NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9125, 8 June 1895, Page 9

NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

This meeting commences to-day, and as some of the best known horses in New Zealand are likely to take part much interest is being shown. " Hotspur" selects Amalgam and Kildare to be the best in the Maiden, VVaiongona in the Winter Welter, Liberator in 1 he Grand National Hurdles, with this reservation that should Ida be a proficient jumper she should tieat him, Maiden Hurdles King John, Variety next best, Pony Hurdles Butterfly.

Bγ Telegraph. (from our special reporter.) AUCKLAND, June 7. Captain Edwin's weather forecast to-day is—"lndications are for strong winds with glass rising and weather colder," If such proves to be the case there should be a large attendance at the first day's racing in counectioQ with the North New Zealand Graud National Meeting at Ellerelie tomorrow. Great interest is centred in the gathering. A number of visitors from various parts of the colony have arrived to assist at the meeting. With regard to the big event in the programme, the Grand National Hurdle Race, two miles, the top weight (Liberator) has done good work since his arrival here, and 1 am convinced that he will take no end of buating to-morrow. I look upon him as sure to beat the next on the list, Eoor, who failed miserably in a gallop with Norton at Ellerelie yesterday. Coal a shows no ill effects from his journey to and from Sydney. That) being the case, I must pin my faith to him. Fright is whispered about as likely to upaet Coala and the rest of the field, but I decline to stand by him. Bouovoree will, I think, find the company a little too good. The event is one the new beginners have won since it was instituted three years ago, and it only remains for Ida to be the jumper that some of her friends would make her out to be for Mrs Lennard's mare to follow in the footsteps of Belmont, Mutiny, and Melinite. However, Ida being trained in private at Mangere, I am in the dark relative to her ability as a jumper. Therefore I will leave her out. My anticipation of the judge's verdict is Coala 1, Liberator 2, Bonovoree 3. Fur the Maiden Steeplechase I like best Kildare, after whom commend mc to the chaDce of Marechal Neil and Amalgam. Twelve figure on the card for the Winter Welter Handicap, but my strong tip is the Gisborne horse, Royal. For the Selling Steeplechase my vote goes to the Waikato representative, Nero. For the Maiden Hurdle Race there are a number of new beginners who have shown pace on the flat. I think the winner will como from one of the number. In naming Strayshot and King John perhaps I have picked the winner. The acceptances for the Pony Hurdle Race was completely marred by the leniency meted out to Kathleen by Mr Evett. The mare should win easily. Kathleen was submitted to auction today and knocked down to Mr Andrew Austin for £75.