MELBOURNE GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 16

MELBOURNE GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE.

To my mind nothing reads better in the Grand National Hurdle Race at this stage than the ex-New Zealander Catkin (says a Melbourne writer). A proved stayer on the flat, lie has shown his ability as a hurdler by winning at Moonee Valley recently in liis first attempt over the battens in public. As anticipated, Mosstrooper was awarded top-weight in the Hurdles, receiving 12.3. It is not a prohibitive weight for such a versatile jumper, but it lias never been carried to victory in the race. Objection may be taken to Catkin by some racing men on the ecore that he has not had sufficient jumping experience to win a race like the National. But the records show that horses of meagre experience have won the event. Longlands, the 1928 winner, had only won a maiden hurdle prior to his success. Though he has had only one race over hurdles, Catkin has been well schooled in private, and he did a lot of jumping when trained by H. W. Gabell. The son of Catmint will have several opportunities to appear in public before the first Saturday in July. For a horse that has won a good handicap flat race at Randwick Catkin is not badly treated with 10.7. When he won recently at the Valley the gelding had 10.5. Should the going be soft on National day the chance of Catkin will be greatly improved, for he is a much better horse in heavy going than on a firm track.