Best Ever

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1049, 13 August 1930, Page 14

Best Ever

Rider's Praise for Steeples Victor

Eight horses took part in the Grand National Steeplechase at Tticcarton yesterday, Lord Ranald being the only defection. The race attracted keen wagering, bettors declaring for Aurora Borealis .. .. £1,350 Matu £ 1 ,123 Corneroff Omeo . / £759 From a good start Valves went out to make play early, leading past' the stands just in front of Snowfall and Kapuna, with five lengths to Aurora Borealis, Corneroff, Matu, Omeo and Wharncliffe, the last-named tailing off early. Kapuna ran through to the front at Outts from Snowfall, Aurora Borealis, Valves, Corneroff, Omeo, Matu and Wharncliffe. This order was maintained until the kennels double was reached. Here

the leaders commenced to close and at the fence at the top of the straight Kapuna and Whancliffo both fell, while the next fence saw the downfall of Valves. Only five contestants were now left, and at the stand double the second time Omeo led Corneroff, Snowfall, Matu and Aurora Borealis. But after negotiating Cutts, Corneroff essayed command from Omeo and Aurora Borealis. The favourite began to make a move at the kennels the second time and at the last fence but one Corneroff, Aurora Borealis and Omeo had little between them, while 12 lengths back was Snowfall, with a further 10 lengths to Matu.

Aurora Borealis took the last obstacle a length and a-half ahead of Comeroff who stumbled and the mare wound up’ a fairly comfortable winner by five lengths from Corneroff, who beat Omeo by four lengths. Snowfall was right up fourth, and the only other to finish was Matu, who was 100 yards bach. After the race H. Dulieu, the successful jockey, declared that Aurora Borealis never gave him a moment’s worry. “I kept her behind the field early so that she could have a good look at her fences, as she had never been over the country before the start. I gave her a kick after the kennels double and she went up to Corneroff in a very short space. “I had to ride her out down the straight, but I was never in any doubt about the result over the last six furlongs. The mare jumped beautifully and I reckon that she is the best jumper of her sex that has ever looked through a bridle. Mangani is as good a fencer, but he would never have beaten her over the Riccarton country.” H. Dulieu is to ride Mangani in the Grand National Hurdles tomorrow, so that he has a great opportunity of landing the big jumping double, for Mangani is expected to take all sorts of beating.