SOUTHLAND JUMPERS IN STEEPLES AT HASTINGS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 6

SOUTHLAND JUMPERS IN STEEPLES AT HASTINGS

"The Press’’ Special Service

WELLINGTON, June 24.

Well-performed horses from far afield appear likely to play important roles in the principal events oq the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay jockey Club’s winter meeting at Hastings tomorrow. Capet and Tadpole, a strong bracket from Invercargill, are the favourites for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and Action Packed, from Takanini, occupies a similar position in the Winter Handicap, which is the first leg of the T.A.B. double. Rain during the week has softened the track and the forecast is for showerv weather tomorrow. Capet and Tadpole both prefer good going, but the track may not deteriorate sufficiently to prevent them from showing good form. Consign, winner of the Waikato Steeplechase, would come into favour if the track became really heavy. He prefers this type of going. He ran badly in the Manawatu Steeplechase last week, but this may have been due to a check in his preparation which prevented him from racing on the last day at Auckland on June 11. He raced sourly at Awapunl and blew hard after the race. He should be more forward for tomorrow’s contest.

Calm Tide, winner of the Manawatu Steeplechase, and Glenreagh. are other capable steeplechasers in the field. Glenreagh ran third in the event a year ago when not quite forward, and then won the June Steeplechase on the second day. He has done little racing this winter and probably will derive benefit from tomorrow’s outing, but he is a bold and free fencer likely to be prominent for a long way because of this good speed on the flat and his dashing jumping. Action Packed, which is to race in the principal handicap at Trantham next month, has splendid form in the north and at his last start he was beaten in the last stride in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie on June 4; He is a much-improved four-year-old and may develop into one of the winter’s best handicap Fair* King. Colchis, Mustek, Port Wine and Peter Baffles are the group most likely to test Action Packed., but if he runs up to Mis northern form he should win.

The second leg of the TAB. double is the Mahora Handicap for which the local sprinters Land. Mama Mia and Warwick, and the Tauherenlkau visitor. King of Joy, are likely to dispute favouritism. Selections:—

11 a.m.—Kennels Hack Steeplechase: West -Derby. Jungle. Break Away.

11.40 a.m.—Opapa Trial Plate.*— First Division: Bargoed. Dark

Plunge. Second Division: Blta Bridle. Idle Gold.

12.20 p,m.—Whakstu Huntu.. Musketeer, Bennie. Lord Pilate. 15 p.m.—Hawke’S Bay Steeplechase: Capet. Calm Tide/Gienreuh, 1.55 pun.—Winter Handicap: AetiM. Packed, Fair King, Musick. 2.40 p.m.—Rotopal Hack Handicap: Marcato, Beau Kura, Sporting Cap. 3.25 p.m.—Mahora Handicap: Land. King of Joy, Mama Mia. 4.10 p.m,—Clifton Hack Handicap: Nafanua, Erldon, White Hons.