HUNT CLUB’S MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 4

HUNT CLUB’S MEETING

RACING

PAGE’S RAID APPEALS IN STEEPLECHASE SOXERI MAY WIN BRABAZON HANDICAP AGAIN The Homeby Steeplechase, the principal event at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting at Riccarton to-morrow, may provide a better line than usual on the Grand National prospects this year. In the past the Homeby Steeplechase has not often been a reliable guide for those looking for the Grand National winner, mainly because the journey is a mile shorter, and with fewer fences to jump the more brilliant types of jumpers are at an advantage. To-mon ow, eight of the field of nine in the Homeby Steeplechase are Grand National candidates and form shown in the race may have more bearing on National prospects than usual. Only three of the runners will be having their first experience over Riccarton country, but as the trio comprises the top-weight. Royal Writ, Surpeen, and Test Pilot, considerable interest will attach to their displays. Royal Writ will be making only his third appearance as a steeplechaser, and has a good weight for one of his experience, but with his undoubted fencing ability and his pace on the flat he will be hard to beat at the distance. In his two races to date he has not been seriously challenged, but in this race he will meet the more experienced Page’s Raid for the first time. Page's Raid has already proved himself a master of Riccarton country and is a particularly solid stayer. While he would be better suited by a longer journey he has pace enough to hold his own over two miles and a half and he is less likely to fall into error than most of the others. Royal Writ’s hardest task will be to heat him.

Filibeg appears too close in the weights to Royal Writ and Page’s Raid. He runs his best races when allowed to make his own rules out in front, but he is not too solid. Surpeen is a splendid jumper and gave quite the best display of fencing in the Wellington Steeplechase. For a tubed horse he stays remarkably 7 well and his chances canot be disregarded. Likely Improver. Test Pilot has done well since he raced at the Wanganui and Manawatu meetings last month and has also schooled attractively. His showing will have a big influence on his National prospects. Master Play won the Matai Steeplechase at Trentham last Saturday and is the most likely improver in the field. He is not engaged in the Grand National Steeplechase. his other engagements being in the Enfield and the Lincoln Steeples. His races at Trentham have not hurt him and he will only have to repeat last Saturday’s performance to test the top-weights.’ Night Prince will be all the better for his race at W T ashdyke last Saturday, though he still does not appeal as being cjuite up to the class. Spanish Main won this race last year and followed up by chasing Dumbo home in the Grand National, but he has not run up to that form since. Nevertheless he may show

tip better than he did in the July Steeplechase at Trentham.

Although he looks in better order than he did when he came to Riccarton last year Abbey Lu’s form this winter has been moderate and he would need to do better to beat those higher in the weights. Oversized Field An oversized field of 28 will parade in the Brabazon Handicap, the principal flat race of the day, and all but three are V/inter Cup candidates. In the last few years form in this race has proved quite a good guide for the Winter Cup, and horses to complete the double recently •were Bashful Lady in 1942, Gulf Stream in 1944, and Soneri last year. In 1945 the Christchurch Hunt Club had a combined meeting with the South Canterbury Hunt Club, and the Claremont Handicap, the equivalent race on the programme, was won by Royal Flight, which also won the Winter Cup. This year there is a sharp division between the class of the top weights and the class of those lower in the handicap. Few of those in the latter division can be classed young and improving handicappers and it seems that the place-getters are likely to come from among the top-weights. In spite of her tremendous burden of 10-13 the champion mare, Soneri, will be strongly favoured. She is in a class of her own and with her powerful frame she looks capable of mastering her weight as well as most horses wAuld master 9-0. Findon is another outstanding performer, and with the benefit of a race at Trentham last Saturday, will probably have regained his confidence after his fall in the Whyte Handicap. He has previously shown that the roomy track at Riccarton suits him. Bridge Acre has been working particularly well lately, and as she races well when fresh, seems likely to race prominently in spite of the weight she has for one of her size. With 9-6 Lexia has the same weight as Bridge Acre and she too, will be strongly fancied. She has shown some high-class form up to a mile, and for one of her size handles weight well. Apart from being brilliant, Lexia is particularly game for her size, and she has shown her best form at Riccarton. Lord Elgin lacks recent racing while Flying Orders may find the last furlong troublesome at the weights. Pensacola showed all his speed in his two races at Trentham, but did not carry on when challenged. He has the ability if ever he elects to produce it. Detain will tackle the strongest company he has met since he showed his amazing improvement in form. He has the speed to get to the front early and is capable of carrying on in front, although such tactics will be more difficult in this field. Whitley is handily placed in the weights and now that he is seeing out the last fur long of his races in better style he has better prospects in this company. It will be no surprise if he finishes in the money. Few of the remainder have many qualifications. Most improvement can be expected from three-year-olds like Cipher, Night Blush, and Sahib, which have the necessary speed to make better class sprinters. Mixed Class Hurdlers The hurdlers in the Longbeach Hurdle Handicap are of mixed class. The topweight, Matapan. is a solid stayer and his recent form is much better than that ©f the remainder. Forage has not raced over hurdles for two months, but usually does best when fresh. The Raker’s form as a hurdler is moderate and the same applies to Sphere. Khadim has shown some useful form over hurdles, but in his recent races he has faded out at the finish. He may show improvement on the better going at Riccarton. Olga’s Choice is a sound hurdler but unfortunately does not stay too well. Now that he is in open company and has dropped in the weights he may run on better. Pedantic, Kassai, and Periwig will have to improve on their showings in hack company to be possibilities. The following horses may be favoured:. 10.47 a.m.—Christchurch Hunt Cup: Waihopi. Edward, Fairyhouse. 11.22 a.m.—Lawford Hack Steeplechase: Appeasement, Troy town. 12.2 p.m.—Haldon Stakes: Wide Range, Gold Medallion, Detract. 12.52 p.m.—Homeby Steeplechase: Page’s Raid. Royal Writ, Master Play. 1.37 p.m.—Camla Hack Handicap: Our Maureen, Front Page, Peculate. 2.17 p.m.—Longbeach Hurdles Handicap: Matapan, Forage, Khadim. 3.2 pan.—Brabazon Handicap, Soneri, Lexia. Bridge Acre. 3.47 p.m.—Kennels Hack Handicap: Beechwood, Bobby Dazzle?, Copper Coin. BLUE LEGEND’S EPSOM WEIGHT CRITICISED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, July 24. The owner of Immediate said his horse would not start in the Epsom Handicap because he did not think he had a chance of beating Blue Legend at the weights. He and other racing men claimed that the handicapper had treated Blue

Legend leniently in the Epsom. Several owners and trainers are critical of the Australian system of handicapping and favour the adoption of a maximum and minimum weight siifiilar to the American system.