V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 10

V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL

WON BY BARGAIN HORSE O’NEIL’S LUCKY PURCHASE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) MELBOURNE. Sunday. The Victoria Racing Club’s Grand National Meeting opened at Flemington yesterday in wet weather. The following was the result of the leading event: GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE Of £ls each, with £2,000 added; 3 miles. LON GLANDS (V. O’Neil), blk g, by Pershore—Barley Bree, 4yrs, 9.0 (K. Nevitt) 1 VALBEE (E. L. Buuon), b g, by Valais —Linbee, 7yrs, 9.11 (Mclves) 2 JOHNNY CAKE (A. L. McCracken), b g, by Duke of Melton—Doughnut, aged, 10.1 (McMahon) 3 Seventeen started. Royan led in the early stage, but at the end of the first round Giff piloted the field, followed by Johnny Cake and Royan. Johnny Cake later took the lead, but Longlands came qp and forged steadily ahead. He was not pushed at the end, winning by four lengths. Johnny Cake was five lengths further back. Woolpack was fourth. Time, 5.38 J. Longlands figured among the yearlings sent up to auction in New South Wales in the autumn of 1925, when he was bought by the ex-New Zealander, Mr. V. O’Neil, for the small sum of 65 guineas. From the fact of Longlands being allotted the minimum impost in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race it is made quite clear that he had not won a place with good performers. Longlands is engaged in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, to be run at Flemingtpn next Saturday, in which race he figures with 9.9.

Won on Protest Inflation (Paper Money—Bo Peep), owned by Mr. “Constable” and Mr. E. L. Baillieu, and trained by F. J. Marsden, won the three-year-old Handicap, 200 sovs, seven furlongs, at Rosehill, on June 16. Inflation, carrying 7.4, started at a good double-figure price, and was beaten a short head by Prest, 6.11, in 1.272- A protest against Prest was upheld, and the race was awarded to Inflation, Prest being placed second. Prest is also by Paper Money, out of Ermergarde, so New Zealand was well in the picture, while the third horse, Monoplane, is by Biplane. Commenting upon the race, “Pilot” wrote in the “Referee”: —“Prest was boring Inflation out all the way, and I was fully prepared for the protest, as well as at the decision in Inflation’s favour. Monoplane, who was a close third, suffered through Prest and Inflation not keeping a straight course. He was outside both at the finish and, coming from some distance back at the bend, was only about a neck from the winner. . . . It is doubtful whether a protest would have been lodged if Mr. ‘Constable’ had been in the weighingyard when the horses returned. The idea of protests does not appeal to him, but F. J. Marsden rightly put in the objection. For my own part, when interference appears to have affected a result, I think an owner owes it to the public to protest. The interference was not intentional in this case, but it was so palpable that Inflation was backed at shortening odds before the stewards decided in his favour.” RACING FIXTURES July 11, 12, 14.—Wellington R.C. July 19—Waimate Hunt. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt. July 26, 28—Gisborne R.C. 1928-1929 Season August 4—Christchurch Hunt. August 4—Poverty Bay Hunt. August 14, 16, IS—Canterbury J.C. August 25—Hawke’s Bay Hunt. Sept. I—Marton J.C. Sept. s—Dannevirke R.C. Sept. 6—Dannevirke Hunt. Sept. I—Otago Hunt, j Sept. S—Taranaki Hunt. i Sept. .13, 15 —Wanganui J.C. ! Sept. 22—Ashburton R.C. Sept. 22—Napier Park R.C. ! Sept. 22, 24—Avondale J.C. Sept. 27, 2S —Geraldine R.C. Sept. 29—Pakuranga Hunt (at Ellerslie). Sept. 29—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Oct. 4—Kurow J.C. Ont 5. 6—Oamaru J.C.