RACING Southern Jumpers May Match Northern Stars

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 5

RACING Southern Jumpers May Match Northern Stars

\\ ins by Blue Rock and No Offence in major steeplechases at the Great Northern meeting have raised hopes for strong southern challenges in big cross-country’ races later this winter.

No Offence’s easy win in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase on Saturday held much southern interest because this fast-jumping chestnut has done much of his steeplechasing in the South Island.

If, as seems likely, No Offence is in the top rank of ’chasers this winter there will be growing confidence in a strong Grand National bid by the Southland-owned Bayline* winner of the Dunedin Steeplechase at Wingatui on Saturday.

No Offence found Barline « formidable rival in three duels over the Riverton country in the autumn of 1962

Only a nose separated them al the end of three miles in :he 1962 Great W estern. BayI;ne winning by that bare margin after a sustained duel

No Offence evened the score when they met over two and a half miles on the second day at Riverton. This time he beat Bayline by half a length, and he took top billing for the meeting by winning again on toe third day. This time he was 11

lengths better than Bay Line, which was third.

Both horses campaigned at Riverton again this year, but their combined efforts could not produce a win. They had to settle for minor placing? in the two major cross-country races, which were both won by Lucky Game.

Lucky Game, Eke Bayline, has shown he is strong in stamina and is another Grand Natrona! hope from the south. He is now owned by Mr W. E. Hazlett, but won at Riverton in the colours of the Gore trainer, E. A. Winsloe. Good Start Winsloe has since successfully started Vamoose on a cross-country career and in this. Lo Zingaro gelding there is material for another topflight winner. Vamoose easily won the Otago Steeplechase last Saturday week. He jumped cleanly and his pace at the end of two and a half miles was more than the others, including Bayline. could manage. Vamoose is so good on heavy tracks that he is pretty certain to appear next

at Trentoam with the Wellington Steeplechase the main item bn his programme, then perhaps a return to hurdling in the Winter Hurdles on the last day . This may be the programme, also for the Great Northern Steeples winner. Blue Rock, which was fourth but never struck a blow at Vamoose in the last Grand National Hurdles.

Vamoose was clearly Blue. Rock’s superior for ability on a heavy track in the Grand National Hurdles and under normal Trentham conditions next month he might show the same measure of superiority as a 'chaser. Vamoose was switched back to hurdling in , the Otago Hurdles last Saturday and ran second to Tarmine. Tarmine won by three lengths, but Vamoose would not have lost much stature as one of this winter’s more promising cross-country prospects.