Trainers Confident Before Northern

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30454, 30 May 1964, Page 6

Trainers Confident Before Northern

“The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, May 29. According to his owner and trainer, Mr S. N. Munro, of Morrinsville, Surging, the likely favourite for the big hurdles tomorrow, has done really well since his fast work at Matamata on Thursday. “I think Surging will be hard to beat I only hope that there is no rain today as he does not go at all well when the going is shifty,” said Mr Munro. “I will not nominate who the hardest to beat is, as I think trainers don’t run their horses in the Great Northern Hurdles if they can’t do the job-” Progress Pleasing The Waiuku owner-trainer, M. C. Conway, is very pleased with Smoke Ring’s progress over the last few days. “Surging looks my biggest danger. On his fine win in the Waikato Hurdles he must command the greatest of respect,” Mr Conway commented. “I have tried for years to win a Great Northern Hurdles, and perhaps I might be lucky this time,” said the owner and trainer of Triple Count. “Tawhlti Rahi will be the hardest for Triple Count to beat. He fell at the last fence in the hurdles last year when looking a big danger.”

The Hastings trainer, T. Lyndon, was very pleased with Harlech’s showing over four hurdles at Ellerslie on Thursday. “Harlech will be hard to beat. I also fancy Mireusonta. Providing he gets the ground to suit he will take a lot of heading off,” Lyndon said.

A. G. Macdonald, the trainer of Royal Ransom, has no real fancy In the big race. He

said Royal Ransom had done well, and was pleased with his jumping at Ellerslie on Thursday. “Living in Hopes”

The Rotorua trainer, J. M. Pender, said he was “living in hopes” that Fly Home would regain the form which made him hard to beat over fences a couple of seasons back. “Tawhiti Rahi has done well,” said his trainer, J. L. Jenkins. “Smoke Ring is my pick. He has a lightweight and is a useful jumper.” The Woodville trainer, J. W. Harris, a former successful rider, is represented by two runners today. “Both Mireusonta and Goa are fit and ready to give good accounts of themselves. The hardest for my fellows to beat could be Surging. He is really fit and would not look out of place in an open handicap,” said Harris. R. F. Cole, the trainer of Chef, said his charge had done well, but has a hard task with the top-weight. “Rain on the day would help. I fancy Harlech. He is a good horse underestimated.” Field Too Even “Prince Sylvan is well. I did not run him in a Northern before because they have to be fully experienced for the job,” said his trainer, A. H. C. Porter, of Rotorua. “I have no strong fancy as the field is too even.” The Awapitni trainer, N. D. Eales, is pleased with Tilly Light’s recent work. “Providing the ground is not too heavy he will be hard to beat.” Along with the Ellersile trainer, M. E. Ritchie, who has The Frenchman engaged today, Eales picks Surging to be right in the finish.