A POOR FIELD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 7

A POOR FIELD

VETERANS INCLUDED DOZIE BOY AND SLAYER Present indications point to the Grand National Steeplechase field on Saturday being one of the smallest on record; certainly one of the poorest. The acceptors number eight, but both Khurja and As Required are showing symptoms of unsoundness, and it is reported from Riccarton that they must be regarded as doubtful starters. What is more, Valantua was sore and a very weary horse when he concluded racing at Wellington a couple of weeks ago, while Dividend has been stopping badly in his races.

Noko and Kanui Te Pai are the actual favourites, having a slight call on Dozie Boy, a dual Great Northern winner. Noko is topweight with 11.10, three pounds more than he carried into second place last year, when the race was won by his stablemate, Anglo-French. He won five steeplechases last season, and, in April last carried 12.0 and 12.9 to victory at Riverton. _ , From the point of view of years, Dozie Boy, aged 13, is the veteran of the field, but Slayer, two years younger, has taken part in more Grand Nationals. As far back as 1939 ho finished third to Padishah and Erination, and a year later was second to Clarion Call, while, in 1941, he was again third, this time to Astral Flame and Dozie Boy. He was unplaced in 1942, and did not start last August. Slayer, by Valkyrian from the Martian mare Battleflag, is a great jumper, but only a plodder and, although he took the Churchill Steeplechase at Wingatui on Juno 10, has been on the down grade since he won the Great Western, at Riverton in April, 1942. Dozie Boy will be making his fourth attempt to win a National. In 1941 he finished sccond to Astral Flame, and after being unplaced with 10.fi in 1942 he ran third last year to Anglo-French and Noko. He has not started since he carried 10.5 to victory in the recent Great Northern.