COST 50 GUINEAS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 153, 16 July 1937, Page 7

COST 50 GUINEAS

V.R.C. National Winner ■ Last End, who was a surprise winner of the Y.E.C. Grand National Steeplechase laet Saturday, had good previous cross-country form in Adelaide, and he had also suceessfully negotiated the stiffi Morphottville obstacles, though he failed in the last Great Eastern Hteeplechase, won by Lady Madge, who f ell in the big Flemington event on Saturday. "When he, Lady Madge, and Howrah left Adelaide for Melbourne last month he was much the least fancied of that State 's National aspirants, In hie last race prlor to his departure for Yictoraa, on June 5, Last End was beaten in the Yietoria Park Steeplechase at Adelaide by Howrah, to whom, howevqr, he was conceding 29lb, whereas there was only 111b difference in their weights for the Grand National. Howrah incidentally was recording hi3 first success for 20 months on that day, but he had many times been placed, including a third in the Great Eastern. Last End, thougli beaten, was considered by the critice to have shaped quite satisfactorily in the Victoria Park Steoples. He had charge ncar the fmish, but could not withstand Howrah 's challenge. It is interesting to noto one sentence: "A little further on Last End, who, defcpite the f aet that he put dn a couple of his characteristiu clumsy loaps, held a prominent position throughout, went in pursuit of the pacemaker, Powsey." In Saturday 'e Grand National Last End gave his jockey a very rough ride, striking four fences, at the last of which he nearly fell. Last End, a iive-year-old gelding, is by the Sir Eager horse Drake, whose stock for some time back have disclosed a penchant for the jumping game, though this is his first Grand National success. The third horse on Saturday, Montargis, is still another of Drake 's jumpors. Last End was bred at "Mr S. A. Eawdon V Toolamba Stud, and as a yearling he Was acquired by his present owner, the South Australisis sportsman, Mr F. B, Mortlosk for onlv 50 guineas^