The Tongs In Favour For Wellington Steeples

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28013, 6 July 1956, Page 4

The Tongs In Favour For Wellington Steeples

RACING

South Island jumpers have had a lean run in the Wellington Steeplechase in the last decade, but at Trentham tomorrow The Tongs could carry on where Survey left off 17 years ago. The Tongs is top weight with lOst Sib. It is a long time since there was only 231 b between the top and the minimum in the race—graphic evidence of the lack of class in the field in the absence of the Great Northern winner. Hit Parade.

The Tones is ?n eight-year-old gelding by Siegfried from Trivet, trained at Wingatui by H. A. Anderton for Mr R. J. Cross, of Otama. Southland. He should be a safe ride for Brian Anderton, son of the trainer, because he is a more polished jumper now than when he ran third in the Grand National Steeplechase last year, which was his first over country.

This year. The Tongs has won twice over three miles—in the Great Western Steeples at Riverton at Easter and the Otago Steeples last month. He showed good pace when he finished second to Dusty Miller in the Otago Hurdles, and there is no reason for fears about his ability to run out three miles and three furlongs strongly Cabana. Aligarh, and Ronay are the onlv others with more than lOst. Cabana has lOst 41b. Under 9st 81b. he decisively won the Manawatu Steeplechase last month. Count Minerva was second and Cabanas only challeneer. but could not match the winner for speed. The position should be no different when they meet again tomorrow.

Cabana failed to complete the course in his three races over country at Trentham last year, but his jumping is better now, and he proved his ability under- the worst winter conditions as a hurdler.

J. W. Harris had the choice of the mounts on Aligarh and Wotan’s Gold, and his decision in favour of Aligarh has brought the Matamata-trained Bulandshar gelding into increased favour.

Aligarh will be attempting the difficult feat of winning the race twice in successive years. Harris’s brilliant horsemanship was largely resnonsible for his win a year ago. Aligarh’s jumping was rough, but he kept his feet, and Harris kept him well clear over the last round.

Aligarh carried 9st lib last year He was the third successive winner to carry less than lOst.

Won at Ellesmere Wotan’s Gold was ridden by Harris to an easy win in the Winter Steeplechase three miles, at Ellerslie on j Aligarh was last, showing little dash, and obviously feeling the effects of his race in the Great Northern Steeples.

Wotan s Gold was a tiring third in the Great Northern Steeples, which is run over four miles. Wotan’s Gold is an eight-year-old gelding by Wotan from Golden Hind, and will be ridden by G. Jenkins. A- Waddle’s mount, won the Wanganui Steeples last year but Jost form after the Manawatu Steeples in which he had a heavy fall. Ronay has won over the Egmont country this year, but mixed jumping cost him a chance in the Adamson Steeplechase at Hawera last Saturday Hiaown won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, three miles, with impressive ease. He carried 9st and led ® ver the ! ast balf-mite, finishing four lengths clear of Aligarh. Aligarh, ridden by W. Anderson, carried 9st 111 b, was running on. but did not put In an effective challenge. Hiaown is by Hiawatha, which has aired some good mud horses. The Snknown. thlS five -> ear -°’d Riding is

Tabor islet won this race as a five--1952‘ Six-year-olds have , th , e ™ ost successful age bracket in the last 20 years. There are 12 below Hiaown in the weights and only five above him—convincing evidence that there are / hIS field J without anything like good form credentials -r£ O J nt Min ?rva is the most experienced campaigner in the field, but haw Of what Pace he did 1? n< * , his younger opponents tin tn lf * heir jumping come* risin® cratctl - Count Minerva is

o Hack Steeples S ?^ h Island will have two representatives. King Willow and Brer Broney, in the Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase. d mm!™ V on “ less distinguished company this season, though Brer £ r ° n * y was disqualified for n6t coverKi t n h /w 9 i7 ect c ? ur ? e at Ashburton. King Willow is trained at Riccarton & par }-owner Mr D. C. Gould. He had a thorough education in the hunting field before he was put to cross-country racing. Some of his schooling was really brilliant but in " IS a * wo . races he ran off. At his third attempt, he won at Oamaru, his brilliant leaping being worth more ground than he had to • pa -° /rom Sultry at the finish. That was virtually King Willow’s first race for a long time, and it should have ”f Ip ? d to bring him to a high peak of fitness.

This will be the first race of the meeting and the hack steeplechasers will have the best of the going. That should help King Willow to last the distance.

French Echo, top weight with 10-10. and a stablemate of Aligarh, will be ridden by J. W. Harris. A week ago, French Echo won against the open ’chasers at Hastings. He carried 9-0 and won by a nose after a sustained battle with Aligarh, which was conceding him 171 b. The track was heavy. Silver Charm and Keynote are both recent winners, and should strengthen the possibility of the winner coming from the top part of the handicap. Kitchener was lame after schooling yesterday, and is not likely to run. Golden Fox, a creditable second against the open hurdlers at Hastings on June 23. need make little if any improvement to win the Vittoria Hack Hurdles. He is a five-year-old Sly Fox gelding trained bv his owner, Mr A. C. Upston. at Woodville, and will be ridden by R. Shuschter.

Few, it any. of the others have better form backgrounds. Curzon. Flaming Jewel, Waratah and Alamao will probably be Golden Fox’s strongest opponents, though a surprise result is likely where there is no outstanding form horse. Dusty Miller was unbeaten at the

Dunedin winter meeting, and if ne jumps fast and well in this ground he will take beating in the Trentham Hurdles. Dusty Miller showed more ability as a stayer on the flat than most of the others m this field and has been improving with each race as a jumper. Likely Favourite Sonloch, runner-up to Hit Parade in the Trentham Hurdles, will probably be lavourite. He deserves that position, too, for he beat all but nit Parade in the Great Northern Hurdles and was also placed in his previous two races. Sonloch has mastered Trentham at its worst before. So has Knight's Star and Brutus; and Surrey Gold and Beaverbrook are younger horses with less experience, but encouraging records. Surrey Gold, the champion two-year-old of his year, is trained by J. P. Carter and will be ridden by W H. Rout. Another strong lightweight challenger will be Harlesion, which raced creditably on the flat at this meeting last year. His form this season has not been good, but a horse of his ability under the worst conditions will have to be reckoned with. Harleston has 9-7 and will be ridden, by N. W. Belsham. Selections:— 11 a.m.—Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeples: French Echo, Keynote, Silver Charm. 11.40 a.m.—Vittoria Hurdles: Golden Fox, Curzon, Waratah. 12.25 p.m.—Trentham Hurdles: Dusty Miller, Sonloch, Harleston. 1.10 p.m.—Whyte Handicap: Petei Willonyx, Ngatoki, Berne. 1.55 p.m.—Wellington Steeplechase: The Tongs. Aligarh, Cabana. 2.40 p.m.—Woburn Handicap: Prince Mahal, Moon Crest, Berwick. 3.25 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Kasr el Nil. Peterford, Ben Ledi. 4.10 p.m.—Te Aro Handicap: Masai, The Bruiser, Be Fair. The fields, with form and riders, for the double races are:— WHYTE HANDICAP, Of £2250. One mile.

0031 Peter Willonyx (21), J. W. st. lb. 9 12 Harris 0113 Master Proven (19), R. J. Skelton 9 11 0201 Red Star (11), A. Johnson .. 9 7 0242 Berne (8), B. J. Langford 9 6 0324 Clinker (28) 9 6 3432 Desperado (9), R. A. Jenkins 9 □ 1003 Siphon (2) 9 4 2011 King of Joy (18), W. J. Broughton 9 3 0131 Rutillant (17), V. J. Sellars .. 8 2 0114 Horatius (3), L. W. Hare 9 2004 Summersette (7), W. L. Aitken 9 1 0433 The Wake (5), M. C. Robinson 9 1 0302 Good Abbot (16), E. G. Low 9 0 0012 Ngatoki (22) 8 13 0000 Finito (10) 8 12 2210 Fulgent (12). W. D. Skelton 8 12 0020 Glayva (13) 8 11 1400 Maquana (1), J. A. McFarlane 8 11 1404 Mars (6), C. A. Bowry 8 6 0004 Papiro (20) 8 5 1000 Bulla (26) 8 5 0024 Royal Warrant (14), F. H. Skelton 8 4 0020 Himiler (15), J. R. O’Neill .. 8 3 4132 Beau Ray (24), B. P. Wood .. 8 0 3004 Glenlee (4), N. Eastwood 8 0 Brackets: Mars and Papiro, Roval Warrant and Himiler, Beau Ray and Glenlee. Scratched: Russleigh, Undergrowth, Annexe. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, Of £1200. Seven furlongs. 1000 Lucrative (18), G. R. Tattersail st.: 10 lb. 0 1433 Sleipnir (16) 9 5 0221 The Vandal (8) 9 5 20 Toparoa (22), N„ B. Holland 9 4 0013 Assembly (7), E. G. Low 9 1 1122 Domitare (3) 9 4301 Kasr el Nil (11) 9 0 0001 Glenkay (13) 8 12 0210 Gay Lodge (15), J. R. O’Neill 8 11 0003 Shaun (1), T. J. Perawiti 8 11 000 0 Some Tiki (10) 8 10 3031 Chateau (19), A. C. Messervy 8 9 1211 Peterford (6), J. W. Harris .. 8 8 0220 Lady Cabana (4), J. A. McFarlane 8 7 3002 Intuitive (9) 8 5 4220 Lucky Strike (12), M. C. Robinson 8 4 1022 Ben Ledi (5), R. J. Skelton .. 8 3' 2342 Gold Caste (14), V. R. Coley 8 3 0033 Impeller (2), W. L. Aitken .. 8 2 3103 Saunter (21), B. P. Wood .. 8 0000 Napoli (23) 8 0 Scratched: Fir-Boles. Bandera.