GREAT NORTHERN HURDLES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27366, 3 June 1954, Page 4

GREAT NORTHERN HURDLES

IRISH SAINT MAY RACE WELL “The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND. June 2. Five-year-olds have won three of the last five races for the Great North-

em Hurdles, and indications are that another will take the honours on the first day of the Auckland winter meeting on Saturday. It may be Solar Mist or Irish Saint. Solar Mist is from Awapuni and Irish Saint has come from Washdyke. Solar Mist is near the middle of the handicap with 9st 111 b, and Irish Saint is near the bottom with 9st 11b. Five-year-old winners from 1940 were Kauri Pine, which had lOst 81b, Cornishman (lOst 31b), and Coppice Ost 131 b). Coppice won last year. He was ridden by J. P. Carter, who has the mount this time on Solar Mis.t. When he came north for the Waikato Racing Club’s winter meeting last month, Solar Mist looked a typical stayer. Third was his best effort in the Waikato Hurdles, two miles, and the Seddon Hurdles, a little more than a mile and three-quarters. Each time he ran the last bit strongly. In the Waikato Hurdles Solar Mist had 9st 111 b and he was beaten bv Canadian Ost) and Shangola Ost 131 b). This time, Solar Mist will meet Canadian on 91b better terms and Shangola on 41b better terms. Solar Mist and Canadian returned to Awapuni after racing at Te Rapa. Much will depend on how well they have continued their training. Much interest will be created if they gallop at Ellerslie this week. Solar Mist is by the Wellington Cup winner Lambourn from the imported mare Solar Metal, which was bred in England by Raeburn from Platinum by Sansovino from Sun Mist by Soldennis. He is trained by J. J. Waller for Mrs J. Howell and Mr R. E. Johnson. No horse at Te Rapa looked more likely to improve. Washdyke Candidate Many good small horses have run weU in the Great Northern Hurdles and if he is judged by the way he galloped at Ellerslie on Saturday, Irish Saint may be one of this com-

pany. By Columcille (the sire of Coppice and Royalcille), Irish Saint is from Shirred Ribbon, whose first living foal was the good handicap performer Royal Charter by Foxbridge. Another vzas Longford. When he last ran over hurdles, Irish Saint carried lOst 111 b to victory over a mile and a quarter and 60 yards in the Peerswick Hurdles at Riccarton on April 24. He ran fourth over a mile and a distance on the flat at Washdyke. The Riccarton course is a stern test of stamina, so it is not likely that Irish Saint will fail in that respect on Saturday, and there is no doubt about his pace because he ran a fast mile last Saturday.