third more than the investments on the Great No"thern*'Hurdles- and the bestbacked horses were Valpeen £1921, Forest Glow £1850, Allegretto £1573, Don Erma £1362, Black Marlin £1213, Ebyal Limond £937, and Billy Boy £903. The winner carried £333 and Pahu £327, the latter being-the outsider. STIRRING FINISH. The King George Handicap provided a stirring finish, with Armacourt just getting the verdict over Prince Acre and Enge. Royal Dance made the pace and at the home turn was just clear of Mata Hari, Enge, Versant, and Prince Acre, with Armacourt coming round on the outer. Over the last halffurlong there was little ' separating Prince Acre and Enge, with Armacourt and Versant gathering them in. Armacourt got up to gain the decision over Prince Acre and Enge, with Versant heading a bunch comprising De Friend, Tradesman, Day Wind. Armacourt revels in the heavy ground, but she was a bit lucky, for Prince Acre should have won. Enge, too, went a solid race, and .Versant, better handled, might have even been closer. Mata Hari went a fine race while her condition lasted, and De Friend, Tradesman, Day Wind, and Loombination showed up at the finish. Kilonsa and Loombination were hopelessly left at the start. The winner paid nearly a score. INTERESTING TUSSLE. Windsor Lad trailed High Star to the last fence in the Panmure Hurdles, and then beat him home on '.he flat after an interesting tussle. Gadger gave an improved display and should make good, but Lucidus was never going like a winner. United did best of the others. Rua King was making a showing until he bungled the fence at the seven furlongs, and Red Fox looked like playing a part when he went out at the penultimate fence. Windsor Lad shaped very well and may be hard to beat again on Saturday. THRILLING FINISH. The best finish of the meeting to j date was staged by the amateur riders in the Carbine Pla^. f-;r over the last furlong Jewelled Girdle. Tail Light. ! and Small Boy were locked together, j

after Tip Toes and Collision had begun to fade. The decision was a dead heat between Tail Light and Small Boy, with Jewelled Girctie inches away and Tip. Toes and Collision next. The last-named was kept too far out of it in the early stages. Tail Light's effor1 was particularly good as he was challenged from the bottom of the straight, and came again when apparently beaten.

RESULTS IN DETAIL. Results were: —

Hunt Club Cup, £300; about 2£ miles—l All Irish, 10.5 (J. F. Fergus)., 1; 5 Lochiel Lad, 9.0, car. 9.2 (R. Tnomson), 2; 3 Kinkle, 10.0 (J. H. Muir), 3. Also started: 4 Tangled 10.5, 6 Englishman 10.2, 7 Bells of Bow 9.0. Time, srriin 23sec.

Ranfurly Handicap, £300; 7 furlongs. —1 Erndale, 9.5 (C. G. Goulsbro'), 1; 3 Alyth, 8.0 (W. J. Broughton). 2; 0 Valspear, 8.13 (J. F. Fergus), 3. Also started: 7 Grand City 9.11, 9 Philemup 9.5, 5 Survoy 9.1, 2 Pirate King 8.10, 12 Ringshot 8.9, 17 Aero Queen 8.0, 12 bocknit 8.0, 6 Captain Bruce 8.0, 18 Tiverton 8.0, 14 Hopalong 8.0, 15 Frances Acre 8.0, 11 Very Glad 8.0, 15 Abbess of Whitby 8.0, 10 Ellanui 8.0. 4 Hutana 8.0. Time, lmin 34 2-ssec.

Remuera Hurdle Race, '£450; 2 miles. —2 Lard Val, 9.7 CF. Baker), 1; 3 Huskie, 9.5 (J. F. Fergus), 2; 1 Jolly Beggar, 11.13 (R. Beale). 3. Also started: 4 Master Musk car. 9.3, 5 Lap Up car. 9.4J, 6 Prince of' Orange car. 9.1. Time. 4min.

Great Northern Steeplechase, £1250, about 3f miles.—l 2 Irish Comet, 9.0 (J. F. Fergus), 1; 1 Valpeen, 10.5 (R. E. Thomson), 2; 3 Allegretto, 10.2 (J. MeLaughlin), 3. Also started: . 6 Royal Limond 11.4, 7 Billy Boy 10.11, 10 Erination 10.10, 4 Don Erma 10.2, 8 Roxy 10,1, 2 Forest Glow 9.13, 13 Pahu 9.8, 5 Black Marlin 9.7, 9 Saint Musk 9.0. Time, Bmin 13sec. /

King George Handicap, £450; 7 furlongs.—l 4 Armacourt, 7.7 (H. Long), 1; 16 Prince Acre, 7.13 (W. J. Broughton), 2; 6 Enge, car. 7.9 (P. Fearn), 3. Also started: 12 Light Comedy car. 7.9J, 13 Kelly 9.1, 5 Scotland 8.8, 15 Tooley Street 8.8, 1 De Friend 8.4, 18 Mato Hari car. 8.33, 4 Versant 8.2, 9 Royal Dance 8.0, 16 Tybalt 7.13, 17 Crooning car. 8.1, 8 Grateful 7.12, 11 Greek Gold 7.12, 10, Adalene car. 8.1, 3 Kilonsa 7.9. 19 Day Wind 7.8, 2 Tradesman 7.7, 20 Loombination car. 7.8. Time, lmin 35 3-ssec.

Panmure Hurdle Race, £450; 1?' miles.—2 Windsor Lad, 10.9 (J. Muir). 1; 3 High Star, 9.0 (L. Dulieu), 2; 7 Gadger, car. 9.1 (R. E. Thomson), 3. Also started: 5 Spearcourt 11.0, 4 Rua King 10.10, 1 Lucidus 10.10, 9 Speedfast car. 9.2, 8 Keith Lv 9.0, 11 Carshalton 9.0, 10 United 9.0, 6 Fox 9.0, Time. 3min 32 3-ssec.

Carbine Plate, £300; gentlemen riders; 1 mile.—4 Tail Light, 11.4 (K. Duncan), and 1 Small Boy, 11.4 (H. Dods), dead heat, 1; 3 Jewelled Girdle, 11.4 (W. O'Connor), 3. Also started: 2 Collision 11.4, 10 Domo car. 11.5, 9 Reclaimer 11.4, 8 Seaman 11.4, 6 Strathire 11.4, 7 Melvanui 11.0, 5 Tip Toes 11.0. Time, lmin 49 l-ssec.