RICCARTON BUDGET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 13

RICCARTON BUDGET.

THORNDALE UNDER-RATED. j SATRAP COMING NORTH FOE G.N. ST. LEQER; — XBy Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Jovial arrived from the North this morning. He has been sent to lliccarton b y his owner, Mr. C. O. T. Rutherford, to be prepared for jumping engagements in the winter. Acceptances for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicap will close at 8 o clock on Friday night, when forfeits are due for the Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes, and nominations for minor events at the meeting. A start has been made to get the schooling fences at liicc&rton ready so that trainers of steeplechasers will be able to give their plenty of work, in preparation for early cross-country events. Thorndale is a very much favoured horse from the point of view that, in spite of his successes, there seems a disposition to under-rate his form. He conceded 31b to Satrap in the Midsummer Handicap, and 41b in the Peninsula Cup, and on each occasion finished in front of the three-year-old. Following those two races, while Thorndale was in his box, Satrap went to Trentham, where he won the St. Leger and ran second to Star Stranger in the Trentham Gold Cup. Now in the Great Autumn Handicap Satrap has to give Thorndale 81b. Even with two furlongs more to travel Thorndale seems to be very favourably treated. _ Satrap can be dismissed from calculations on the Great Autumn Handicap, as he is booked for a trip to Auckland for .the Great Northern St. Leger. Reremoana and Eulalie are a pair who will be strongly fancied for the Great Easter Handicap, with Hynanna and Set Sail as a likely pair in the Great Autnmn.

Provided he can see out the last two furlongs Thorndale will be hard to beat in the Great Autumn Handicap. He is a better horse now than ever he was. It is understood that Hynanna is pretty certain to be at Riccarton at Easter. At his best he is in "the top class.