GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1927, Page 10

GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLES.

BIG EVENT FOR TO-MORROW. .

A GOOD FIELD ENGAGED

The chief event on the Auckland Racing Club's programme to-morrow will be the Great Northern Steeplechase, and a better field is engaged than in the Great Northern Hurdles. In previous years the Grand National Hurdles gave some idea as to the chances of several of the candidates, but at the time of writing that event had not been run. Therefore, one has to take past form and recent training work into consideration.

Comical has the steadier of 11.9, and if he is among the field that contests the Greenlane Steeples to-day the public will get an idea of his ability, but on his efforts since he arrived at Ellerslie he cannot be recommended. He stopped at the first fence on the top of the hill the first time he was tried and fell in his next attempt. One cannot very well see him conceding the weight he is called i upon to do to some of those lower down. Kawini was second in the event last year with 9.2, and going on to Riccarton ran second to Peter Maxwell in the Grand National Steeplechase with 71b more. He recently showed that he was in good form by winning over hurdles at the Waikato meeting and in his track work at Ellerslic has gone nicely. Glenotus won the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie and finished second in the Avondale Steeplechase, while he has run well over hurdles recently. He is a pretty fit horse at present. Passin , Through won the Avondale Steeplechase, and was placed in the Adamson Steeplechase at Egmont, while he was fifth in the Wtnganui Steeplechase. Peter Maxwell won the last Grand National Steeplechase with 9.1, and recently accounted for the Grandstand Steeples at Wanganui in good style. Since coming to Auckland he has given a fine display of jumping over the big fences. Tuki, like Peter Maxwell, also has won the Grand National. He raced at Wanganui, but appears to be a much better horse now. His work at headquarters has-been most pleasing. Wedding March, was first started over steeples in public at the last Auckland meeting, and with 10.12 accounted for the Mangere Steeplechase, two miles and a-half, carrying 10.12. Dick is a great old battler and won the Great Northern last year. He races well at Ellerslie, and is sure to have friends. Royal Form won a steeplechase at Paeroa and on the following day of the meeting dead-heated with Day Bell in a similar event. Maunga accounted for the recent Wanganui Steeplechase, while Zircon has yet to be tried, over a steeplechase course in public, though he jumped the big fences at Ellerslie fairly well the other morning. Beau Cavalier won both steeple events at the recent Waikato meeting and is a good jumper. He looks as though he will stay on. Omahu has finished- second on three occasions in the event under review and should run a good race. Of the others Day Bell and Llewellyn appeal most. Probably Kawini, Tuki and Peter Maxwell may have most friends when the machine cleses.