AT LONG ODDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 June 1927, Page 6

AT LONG ODDS

GULYARRI’S STEEPLES WIN RACING AT RANDWICK With New Zealand horses competing at Rand wick last Saturday week, the following account of the principal races there will be of interest. Excitement began early in the day, as a few minutes before the Second Hurdle Race was due to start it was announced that Castles was a nonstarter owing to a mistake in his entry, and that all bets on him were off. Micronesia was first past the post, but unfortunately for his backers he was riderless, he having got rid of W. H. Baker at the seven furlongs jump. Baker was unlucky enough to sustain concussion and scalp wounds. GROSVENOR A GOOD ONE Grosvenor duly justified his shortpriced favouritism, but it was only after a stirring battle with Piratic that he succeeded. Piratic was left in front when Micronesia fell, but Grosvenor joined him rounding the bend, and they were still together at the last hurdle. Momentarily it looked as if Piratic would win, but the A.J.C. Hurdles winner was a little too solid for him over the last bit. Grosvenor has now won £3,278 in prize money for six wins and a third in eight starts over the jumps, and as a result of this success he is penalised an extra 31b. for the Grand National Hurdles, lor which he had already incurred a 71b. penalty, and his weight now goes ui> to 11.4. GULYARRI’S SURPRISE The Australian Jockey Club Steeplechase was a triumph for the ring. The Victorian gelding Gulyarri surprised at good odds (similar to Our Patch’s second dividend at Alexandra Park yesterday), Sydney horses in Mendit and Pompene filling the minor places. Gulyarri is an aged gelding by Ritualist from Hazelene, and he is owned and .trained by T. J. Hayes. Ritualist has sired a number of good jumpers, and it was a coincidence that another of his sons, Ridara, would win the steeplechase at Williamstown the same day. Ritualist himself won the South Australian Derby in 1901. A. piloted Gulyarri, which was more or less a chance mount for him. Originally R. Harris had been engaged to ride the gelding, but it was only on Friday that Pearce was definitely given mount. PENTAGRAM UPSETS THE FAVOURITE For a favourite Epergne was a great disappointment. He made a couple of faulty jumps, and was unfortunate enough to be knocked right out of his stride when Pentagram fell .at the jump at the foot of the hill the last time round. That incident cost him many lengths, and he was not a possibility afterwards. Minterne and Nyangay made most of the early pace between them, but half a mile from home Mendit and Nyangay were in the lead from Gulyarri and Pompene. An exciting finish was assured when little separated that quartette entering the course proper. A hundred yards from home Mendit looked a sure winner, but Gulyarri had a little too much in reserve for him. Pompene narrowly beat Nyangay for third money, while Minterne, Epergne and Pay Day were the only others to complete the course. KEEN BETTING Early double betting indicated that Mullabawn, who was having his first run in Mr. A. Hordern’s colours, would be a popular fancy for the Flying Handicap, but the support for Garrula, White Fang and Bravery was solid. The race needs little description, as White Fang led practically all the way. His nearest attendants at the turn were Cadenza, Ariedon, Mullabawn, Bravery and Garrula, but he gave nothing a chance in the run home, and won in good style from Ariedon and Magdaff, who dead-heated for second. Ariedon’s showing must have been something of a surprise to his connections, as he is in the same stable as Garrula, but was allowed to go out at long odds. Mullabawn weakened over the last furlong, and probably he was in need of the run. THE THORN'S RACE It was only on June 1 that Mr. C. W. L. Murchison leased Freddie C. and Amusement to their Newcastle trainer, T. Murray, who recently gained place money at Randwick with Ciceron. Freddie C. was beaten into second place in the King’s Birthday Handicap at Newcastle, and even allowing for the lighter weight being in his favour, the fact of his being able to dead-heat for first does not say much for his opponents. Johnnie Jones’s latest form had not been too encouraging, but he was expected to take a lot of beating in the weak field. Backers generally have no love for Triplex, and the Kenilworth gelding, made a greater enemy of himself by landing the Exeter Handicap at a double figure price. Each of his four wins has been at a long price, but considering the fact that he had been successful only five days earlier, the odds on offer against him were very generous. FOOL’S PARADISE FAILS Fool’s Paradise was always favourite, but lie tired badly after being second to The Thorn at the home turn, where Mak Siccar, Chris, Le Choucas and Giggle were others prominent. The Thorn, a member of J. Williamson’s visiting team from New Zealand, still had charge with a furlong to go, but in turn he was cut down by Triplex and Lovebox, the latter of whom shaped better than generally expected. Fourth at the finish was closer than Somnolent got at any other stage of the race, and Mak Siccar hung on fairly well in fifth position. Chris and Le Choucas lost ground in the straight. The cabled news of the doLible success of both Grosvenor and Triplex will make great reading for thenowner, A.J.C. committeeman Mr. P. H. Osborne, who is holidaying abroad. Bailey Payten trains them, and he hopes that Grosvenor will carry on the good work in Melbourne.