V.R.C. MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 163, 12 July 1935, Page 12

V.R.C. MEETING.

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES. ACCEPTORS FOR TO-MORROW. MELBOURNE, .Tulv 11. Acceptances for the Granrl National Steeplechase, to bo run at Flemingtgn 011 Saturday, are as follows:— GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of £2500. About three miles nnd one furlotig. Redditeh . . 12 7 Fullmm . . 0 11 l>as Kassa 1,1 2 Richmond . . 9 11 Pactions . .10 7 • Memho (N.Z.) 0 !) Oldholme . . 10 5 Boy Clue ..02 Riawena . . 9 13 ' BACK FROM A SPELL. British Columbia, who has been spelling since the beginning of last month, has commenced work again at Avondale. He looks nice and fresh after his holiday and should not take long to get back to racing trim again. When i-i the mood British Columbia is a real good sprinter, and his owner, W. H. Maria, should win more races with the son of. Top Gallant during the coming season.

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES. HAS SHOWN SPEED. Lady Graceful, twoy-year-old lialf-sistcr to Vintage, is stated to be going 011 well in her daily tasks at Riccarton. She is a well-grown filly, who has not been hurried, but she has shown sufficient pace in short sprints to make her look a good prospect. WORKING WITH PLENTY OF DASH. Among the novices in work at Eilerslie few are doing better than Char song, who is putting a lot of dash into her tasks. She is also thriving and holding her condition much better than formerly and is in firstrate order to stand up to solid preparation. HOUNSLOW RETURNS TO FORM. Hounslow, after being out of form for a long spell, look*, as if he was about to stage a comeback. He was in the picture all the way in the High-weight at Trentham yesterday and he stuck 011 solidly to get third. It is worth noting at this stage that his best races have been run at Riccarton. MAY RACE NEXT MONTH. According to southern reports G. Murray Aynsley lias Orris and the two-ycar-oid Sovereign doing useful work at Riccarton, though they have not been seriously tried out yet. They are being got ready to race next month, but in view of the unfavourable track conditions during the past month they are not so forward as their owner-trainer would like. A GOOD EFFORT. The performance of Tybalt in winning the Members' Handicap at Trentham yesterday, was a very good effort. His speed carried him to the front before two furlongs had been covered, anil he gave none of his opponents any chance of getting near liim. This gelding lias only recently emerged from hack company, and he is liable to go on to much better class. TO RACE LATER ON. A full-sister to Solaria by Cainscourt from Sundew has recently been broken in by her owner, Mr. Geo. Henderson, of Avondale. She is a good-boned filly, showing a lot of quality and in conformation bears a striking resemblance to Solaria, though she differs in colour, being a bay. Her owner does not intend to hurry her and she is unlikely to race until the autumn. A HARD DOUBLE. No horse has yet won the C-.f.C. Grand National Steeples and Grand National Hurdles in the same season, but that has not deterred some owners from nominating their representatives for the Riccarton double, to be decided next month. The horses figuring in dual lists are Valpeen, Free Air, London, Sir Musk, Aladdin, Tudor, Umtali, Dunmure, Clan Ronald, Manawatu and Transact. ENGAGED TO-MORROW. Knock Out and Tail Light will be the sole representatives of the team of Cutts Brothers at Trentham this week and arc engaged to-morrow. The stable will have several other horses available for the Grand National meeting next month. Horn's Reef will be 011 hand again, after being off the scene since his fall at Eilerslie on Boxing Day. Trumpet Blast and Sky Pilot are two of the novices who may also be ready to race soon. < SENT HOME. I). O'Connor sent Royal Limond home to Riccarton without waiting for the final day at Trentham. His running in the Wellington Steeplechase showed that the heavy ground did not suit him, and it was decided to make the Grand National his next start. Rebel Chief and Lord Argosy, two of the Riccarton horses who failed to show up on the opening day at Trentham, were also sent home, as it was evident the ; conditions did not suit them. ! A JUMPING PUPIL. The Riccarton trainer I). O'Connor will ; take a new jumping pupil home when he * returns from Trentham. He has had Hunting Bag placed in his care to be prepared for hurdle racing. He is a five-year-old by Hunting Song from Windbag, by Absurd from Oratress, the dam of Concentrate and Oratrix. In the High- 1 weight Handicap at Trentham yesterday 1 when ridden by O'Connor Hunting Bag j ran a good race, finishing fourth. t < TRIAL PLATE WINNER. Collision was always one of the front ot in the Trial Plate at Trentham yesteriay, and he stuck 011 gamely though lie Aas hard pressed to stall off Debham's late challenge. It was Collision's third 1 ,vin on end and there should be more to ( ollow.. He is a solid-looking customer by < Jolossus, trained at Hastings by .1. Olsen. ivlio deserves a run of good fortune. * Collision and Host may keep him in the y imelight for some time to come. j : .>

: MAKING GOOD. HEADWAY. j Royal Broney, a half-brother to Princess Star, is making good progress under J. Preston's guidance. He was a bit of an "outlaw" when first taken in hand, but L lias settled down to his work well, though ho occasionally tries to get the better of 1 his rider. Koval Broney lias shown proi mising speed on .he few occasions that he has been sprinted, and when lie has hud a : bit of racing experience more is likely to be heard of him. A PROMISING 'CHASER. i Monastic gave evidence in the Matai Steeplechase at Trentham yesterday that he has made a lot of improvement in his education as a steeplechaser. His jumping, though slow at most of the fences, was • quite safe, and he gave his best display over the final obstacles. He had enough speed to gather up the ground he lost in his jumping, and the lace was won beyond doubt a lorn; way from home. This wellbred gelding has not had much experience over country, but he is liable to win again this winter, while he may develop into a very good steeplechaser next year. RESOLUTE GALLOPER. Arctic King was given credit for a good performance when he won at Trentham 011 Tuesday, but his success in the Petone Handicap yesterday was even more impressive. He began slowly and soon was at the tail of the field. He was still in that position at the turn for home, with a fair gap to bridge. Getting a run on the inside from the false rail, he settled down to his "work like a good horse. He had his head in front 50 yards from the post, and stalled off Rebel Lad by a head. Arctic King, who is a Rabbi three-year-old, is a rcsoluae galloper, likely to develop into a stayer. IN FIRST-RATE CONDITION. Since racing at the Great Northern meeting nothing of a strenuous nature has been re.quired of Kiltowyn, though he has never looked better than at present. It is the first time that the son of Kilbroney lias been kept in regular work throughout the winter, and, judged by his appearance he is all the better for it. Yesterday morning he was given a work-out over six furlongs, but was not after time, though he hit out with plenty of freedom and was anxious to increase the pace. Kiltowyn has registered some attractive performances at Ellerslie during the last two seasons and further succcsses look assured for him during the new term. MAKING SLOW RECOVERY. Mercian Lass, who severely damaged one of her knees while competing in the Waiohiki Hack Hurdles at Napier Park last month, is making very slow progress towards recovery, and it will be some time ere she will be put into work again. Her owner-trainer, W. McKinnon, was just getting her into good nick, and now all his patience and good work has had a serious setback. St. Elmo, winner of the Grand National Steeplechase in 1918, descends from the same family as Mercian Lass. McKinnon's other students, in addition to Curie, are Werohin and Patricia Holm, the latter a coming two-year-old filly by Nigger Minstrel from Conchita, therefore a half-sister tQ Journet, Golden Chant and Bazaine. '