BONNIE ROLLOX.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 12

BONNIE ROLLOX.

LOOKS VERY WELL.

'CHASERS AT RICCARTON. FOUR NATIONAL CANDIDATES. Riccaiton stables are fairly well off I for junipers this winter and their candidates will be in action in most of the steeplechase and hurdle races to be decided in the next few weeks (says our Christchurch correspondent). Thev include four horses with engagements in the Grand National Steeplechase. Some interest attached to Bonnie Rollox when he went out for the South Canterbury Steeplechase last Saturday. as he had not previously raced in the South Island, his only previous. starts since he came frpm Australia being two in the North Island early last winter. He has not done a great deal of galloping, but he .has had plenty of good work on the roads and he looks vervl well. J

In his race at Washdyke he gave a fine exhibition of jumping,. and he wag going well to the straight, though he was eased up at the finish,.when he had no chance of being in the Tnohey. H« will be a starter in the Homeby Steeple chase and then should be ready for a ?ood effort in the Grand National. In botn tTiese races lie will be ridder by Mr. R. D. Westenra. This talented amateur wen* to reside with the steeplechaser's owner-trainer, A. J. Martin while working his own horse, Manetho »nd since, this unlucky animal wenl wrong again he has been looking aftei Bonnie Rollox. It will be something oi i novelty to see an amateur rider* in the Grand National, but it is recalled that it is not unusual to «ee a numbei Jf them ln the Liverpool Grand National The jumping riders can have no <*riev ince over the arrangement for Mr.°Wes tenra to ride Bonnie Rollox, as the rid ing fee will go to a jockey who has e .'laim to recognition. Has Done Well. Nocturnus has done well since he cam* back, a few weeks ago, to the stable oi A. S. Ellis, who handled him for his success last winter. He demonstrated in a recent school, that he had not for gotten his old aptitude for jumping anc he gave a first-class exhibition in th< South Canterbury Steeplechase. Ii was his first race over fences for 1 months, since he won the Grand Nationa ind Beaufort last August He pulled up quite sound, show in" n( signs of a recurrence of the trouble "thai caused him to be spelled a few month ago, and another run in the Hoinebi Steeplechase on Saturday should brin< him to good order for an attempt to wii bis- second Grand National. He wil need to improve a lot, however, to joii the select list of dual winners. H. will again be ridden by F. E. Baker, wh< bandied him last year. Though High Speed returned to Ric carton only a few weeks ago, he ha. done a lot of useful wo'rk before he lef South Canterbury, and as he comes t hand quickly, he should be ready to rui a good race in the Grand National. H is a good jumper, and the conditions rul ing this winter will favour him, as h revels in soft going. He was unfor tunate in the South Canterbury Steeple chase—his first race for more than year—as after an early mistake h trailed the field, providing no line t his prospects. The Homeby Steeph chase should give him a chance for som more race experience. D. O'Connor was unlucky when Arcti Star met with a mishap at Wangam in May as he was very forward an looked like paying his way in steeple chases early in the winter. He haa t be eased up, but it was not long befpr he was able to resume useful worl Lately he has done some useful gallop* and a race on Saturday should brin him to good order for more importan engagements at the Grand Nations meeting Though still eligible for had events, he has giveh evidence that h only needs to be at his best to hold hi nwn in any steeplechase company. I the meantime, however, his appearanc in a race, is being awaited, to snow mn Be will go tinder pressure. - :if«ch Discussed. ' Flashlight fcas been, much discusse in the last month or two. He has ha races, at AshburtOn, Washdyke an Xrentham,being successful in each c £??"" J? ° pi|e of tehm did he mee setter than moderate opposition, but h demonstrated his ability '*» a jumpei and had no difficulty in winning. Ur fortunately, he has given T. H. Gillet some worry. He ricked a shoulder las week, a mishap that prevented him frbr starting in the South Canterbur Steeplechase, but he is nearly ri«t r"; »« is an acceptor for th Homeby Steeplechase, and if he coi tinues to improve in the next day c two he will be a starter, after which hi programme for the Grand Nation* meeting will be considered. He is i the Enfield and the Grand National, an his owner may prefer the former rath* than take on the more difficult tas with a young horse that has not had great deal of racing. Nightbound had his .first win in cross-country race when he led the fiel home in the South Canterbury Steeple chase.Jast Saturday. It is probabl be will contest some of the mine steeplechases at the Grand Nations meeting. He is a -romising sort tha may make a good performer with a» ind experience. °