Cappeleigh G.N. prospect now

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33230, 21 May 1973, Page 10

Cappeleigh G.N. prospect now

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND.

When it comes to assessing lumpers, the Woodville jockey \ B. I. Waerea has become pretty J expert, so his comment on ' Cappelsigh's suitability or otherwise for the Great Northern Steeples is worth notice. "He's just the horse," he re- ' plied to the question put him after the Waikato Steeplechase on Saturday. | What Waerea meant was that i Cappeleigh is safe in his jumping without ever being extravagant, a sound stayer and thoroughly at home in very heavy ■ ground. As he so nicely put it. just the horse to win the gruelling four-mile race at Ellerslie on Queen’s Birthday. It would probably make no difference to Cappeleigh that he 'has no experience of the Ellers- ' lie country. He was having his first look at Te Rapa when he won on Saturday and when he i won at Trentham, just a week previously, it was the first time he had seen the Wellington club’s figure-eight course. But a try at the Great Northern is bv no means certain, according to Capneleigh’s Feilding owner-trainer, Mr W. T. Beatson, who points out that the Wellington Steeplechase, in July, would be as much an attraction.

On Saturday. Waerea first , oegan to give himself a winning I chance as they straightened up

for the run home. But it was not until well over the last jump that Cappeleigh made it clear he would win. With Mountain Lion, then Rangitane, tiring, he drew away strongly to make his margin at the finish an impressive eight lengths. Rangitane, jumping well all the way, but beaten by a lack of racing, kept Mountain Lion out of second by three lengths and there was a widening gap of four 'lengths to Headman. While clearly beaten, Rangitane and Mountain Lion shaped sufficiently well to remain in consideration for the Great Northern. I Sir Stanley, the favourite, fell at the six furlongs after leading the chase after Headman.