THE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 184, 6 August 1898, Page 3

THE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

N&ct Thursday and Saturday the New Z«»land Grand National Steeplechase Meeting comes Up for decision at Rtecarton; Thi9 gathering really opens the new racing season of 1898-99, and with the good quality >Of liorses engaged it should prove worthy of its title. Auckland will be represented li the gathering by Nor'-west, Magpie, St. Kildaj South Pacific, Seabreeze* and Castashore. Final acceptances for the two bi<> jumping races of the programme and acceptances for the other races of the first day^s programme are due on Monday night next. \ THE STEEPLECHASE.

Gband National Steeplechase of 650sovs. Three miles and a-half.

Run Thursday, August ilth. st lb et lb Plairißill.. .. 11 13 Robin .. .. 10 3 Opai ...11 6 Morag .. -vlO 2 Hrinfl .. .. 11 5 Booties .. .. 10 0 Viamf .. ..10 13 Magpie .. .. 913 hW-west.. ..10 13 Claymore.. ..9 9 Muscatel.. .. 10 12 Dromedary .. 0 7 Violence .. .. 10 4 Huntingdon -.9 7

There is no definite information to hand as to whether Plain Bill is to take part in the meeting, but everything points to the crick" being a^non;starter. Monday night mijya 'doubt°settie the matter one way or the other. So far as -weight is concerned thisjiorse s is ,well .dealt with. With list lm'W ran' second" "to Muscatel in the ■ffanganui Steeplechase last May, and the day following he wen over country with 12st Sib in the saddle. It is stated that Upaeis to be reserved fa>r the National Hurdle Kace. • He. has, however, got his full weight in list 61b, for he has not yet been raced ever big country. AdTites from Christchurch state that Rhino has not been jumping well and that when Bent oat for schooling at Riccarton by himself on Saturday morning last he stopped repeatedly and gave a very poor exhibition. This is. sufficient for me to discard him. Rhino won the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase iv-ith iOsfc and the Napier Park Steeplecbse with list 71b, beating Morag lOst 1111), si) he is not badly used. I have been sweet on Dummy's chance ever since the weights first appeared. Last year with lOst 71b in the saddle ke led the field at a sound pace for three miles. Now he is heavier and better seasoned, and he has only six pounds more to carry. If Dummy stand up throughout the journey I think ie will be very hard to beat. Nor'west is mother member who has been refusing, and one morning at Riccarton he stuck i.p tttiiesod wall, which he eventually took in good style. The Aucldander is such a % jumper that he merits some respect. Bis weight in the Wellington Steeplechase w»lost3lb, and now he has 101b more to Violence and Robin are hardly fast enough to win a National Steeplechase, but latest accounts favour Morag, who got third last year when carrying 61b more than his present impost. At that time he *M giving Dummy 111b, and now Dummy concedes him that weight. Magpie must « given an outside chance, but of the whole "lot engaged my straight out fancy

THE HURDLE RACE. Gauji). National Hurdle Race of 500sovs. About two miles. Run Saturday, August 13th. , st lb s^# IJainßm.. .. 12- 3- Headford ... •• 911 Missflre .. ..12 2 Dundee ... •• 9}} S>ai 1113 Nicholas.. •-•g!i £«.. .. ..11 8 Kanaka .. -< 9lg llUDuny .. .. 11 6 Hussar .. - » ° Social Pest ..10 13 Napoleon.. .. 9 » «nki .. ..10 12 St. Vincent ~. 9 0 .|*?r'west .. ..10 10 South Pacific .. » » v fl"soatel .. . .. 10 7 Izal 9 0 Magazine .. 10 5 Slaiden .. •- 9 ° .■Wlibn the Steeplechase is decided a -Better idea will be gained of the most likely to win the Hurdle Race. However, I hear good accounts of Missfire, Opae, oodal Pest, and Hussar. The last-named "the property of the Hon. J. D. Ormoud, and he won the Ladies' Bracelet at the flawke's Bay Winter Meeting. My present fiv'-y Is Missfire.