TOPICAL COMMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 182, 3 August 1944, Page 7

TOPICAL COMMENT

FAIRY BARD UNLUCKY Several horses had exuses offered for their failures in the Brabazon, but the most unlucky of them all was Fairy Bard, states a southern writer. He drew No. 1 at the barrier ana woirtd not come into line, so he was stood about half a length behind John o' London, who was at No. 2. As the field moved out Fairy Bard was cut back and was one of the last bunch of five to leave the mark. He did not come into the picture till, the field was well into the straight, and to work his way through a field of 30 and take part in a close finish in which the first four horses were separated by less than a length, was a performance of considerable merit. CHANCING HIS FENCES Noko is losing his reputation as a jumper, but there may have been some excuse for his mistake at Rlccarton last Saturday as his rider was ill the day before the race and was not fit enough to do the horse justice. At the same time Noko did reveal a tendency, as at Trent* ham, to chance some of his fences, and such a weaVness is usually fatal over the big , Riccarton country, which has to be jumped ail the way. Till recently Noko's jumping has never been in question, and it would not be wise to dismiss him because of two errors, for each of which there was a reasonable excuse. On his Riverton Easter form he must remain among the most fancied horses for the Grand National. CONDITION OF KHURJA Khurja was obviously above himself in condition and blew very hard after the Homeby Steeples at Riccarton, but none of the horses which ran in the race is likely to improve more with the benefit of the race. Khurja developed a splint at Trentham, and it was not possible to give him any work till the inflammation in the leg was removed. Through circumstances over which his trainer had no control, Khurja's preparation was completely inadequate for a gross horse of his type, and thus he lacked experience of the Riccarton country, states the Dominion. He jumped carefully on Saturday, but it was noticed that any of the fences which he had to jump twice were cleared in better style. He was like this at Trentham, and it can be accepted for certain that he will show great improvement in his fencing in the Grand National this week. There must be still a doubt, however, whether he is seasoned enough for three miles and a half, for his preparation between the Great Northern meeting in June and the running of the Homeby Steeplechase was of the lightest possible nature. ANSWEK TO CORRESPONDENT INQUIRER. —Hard Frost was ruled a starter in the Haldon Hurdles. He developed lameness while at the post and returned to the birdcage. As the totalisator had closed he was declared a starter, though he took no part m the race.