AUCKLAND MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 16

AUCKLAND MEETING.

WEIGHTS FOR CHIEF EVENTS HURDLES, STEEPLES AND CORNWALL. THE HANDICAPS DISCUSSED. The handicaps for the Great Northern Steeples, Great Northern Hurdles and Cornwall Handicap have been declared by Mr. F. McManemin, and on the whole they should give every satisfaction, and large fields should result. . The Hurdle Race. Mister Gamp and Elysianor have been placed at the top of the Great Northern Hurdles with 11.5.' The former won this event last season with 9.13, after accounting for the Century Hurdle Race at Wanganui with. 9.10. At the Wellington Winter meeting Mister Gamp was beaten by Overhaul in the Trentham Hurdle Race, one mile and three-quarters, ■when carrying 11.3, and was again second to Overhaul in the Winter Hurdle Race, two miles and a quarter, at the same fixture. In the Grand National Hurdle Race he was given 11.5, the same as he is now asked to carry at Ellerslie, and finished fifth. Since then his attention has been confined to flat .racing, but he should be in good form when the meeting comes along. Elysianor has shown marked ability over hurdles during the last two seasons under big weights. He ,was third in the Trentham Hurdle Race, one fiiile and three-quarters to Overhaul and Gamp with 10.2 and later finin the Sydneham Hurdles, two piles, at Riccarton, with 9.11 to Red Fuchsia (10.9). Prince Lu beat him at a difference of 171b in the Okehu Hurdles at Wanganui, but Elysianor won the Manukau Hurdles, two miles, at Ellerslie in the spring with 10.13, Horomea (10.1) being; third. He later annexed the Waituna Hurdles, one mile and threequarters, at Feilding with 11.9, beating Horomea (10.5) by a head. He was second in a mile and a half event the next day with fe.6, and after finishing third in the New Year Hurdles, two miles, at Ellerslie atfnChristmas time with 11.13, lie won the Auckland Hurdle Race, two miles, with a similar impost, beating King's Guard]' Kawini, Prince Lu and others. By the manner in which Elysianor finished at the end of two miles at Ellerslie he certainly looks as though he will also go further successfully. Just at present, however, at the weights, one prefers Mister Gamp.. - Red Fuchsia fell in the last Great Northern Hurdle Race, in which he was weighted at 10.13. Now he has lib more to carry. Subsequently, at Trentham, he was unplaced in the Trentliam Hurdle Race with 11.6, Mister Gampji(ll.3) and Elysianor (10.2) finishing aegond and third, respectively. Mister Gamfrbeat him decisively in the Winter Hurdles, two miles and a quarter, at the same meeting at level weights, for Mister Gamp was second and Red Fuchsia again finished out of the money. Going on to Riccarton, they both met again in the Grand National Hurdle Race, in which Mister Gamp gave Red Fuchsia 101b and finished in front of him, though neither was in the money. That was the last occasion on which they met, but on the concluding day of the Grand National fixture Red Fuchsia won the Sydenham Hurdle Race, two "miles, in record time, with 10.9, while Elysianor was second with 9.11. Red Fuchsia finished second in the Westmere Hurdles at the last Wanganui meeting with 12.6, which is liia best effort over hurdles since winning at Riccarton. If in his true form Red Fuchsia should go well. Wedding March (10.12) has nothing to his credit for some time past. Elicit (10.11) ran third in the Brighton Hurdles at Ellerslie, and he Avas never further back than that throughout the race. He had 11.1 on thac occasion and was giving Star Qomet, the winner, 271b and Prince Lu, who was second, 131b. Now he has only to give them 61b and 111b • respectively. Star Comet will cause him most trouble of the last pair named, for he won easily the next day with 10.13. Wiltshire (10.6) has two Grand National Steeplechases to his credit and has shown ability over hurdles, but he appeals more in the steeplechase. Bright Land (10.5) has not done much recently, though he was a good horse over the "sticks" twelve months ago. Star Comet (10.5), by the way he won the Brighton Hurdle Race, appears to have a great chance, and he will be one of the fancied division. He finished on so well in both his efforts at Ellerslie that it does not look as though the extra distance will seriously trouble him. Mangani wbn the last Grand National Hurdle Race with 9.2 and has now been given 10.1. Mangani fell in the Brighton Hurdle Race, but in his subsequent efforts showed that he was improving, and he should be approaching his best by the time the meeting comes along. Prince Lu (10.0) ran well at the Auckland summer meeting, being seconfl to King's Guard in the Grafton Hufdle Race with 10.5 and again second to him in the Ponsonby Hurdles with 10.9, white at the recent autumn meeting lie occupied a similar uposition to Star Comet in the Brighton Hurdle Race with 10.2. He has a great deal of pace and it is just a matter of him staying on to be very troublesome. Pouri (10.0) was fourth in the Brighton Hurdle Race with 10.4, and he is meeting those who beat him on much better terms, with the exception of Elicit, whom he meets at the same relative weights, both having been dropped 41b. Pouri will have to do much better to beat Elicit. Pompeius (9.13) is in the same stable as Star Comet and therefore the Frankton trainer, P. Brady, holds a very strong hand. Pompeius lias shown that he can not only jump, but possesses •pace sufficient to win good races on the flat Roman Abbey (9.11) will be one of the prime fancies, for lie finished second in this event last June with 9.0. He had his first race for some time when he contested the Brighton Hurdle Race, and ne showed up for a while. At Avondale on Wednesday he looked an improved liorsc, but fell early in the race when in front. He should be at his best by the time the Great Northern Hurdles are decided. Kauri Park (9.5) won at Avondale on Wednesday, and he will stay on all right, and Horomea (9.5), who finished fourth in the last 'Grand National Hurdle Race, looks to be very nicely weighted. Aurora Borealis, who won in record time for a mile and three-quarters at Palmerston recently, looks the best of the otheio. Just now a few .that mav appeal aie. Star Comet, Mister Gamn, Roman Abbey Elysianor, Elicit, -Red Fuchsia and Pompeius. The Great Northern Steeplechase. Wiltshire (11.11) has won the Gianl National Steeplechase for the last two years in succession, carrying 10.0 on the last occasion, and for. a horse of his calibre he is not out of it, for, as jumpers to, the field is not a particularly strong pne, and he should be sufficiently forward

to do himself justice by the time the race comes up for decision. Elysianor (11.0) has yet to race over steeples, but still lie has proved himself a good hurdler, and the handicapper is not taking any risks with him. Red Fuchsia, who is on the same mark, lias won over steeples. He fell in this race last year, but got round the country all right in the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie last month. He may do better in the event under review. Wedding March (10.12) is a good jumper when properly right, but he has not been in the money for a long time. Kawini (10.8) was third in the event last year with 10. G. He won the Winter Steeplechase on the second day with 11.0, beating Wiltshire (10.6).' He is such a steady plodder that he always has to be respected. Elicit (10.6) has to be taken on trust over the big jumps,.but Mangani (10.1) and Pouri (10.0) have shown they can both jump the country.' Star Comet (10.0) has been tried over. steeples, but it was a couple of seasons ago. Omeo (9.13) has been a good performer over jumps this season, and by the manner in which he won the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie last month he will have some friends. Pompeius (9.13) has shown that he can jump the Ellerslie country well, for he won the last Pakuranga Hunt Cup and later the Hunters' Steeplechase | at the Auckland spring meeting. He will have a lot of friends if started. Roman Abbey--(9.11) was-second in the Great Northern last year, and he should again be hard to beat in June. Democratic (9.8) has proved himself a good hurdler, while Kauri Park (9.5) was second to Omeo in the. Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie and won over hurdles at Avondale. He is a likely sort. Matu (9.5) was second to Wiltshire in the Grand National Steeplechase last season with a similar impost, and if at his best should go well. Fabriano finished second to King's Guard in the Wellington Steeplechase last season, only being beaten by a head, and previous to that had won the Otago and Dunedin Steeplechases, while he finished third in the last Grand National. Ponjola (9.3) has shown up in Hunt Club, events this season and won the last Waikato Hunt Club Steeplechase. Airtight and Royal Elm may be the best of the others. Some that may be favoured at present are: Roman Abbey, Pompeius, Omeo, Wiltshire, Matu, Fabriano, and Red Fuchsia. The Cornwall Handicap. The Cornwall Handicap, which is run on the first day, forms the principal flat race of the meeting, and the weights are all up a stone, the minimum being 8.0. Corinax (10.2) has exactly equal to what he carried when he ran third in the Foley Memorial Handicap at Avondale last Saturday. He has shown consistent form recently, but this burden may be just a bit beyond him. Goshawk (9.9) has shown recent winning form in Australia up to a mile and a furlong, and if started in the Cornwall he looks as though he. will be in request. Seatown (9.7) won the'event last season with lib less. He is good, in soft going, and at Christinas time won the Manawatu Cup, one mile and a half. He has only got to be right to be very troublesome next month. Eager Rose has. 9.3. She has gone up a bit closer to Corinax, who beat her in the Foley Memorial Handicap at Avondale. Maori Boy (9.0), compared with the race mentioned at Avondale, is meeting Corinax on 51b better terms and Eager Rose on lib worse terms, and he finished sixth. Paddon (8.13) was second last year with 8.0, but he has not raced for some time; neither has Mendip (8.1o) nor Paleta (8.12). Pahu (8.10) is a good sort, and by the manner in which he scored at Manawatu and later finished second in the Manchester Gold Cup at Feilding, he should run well. _ Taneriri (8.10) has performed well this season, and, as the soft going will suit, him, he looks to be a very likely proposition. Atholspear (8.7) has pretty useful form up to a mile and a quarter, while Standfast (8.4) won two mile events at the recent Avondale meeting and should run well. Prince of Orange (8.3) impressed by his performances in the chief events at the Waikato meeting, finishing third each day, and he also ran a great race in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie and won at the Avondale meeting. He should be in the picture if started. Lucy Rose (8.2) is coming back to form, as her racing at Avondale shows, and the yielding tracks will be in lier favour. Of those lower down Austerity and Pompeius appeal most. Those that may be most sought after now are: Goshawk, Seatown, Prince of Orange, Eager Rose, Pahu, Taneriri, and Lucy Rose.