RACING IRONSIDE SELECTED TO WIN OTAGO STEEPLES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 4

RACING IRONSIDE SELECTED TO WIN OTAGO STEEPLES

Young Prince has had a splendid preparation for tomorrow’s Otago Steeplechase at Wingatui, but the last Qrand National winner’s chance of improving his record for Mr J. H. Grigg has not brightened now that a heavy track is certain.

Canterbury hopes for success faded further yesterday, when Ryeland was lame after schooling competently at Wingatui. The trouble is in a foot, not in the weak leg which has restricted his racing over the last two seasons. If Ryeland has to drop out, Ironside will be the province’s lone representative, though a worthy one. Ironside will be the youngest runner. He is a neat jumper, a sound stayer, and a powerful galloper in heavy ground. He returned to jumping in the hurdles at Ashburton last month indicating that he had come through a thorough preparation; and the lameness he was showing after the race disappeared overnight, so as a setback in his training, it was negligible. Ironside has 9-5 in a field that is not really strong in- horses capable of running three miles in heavy ground soldily. The combination of weight and the distance does not appear to make the task of the small Free Gift an easy one.

Young Prince does not jump as surely when the footing is soft, and last year’s winner. Parsifal, has done nothing of note this season as a pointer to another success. The Denbigh's Chance The Denbigh, now 11, is the veteran of the field, but is the safe-jumping type likely to be plodding on when most of the others are tiring. He has schooled well since he made a fresh start at Riverton at Easter. Belgravia has never distinguished himself over his home course, and he has been well tried without much success elsewhere. Colonel Argosy was well beaten by Free Gift at Invercargill on May 21. His record as a steeplechaser is not likely to compare with his hurdling record, but he may jump well enough to allow his stamina and ability in bad ground to be brought into play at the finish.

Few, if any, in this field will shade Sivite for jumping ability. He easily beat the hack steeplechasers over two miles at Riverton on April 11, but has not had an opportunity to show whether he has the required stamina for a tough struggle over three miles. The form of the others lower in the weights hardly looks good enough. Possibly The Grange will be the best of them. Fort Marshall Scratched

Fort Marshall has been scratched for both steeplechases on tomorrow’s programme, and Irish Glance dropped out of the Greenfield Hurdles yesterday. Export is a doubtful starter in the Greenfield Hurdles. He opened an old wound at Waimate last Saturday, and may not race at the meeting. The distance of the Greenfield Hurdles is a mile and a half. Desperado will not fulfil his engagement, but a big field is left, and luck should have a big bearing on the result. Felicitous has enough speed to keep out of trouble in a packed field. He won at Ashburton, and was second at Washdyke over hurdles. Last Saturday, he showed his fitness by finishing a creditable fourth in the welter at Waimate.

One of Felicitous’s strongest opponents wilT probably be the Wingatuitrained Some Bounder, a place-getter at Riccarton in April The Tongs, a stablemate of Some Bounder, would not need to show much improvement on a close third at Washdyke to win the Tahuna Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase. The Tongs was only two necks from Full Tilt at the end of two and a half miles, and with that experience, and also the experience he has gained of the Wingatui fences thrc agh being trained there, his first winning day as a ’chaser does not look far distant. The Waimate winner Red Boa is ineligible for the Trial Stakes. Others likely to drop out are Lucky Dewar, which has a hock injury, Super Slipper, and Desert Cloud. Divisions are likely; nine scratchings were required to make one race. Improver / Hashish, an improver’s fourth at Ashburton, and Persia, which raced soundly against the two-year-olds at Riccarton, may win the divisions. Southland novices whose form has been deserving of major success are Allan and Poor Dayid. Support for Poor David will strengthen now that a heavy track is certain. Silver Trumpet was scratched earlier in the week for the Brighton Handicap, but two more withdrawals are needed to avoid divisions. Unless there are many late scratchings, there will be a cumbersome field for an outright race. The form horses will have brighter chances if there are divisions. •

Wayren’s form background suggests that this Southland hack will make a bold bid for the honours for the second successive year. Pat’s Treasure and Dutch Flag are smart Riccarton hacks likely to trouble him.

Inlay and Friendly Lad may be the best prospects in the second division. Big Ben could save the day for supporters of the Pat’s Treasure-Big Ben bracket if the Riccarton horse fails in the first division.

Roi du Bois’s two sound performances against the hack stayers at Ashburton give this Waimate hack a high rating for his attempt to win the St. Clair Hack Handicap. The field is not strong in hack stayers, and, next to Roi du Bois, the chances of the Riccarton pair, Coin’s Edge and Fleur, may merit most consideration. Coin’s Edge left a good impression when she won a double at Ashburton. She shapes like a stayer, and a mudlark.

Fleur’s best performance has been her second to Glenlee in the New Zealand Oaks last November. She galloped very strongly on a rain-affected

track to beat all but a filly of good class. Several times since she has failed on hard tracks, though she beat a weak lot at Amberley on a firm track. Conditions should suit her tomorrow, and it will be surprising if her run is anything but a strong one. Selections:— 10.35 a.ra.—Tahuna Hack and Hunters’ Steeples: The Tongs, Full Tilt, Chivalrous. 11.20 a.m.—Trial Stakes: First Division —Hashish. Allan, Dart Away. Second division: Persia, Poor David, Clarion. Noon.—Greenfield Hurdles: Felicitous, Some Bounder, Vocalize. 12.45 p.m.—Birthday Handicap: Ballast, Cheerio, Good Abbot. 1.30 p.m.—Otago Steeplechase: Ironside, Young Prince, Clone! Argosy. 2.15 p.m.—Brighton Hack Handicap: First division—Wayren, Pat’s Treasure, Dutch Flag. Second division: Inlay, Friendly Lad, Camaval. 3 p.m.—Winter Handicap: Lord Rowallan. Accountant, Adversary. 3.45 p.m.—St. C.air Handicap: Roi du Bois, Coin's Edge, Fieur. Fields and form for the double are:— BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. One mile and a half.

WINTER HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Seven furlongs.

3012 Field Chief (6) st. lb. . 9 9 1042 Blackfellow (11) . 9 2 4003 Dusty Miner (3) 2211 Good Abbot (5) . 9 1 . 9 1 2000 Royal Voyage (18) . 9 0 0000 Diablo (14) . 8 12 1004 Cheerio (12) . 8 9 0000 Zingabo (8) . 8 4 0243 Danger Point (13) . 8 1 4113 Suphero (15) . 8 1 0000 Baffling Eyes (4) 0322 Naval Treaty (9) . 7 13 . 7 11 0043 Wait-a-Bit (1) . 7 9 0200 Ballast (2) .77 0000 Balveine (16) 7 7 3410 Chandelle (17) . 7 7 4000 Lucky Bill (19) . 7 7 0200 Solstice (7) 0120 Soumai (10) . 7 7 . 7 7

st. lb. 2311 Brooke (18) .. 9 13 0000 Dashing (14) ..9 8 0303 Lord Rowallan (19) ..9 7 0010 Delayed (17) .. 8 12 0243 Danger Point (7) .. 8 11 0012 Adversary (15) ..8 9 0000 Accountant (2) ..8 7 0200 Mararoval (3) ..8 7 0300 Rio Negro (6) ..8 5 4404 Sure Swift (10) ..8 4 0000 Gold Mine (1) ..8 3 0000 Chief Mate (5) ..8 2 0020 Defame (12) ..8 1 3300 Rathkeale (20) ..8 1 2212 Canasta (9) ..8 0 4120 Dahlia (16) ..8 0 0004 Gold King (11) ..8 0 4100 Kasr el Nil (13) ..8 0 0040 Major Neptune (8) ..8 0 0300 Royal Warrant (4) ..8 0