RACING Running Bear Steeples Pick At Trentham

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31727, 10 July 1968, Page 4

RACING Running Bear Steeples Pick At Trentham

After wins at his last two starts over Trentham country, Running Bear seems assured of favouritism for the Matai Steeplechase on the second day of the Wellington winter meeting today.

The second of those wins was on May 11, when he led throughout two miles and a half in the Newtown Steeplechase.

Not surprisingly he was at generous odds. He was certainly the only fast-start winner in the field, but that success had been recorded two years earlier.

Running Bear had been away from racing since he woo the steeplechaae at the Masterton meeting, held at Trentham. in May, 1968. To show he bad taken no harm from his winning run fresh up at Trentham this year Running Beer went co to carry off the honours in the Maramarua Hunt Cup at his next start Then he ran third

in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie. Sure Trade, the best of Running Bear’s rivals in the Newtown Steeplechase in May, and the Wellington Steapleebaaa fourth on Saturday, looks a place prospect at least for today's nee. So does Blue Defaulter, the only one to get near the highly-regarded Last Count in the hack steeples on Saturday. One of the disappointing aspects of the meeting are the small fields for the open hurdle races. There were only seven acceptors for today's Lambton Hurdles, and m the ab-

sence of Saturday’s winner, Humber, the field lacks a strong form runner. Because a heavy track

towns certain no one could be surprised if the veteran Emsle made a successful first appearance at the meeting toEmsie is 10 years old and it is five years since he won a hack hurdle race on one of his first campaigns at Trentham. But he has not had the racing of some horses half his ago, although he has done enough on his present campaign to fit him for a hard slog through the mud. Nice Peter, Town Crier and Kelloman seem likely to dominate the finish of the Corunna Hurdles, first leg of the on-course concession double. Unbeaten

Claudius, an unbeaten two-year-old in two starts from L. w. Ford’s Matamata stable, will probably be a dominating favourite for the Juvenile Handicap, second leg of the course double.

Ford has a brilliant record, at Trentham. He improved it when he won the hack steeplechase with Last Count last Saturday, and Claudius could bring more honours to a highly successful stable. Honda, one of Claudius’s swiftest rivals,, could find No. ■ 24 barrier position formidable but the well-regarded Kip Again, from Takanini, has i fared better. One of the most likely improvers should be Euchreloo, a half-brother by Fair’s Fair to the good stayer, Howsie.

T.AJB, Double The combined efforts of Red Crest and Midnight Kiss in the Parliamentary Handicap could give the Waikato another victory at the meeting. They are proved performers in bad ground and they have raced with distinction In important summer cup races. Woodville’s Royal Theme, the Levin-trained Gus, and Wingatul’s Jay Ribbon are others with strong form claims. They were the principals In the Whyte Handicap finish on Saturday, Jay Ribbon giving the South Island its first victory for six years in this feature mile. Gus won the Parliamentary as a three-year-old two years ago. Glamis Lad’s run for seventh in the Whyte Handicap after being forced over a fair amount of ground and being left in front near the home turn was an encouraging pointer to his chance in a weaker field in the Members’ Handicap, the second leg of today’s T.A.B. double.