Great Northern Prospects From Waikato

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 4

Great Northern Prospects From Waikato

•'The Presa" Special Service

MATAMATA, May 22. Lombard, Fend, Thepeen and Patrick Molloy became the main early fancies for the Great Northern Steeplechase after they finished first, third, fourth and fifth in the rich Waikato Steeplechase at Te Rapa on Saturday. Lombard completed a double for the jockey, C. L Goss, and the trainer, J. P. Carter, as they took the Waikato Hurdles with Blue Rock on the first day. Lombard is closely related to Cretan, which won the hurdles earlier in the day, and has the blood of the famous staying sire Foxbridge in his pedigree. His comparatively unknown sire Mahia Park was a good but unsound galloper by Vaals from Caliente, dam of the cup-winning mare Honora and the weight-for-age class galloper Hot Pursuit She was

out of Fortune’s Wheel, a sister to Phar Lap. Lombard finished second to Overseas in the Waikato Hunt Cup in the spring. This time he was Seven lengths ahead of his rival at the post Overseas fought on gamely but was beaten by his 11-2 oh the heavy ground.

Lombard was back early, but moved into seventh with about a mile to go and raced through to the lead with three fences to jump. He looked in for a runaway wm but bungled the last. He slowed a little after that but still won by seven lengths.

Lombard is out of the Foxbridge mare Greek Queen, whose daughter Greek Silver had produced Cretan, winner of the hack hurdles earlier in the day. Overseas will not run in the Great Northern. Last year’s Great Northern Hurdles winner Fend was heavily backed, starting third favourite for a win although a failure in hack class the week before. He finished strongly for third and returned a slashing Great Northern trial.

Thepeen made up a lot of ground for fourth, and as it was only his second race after a long spell he could improve further.

Patrick Molloy, winner of last year’s Great Northern Steeplechase, was to have been ridden by J. H. Hely, who was over the weight W. Pearse rode him instead, but Hely is engaged for the Great Northern.

Patrick Molloy was a solid fifth, and covered some extra ground during the race. He looked sure to harden further in condition with Saturday's run.

Contract weakened to a moderate sixth and Dunray, still not at his physical peak, finished seventh. Breakaway, King’s Host and My Sun fell fairly early in the contest, and Sea Contour fell when going well with about six furlongs to run. Cabot, Royal General and Jewel Denby ran like old horses, and Peter Keith was pulled up when very sore and beaten off. County, which made much of the early running, weakened to be a very poor eighth. Marvo, considered by many a Great Northern prospect, fell at the last fence when very tired after being beautifully ridden in the race. His owner said afterwards he would not run him in the mile further Great Northern Steeplechase this season. Lombard is owned by Mr L. W. Davis and Mr J. L Innes. Mr Davis raced Harry Lime in New Zealand, and with his wife, struck the big MangereRefreshing double at Te Awamutu a few years ago. Mr Innes races Harrier in Sydney. Count d’Azure put up a good trial for the Great Northern Hurdles when he won the Seddon Hurdles at Te Rapa on Saturday. He improved in condition with his race the week before when he had finished fourth in the Waikato Hurdles and stayed on gamely to beat San Diego by a neck with a length and a half to Count Lin.