Off an’ On for National

Press, 19 July 1983, Page 28

Off an’ On for National

Special correspondent Invercargill Providing they come through the Christchurch Hunt 1 Club’s meeting satisfactorily, Off an’ On and Paulmont could represent the Riverton trainer, Bill Hillis, at the Grand National carnival at Riccarton next month. Off an’ On has been based with Hillis for a few weeks with a view to contesting the Grand National Steeples and Paulmont has thrown off signs of stiffness and tendon troubles since contesting the Great Northern Steeples at Ellerslie. The switching of the

Grand National Steeples to the final day of the Canterbury carnival will make it a little easier for Hillis to get Off an’ On fit for the feature. It will allow him more time to see how he comes through the Christchurch Hunt Club’s Homeby Steeples and lead-up races at the Canterbury meeting. Earlier in his career, Paulmont was runner-up in the Homeby Steeples, but Hillis feels he is not fast enough over the big fences to be properly suited for Riccarton.

Singing Star did not entirely please Hillis at the

Waimate meeing. He might bypass the Grand National meeting and be reserved for the Eastern Southland Hunt Club’s fixture at Gore late next month.

Hillis has yet to recommission his new season’s flat team. Instead, he has been occupied with the breaking in and education of several rising two-year-olds over the winter period. The champion sire, Noble Bijou, is represented in that department by a filly from Scale Fee (Charicles—Barrister), a race winning halfsister to Kutati, Bellotama and Belle Be Be, the dam of Ellery Jane.