WELLINGTON STEEPLES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26465, 5 July 1951, Page 4

WELLINGTON STEEPLES

JON ROSA’S TASK NOT EASY DUKE ROYAL MAY BE HARD TO BEAT The Wellington Steeplechase, which will be run on the first day of the winter meeting at Trentham on Saturiay, is expected to provide one of the toughest tests of stamina and gameness for several years. The track is expected to develop into a quagmire, after weeks of frosts and rain. The Trentham fences are not as formidable as those faced by Grand National fields at Riccarton, but they take their toll when the going is as deep* as it will be on Saturday. Top weight with 12-0 in the field is Mr W. S. Goosman’s tough Nizami gelding, Jon Rosa, the runner-up Io First Act in this race a year ago, when he carried 9-13. Jon Rosa showed that he is now in good condition by running third to Personality and Count Blan in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles at Hastings last Saturday. At Ellerslie on June 4 he carried 10-13 in the Great Northern Steeplechase and was third to finish, later being promoted to second place on the disqualification of First Act. Five days later, he carried 11-4 to a decisive win in the Winter Steeplechase, of three miles. The minor place-get-ters were First Act and Roman Ned. That was his first success over country this season, but he had advanced his stake winnings earlier in the season with a win over hurdles at Ellerslie in March, and second places in the Waikato Steenlechase and Hurdles.

Hardy and game as he is, Jon Rosa’s prospects of carrying 12-0 to victory on a very heavy track do not loos bright.

Wingatui Winner The next horse in the handicap to Jon Rosa is Zealander, whose weight is 10-10. The Oarnaru-trained Foxbridge gelding has won only one open steeplechase, and that was in moderate company on the' third day of the Dunedin winter meeting. On the first and second days, he had won the hack steeplechases. Zealander will have to concede weight to good winners in Redingote, which was promoted to first place in the Great North-' ern Steeplechase; Dawn March, winner of; the last Grand National; and Duke Royal, 1 winner of the Waikato Steeplechase last season. Zealander's pace and ability tc handle bad ground will be in his favour, and nothing about his jumping at Wingatui could be seriously faulted. But he* has not yet had the opportunity to show, whether he has the stamina necessary to run out three miles and a quarter* solidly in the strongest company he has, yet met. Ilf the distance of Saturday's race does not inconvenience him, there will be few others in the field capable of matching him for pace. Redingote (10-9) carried 10-0 when he was promoted to first in the Great Norther i Steeplechase. In that race he carried 131 b less than Jon Rosa. The track was heavy. Earlier he had won the Green Lane Steeplechase, of two miles and a half, at Ellerslie, the Clarkin Steeplechase. of two miles and a half, at Te Rapa in May. and a hurdle race at Tauranga in January. If Redingote is successful on Saturday, he will be the sixth horse to win the< Great Northern Steeplechase and Wei-, 'ington Steeplechase in the same season. The last to do so was the great jumper, Brookby Song. The others were Kaitere (1905), Coalition (1921), Beau Cavalier (1927). and Survoy (1939). Redingote schooled attractively at Trentham on Tuesday. Lost Form

Dawn March (10-4), which won the Grand National Steeplechase last August, appears to have lost all form this winter.; Ihe tail of the field has been his usual' position in his recent races, and he has! not looked like improving. It wouM be hard to Imagine the Nightmarch geldi-.g improving sufficiently to win on Saturday. The Washdyke-trained Sphere (10-3) raced twice at the Dunedin winter meeting, finishing last in the Otago Steeplechase and second to Springwater in the Wingatui Steeplechase, of two miles and a half. Sphere made up a lot of ground from the tail of the field over the last mile, finishing six lengths behind Springwater, which carried a stone less. Those races should have improved him considerably, and he is certain to run the race out solidly if he jumps as safely as usual. Desert Trek (10-2) won two races over country at Invercargill in May. He was lame after Tunning second to Gold Song in the Otago Steeplechase at Wingatui, where his jumping was not good. His lameness was not ■ serious, and he contested the Elloughton Handicap at Washdyke last Saturday, making a fair showing for one of his years. Desert Trek won the Winter Hurdles at Trentham earlier in his career. Bad ground has helped him to win some of his races, and if he jumps well on Saturday his stamina might carry him into the finish. Duke Royal (9-10) and Springwater (9-9) are expected to race best of those weighted below 10-0.

Good Credentials Duke Royal raced well over hurdles, and country last season. In the spring he won the Rona Hurdles, of two miles, at Trentham. In May he carried 9-10 to an easy win in the Waikato Steeplechase, in which he beat Saville Row (10-2), Golden Reign (11-3), and Jon Rosa (9-5). The track was heavy. Again on heavy tracks, Duke Royal ran second to Paul in the Great Northern Hurdles, and third to Jon Rosa (»-9) and Saville Row (9-9). in the Great Northern Steeplechase, in which he carried 10-10. Duke Royal did not run in the Wellington Steeplechase Jast year. On the second day of the meeting, he carried 10-2 into second place, a neck behind Jon Rosa. First Act wag third. Like Jon Rosa, Duke Royal did not race well at Riccarton last August. He fell in the Grand National Steeplechase, was unplaced in the Grand National Hurdles, and was fourth in the Lincoln Steeplechase. This winter, Duke Royal has had a light programme, and has improved with each race. In his last start, he was running on well in fifth place In the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie. He schooled brilliantly with Redingote at Trentham on Tuesday.

Two wins and a third from three starts over country Is the record of the Ric-carton-tralned Robin Goodfellow gelding, Springwater. He was successful at Ashburton and on the second day at Wingatui. He is not yet a polished jumper, out he will probably master the Trentham fences. He is well endowed with stamina and revels in heavy going. His showing will depend largely on his jumping. The Scotchman, winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase and fifth in this race last year, and Mr Thunder, which won the Manawatu Steeplechase last month, are other light-weights with fair prospects.

Ellerslie form indicates bold showings from Redingote and Jon Rosa, and an improved effort by Duke Royal. Zealander and Sphere appear to be the main South Island hopes.

NOMINATIONS WAIMATE HUNT Nominations for the Waimate Hunt meeting at Oamaru on July 14 are:— WAIMATE HUNT CUP STEEPLECHASE (amateur riders), of £100; about two miles and a half.—Badenoch, Avcmbridge, Night Rose, Penetration, Wander. mg Light, Sky Skipper, Dinner Time, Governor, Robin’s Return, Garcon, Tranquil Dawn, Prang, Ara Chief, Free Night, Sky Pilot—Light Comedy gelding, Kosciusko, Sea Dog. STUDHOLME HACK AND HUNTERS’ HURDLE HANDICAP, of £125; one mile and five furlongs.—String Band, Wilshire, Reflect, Flying Control, Duvaals, Sylvan, Don’t Listen, Shenandoah, Thornbridge, Hiyflier, Benevolqs. NO’TCE STAKES, of £100; six furlongs.—Marie Bonheur, Redition, Corriegaro, Countenance, Hallsprite, Royal Arch—Craiglea gelding, Snuggles, Tiebar, Filleule, Active, Emerald Chief, Algiers, Dreenagh, Nightmarch—Royal Coat gelding, Royal Light, White Clover, Factotum, Maintain, Evening Shoes, Gold Token, Realm, Gay Scene, Chief Light, Dane. TE WAIMATE HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, of £200; about two miles and a half.—Dinner Time, Free Night, Irish Pal, Penetration, Wandering Light, Ara Chief, Robin’s Return, Sky Pilot—Light Comedy gelding, Faites vos Jeux, Prang, Governor, Define, Young Bob, Kosciusko, Wandering Minstrel.' WAIHAO HACK HANDICAP, of £110; six furlongs.—Viaduct, Barada, Black Tartan, Plausible, Penze, Lady Philway, Great Art, Sky High, Roygbiv, Full Tone, Surfside, Reminiscence.

MORVEN HANDICAP, of £150; one mile.—Koxlnga, Cogitation, Bright News, Geld Song, Highway, Reflect, Milton, Flying Control, String Band, Nullah, Balmoral, Saxonla, Cloudy Range, Crease, Ash, Fille d’Honneur, Tip Top, Glide In, Teal. Zorro. Silver Clipper, Home Circle.REDCLIFF HACK AND HUNTERS’ FLAT HANDICAP, of £110; dne mile.— Fortement, Moonsail, Garcon, Scuttle, Robin’s Choice, Infiltration, Hyflier, Sky High, Puck, Fine Art, Bright Robin. WINTER TROT HANDICAP (harness), of £116; 3min 37sec class; one mile and a half.—Redale, Balcurvie, Valiant Knight, Begonia, Cheery Queen. Peterhead, Poranui, Red Fancy, Globe Rey, Anvil Chimes, Eclipse, Tommy Peep, Village King, Lothario, Thurstan, Crusher Dust (P ), Eileen Maree, Homely Maid, Chippewa, Scottish Laird, Tilly Girl, Lumberjack, Spring Glory, Chieftain, Rola Veyor, First Lass, Ellenella, Hall Trump, Aqua Fiori*.