RACING SPRING FAIR IN STEEPLES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 4

RACING SPRING FAIR IN STEEPLES

Form Prospect For Trentham

The Matamata trainer, L. W. Ford, will put two outstanding form prospects into the field for the Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham tomorrow. Spring Fair and Irish Ace were two of three jumping stars at Ellerslie last month—Coral Flight, since injured, was the other—and their combined efforts should strengthen the grip of horses from the Waikato district in the race.

Spring Fair and Irish Ace are trained at Matamata. That centre will also be represented by Conkeda and French Echo, so a finish dominated by Matamata-trained jumpers would be nothing to wonder at. A. G. Walsh, who won the Great Northern Steeplechase on Irish Ace, will ride Spring Fair tomorrow, and V. H. Simpson will be on Irish Ace. Spring Fair was much too good for the others in hack steeplechases on the second and third days of the Great Northern meet-

ing. The distance of each race was two miles and a half. Spring Fair has yet to disclose how he will run the long distances but he won in good company on the flat, one of his victories being the 1956 Mitchelson Cup, one mile and a half, witn 8.7. Spring Fair is by Fair’s Fair from the Ninth Duke mare Spring Rain and belongs to a family that has produced some good winners Stamina was not written heavily into the deeds of many members of this family but there have been some good middle - distance stayers. Great Northern Irish Ace won the Great Northern Steeplechase With 9.0 two starts back. He was a distant third in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase won by Coral Flight, at his only start since. His time of 7min 56 2-ssec in the Great Northern was the best since the race has been run over the new course of nearly four miles, first used in 1947. Irish Ace is an eight-year-old gelding by Irish Lancer from Ace Lady by The Ace from Lady Palmerston by Royal Divorce from Perilous Seas tracing to the imported Lyra. None of Irish Ace’s first four dams raced but this family produced many good jumpers including Master Lupin (Great Northern Steeplechase) and Peter Maxwell (Grand National Steeplechase). The Irish-bred Irish Lancer, sire of Irish Ace, was represented by many good gallopers including Royal Lancer, Irish Note, and Lance Wing. Knight’s Star and Conkeda were two of the stars of the jumping season last winter. Good Record Knight’s Star won the Great Northern Steeplechase and the McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie, and the Riddiford Steeplechase at Trentham whfere he was also third in the Wellington Steeples, in which Conkeda ran out an easy winner under 10.3.

Conkeda advanced his record with a gallant second to Cogitation in the Grand National Steeplechase, but Knight’s Star failed to get round. The form of these two horses has not been nearly as good so far this year and unless it stiffens the best of those lower in the handicap may have their measure. French Echo has better form, through his win in the Hawke’s

Bay Steeplechase. He did not have the stamina to match Cogitation and Conkeda in the Grand National in August, but his third was creditable. He is seven, and one of the youngest horses in the Wellington Steeples . field, and he should go well. The others will be at long odds. Havoc may be the best of them, though his jumping has not been really reliable so far. Hack Steeples Keahmar and High Star, two form runners, may be missing from the field for the Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase Chase has also been scratched sc the field is light in jumpers with worthwhile form.

Fleetfellow, a distant third in the Hawke’s Bay Steeples, may be one of the best.

A start in the Trentham Hurdles is not certain for Calm Ruler, which has been sore since his easy win against the hurdlers at Hastings last Saturday. Others in the field with recent winning form are Lochgair Nupla, and Beau Teal. Lochgair outclassed a moderate lot •in the Great Northern Hurdles. Nupla won the Hunt Hurdles on the same programme then won again against the hurdlers on the second and third days of the meeting. In his third success he beat Dunray by a nose and Lochgair by three lengths over two miles. If he has held his form he should again be one of the central figures in the finish. Beau Teal won twice against the hack hurdlers at the Great Northern meeting and has since been placed on the flat against hacks. Son Rae has not yet recaptured his good form of last winter but he improved for minor placings in his last two races. Unless there is much rain, conditions will suit him. Youngest In Field The youngest in the field, and probably the most promising is the four-year-old Russett, a King’s Counsel gelding from Awapuni. This winter he has been a winner over hurdles at Woodville and Hastings and has since been placed in open flat handicaps at Masterton and Awapuni. The double will be on the Whyte and Stewards’ Handicaps. Peter Willonyx and Otara have been scratched and Lucky Arch is a doubtful starter in the Whyte Handicap. Cadet has dropped out of the field for the Stewards’ Handicap. Moon Crest, top weight and one of the early favourites, will be rjdden by either J. W. Harris or V. R. Coley. Harris is endeavouring to be released from that engagement so that he can take the mount on Disarm, a form runner from Takanini. Harris will ride Disarm’s stablemate, Peterford, in the first leg.