THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 256, 13 July 1926, Page 8

THE RACING WORLD

WEIGHTS FOR C. J. C. MEETING

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “The Watcher.”) Nominations lor all events at the annual steeplechase meeting of the Christchurch Hunt Club, to be held on the Riccarton racecourse on July 31, will close on Friday, at 8 p.m. First acceptances tor the Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles, and Winter Cup, will close at 8 p.m. on Friday next, when general entries for the Grand National meeting are also due. The interval between the Wellington winter meeting and the Grand National fixture is- longer this year than usual, and the majority of the horses seen, out at Trentham are returning home before going south. So many horses came from the Auckland district and the Main Trunk line, that (he Department gave them a special horse train from Trentham on Sunday night. The broken collarbone sustained by W. Bowden in the July Steeplechase on Saturday will probably keep him out of the saddle for the Grand National. In that event A. E. Ellis will ride Fireblight. It is not intended that Landbird will run in the Steeplechase, but he will contest the Grand National Hurdles. Master Peter was a disappointment at Trentham, as he made a mistake each time he ran, which put him out of the contest. Master Peter is in great order at the present time, and he should do loettoi' at liiccarton, where he has twice been placed in the Grand National, running second to Oakleigh in 1923, and third to Sturdee and Tigerland the following year. From Black Cruiser's showing in the Highweight Handicap and the Winter Hurdles, it looks as if he were very unlucky to fall at the first hurdle in the Trentham Hurdle Race on the opening day. Black Cruiser proved himself a. very good jumper on Saturday, and a real stayer who will be thoroughly at home over the two miles and five furlongs of the Grand National Hurdles. Brigadier Bill won fairly well at a mile and three-quarters on the opening day last week, and that was as far as he was dangerous in the Winter Hurdles on Saturday. He was ridden by L. G. Morris, who usually rides Santiago, but Morris changed mounts with R. Miles. Santiago fell at the five-furlong fence when toiling along in the rear of the field. On the running of Brigadier Bill it looks as if Ngata would have been dangerous had he been the elect of the stable. . .

It was not altogether surprising to find Comical falling out over the final stages of the Winter Hurdles. Ho has had an interrupted preparation, and while he was able through his class to score on the flat on Thursday, it was a different matter when it came to dealing with thoroughly seasoned stayers over the fences. Comical did not jump overwell either, and made one particularly poor effort at tho five furlong post. It was this which definitely finished him as a possibility. In the month to the Grand National meeting Comical should be capable of considerable improvement. Wedding March was well supported for the Winter Hurdles on tho Saturday following upon his two successes in the back ranks, lie has only been at the hurdling business w short time, and if was very noticeable that he bad lightened up considerably as the result of his two races earlier in the week. Ju spite of this he was a possibility half a mile from home, up to which stage he had been running nearer tho rear of the field than the front. It would appear that Wedding March has a good future as a jumper if all goes well with him. Ho is at present raced on lease from Mr. R. Hannon, who will not have long to wait to get. him back again.

Tho win of King Lu in the open sprint on Thursday last was his first success since he won the Great Northern Guineas, and as he raced well again in his next start on Saturday it looks as if lie has again struck form. On the other hand Master Doon, who gave him a good race on Thursday failed to run up to the form again. Master Doon has been a great disappointment since he won Hie Railway Handicap at Ellerslie about lb months ago and on bis form at Trentham he is very unreliable. Both these Lucullus horses are good in heavy ground. One of tho easiest victories recorded last week was that of Glenross in the Winter Oafs, and it was really astonish, ing that he was only third favourite. Ho had galloped very impressively in •raining, and in tho open sprint the first day was running on strongly at the end. Probably many people considered his 11.0 too'groat a burden, but they must have forgot then that under the 7.0 minimum he was winning races with welter weights. Glenross runs on much better than the majority of tho Absurds and be no doubt gets a lot of his stamina from his dam, Bronze, a. high-class mare when racing herself.

Mr. R. G. Makin, formerly r" Lambourn, Wiltshire, but now of Wellington, called in yesterday regarding the remarks made about tho paternal antecedents of the Winter Hurdles winner Zircon. It would appear that Count Schomberg, who sired Merry Moment, who came out to New Zealand and left, amongst other good horses, Zircon, was not a German production, but was bred in Ireland. He was trained by J. Peace at Lambourn, Wiltshire, and was ridden in his work by Mr. Makin. Amongst the victories of the Count on the English turf was tho Chester Cup of 1897, an event which was won by his brother, Up Guards, the following season. It was first discovered that Count Schomberg could jump when in the Liverpool Cup a horse ridden by T. Loates and owned by Lord Derby fell and Count Schomberg ridden by S. Loates, made a leap which carried him right over the fallen horse and jockey. After tho death of his Irish owner he was bought by Major Eustace Loder, the owner of Pretty Polly, who took him

to Paris and won the big hurdle event of the Continental season. Count Schomberg was afterwards purchased by Colonel Hall Walker, now Lord Wavertree and was included in the draft which passed to the English Government tn the National stud when the Colonel presented it to tho nation. Potoanui made a very auspicious beginning as a hurdler last week. He was making his first public appearance as a jumper when fie ran second to Wedding March on Thursday and he followed it up by scoring a decisive victory on Saturday. Potoanui belongs to the same stable as Glenidle who ran so prominently in the same events at Trentham twelve months ago. Olympic ran well at Trentham last week and was unlucky to strike a couple of performers like Rapier and Glenross in successive starts. It is probable that had a little more patience been exercised in the handling of Olympic he would have been much harder to Tanadees was rather a disappointing performer last week. He ran a couple of good races on the first two days and they evidently got to the bottom of him for he was soundly beaten on SatUl Whhn the company lacks a little bit of the class that distinguished it last week it looks as if Sir Pam should collect a stake. . Braeman, who is out of a full sister to the former good steeplechaser Braeburn, raced well but without luck at Trentham last week. He seemed to slide about a bit in the going and it is very likely that in firmer ground he will run more prominently. Although Crown Coin failed to get into the money last week his form was a distinct improvement upon anything be has shown since he won at Wanganui and if he gees to Riccarton be may be a payable proposition. Eonmark broke down while contesting the second hack steeplechase on Thursday and will require a long spell. llokioi ran very consistently at the meeting last week, being second, third and second in his three starts. He is only a young horse yet and when more experienced should not be the least of a promising string of jumpers in Mr. Hannon’s stable. The hunter Kaipikari. who performed inglorious),y at Trentham last week, will he returned to the bunting field. . The English-bred Knighthood is a peculiar customer. He. ran quite a good race in the hack hurdle race on Saturday when least expected, and there are undoubted possibilities in him if they could be brought out. ■ The southern jumpers did not show up too well against their northern rivals at the Wellington winter meeting, and it is quite evident that those at present in commission in the south do not include a high-class performer. Sturdee only ran once at Trentham. He is said not to be at home in soft ground and conditions evidently did not suit him on Saturday, when he was actually last of the runners who stood up. For more than half of the journey he had been racing in a handy position. Prior lo winning the National, Sturdee ran a somewhat similar race in the Wellington Steeplechase, but was a vastly different horse on top of the ground nt Riccarton. History may repeat itself next month. In winning the Winter Hurdles in his first season as a hurdler Zircon repeated the performance of First Born. First. Born, however, had during the previous two days of. the meeting run first and second in tho hack hurdles. As Birkenella is such a proved performer over the Riccarton fences it is difficult to see how many of the runners ho defeated in the Wellington Steeplechase can reverse positions with him in the National. It takes a thoroughly experienced steeplechaser, however, to win the National, and tho majority have two or three tries before meeting with success. Tho company Sisanof’s half-brother Valhynia raced in on Saturday could hardly have been more modest, yet ho ran a bad last. Birkonella and Fireblight, winner and runner-up in the Wellington Steeplechase, were both “made” in the hunting field, a fact which hunting enthusiasts pointed out with considerable prido last week. Sturdee’s National win was also largely due to being well seasoned’ with following t.be hounds. When Merry Singer fell in the Second Hack Steeplechase on Thursday he broke a good record, for iie bad never previously fallen, cither in private or public. Merry- Singer is definitely booked to race at Riccarton. and may bo disposed of in the south. H. Burt saw tho last two days’ racing at Trentham. His broken collarbone is mending well, and ho will bo "iding again at Riccarton, where Passin’ Through and Comical will be amongst his mounts. Paddon, who ran second to Rascal, and .won the Novice Handicap on Saturday, is a half-brother to While Comet, with whom Mr. Siefcrt won a sprint double at Trentham twelve months ago. Koauau is being treated to spell, and he will not be seen in action again until the spring. Koauau has been more than useful over tho sticks, and with tho dry tracks to race on he should add further to his winnings. Although he has run fine races over a mile and three-quarters, and a creditable third in the Century Hurdles at. Wanganui, two miles and a quarter, his best performances have been registered over a mile and a half, which would appear to be his best distance. Confidently considered to be a great Guineas proposition by his trainer, the rising three-year-old colt Lysander at tho present time gives every indication that he will fulfil expectations during the spring and after (says tho Wanganui “Chronicle”). Walter Rayner has been pottering about with Lysander tho last couple of mouths with an occasional sprint up the straight, for a let-up would tie dangerous, as ho puts on condition so readily. The colt is not unlike Thespian at the same age, but whereas the latter—now doing duty at the Koatanui stud —was a lazy .sort, Lysander ie just the reverse, and is always eager to gallop. He is building up into a magnificent three-year-old, and it will occasion no surprise should he prove to be the best of his year up to a mile. Although his two-year-old record was such a splendid one, the colt was not actually tuned right up. In fact, Rayner had many anxious moments getting his favourite ready for important engagements, and as the result of an apparently permanent cold he was unable to give him all the strong work he required. Thus it Was nt Easter when Lysander was taken to Auckland, it did not seem to local track watchers that tho colt had done sufficient work to run out a solid six furlongs, but his brilliance pulled him through. Lysander’s run of successes during the season was a great tribute to Rayner's ability. On present appearances it looks as if Lysander will be the best three-year-old colt seen out for a few years.’ With a trio of promising two-year-olds also to wmrk on, not to mention Mask and The Thorn, and one or two others, the successful owner-train-er combination of Mr. G. M. Currie and Rayner should see the popular cardinal anil old gold livery carried even more conspicuously in the coming season than in the past. FIXTURES. July 22.—Waiinate District Hunt. Club Julv 24.—South Canterbury Hunt Club July 29 31.—Gisborne. R.O. Julv 31.—Christchurch Hum C.nb August 7—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. August 10. 12, It - Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National. \ugnst 21-I’akuranga Hunt Club. August 25 ■— Egmout-M i-ngar.ui Hunt At'g’ust b 6-North Teamnajd (My

C.J.C. HANDICAPS

WEIGHTS FOR STEEPLES, CUP AND HURDLES BY TELEGHAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Christchurch, July 12. The following handicaps for the Principal events at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting have been declared by Mr. J. o. Henrys:—.

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, of 3000 sovs. Three miles ana a xiau Nukumai Landbird 11 11 7 5 Uncle Bob ... Peter Maxwell y 9 1 Passin* Tigerland 9 0 Through 10 11 First Line 9 0 Tuki 10 7 Kipling 9 0 Master Peter 9 0 10 7 Frenchman — 9 0 Omahu Birkenella 10 1 Ranui 9 0 Sturdee 10 1 Greekson •« 9 6 Fireblight 10 1 Red Cent - 9 0 Kendal - 9 13 Blue Hall ...... 9 0 Charlatan 9 13 Eonmark ...... 9 0 General Mazama —.. 9 0 Advance 9 13 Night Baid .... 9 0 Bl wk Cruiser 9 12 Whipcord 9 0 Kawini 9 9 Woden 9 0 Llewellyn 9 6 rinan 9 0 WINTER CUP, of 1000 sovs. One mile. Listening Post 10 13 Lucador 9 6 Deucalion 10 9 Tall Timber ... 9 6 Red Wink .. 10 6 Carnot - 9 2 Merry Damon 10 o Last Dart ...... 9 2 Sun Up .... Tresham 10 9 2 10 2 Zaragoza 9 1 Winkle’s Best 10 Heather Lad-.. 9 0 Rapier 10 Chickwheat .. 9 0 Civility Tanadoes ... Mountain Lion 10 1 Rivalry 9 0 10 1 9 G 9 13 Nine of Indian Sage.. 9 13 Spades 9 0 Euphonium .. 9 12 Jubilance 9 0 Kilbronsyth .. 9 12 Centrepiece .. 9 0 'ey.... 9 11 Royal Diadem 9 0 Eden Hall .. 9 0 9 9 Bugfe °Note ... 0 o Hoariri .... 9 9 9 9 0 Steel Bar .... Overdrawn .. 9 Dubious 9 0 Master Sand9 9 9 9 9 Jov Bird 9 t) stone • ••• 8 7 6 6 fi 6 Anthorie 9 0 Nippy : Pink Note .. Olympic Warhaven .. The Harp .. La Choucas.. Bon Avis Beau Geste — Buoyant [[illation Gardanti ••••- 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 Zircon .... Beaumont .. Tuahine .... 9 9 9 9 9 9 5 5 Bohdhu Vblhynia 9 9 9 0 0 0 Serang .... Sprinkler Imitation .. Diogenes 4 4 4 Llandudno ... Capt. Gazley . Gold Silk 9 9 9 0 0 0 Cyrene 9 4 GRAND NATIONAL 4JOV8. About tv o Ngata _ 1} ’ Nukumai 11 “ Landbird .... ]i Comical .—•• 11 1 Loughrea .... U 0 Frisco Mail .... 10 0 HURDLES, of 2000 miles and a kali. Wedding March ’ » Little River.... 9 0 Rangatah! .... 9 0 Kotta.no 9 0 Joy Ride ■••• 9 0 Listening rosi iu Zircon 10 General Advance 1° Black Cruiser 10 Dubious 10 3 3 2 1 13 Sayanora Peter Rosa ... Alarlc - Arch Salute •. Bonomcl 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vagabonu Maunga Lucullent Projector 9 12 9 9 0 Greekson Happy Days .. Comedy 9 8 9 0 San Fera 9 7 Knighthood .. 9 0 Kawini Te Kawa 9 9 6 6 Enare Cureaform 9 0 Adjutor ...... Brigadier Bill 9 9 5 4 Askari Gluymen Tinchoro Prince Forouz 9 0 Santiago Crown Coin .. 9 9 4 1 9 0