Glenreagh In Favour for Trentham

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 4

Glenreagh In Favour for Trentham

'’The Press" Snectai Service WELLINGTON, July 1. Two splendid displays over the Hastings country, which produced a third in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase and an easy win in the shorter June Steeplechase, will make the Matamata jumper Glenreagh favourite for this week’s Wellington Steeplechase.

Glenreagh is th# top Weight for the Wellington Steeplechase with 10-10 which is by no means a harsh assessment of his crosscountry form. When Glenreagh ran in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase a fortnight ago it was his first appearance as a jumper since he won the Waikato Hunt Cup at Te Rapa in October, 1957. In the intervening period he had four runs on the flat—two In the winter oi 1958 and two more this winter. When he won the Waikato Hunt Cup, three miles, he carried 11-3, led all the way, gave a brilliant exhibition of jumping, and at the finish had 10 lengths to spare from Orelino, 9-9. Before that Glenreagh had won the Glendowie Steeplechase, two miles and a half, at Auckland with 10-10 and at the beginning of the season had taken the Papakura Hunt Cup, three miles, over the same course with 9-11. On each occasion Glenreagh made ail his own pace and had substantial margins in his favour at the finish. Good Start In the previous winter (1957), his first as a ’chaser, Glenreagh won twice and was three times placed in his five starts over country. The fields which Glenreagh beat were not merely hunters. Probably because stakes have been, substantially increased, hunt cups are hunt cups in name only these days. The genuine hunter usually has to compete against some of the best <open steeplechasers which have been quMifled -purely to allow them to invade 'th# domain which formerly was restricted to the pure hunter. Glenreagh was a little above himself m condition when he ran in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase and the more-seasoned Havoc and Consign beat him home at the end of three miles.

Witji the. benefit of the race and with two furlongs less to travel on the second day Glenreagh easily won the June Steeplechase Each day be delighted the public with bis spectacular leaping an it is hoped that he will get to the post fit and well this week for he is a real crowd-pleaSc” '■ He jumps with a fluent style similar to the great ’chaser Brookhy Song, moving oft the turf without perceptible effort and landmg yell past the fences. whether he is sufficiently seasoned to see out the three miles and three furlongs of the Wellington Steeplechase which probably will be run on heavier ground than that experienced at Hastings, remains to be seen, but he is certain to make a big bid and no doubt the handicapper would appreciate the opportunity of reviewing his weight His win at Hastings did not render him liable to a rise for Trentham Fell at Hastings

Orelino, which is in the Wellington Steeplechase with 10-3, tell a round from home in the June Steeplechase on Saturday He was going exceptionally well at the time and his error was the outcome of jumping too big at the first of the stand double and then trying to put in a short one when he got in too close to the second Orelino escaped Injury in his tail and the error should not tn any way prejudice his chance oi improving on last year’s second (to Spring Fair) Tn the Wellington Steeplechase

Before that race /Orelino had won the Manawatu Steeplechase with 9-6 and he carried 10-0 when he chased Spring Fair home at Trentham. On the third day of the meeting he won the Rlddiford

Steeplechase under 10-4, beating Revolution.

Orelinp has not reproduced the form this winter. His stable has been experiencing a series of misfortunes lately, but Orelino,' and his stablemate. Consign, which is also in the race, may be able to turn the tide of fortune during the Wellington meeting Both are fit and well seasoned. With Havoc (Hawkes Bay Steeplechase). Maran (Manawatu Steeplechase), Pin# Grove (Wanganui Steeplechase) and Cabot (McGregor Grant Steeplechase) also in the field as well as Jewel Denby (runner-up tn the Great Northern), Nupla (winner of the Great Northern Hurdles), and Thepeen and Dunray, winners in the minor grade this winter, the Wellington Racing Club has been fortunate to card such a promising field in a season not notable for any great number of proficient cross-country horses. ,j £ -. .

Nupla will be an interesting runner He won a hac’ steeplechase over two miles and threequarters on heavy ground al Thames last September carrying 9-9, but since then his activities have been confined to hurdle racing which reached their peak when he easily won the Great Northern Hurdles at Auckland. On that occasion he carried 9-10 and at his next start he finished second with 10-8 to Valleydale in the Remuera Hurdles. If he handles the Trentham efficiently as be jumps hurdles he will have/'his chance this week with 9*lo. f