Bridegroom Fancied in National Steeples

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 188, 11 August 1941, Page 4

Bridegroom Fancied in National Steeples

C.J.C. MEETING

WINTER CUP PROBLEM DIVISION iN AVONHEAD fO.C ) (TIRISTCIIL'IJCH. this day. Bridegroom Brilliant, but possiblv a . , I suade below best owing to lack of wovk due to filling of a hind log on the inside of the hock. Slayer—Less brilliant, but a grand stayer. Take your choice from this pair and you may have the satisfaction of picking the Grand National Steeplechase winner at j Riccarton to-morrow. There are other : possibilities, including Ballvbrit and Chat, i two tit horses, and Astral Flame, a light-1 weight who has jumped his way into the' limelight this winter, but it looks likej Bridegroom or Slayer, and the vote goes j to Bridegroom who has come through the j final stages of a cheeked preparation well. He is a brilliant jumper and the 121b in weight he receives from Slayer should enable him to carry the day. Slayer's preparation looks to have been trued nicely by the Wingatui trainer, A. -f. Cnssells. and it will be a well-merited victory if he succecds. as he has been placed in the last two Nationals. Whirr will be coupled with Slayer, but looks to have lost the dash which made him the outstanding jumper at the Dunedin winter meeting. Ballvbrit looks ready to run the race of his career. He has been given every chance this winter and won the Horaeby Steeplechase in dashing style. F.rinatiori, Aussie lia and Chat do not appeal as much as some of the others. Astral Flame and Dozie Boy both look lightweight prospects. Gay Boa's condition is a tribute to his trainer, E. J. Ellis, and the Balboa gelding should win the Enfield Steeplechase. The race has drawn a dozen horses and Son and Heir, Ruling Star and Hyderabad I comprise a promising trio from the North Island. Surcoat has schooled well, but looks too close to Gay Boa. Panara and Night Scout are also entitled to consideration. Cashmere Plate. 1 Five scratchings will be needed to save the Cashmere Plate being run in divisions. ! The first division is the weaker one, Darag • being the only winner engaged. He is said ' to be above the average and if that is corI rect he should win. Sir Gundi also looks I like taking a hand in the finish, as he . should be improved by the race at the | Christchurch Hunt meeting. Good Scout, j Prince Shad, Paper Whittle and Basculi are all improvers. Renarde and Milton | Abbas may fight out the finish of tiie second division. Both should do well this season. Silver Ball is another winner, but it is doubtful whether he will measure up to the standard of the other pair. Gunga Din, despite his failure at the Hunt meeting, cannot be counted out, while Kernel is also useful.

Young Charles lias winning form on the Flat t'o suggest that he will set the Jumpers' Flat field a stiff task. Half and Half has a win over Winter Cup candidates in the C'laremont Handicap at Wash dyke as a recommendation, and he should be equal to carrying 10.10, as he won a double over hurdles at the Dunedin meeting. The Dozer has a solid weight, but is a puller, though he is a iit horse. Esperance Bay and Dividend are useful in races of this type, while l'oxiana, had all gone well with him, would have been in demand. Green Boa is a likely lightweight. Sunny Knight looks outstanding in the Paparua Handicap, but he may be reserved for the Winter Cup. If lie contest's the I'aparua he should be the hardest to beat. Ueaitli may be better later at the meeting. Wings of Song should run six furlongs out in solid style. He is a smart horse out from the barrier, an advantage in a race of this type. Sceptre has shown good form in the north, while Withdrawal and Gold Flight are capable sprinters. Palfrey is nicely weighted considering his two-year-old form, but lacks racing. Poutatan looks improved i.nd is spri.iting well. Sham Boy and Stabilise will a!.--o be well supported. Xoko and Fundv Bay appeal in the Trial Hurdles field, wnieh makes up in quantity what it may lack ir. quality. Cuieinier is a northerner witli prospects, he gives of his best. Xight Dress ran into trouble early at Washdyke, and if he I escapes this time should be in the picture. [ The Winter Cup Is bristling with possi- | biiitics, and most of the 22 candidates must be given chances. Gladynev has a chance under 9.7, especially as Catalogue scored his third victory in the Tare under 10.3. Haughty Winner appeals more than Xoble Fox and Contrepoise, and he may even go one better than in the race last year, when he was runner-up to Lady Tinkle. Though most entires are past their best as seven-year-olds, Haughty Winner possesses the ideal temperament and has not been over-raced. Gayest Son_ is fancied in spite of his Brabazon Handicap failure. He looks as fit as any horse at Riccarton. Sunnv Knight is a speedster, but it is unlikeV that he will see the distance out. H. Xurse has a grand bracket in St. Cloud and Treasurer, and it will not lie surprising if both play a part in the finish, but Treasurer may be the better prospect as it does not look as if he will have trouble in bridging the ran to open company. Esquire and Roloyna will be supported, while Trench ! Law has a Northern fo'lowing. Eulogist is a lightweight who has been working solidly. Another division is possible in the Avonhead Handica.p. the field of 35 being three over the safety limit. Ann Mie appeals in the First Division, as she had the benefit of a race at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, and is a smart mare. Riuleh'ma has a weight which should stop her. Atreus is due to improve, though he will be all the better for a race. Scarteen appears t"> be improving with age. Parchment, Hurry Girl and Roman Son also have their moments. Green'bank is not always an even galloper. ! but if he goes smoothly will be in the I fight at the end. Of the Second Division. I Kanui Te Pai has won his last two races,

and further improvement may be shown. Xight Glass has speed, but she does not stay, -while Force has been racing solidly. Bet-tine "will be win and place. The track -will be soft. Horses to appeal are: — 11.32 —13 n field St.eeplerhase.~Gay Boa, Son and Heir, Hyderabad. 12.17 —Cashmere Plate.—-First Division: Darag, Sir Gundi. Second Division: Renai-de, Milton Abbas. 1 o —Ttimpers* Flat. —Younj* Charles, Half and Half, Dividend. I.47—Paparua Handir-np.—Sunny Knight, Winers of Soncr, Seep tie. 2.32— Grand National. — Bridegroom, Slayer, BalJybrit. 3.17 —Trial Hurdles. —Xoko, Fundy Bay, Merry Simon. 4.2—Winter Cup.—Gayest Son. Haughty Winner, St. C'oud-Treasurer bracket. 4.47 —Avouhead Handicap.—First Division: Ann Mie, Searteen. Second Division: Kanui Te Pai, Greenbank. ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE of £200, about two miles and a half.— Surroat, 11.6; Gay Bor:. 11.3; Son and Heir, J 1.2; Ruling Star. 10.6: Hyderabad. 10.3; Panara, fI.S; Dropped Catcli, Nijht Scout, 9.6; Valens, 9.5: Prince Flaneur, 9.3: Young l Squatter, 9.1; Waka, 9.0. I CASHMERE PLATE of £300, six furlongs.— First division: Darag. Maggiore. Paper Whistle. Te Marua, Arabiin Night, 8.11; Bascule, Desert Love, Good Scout. Gunrdress, Huntintr Charm, Lady Nottava, Lindus. Miss Saone, Square Cut. ; Prince Shad. Scottish Dale. Sir Gundi. True Mate, 8.0. Second division: Kurawhi. Milton Abbas, j Pink Dart. The Flying Fortress. 8.11: As Required. Bold Sheila. Espionage, Greek Dancer. Ounsr.t Din, Kernel. Leander, Lord Dundns, Fenny Whistle. Prince Dolomite. Renarde. Silver Ball. Solerity. 8-0. Brackets: Espionage and Good Scon*. Greek Dancer and Guardress. Gun?a Din and Hunting Charm. Kernel and Lady NoMava, I.eandcr and Lindus. Lord Dundas and Miss Saone. Penny Whistle and Square Cut. Prince Dolomite and Prince Shad. Renarde and Scottish Dale. Silver Ball and Sir Gundi. Solerity and True Mate. Brackets: Mansura and Citizen. Blue Abbev and Sea item. Lord Midas and Parchment. Nlizhlslass and Hurry Girl. Red Dash and Star Win!:. Grey Night and Gold Don, Force and Roman Son, Auburn lad and Blue Coat, Bat sham and Ackemma. Roadsider and Moderate. Myraid and A venal. JI'MPERS* FLAT of £300, one mile and a half. King Rev. 12.0: The Dozer. 11.4: Esperanc** Bay. n.2- Half and Half. 10.10; Araboa. 10 8; Young Charles. 10.7; Dividend. 10.3: Foxiana. 10.2; Auotor, /0.1; Pekoe. 9.13: Cuisinier. 9.11; Master Dingle, 9.3: Green Boa. 9.7; Son and Heir, Great Fligh:. Colibri, 9.0. PAT»AFI T A HANDICAP of £ rrOf>. f„ r ! 0 n^.— Hearth. 10.1; Sunny 9.9: Rebel M"»te. 9.6: Boswe! 1 . 9.5: Snxon Tor. 9.3: \ufrm o nt. Waitcru, 9.1: Nightcalm, 8.13: "Wings of Song, 8.12; Sceptre, Gold Flinrht. 8.10: Withdrawal. 8.6: Dictate. Palfrey. 8.5: Poutat.au. 84: Skyrcna. Shara Boy. Stabilise. Dainty Dell, 8.0. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of £1475 and Trophy value £25. Three miles and a half. Slaver 11 6 Whirr 9 13 BMlybrit 10 9 Chat 9 12 Frinat.ion .... 10 9 Dauber 97 Bridegroom ... 10 8 Astral Flame ..92 Aussie Ra . . .10 3 Dozie Boy .... 9 2 Bracket: Slayer and Whirr. TRIAL HURDLES of £300. oif mil** and threequarters and 50 yards.—Fundy Bay. 10.3: Clay Boi. 30.0; Noko. 9.11: Cuisinier. 9.10: Nightdress. 9.7; Merry 9.6: Auctor, Colibri. 9 2; Cartoonist. 9.1; Flame Queen. Petersham, Batsman. Red Dragoon, Night Prince. 9.0. WINTER CUP of £750 and Trophy value £25. One mile. Gladynev .... 9 7 Gay Parade ... 8 10 Noble Fox .... 9 5 Esciuire 8 9 Haughty Winner . 9 4 Boloyna 8 8 Centrepoise ... 9 4 Trench Law ... 8 5 Gayest Son ... 9 2 Cymric 8 5 Sunny Knight ..90 Algerian 8 2 St. Cloud .... 8 13 Poutatau 8 1 Wagner 8 11 Treasurer 8 1 Minority 8 11 Merry March ..80 Little Robin ... 8 10 The Wrecker ..80 | Black Majesty . . 8 10 Eulogist 8 0 Bracket: St. Cloud and Treasurer.

AVONHEAD HACK HANDICAP of £ 30#, seven furlongs.—First division: Rouletima. 9.13: Catanach. 9.2; Johnemby. 8.12; Atreus, Ann Mie. 8.11; Gnohill. 8.10; Ktnkajou. 8.3; Citizen, 5.7; Scarteen, Parchment, 8.6; Hurry Girl, Star Wink, 8.5; Gold Don, 8.4; Roman Son, 8.1; Blue Coat. Ackemma, Moderate. Avenal. 8.0. Srcond division: Valcron, 9.10; Sanction, 8.12; Military Maid. Greenbank, 8.11: Kanui Te Pai, Jolly Time. 8.10; Mansura, 8.8; Blue Abbey, 8.7; Lord Midar. H. 6; Nightglass. Red Dash, 8.5; Grey Night, 8.4; Force. 8.3: Auburn Lad, 8.1; Batsham, Roadsider, Myraid. 8.0.