Jumping Thrills

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 743, 16 August 1929, Page 12

Jumping Thrills

INCIDENTS IN STEEPLECHASE Grand National Hurdles Day (Special to THE SUXJ CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. THE Canterbury Jockey Club continued its Grand National carnival at Riccarton today. The weather was overcast to begin with, but later in the day the sun shone brightly. The totalisator returns were comparatively heavy, £43,483, against £31,209. The increase for the two days to date is £12,370.

Honeycomb’s victory in the Sumner Handicap contained a lot of merit, and though he beat only a hack field it was the manner in which he warded off the opposition in the straight, after occupying a rearward position early that was impressive. The Hunt Cup

ran well enough to suggest that it aaIII j not be long before he is led in a win- i ner. Beaufort Steeples Fabriano did not have the best of • passages in the Grand National Steeplechase on Tuesday, and he confirmed the good opinion held of him by scoring in the Beaufort Steeples after a great finish with Dubious. The latter attempted to lead throughout. Going down the back the last time he was galloping so strongly at the head of his field that his backers must have been on exceedingly good terms with themselves, and when Matu, his nearest attendant, tipped out at the sod Avail it looked as if he would come in on his own. But four furlongs from home Fabriano, who had put in a couple of poor jumps at the kennels double, began to improve his position, Avhile Young Thurnham had also commenced a run. Dubious led over the second to last fence and into the straight from Fabriano, but the latter soon drew level AA'ith Dubious. For 100 yards the pair ran together, but before the last obstacle A\ T as reached Young Thurnham fell on the flat. Dubious was first over the last fence, but D. O’Connor sat down and rode Fabriano hard over the concluding furlong, and finishing stoutly he beat Dubious by a length. Glendowie, the only other runner to complete the course, AA r as 100yds away in third place. A Mishap After the race an inquiry into the incident that Avas responsible for Young Thurnham' s falling Avas held, but it was later adjourned till Saturday. From the Press gallery the mishap appeared purely accidental. At the time D.ubious and Fabriano were together, and Young Thurnham, Avho ) was racing directly behind Dubious, got on to the heels of the latter and fell heavily. The incident caused Dubious to sAverve badly and for an instant it looked as if he also was going to fall. E. Shaw, rider of Young Thurnham, sustained a broken collarbone and was conveyed to hospital. Up to the time he fell Matu was going v/ell and with a stand-up might haA-e made it hard for the winner. Spreydon Hurdles Apparently the riders of Gala Day and Amorist had orders to go to the front in the Spreydon Hurdles. If so they certainly carried out their instructions, for in the first mile they set a torrid pace in front. But not content Avith wresting the lead from Gala Day, Amorist continued at an intense pace around the far turn of the course. The horse weakened over the closing stages and the upshot of these tactics was that Apache, who had been ridden in behind, ran past Amorist in the straight and came on to beat Aurora Borealis by half a length. Gala Day, who had won on the opening day of the carnival, began with such brilliance that by the time the stands were reached the first time he had opened up a break of four lengths on Amorist, But the rider of the latter also wanted to get to the head of affairs, and before the nine-furlongs post was reached his mount was disputing the lead Avith Gala Day. Not content with having joined the leader, Amorist still continued to force the pace, and then the pair opened up a big lead on Apache, Avhile the others were strung out in Indian file. Amorist soon left Gala Day in the rear, and even racing past the half-mile Amorist appeared to be travelling so well in front that the cry went up, “They'll never catch him!” But this was a little premature, because to such an extent was • Amorist’s pace in the early stages that he had begun to weaken before the final furlong was entered upon. Thus Apache, Avhose rider had been content to allow his mount to drop in behind the tearaways in front, began to move up. and when he ranged alongside Amorist it was obvious he was going to win. Apache led Amorist and Aurora Borealis over the last fence, and the Southerner came on to Avin by half a length. Carinthia was three lengths aAvay, third, and then followed Amorist, Gala Day, Nine of Spades, Brightling, Grand National and Rangiawhio. Zeuxis fell at the hurdle near the seven furlongs. It was due to the wild efforts of the leading jockeys that the Spreydon Hurdles was run in such remarkable time as 3.12 2-5, which must be very near a record. Seldom have those figures been bettered, and the terrific speed the leaders set may be gauged from the fact that the time recorded is less than 15 seconds outside the New Zealand and Australian record for a mile and threequarters on the flat. Apart from the fact that Apache eventually Avon well and that he is an improving hurdler, the merits of the race were certainly with Amorist, and had he been reserved for a final dash over the last furlong he

Kaikahu fell at the last fence in the Enfield Steeplechase on Tuesday, when he was leading his field, but in today’s Hunt Cup he made amends for that failure by defeating the favourite, Birkbeck. Kaikahu made the pace lor the greater part of the journey, and down the back the last time he was showing the way to Sea Boy, Taramoa and Birkbeck. But at the first of the kennels double, Kaikahu made a bad jump and lost several lengths. Birkbeck ran into the lead, and led across the top and into the straight from Kaikahu. but at the last obstacle Birkbeck slipped on landing, and then Kaikahu went to the front. Kaikahu held an appreciable break with less than a furlong to travel, and though Birkbeck finished strongly on the flat Kaikahu beat him home by four lengths. Taramoa, the third horse, was over 50 yards away, and then followed Sea Boy and Mataipuke. Woolston Handicap Glen rowan had performed so creditably at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting that he appeared to have reasonably good prospects in the Woolston Handicap, but backers did not warm to his chance, and he was allowed to go out paying a false price. However, this did not prevent his winning, and his supporters were rewarded with a very appreciable double figure dividend. When the course proper was reached the colours of Taranto, Lucky Bag, Note, The Dove and Grand Acre were most prominent, but Glenrowan was not far away. When the false rail was reached Taranto held charge, and for a time it seemed as if he would come on and score an easy victory. Less than a furlong from home he looked a certain winner, but a little further on Glenrowan emerged from the ruck. Unwinding a smart run over the closing stages, Glenrowan quickly bridged the gao that separated him from the leader, and sustaining his strong finishing effort, he got up in the last few strides to defeat Taranto by a short head for first honours. Red Boa, who was alwavs in the picture over the last furlong, finished on well to gain the minor situation, being half a lengtn away, and he was followed home by The Bailiff and Glyn Dhu. Glenrowan is a smart galloper, and as he is steadily on the improve he may be heard of again ere lqng. Taranto, having his first race at the meeting, did well. He looked all over a winner a few yards from the post, but he failed to withstand the determined challenge of Glenrowan. Of the beaten runners Glyn Dhu did best. He

probably Avould have AA r on. Aurora Borealis ran a good race into second place, and Carinthia did much better than at his first start at the meeting. August Handicap The North Islander, Gold Cure, Avas considered by many to hold excellent prospects of winning the Winter Cup. In the big Riccarton mile he ran a great race into fourth place after being one of the leaders throughout, but apparently that race did him a world of good, for in the August Handicap he never left the issue in doubt. He went to the front before the field turned for home, and though several made an attempt to get on terms with him he scored in effortless style by three lengths from Royal Saxon. Gold Cure, who won the Douro Cup last season, has made rapid progress in the interim, and the decisiveness of his victory reveals that he is a very smart galloper. Royal Saxon was not sighted in the first few furlongs, but he unwound a powerful run at the close and \A-as galloping over everything but the winner. Apparently his Winter Cup outing sharpened him up and he may do even better before the carnival concludes. Maui, who was a quiet tip for the Cup, ran a solid race into third place, and of the others Kaiti and Gay Sonnet did best. A furlong from the post Kaiti unwound a strong burst of speed that placed him near his objective, but in the last 50 he weakened and just missed a place. Sumner Handicap Honeycomb is a far better horse over a mile than six furlongs, and the outstanding manner in which he slipped his field in the Sumner Handicap clearly demonstrated his prowess as a galloper. In the early stages he could not go the pace set by the leaders, and five furlongs from home he was near the tail of the field. From half a mile onward B. H. Morris gradually sent the Irish-bred gelding up on the outer till near the home turn. Avhere lu was in striking distance of the leader. Entering the straight. Honeycomb had the measure of his rivals, and when his rider let him go he gathered up the field in a feAv strides and came on to win on the bit.

It was an excellent performance, and though Honeycomb will oppose

proved handicap performers on the { concluding day of the fixture, he | should again give a good account of j himself. In fact, he won so easily j today that it will take a really good j horse to defeat him over a mile in his j present form. Hounslow, ridden by the successful apprentice, W. Pascoe, again put up a good performance, but he had to be content with second place. Still, there was merit in his performance, and he should be hard again at his next appearance. Shortly did not have the best of runs, but he was doing better at the end than at any part of the race. Wrigley surprised by his forward running into fourth place, and it is evident that he is very much on the improve. Islington Handicap Backers allowed Royal Game to go out paying a great price in the Islington Handicap. As is his wont in 10-furlong races, he got to the front quickly, but his rider steadied him and pulled him in behind the leaders after four furlongs, and then the order was Black Duke, Tcheka, Taboo, Black Mint and Full Feather. But racing to the home bend Full Feather ran up to Black Mint, and the pair piloted the field into the straight. Half-way down the straight several runners had good chances, but inside the last furlong Royal Game shot to the front and lasted long enough to beat Courageous, who came with a sensational run on the outer. Full Feather was close up third, and then followed Black Mint. Tcheka, BJack Duke. King Balboa, Town Bank, Anolo. Vesperus, and Taboo, with Front Rank last. Royal Game’s success was one of his best efforts registered on the Riccarton track. But had Courageous been handier to the leaders half-waj r down the running he must have won. As it was he was unlucky, and racing men say that the run he put in over the last fifty yards was one of the greatest efforts recorded by a horse at headquarters for years. It was a phenomenal finishing effort. Moody Fi*ll Feather put up a good performance to run third, and as he generally does his best toward the close of a meeting he may be worth watching on the concluding day. Black Mint ran a good race into fourth place, when Tcheka put in an appearance on the fence. Over the last 100 yards he looked a possibility, but in the last 25 yards he weakened again and just missed a place. It was a great race. Following are the results: Hunt Cup Steeples, of £250; about 2i miles.—2 Kaikahu, 11.9 (A. Peart). 1; 1 Birkbeck, 11.9 (A. McDonald). 2: 5 Taramoa, 10.8 (G. Dempster), 3. Also: 4 Mataipuke, 11.2; 3 Sea Boy, 10.7. Won by two lengths, with ten lengths between second and third. Time, 5.25 2-5. Woolston Handicap, of £250; 6 furlongs. —ll Glenrowan. 9.2 (F. Voight), 1: 5 Taranto, 9.13 (A. E. Didham), 2; 2 Red Boa, 10.4 ( Li. J. Ellis), 3. Also: 1 Roi de Val, 10.9; 7 Lucky Bag, 9.12; 6 Glyn Dhu. 9.9; S Note, 9.8; 9 Grand Acre, 9.7; 3 Dumblane, 9.2; 13 The Dove, 4 Tourist, 9.0; 10 The Bailiff, 9.0; 12 Airplane, 9.0; 15 Briarthorn, 9.0; 14 Punchestown, 9.0. Won by half a head, with half a length separating second and third. The Bailiff was fourth. Time, 1.15 1-5. BEAUFORT STEEPLECHASE Of £500; about 2i miles. 2 FABRIANO, 9.12 (D. O’Connor) .. 1 4—DUBIOUS, 10.5 (L. Hunt) 2 3 GLENDOWIE, 11.5 (H. Dulieu) . 3 Also.: 1 Matu, 10.5 (fell); 5 Young Thirrnham, 9.0 (fell). Won by half a length. Third horse about 200 yards away. Time, 5.19 2-5. Spreydon Hurdles, of £250; 12 miles.— 1 Apache, 10.0 (G. Dempster), 1; 6 Aurora Borealis, 9.2, 2; 5 Carinthia, 10.9 (D. O’Connor), 3. Also: 3 Gala Day, 11.0; 2 Amorist, 11.0, and Rangiawhio, 9.1 (bracketed)); 8 Nine of Spades, 9.11; 7 Zeuxis, 9.5 (fell); 4 Brightling, 9.2; 9 Grand National, 9.2. Won by half a length, with the third horse four lengths away. Amorist was fourth. Time, 3-12 2-5.

GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES Of £1,200; about miles. 3 MAN GAN I (H. L. Bradney and E. Woods), 9.2 (H. Dulieu) 1 4 ABERFELDY (R. W. King), 9.8 (1. Tilson) 2 7—LANCER (G. G. Holmes), 9.2 (E. Stanway) 3 Also: 1 Mister Gamp, 11.5; 5 Red Fuchsia, 10.9; 2 Overhaul, 10.9; 1 Locarno, 10.2; 9 Novar, 9.13; 12 King’s Guard, 9.10; 8 Horomea, 9.5; 10 Perle De Leon, 9.4; 6 Craigmore, 9.3; 16 Uralla, 9.3. AVon by two lengths, with three-quarters of a length between second and third. Horomea was fourth. Time, 4.47 2-5. August Handicap, of £400; 6 furlongs. —1 Gold Cure, 10.3 (L. G. Morris), 1; 4 Royal Saxon, 10.5 (B. Brodie), 2; 8 Maui, 9.5 (R. J. Mackie), 3. Also: 3 Gay Sonnet, 10.9; 2 Kaiti, 10.1; 7 Bonogne, 10.1; 11 Amor, 9.13; 13 Buoyant, 9.11; 6 Subdivision, 9.4; 9 Rascal, 9.4; 10 Sudden Storm, 9.1; 5 Quantum, 9.0; 16 First Raid, 9.0; 14 Arch Arrow, 9.0; 15 Saggitarius, 9.0; 12 Bulolo, 9.0. Won by three lengths, with a length between second and third. Kaiti was fourth. Time, 1.14. Sumner Handicap, of £250; 1 mile. —1 Honeycomb, 10.4 (B. H. Mdl'ris), 1; 7 Hounslow, 9.7 (W. Pascoe), 2; 3 Shortly, 10.9 (L. G. Morris), 3. Also: 8 Haze, 10.2; 4 Fine Acre, 10.1; 5 Sweet Refrain, 9.13; 2 Starshooter, 9.12; 13 Filosol, 9.11; 9 Elysianor, 9.8; 11 Commentor, 9.5; 10 Otauru Lass, 9.0; 12 Hurly Burly, 9.0; 6 Wrigley, 9.0; 14 Royal Flower, 9.0. Won by two and a-half lengths, with a length between second and third. Wrigley was fourth. Time, 1.43. Islington Handicap, of £400; 1* miles. — 7 Royal Game, 9.0 (F. Voight), 1; 4 Courageous, 9.0 (L. G. Morris), 2; 9 Full Feather, 9.0 (G. Salt), 3. Also: 1 King Balboa, 10.5; 5 Black Duke, 10.5; 7 Black Mint, 9.8 (bracketed with Royal Game); 2 Taboo, 9.8; 8 Vesperus, 9.7; Anolo, 9.5; 10 Town Bank, 9.4; 6 Tcheka, 9.0; II Front Rank, 9.0. Won by a neck, a length separating second and third. Black Mint was fourth. Time, 2.10. Limond’s Consorts Not many outside mares visit Limond, the sire of Limerick, at the Koatanui stud, for Mr. Currie makes full use of the son of Desmond for his own mares. Latest arrivals to be mated with Limond this season are Oreum, Auratum, Queen March, Eulaiie, Egotism and Lucinda. Mr. Currie is giving Pombal every chance to make good at the stud, for he has decided that Eulogy, Cowl, Waterwings. Leta and Anklet are to be mated with the son of Pommern and Kendal this season.

AUSSIE’S DEFEAT NOT SO GOOD AS HE IS THOUGHT SYDNEY CRITIC OUTSPOKEN “Aussie is Not as Good as Supposed. —Disappointed his Backers in a Weak Finish.” These headings appeared in a Sydney daily after Aussie’s defeat at the Warwick Farm meeting recently. Perhaps the writer will have cause to review his opinion before the Te Awamutu sprinter returns home. Referring to the race, the critic wrote: Aussie is not as good as New Zealand opinion, together with his record of wins, led us to believe. If he were a champion of the type of Gothic, Limerick, Fuji San or Greenline, at their best, he could not have failed in the Denham Court Handicap. New Zealanders usually regarded as good judges spoke of him in the same breath as Gloaming. (Did they!) That was stretching the long bow, perhaps, but his defeat of Limerick at level weights last autumn led Australians to believe that he ranked among the best Australasian horses of the current year, at least up to a mile. Had Every Chance Saturday’s form puts him a long way back, hQyvever. Gothic, under similar circumstances last autumn 12 months with 9.10 on his back in a 6.7 limit race, gathered up the opposition at the end of six furlongs at Warwick Farm, and won running away. Aussie, with 9.13 (7.0 limit) had every chance from his close second to

Shankara at the straight entrance, but took a furlong to beat that sprinter, and then in a trice was beaten by Killarney, a very second-rate performer on Sydney courses. Killarney gave Aussie a big start in the last furlong and a-half, yet beat him three-quarters of a length at the end. May Do Better

Racegoers were disappointed with the finish of the much-boosted New Zealand champion. Possibly he will still do well here, and at a mile at weight-for-age may prove good enough to make amends for this defeat. But even to beat Limerick he will have to improve on this performance, and if Mollison comes to Sydney Aussie’s chance will be Buckley’s. Possibly Aussie would have been the better for a race, and for that reason he will run out his future engagements a little more stoutly. But we have seen the other champions named do much better first up with just as much weight, and in better company than Aussie met. Owner’s Chance It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. Aussie’s failure was a sore knock to most of Sydney’s big punters. But the New Zealander’s favouritism created a good market from i which owner Ned Moss collected a rich harvest -with Killarney. 1 Killarney had dead-heated with 1 Nolens Volens in a \velter at Rosehill in June, thus halving a substantial coup. Next meeting on the same course he was badly drawn in a Flying Handicap and failed to get near the front. The ( race was won by Glad Shot. Price Attracted * . The form did not promise well for his chance against Aussie, but while i stable connections might have been » lacking in any confident hope of overi throwing the champion, the fact that . such a good price offered in a wide 4 market outside of the favourite, led to

a more substantial win than might have been gained in lesser company. With Aussie at twos, and later at longer odds, Killarney’s price eased from eights to double figures. At this Mr. E. Moss, the owner, invested modestly, and netted £2,500 •when Killarney swooped down on Aussie and Shankara in the last 50 yards, and beat them comfortably. In Many Hands Mr. Moss took over Killarney last autumn from Mr. Don. Mclnnes. a well-known Queensland sportsman. With two wins since he has profited richly from the venture. Killarney has had many changes. He was first owned by Mrs. Falkiner. Then trainer Booth acquired hint. He sold him to Mr. Mclnnes, ard he entered George Price’s stable. Subsequently he went to Brisbane, and remained there under Mr. Mclnnes's private trainer. When he came back to Sydney last autumn, and Mr. Moss bought him. he re-entered George Price’s stable. Killarney’s good form at six years is the best he has ever shown.