EPPING FOR 'CHASE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 119, 22 May 1945, Page 9

EPPING FOR 'CHASE

OUT OF BIG HURDLES

COMMENT ON TE RAPA FORM

Now that he has been withdrawn from the Great Northern Hurdles the Awapunitrained jumper Epping is sure to advance in favouritism for the Great Northern Steeplechase. This son of Hunting Song and Fintry ran a splendid race in the Hamilton Hurdles at Te Rapa on Saturday, jumping well throughout to finish third after covering extra ground. He has yet to be seen to advantage across country, but he has an excellent record on the flat and over hurdles. Epping commenced last season ■ by winning three races in succession, the Soutra Hunters' Flat at Hastings, Glenarry Hack Cup at Hastings, and the Kapiti Hack Hurdles at Otaki. He later won a hack hurdle at Greenmeadows and then the Rangltiri Hurdles at Awapunl. On March 10 he took the High-weight Handicap at New Plymouth. Epping should strip in capital condition at Ellerslie on June 2. Although described in the Waikato race book as aged six years, Epping is really 10 years old, being foaled in 1934. His dam, Fintry, by Chief Ruler, is from the illustrious mare Desert Gold, by All Black—Aurarius, by Malster —Aurous, by Wallace. Valantua Pleases Another horse to go well in the Hamilton Hurdles was Valantua. He was near the rear of the field for about a mile and a half, but was putting in good work over the concluding stages, and was seventh at the judge. Valantua is an aged gelding by Valkyrian from Manuta, and he was well in tne spotlight at the last Great Northern meeting, finishing second to Dozie Boy in the big steeplechase, after which he won the Winter Steeplechase. He next ran second to Khurja in the Wellington Steeplechase, and then trained off. Valantua has 9.10 in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and is one of the likely light-weichts.