AT TRENTHAM TODAY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27089, 11 July 1953, Page 4

AT TRENTHAM TODAY

PERSONALITY MAY WIN AGAIN

PERSIAN VALLEY FOR ONSLOW HANDICAP (From Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 10. Personality, winner of the Wellington Steeplechase last Saturday, is expected to complete a double for the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting by winning the Eric Riddiford Steeplechase at Trentham tomorrow. If successful. Personality will give his Awapuni trainer. J. J. Waller, a splendid record for the meeting. As well as preparing Personality to win the Wellington Steeplechase, Waller trains Norfolk Boy, winner c.f the Matai Steeplechase on Wednesday. Personality will again be ridden by K. Nuttall, who rode three successive winners last Saturday. Nuttall has prospects of another good day tomorrow. He will also ride Brutus, one of the early favourites for the Winter Oats; Sassenach, one of the form horses for the Novice Handicap; and Kentucky King, which may be hard to beat in the Crofton Hack Handicap. Fox Fun, the impressive winner of the hack steeplechase last Saturday, may be Personality’s strongest opponent in the Riddiford Steeples, and Mr K. Carter will also be strongly represented by Hormond and Count Minerva. Hormond was Personality’s only challenger in the final stages of the Wellington Steeplechase, ana Count Minerva showed that he is on the way back to his best form when he ran fifth in the Matai Steeplechase on Wednesday.

Brutus and Cartaphilus are the form horses tor the Winter Cats, for which the Parliamentary Handicap may be a reliable guide. They were second and third behind Indian Scholar in the Parliamentary Handicap, and that race should have improved both of them. Persian Valley, a close second to Lord Milling in the corresponding race last Saturday, is the logical favourite for the Onslow Handicap, second leg of the double. This imported mare may find the improving Sanford hardest to beat, and will also probably find Berne’s challenge difficult to cope with. Coppice and Peter Ora, equal topweights in the Winter Hurdles, will dispute favouritism for this event, one of the main attractions on an interesting programme. Both are fine stayers, but Coppice may shade the last Grand National Hurdles winner for class and jumping ability.

Leighford, decisive winner of the hack hurdles under 9-4 last Saturday, has risen to 10-1 in the Talavera Hack Hurdles, but he should make another bold bid. The South Island will be well represented by Reproof, a surprise winner on Wednesday, and Chivalrous, whose fourth last Saturday was encouraging. Both should run out two miles strongly.

Sassenach was well beaten by Silver Rudder in the Trial Plate on Wednesday, but it is doubtful whether he will he opposed by such a good mud galloper in the Novice Handicap tomorrow. Top weight of 9-0 should not prevent this Coronach colt from running a sound race. Full Rate, fourth in the corresponding race on Wednesday, and Belle Mode, which showed speed for a minor placing in bad ground at the Manawatu winter meeting, may be the best of the others. Crofton Hack Kentucky King will make his first appearance at the meeting in the Crofton Hack Handicap, with fairly good prospects of winning the race. Like most of the stock of Kentucky, he is at his best in bad ground. He proved that at Awapuni on June 13, when, after easily winning a novice race, he finished fourth in a strong hack sprint field, the race being won by Tesla. Fortnight, another making his first appearance at the meeting, and Tesla, a good second on Wednesday, may be Kentucky King’s strongest opponents. Top weight of 10-3 is not expected to prevent Good Abbot from winning the Kia Ora Hack Handicap. This smart three-year-old carried 9-11 when he outclassed his opponents in the mile hack race last week, and the longer race will suit him more than any of his opponents. Karinis and the consistent King’s Pal have the best form of the others over this distance. Indian Scholar’s trainer, R. A. Tudor, said tonight that the gelding would start in the Winter Hurdles. The weather was fine at Trentham today and a stiff breeze dried the surface of the track, but the going will be still very heavy, even without rain. Selections:— 11 a.m.—Talavera Hack Hurdles: Leighford, Reproof, Chivalrous. 11.42 a.m.—Novice Handicap: Sassenach, Belle Mode, Full Rate. 12.25 p.m.—Eric Riddiford Steeplechase: Personality, Fox Fun, Hormond-Count Minerva bracket. 1.10 p.m.—Winter Oats Handicap: Brutus, Cartaphilus, Young Beau. 1.55 p.m.—Winter Hurdles Handicap: Coppice, Peter Ora, Indian Scholar. 2.40 p.m.—Crofton Hack Handicap: Kentucky King, Tesla, Fortnight. 3.27 p.m.—Onslow Handicap: Persian Valley, Sanford, Berne. 4.15 p.m.—Kia Ora Hack Handicap: Good Abbot, Karinis, King’s Pal. The fields are:— TALAVERA HACK HURDLES, of £900; about two miles.—The Missioner (7) 10-3; Leighford (2) 10-1; Reproof (3) 9-13; Fairhall Lad (4), Livre d’Or (16). Silver Charm ( 1) 9-10; Brenin Aur (14). Brab (6) 9-6; Kayler (12) 9-5; Rappel (5) 9-1; Cadwallon (13), Canadian (10), Chivalrous (8), Halesia (9), Prim Lady (15), Copyright (11) fi-o.

NOVICE HANDICAP, of £750; about seven furlongs.—Sassanach (13) 9-0; Composition (19) 8-9; Navaho (20) 8-8; Belle Mode (1) 8-6; Full Rate (12), Diecast (8), Kai (5) 8-3; Sugar Bowl (3). Dollar Grand (11). 8-2; Devastator (2), Gold Ring (6) 8-1; Fiction (16), Foxborough (4), Golden Mars (9), Lord Valaa (7), Matoppa (17), Pahoro (14), Red Amber (18), Royal Cipher (21), Tassin (15), Teresa Gamba (10) 8-0.

ERIC RIDDIFORD STEEPLECHASE, of £3000; about three miles.—Savile Row (12) Hormond (19) 10-12; Personality (13) 10-9; Mr Thunder (17). Norfolk Boy (14) 10-8; Bandmaster (11) 10-6; Fox Fun (7) 10-1; Martial Song (8) 10-0; Fairhome (10), Gay Echo (6) 9-13; Count Minerva (1) 9-12; Medieval King (15), Prince Aga (2) 9- Peaseblossom (4) 9-7; Roman Ned (3), Repayment (16) 9-5; Boyhood (9), Broiemint (18), The Piper (5) 9-0. WINTER OATS HANDICAP, of £2000; about one mile and three furlongs.— Great Peter (15) 9-3; Golden Coronach (16) 8-13; Young Beau (4) 8-12; Royal Voyage (8), Keith (7) 8-11; Cartaphilus (1) 8-10; Indian Scholar (12), Beau Coeur (5) 8-8; Deb (18), Spiron (9) 8-7; Sonloch (14), Addition (11) 8-4; Argument (2) 8-2; Land’s End (10), Topmast (3), Brutus (19) 7-13; Tenerani (17) 7-11; Vitalogy (6) 7-10; The Bat (13) 7-7. Not running; Indian Scholar. WINTER HURDLES, of £2750; about two miles and a quarter.—Coppice (6), Peter Ora (1) 10-13; Indian Scholar (3) 10- Colonel Argosy (2) 10-1; Cotswold (13) 10-0; Cabana (11) 9-12; Cogitation (12) 9-9; Brown Jester (4) 9-8; Abba (9) 9-3; Luminous (7) 9-2; Shangola (10), Lay Off (5), The Missioner (8) 9-0. CROFTON HACK HANDICAP, of £750; about seven furlongs.—Curzon (1) 10-1; Tesla (5) 9-0; Hushah (16), Duke of York (7) 8-11; Diadema (4), Fortnight (1) 8-10; Quantico (6), Sparkling (19> 8-9; Foghorn (12) 8-8; Durham Chief (14) \B-7; First Degree (2), Shining Script (22) 8-6; Rutillant (16), Kentucky King (8) 8-5: Vai’s Boy (21), Pandit (3), Captain Evans (20) 8-3: Cool Air (18) 8-1; Beniamino (17) Fair Magic (9), Hileah (23), Trim Lad (15), Warm Air (11) 8-0.

ONSLOW HANDICAP, of £1900; about seven furlongs.—Pierre (19) 10-0; Himiler (12) 9-10; Prince Regent (3) 9-7; Lord Moss (18) 9-5; Sanford (22), Sporting Ken (20) 9-3: Royal'Mail (25), Berne (15) 9-1; Lord Milling (11) 8-13; Persian Valley (9) 8--1; Hello Pam (7). Sapper (14) 8-8; Admirable (6), Reuter (13) 8-6; Red Star (10) 8-4; Cash (23) 8-1; Country Maid (2), Country Style (8), Lovelace (1), Lord Balloch (17), Pirate (21), Pretty Gold (16 , Ruletta (5), Stellaway (4) 8-0. Scratched: Dan.

KIA ORA HACK HANDICAP, of £900; about one mile and three furlongs.—Good Abbot (2) 10-3; King’s Pal (8) 9-0; Whitehall (5) 8-10; Whakapau (11) 8-7; Precious Lady (10), Karinis (4), Special Problem (9) 8-3; Ambrose (3), Bullenzo (6) 8-1; Lord Neptune (1). Bay Star (7) 8-0. TRENTHAM SCRATCHINGS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 10. Scratchings today for the final day of the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting were:— Talavera Hurdles: Kayler. Winter Oats Handicap: Addition. Riddiford Steeplechase: Bandmaster, Medieval King, Broiemint.