Belgravia Selected For Otago Steeples

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 4

Belgravia Selected For Otago Steeples

RACING

Belgravia cannot be given top marks for reliability in his jumping in the steeplechasing he has done, but he is improving with experience, and may be too good for his rivals in the Otago Steeplechase, the big attraction on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting tomorrow. Belgravia has schooled well at Wingatui, his home course, since his easy win in the Clifden Steeplechase at Invercargill last month. He fell twice at Riverton at Easter, but has shown much more confidence in his jumping since then. If he dodges mistakes, he will probably have too much class for the others.

The nine-year-old Silver Spur faces this test with a record of wins at his last three appearances over country—twice at Riverton and once at Invercargill. Little could be said for the ability of the horses that finished behind him in the Great Western Steeplechase. His strongest rival was Mandeville, even though that jumper broke down a long way from home. Silver Spur’s Chance Silver Spur may find his weight troublesome, but his safe jumping should again bring him well into the picture. Ryeland is not facing this test at his peak. He has not been easy to keep sound,, and is in this race on a light preparation. The best should be seen of him later in the season. On Invercargill form, Free Gift should be safely held by Belgravia; so should Cherry Prince, Battle Signal, and Reproof.

Pageant was also beaten by Belgravia the last time they met, but he was the only horse in the field to put up a fight for his lead. He is at a handy place in the weights, will race better than most of the others if the track deteriorates, and should jump the country safely, as he has done previously. Young Prince should do best of the others. He forced Pageant to a close decision at Washdyke last month, when he lacked seasoned condition. His failure to complete the course at Invercargill at his next start could be excused because another horse fell in front of him.

Young Prince’s preparation was rounded off with a race on the flat at Amberley. There will be few capable of running out this race more strongly than this Washdyke-trained Nizami gelding. Hack Steeples

Baygundi and Ironside, both Wash-dyke-trained jumpers, should be prominent in the finish of the Tahuna Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase. Baygundi (lOst 41b) carried 61b less to an easy win in this race last year. He has not improved his winning record since them, but his third to St. Simper and Military Chief in the Autumn Steeplechase at Riverton, and a third to Pageant and Young Prince at Washdyke last month, have kept

Ironside fashioned a useful record as a hurdler, and has made a start as a steeplechaser with encouraging resutts. He easily won the hack steeplechase on the first day of the Southland winter meeting, but tired and fell on a heavier track on the second day. The track conditions will probably determine Ironside’s fortunes.

Chasemint was twice placed over the Invercargill country last month, and his success four starts back was as a hurdler at Nelson. There are few better jumpers in this field than Fairhall Lad, but he is always a doubtful proposition because of his weak legs. If he stays sound, he should win a race at the meeting. Mystify and Black Tartan are two Gore-trained jumpers with encouraging form. Mystify shaped like a good stayer when he won at Invercargill on May 22. Black Tartan showed jumping ability to secure two placings in the hack steeplechases over the Stiffer Riverton country at Easter. Riccarton Hurdler’s Chance

Black Wealth may open the record for Riccarton stables at the meeting by winning the Greenfield -JHack Hurdles. He made an encoflteafcing fresh start at Washdyke last induth, when he ran second to the seasoned Wealthy, and that race should have brought him to his peak. Few should shade the six-year-old Coronach gelding for jumping ability in this field, and the distance, one mile and a half will not trouble him.

Ash has struck a solid patch as a hurdler, but 11-10 may beat him in this field if the track is soft. Ash’s bracketed mate, Conrad, looked likely to make a name for himself as a hurdler two seasons ago, but he has had little racing in this

role since then, though enough lately to season him for tomorrow’s test. He is on the minimum, so is well placed for a horse which ran third in a strong hack hurdles field at Trentham two seasons ago.

The front-running Boniface will probably be in the picture to the straight, but he puts little fight into his finishes. Invercargill form may be better. It points to sound efforts from Tenner and Culton. Unwieldy Field Two scratchings are required to avoid divisions in the Brighton Hack Handicap. .If the race is run outright there will be many cases of hard luck in what will be an unwieldy field. Dutch Flag. Deodar, and the Inver-cargill-trained Brooke are three near the top of the handicap that have raced like early winners. Each has been placed lately. Lolita made a good impression when she won easily over a mile at Invercargill last month, but she will have to work harder for success in tomorrow’’s field There are several promising lightweights in the field, but none may make a better impression than Strada, which had his first success at Washdyke last month. Strada shapes like a stayer in the making, and from his place in the handicap should run out seven furlongs as strongly as the best of his opponents. Strada is bracketed with Royal Warrant, whifh is also engaged in the distance hack race. Every Night has more ability than his record suggests, and he strengthens the chance of a Riccarton success. Hack Stayers The Riccarton-trained light-weight Americus may record the second win of his career in the St. Clair Hack Handicap, one mile and three furlongs. He has shaped like a stayer in all his races, and this distance is not expected to trouble him. At his last start he was third to Solstice and Trustworthy over a mile and a quarter at Ashburton. He was allowed to drop right out of the race in the early stages, and ended a brilliant run just after reaching the front inside the furlong.

He will meet Solstice on 81b better terms tomorrow, and that may swing the advantage in his favour. Top weight of 9-10 may be more than Cheerio can cope with, and Balveine does not look like recapturing the form he showed to win this race last year. The best of those about the 9-0 mark should be Locherbie, which has been placed in stronger company in distance hack races at Trentham. Selections:— 10.35 a.m.—Tahuna Hack and Hunters’ Steeples: Baygundi, Ironside, Black Tartan. 11.20 a.m.—Trial Stakes: Flying FeetBottine bracket. Gold Flame-Patris bracket, Silver Trumpet. 12.5 p.m.—Greenfield Hurdles: Black Wealth, Ash-Conrad bracket. Tenner. 12.55 p.m.—Birthday Handicap: Ngapunawai, Brown Baron, Trinidad. 1.40 p.m.—Otago Steeplechase: Belgravia, Young Prince, Silver Spur. ,230 p.m.—Brighton Hack Handicap: Dutch Flag, Deodar, Strada. 3.15 p.m.—Winter Handicap: Sir Zin, Accountant, Royal Mail. 4 p.m.—St. Clair Hack Handicap: Amencus, Locherbie, Solstice. Form backgrounds and available riders of horses engaged in the double are;— BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, £lOOO. One mile and a half. 0101 Vitalogy (8) 9-8. 1241 Peony Royal (16) 9-6 L. W. Hare. 2024 Test Flight (13) 9-2. 0023 Ngapunawai (12) 8-9 W. D. Skelton. 0140 Trinidad (10) 8-9 A. J. Stokes. 0000 Royal Voyage (4) 8-7 R. J. Skelton. 3231 Brown Baron (7) 8-4 M. R. Jones. 0000 Reformed (17) 8-1. 00 St. Bruno (1) 8-0 F. H. Skelton. 2343 Maritea (9) 8-0 B. J. Anderton. 0030 Formal (15) 7-12 W. F. Ellis. 2111 Baffling Eyes (2) 7-11 J. S. Crawford. 0000 Battle Ensign (18) 7-10 N. Eastwood 0001 Blackfellow (5) 7-9 D. F. Coombe. 0000 Roiata (19) 7-9. 0020 Argonaut (11) 7-8. 0300 Gay Gitana (14) 7-7 J. Didham. 3000 Lady Wanaka (6) 7-7 C. A. Whyte. 0000 William Hyde (3) 7-7 B. S. FinlayBracket: Reformed and Lady Wanaka. WINTER HANDICAP. Of £5OO. Seven furlongs. 3032 Royal Mail (9) 9-7. 0000 Johnny Peep (5) 9-6. 0000 Milton (11) 8-12 D. M. Fraser. 0201 Sir Zin (3) 8-9 W. F. Ellis. 0430 Gold King (10) 8-6 A. J. Stokes. 0304 Plausible (1) 8-4 R. J. Skelton. 1030 Misty Range (1) 8-3 M. R. Jones. 3203 Accountant (4) 8-0 C. McDonald. 4200 Corona Fox (6) 8-0 J. Didham. 0340 Dissenter (8) 8-0 L. J. Clutterbuck. 0301 Glowing (2) 8-0 B. J. Anderton.