VALPEEN'S CAREER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 20

VALPEEN'S CAREER.

WON RACE TWICE.

ALSO THE GRAND NATIONAL.

-No horse who has won the Great Northern Steeplechase has a better record in the three principal jumping events in the Dominion—the Great Northern Steeplechase, the Grand National Steeplechase and the Wellington Steeplechase—than yesterday's winner, Valpeen. He is the only steeplechaser to have captured both the Northern and the National on two occasions, and, in addition, he completed another double in 1935 by taking both the Wellington Steeplechase and the Grand National.

ValpefJi, who is by Valkyrian, a eon of William the Silent, St. Simon's be&t staying son, is ten years old, but, judged by his dashing display over the final round of the latest Northern, he must still be considered in important jumping events. As might reasonably be expected of such a horse, Valpeen was conspicuous quite early in hie career. This was when he made his debut on a racecourse, as a five-year-1 Id, by winning the Greenmount Hunters' Steeplechase and the Pakuranga Hunt Cop at Ellerslie on the same afternoon.

Hi* first notable success came in 1934, when he won the Great Northern Steeplechase. He was ridden by JEL E. Thomson an that occasion, but, when he appropriated the Grand National two months later, A. J. Peart was in the ■addle. The year 1935 was a big one for the hardy warrior, as, after winning the Wellington Steeplechase with 11.4 in 4he eaddle and W. J. Bowden on top, he went on to Ktccarton to carry 11.13 to victory in the National. He then had a lean time, and fell so much in the handicaps that he only carried 10.5 when lie finished second to Irish Comet in last year's event. After that, he again failed to show any form, with the result that he was in on the minimum yesterday.

In six seasons on the turf Valpeen, who hae alwaysbeen noted for hi* dash--1!BS iPlWSji'-*—k fine staying ability, has contested 78. races, of which he haa won 11, being placed second on 11 occasions, and third six times. He has returned his owner, Mr. George Campbell, the sum of £5575 in stake money, and, naturally, is highly prized. He is trained on. his owner's farm at Okoroire, and is given only useful tasks to bring him to racing condition, schooling over fenees being taboo until the eve of a race. Valpeen is to make an attempt in August next to take a third Grand National Steeplechase.