A.R.C. WINTER MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 18

A.R.C. WINTER MEETING.

GREAT NORTHERNS. THE CORNWALL HANDICAP. RECENT FORM REVIEWED. The weights have been declared by Mr. I'. McManemin for the chief events at the Auckland Racing Club's winter meeting ■ —the Great Northern Hurdle Race, Great Northern Steeplechase and Cornwall Handicap. The Hurdles. Carinthia (11.9) has been placed at the top of the Great Northern Hurdle field, which is two stone more than he Avon the Winter Hurdle Race at Wellington Avith, and 151b more than he carried to A'ictory in the last Grand National Hurdle Race, while it is exactly the same impost as he pixn-ed successful with in the Sydenham Hurdle Race, tAVO miles, on the third day of the Grand National fixture. In the Grand National he Avas folloAved home by Aurora Borealis (9.9) and King's Jest (10.8), while Mister Gamp (11.1) was unplaced. In the Sydenham Hurdle Race Nukumai (11.0) was second and Mister Gamp (11.1) Avas third. Carinthia is not by any means out of it. Mister Gamp, Avho won the Great Northern Hurdles in 1929 with 9.13, failed last season with 11.5. Since then he Avon the Rernuera Hurdle Race, tAvo miles, at Auckland, Avith 11.13, and a high-Aveight handicap at Trentham. He is meeting Carinthia on lib better terms than when he Avas beaten by him in the Sydenham Hurdle Race, and if at his best he should again take some beating. Amorist (10.11) has been performing Avell in: the South over shorter distances, and it is very doubtful whether he Avould see out the lavo miles and a half at Auckland successfully.- He has yet to A\'in a tAVO-mile event, though he has been placed over the distance. Make Up, Avho is on the same mark, AA r as a good performer on the fiat and commenced hurdle-racing at the last winter meeting at Trentham, Avheh ■he was placed in his first two starts! This season he won the Rata Hurdles at Marton and finished third to Mister Gainp and Avro at Wanganui, but the former was disqualified because he could not draAV the weight. He came up to Auckland and ran second to Claremore in- the Manukau Hurdles, two miles, carrying 11.6. He won the Glen Hurdles at Wellington, one mile and threequarters, Avith 11.2, Amorist (10.13) being unplaced, while on the second day he was second Avith 11.11 in the Rona Hurdles, beating Amorist (10.10). He finished third in the Spring' Hurdles, two miles, at Riccartoh, with 11.3, and Avon the. Port Cooper Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters, Avith 11.8, beating, among ' others, Amorist (10.7). Since then he has raced well on.the flat and is now on the same mark as Amorist, so that he is Avell treated and he should run well if started. Nukumai's only placing this season was in the Sydenham Hurdle Race, mentioned previously. Red Fuchsia (10.7) is a good hurdler and Avould only need to be at his best to be in the money. Antrim Boy (10.5) has shown winning ability in the South, but Amorist beat, him easily when they met recently. However, he accounted for both hurdle eyents at the Easter meeting, at Riccartoh,' one mile and three-quarters and once round and a distance, respectively, which are his best performances. Claremore (10.3) Avon the Trial Hurdle Race, one mile and three-quarters, at Ellerslie with 9.5J, and the Manukau Hurdle Race, two miles, •with 10.5, at Ellerslie in the spring. He beat Make Up on both occasions, but in tho former event Make.Up.Avas conceding him nearly 301b, while in the latter race there AA-as, 151b difference in favour ,of Claremore. Make Up is. only giving him 81b now and should hold him safely, for Make Up should be a better seasoned horse. Avro (10.2) lias performed Avell since he has been put to hurdling. At the last Wellington Avinter meeting he won the Corunna Hurdles, one mile and a half, with 10.12, beating Make Up (9.10) and Paris (9.6). The folloAving day he was aAvarded 11.9, but ran unplaced. This season at the Wanganui spring meeting he finished second in the Okehu Hurdles, one mile and threequarters, to. Mister Gamp, with Royal Acre (10.2) and Make Up (10.0) behind him. Mister/Gamp's rider could not draw the weight and the others were placed as named. With 11.4 he finished third to Luminary and Rfjf/al Acre, conceding, the former 20lb and the latter I3lb. At Manawatu lie was second to Easterly in the Tokomaru; Hurdles with 10.8, and the folloAving day Avon a ; kighAveight handicap, one mile and a quarter, Avith 10.13. At the recent Wanganui meeting he accounted for the Fordell Hurdles, a little over a mile and a half, Avith 11.8. At 10.2 he will have to be very seriously considered. Glenstar (10.0) is a useful, sort, but one does not see why he is on the same mark as Aurora Borealis and Avhy several of the others mentioned have io givu weight to Aurora Borealisl Last season Aurora Borealis' proved herself the best jumper in the country. She won the Century Hurdles at Wanganui Avith 9.5, and Avith 9.11 ran third in the Great Northern Hurdle Race, and:it Avill be recollected that she was "off the course" nearly all the way. She won the Great Northern Steeplechase, - Winter Steeplechase and Grand National Steeplechase, and was just beaten in the Wellington Steeplechase. In the Grand National Hurdle Race, Avith 9.9, she was only beaten by a length and a half by Carinthia, and on the last day won the Lincoln Steeplechase. On her performances in the Century Hurdle Race, Great Northern Hurdle Race and the Grand National Hurdle Race she was entitled to more. She Avas in receipt of 131b from Carinthia in the Grand National Hurdles and now he has to give her 231b.. If she is as Avell as she wa.s this time last year Aurora Borealis will be the hardest to beat. Full Mark (9.1.1) and Royal Acre (9.9) are useful sorts, but the distance may be a bit too far for Luminary and Prince Lu, who have been aAvarded 9.7 and 9j4 respectively. Lucess (9.2) made a very favourable impression by the manner in which he won the St. Helier's Hurdles, .one mile and three-quarters, at Ellerslie, jfind the Avondale Hurdles, one mile and

a half, at Avondale. Omeo, Perle de Leon and Apache look the best of the others. Just now a few that may appeal are Aurora Borealis, Avro, Make Up, Mister Gamp, Lucess, Carinthia and Red Fuchsia. Great Northern Steeplechase. Aurora Boralis, after her fine performances last season, is naturally on top of the steeplechase with 11.10. She carried 11.1 in the Grand National Steeplechase, and, after running second in the Grand Xational Hurdle Race, accounted for the Lincoln Steeplechase, three miles, with 11.13, so she is not overburdened.Carinthia (11.4) has yet to prove himself as a 'chaser. Wiltshire (11.2) won the Grand National Steeplechase two years on end with 10.0J and 10.9, respectively. He has done little since, but he looked on his last appearance as though he was coming right. He has his full issue. Mister Gamp (10.9) has yet to show his ability over country, while Beau Cavalier (10.8) has not raced for a long time. Nukumai (10.2) has only Avon one steeplechase in his career —the Egmont Steepleclmse. Red Fuchsia (10.2) was going well last season in the Great Northern Steepleclmse when he came to grief, the second time round, and since

then lie lias Avon over country. Lucess (9.12) showed at the last winter meeting at Ellerslie that he was a most promisng jumper, winning the Hunt Club Cup and finishing ' second in the Greenlane Steeplechase and the Tamaki Steeplechase. He has shown good form over the smaller obstacles recently and is nicely treated. Claremore (9.12) and Avro (9.11) have not taken on the big fences yet, but the latter, if he is started, should go. well. Star Comet (9.11) won the Autumn Steeplechase, about three miles,, at Ellerslie at Easter with lib more, : and on that showing will have a gOod-*hance. Omeo (9.9) was second in the . Great Northern Steeplechase ' last season with &.13 and lie subsequently ran third in the Grand National Steeplechase with 10.11. He was not at his best on either occasion, but. fit and well next month he should prove one of- the hardest to beat.' Skyrider (9.2) can be expected to do better than when* here at Easter. She'is a ; good jumper. Slump (9.0). / won the Mangere Steeplechase with 10.0 at Easter and is a likely sort,' while of the others on the minimum Paris, who won at Riverton, Dark Prince, Master Lu and St. Warrigal appeal most. Master Lu won two steeplechases—the Greenlane and. 'Tamaki—at the last Great Northern 'meeting and later annexed the Te Awamutu Steeplechase. Some who may find favour just now are Aurora Borealis, Wiltshire, Lucess, Master Lu, Star Comet, Omeo and Skyrider. • "

The Cornwall Handicap. The weight for the Cornwall Handicap this season is 7.0, instead of 8.0 previously. Seatown won this event two years ago with 9.6, equal at the present scale to 8.6, and on the last day won the York Handicap with 10.0, equal to 9.0 on the present weights. Last season he was third in the Cornwall Handicap with 9;7, equal to 8.7, and was second in the York Handicap with 10.10, which would he 8.10 if the minimum had been 7.0. He recently won. the St. George's Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Stratford, with 8.12, so that he will he in demand if started. Black Duke (8.13) ( has raced well in the South, and at the Easter meeting at Riccarton accounted for the Sockburn Handicap, nine furlongs, and the Great Autumn Handicap, and a half. He should also go well. Eaglet, is on. the same mark and has raced prominently recently up to a mile and a quarter. Bright Glow (8.11) was second in the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half, at Ellerslie on Easter Monday, which is her best effort for time.. She has since Miled at Stratford. Havering (8.11) has proved useful up to a mile, while Merry Damon (8 9) has not much to his credit recently. Royal: Doulton (8.8); is not badly placed, while True Blood (8.8) is a horse who is good on a soft track. He won this event last season with 8.0 and subsequently captured the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham with 9.9, equal to 7.9. He was big in condition when last seen out,.but should : have, time to reach his best. Corinax (8.8) disappointed in his last efforts, but Antique (8.2) will have to be considered after his successes this year. He won the Takapuna Cup and was also successful at Te Rapa recently. Sir Mond (8.0) has also performed well over a mile and a quarter this season and promises to strip a fit horse. Eager Rose (8.0) showed her ability to handle soft going at Avondale and she should be prominent. Inevitable (7.10) has 1 raced well in the South," while King March (7.8), after his success at Avondale, will have lots of friends if started. Taneriri (7.7) showed at Whangarei that he was Hearing his best, and he should be in good order for the winter meeting at Ellerslie. Of the others Maori Boy, Gay Cockade, Grand Tea and Standfast look the best. Fancies just at present may be Seatown, King March, Black Duke, Antique, Eaglet, Eager Rose and Taneriri. However, there will be other opportunities for considering tiiese races before the meeting