WAIKATO FORM

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 17

WAIKATO FORM

Bearing on Northerns SCOTCH NATION IMPRESSES Dominion Special Service. Auckland, May 28. It is doubtful whether ,the form revealed at the Waikato Racing Club’s winter meeting at Te Rapa has made the Great Northerns at Ellerslie any easier of solution, although the running has certainly directed attention to the prospects ot Scotch Nation, Jolly Beggar, and Biliy Boy. For a juniper Scotch Nation recorded au exceptionally good perloriuance in finishing second to Velocipede in the President's Handicap, one mile and a quarter, the chief Hat race, and there is no doubt that he is in great heart. Up to the present Scotch Nation has had only two races over hurdles, and some of his admirers would have liked him to have had a little more experience. However, King’s Jest won the Great Northern Hurdles in 1930 with less, and Scotch Nation has the advantage of having been thoroughly qualified in the hunting field before he commenced racing. Moreover, he has been schooling well, and he will disappoint if he fails to show up prominently. He is an excellent type of juniper and none appears to have better prospects. His chance of winning both Northerns is very bright, even though he has not yet raced over country. Southern Hurdler. Making his first appearance in Auckland, last year's Grand National Hurdles winner Jolly Beggaj made a good impression when he won the Te Kuiti Hurdles at the right end. The only blemish on his display was that he swerved outward at the last fence, which he has previously shown a tendency to do. Whether he will do so when racing in the opposite direction, right-handed, has yet to be seen. Like some southern horses of the past with the same tendency, he may go straighter at Ellerslie, although it was noticeable when he schooled on the outside of the course proper that he displayed a tendency to swerve inward. Two factors in favour of Jolly Beggar are that he is a genuine stayer and a safe fencer. In addition he seems to be right at the top of his form. As he had not won for nearly two years, Billy Boy's victory in the Waikato Steeplechase was a complete surprise. Even though he is in his twelfth year and may not be as good as a couple of seasons ago, he demonstrated that be is by no means a spent light, and is still one of the most reliable fencers among the steeplechasers. This year will make his fourth attempt to win the Great Northern Steeplechase, and it will be interesting to see how he fares. His record in the race in previous years is as follows Unplaced with 10.13 in 193<-, third with 12.7 in 1933, and unplaced with 11.8 in 1934. Forest Glow Consistent. On this occasion Billy Boy, with 10.7, will have less weight than in his previous attempt, and in view of his return to winning form he has to be respected, especially as be is a grand jumper and more reliable than many of the others in this respect. Compared with most of the horses lie met at Te Rapa, Billy Boy will come in on only a pound or two different terms, and the figures are not against him. although he will meet the runner-up, Forest Glow, 71b. worse. Forest Glow is one of the most consistent steeplechasers racing, and since winning at Paeroa in March he has registered five successive seconds. As he is easy to handle and is an even and clever jumper, without being in any way extravagant, it is on the cards that Forest Glow may see out the long journey in the Great Northern Steeplechase better than many. Moreover, he has had a splendid preparation and should strip one of the best seasoned horses in the race. Forest. Glow showed that he was not averse to the hill at. Ellerslie when he ran two seconds at Easter. Diamond's defeat of Roxy in lite King Country Steeplechase on Monday showed that lie is nttaring his true form again, and the chances are he will be all the bettor for his racing. Besides possessing more speed than the average steeplechaser he is a flue fencer, and the fact that he fell at his last appearance at Ellerslie should not bo against him. Diamond has yet to prove that he is a genuine stayer, but be is out. of a well-bred mare and may' possess real stamina. If he does, he should be difficult to beat.

FINAL GALLOPS

Jumping and Flat Work at Ellerslie JOLLY BEGGAR PLEASES By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland. May 28. Final gallops for the Auckland Racing Club's Great Northern meeting took place at Ellerslie this morning in fine weather. There was a large attendance of spectators, zt lot of interesting work was carried out, including schooling over hurdles on the course proper and steeplechase country, but the jumping was not up to the standard of previous years. The No. 1 grass, on which the poles were ten feet out, was available for fast work, and the going was excellent; in fact, it has never been better for this period of the year. Good efforts were recorded by Crooning, Scotland, Royal Appellant, and Knight of Australia, over a distance, and fast gallops were registered by some of the sprinters. Among the junipers, Jolly Beggar, Scotch Nation and Royal Limond pleased most. On the No. j gruss Teddy Boy did a round in 1.57 3-s_. the last six furlongs in 1.23 2-5, in good style. Royal Appellant and Knight of Australia finished in front of IVeo Pat over a mile in 1.45 1-5, the last seven furlongs in 1.29 4-5. and the final six iu 4.17 3-5. The first-named pair were impressive. Valiant jumped off in front of them just past the six furlongs post, and held an advantage till the finish, doing 1.5 3-5 for the last live. RerCatu, after running the first three furlongs in 38 1-5, reeled off six furlongs in 1.17 1-5, one of the best gallops of the morning. Running on Strongly. Klug Tut nnd Scbrof did five furlongs in 1.4 -1-5. Both carried fair weights and were running on strongly. Mainland and Tea Mouey jumped away in front of Landlubber at the live furlongs post, and the fnwt-namcd was just in front of Landlubber in 1.3 3-5. Persian Lady and Solns, after traversing the first three furlongs in 40 2-5, completed six furlongs in 1.19 3-5. Grateful worked steadily over a round which took 2.4 1-5, coming home over the last half-mile in 55. Gold Mission and Mustang covered half a mile iu 49 4-5, a s-uiart effort. Survey, who followed just behind them, completed n similar distance in 48 4-5, the best elfort of the morning over tho distance. Te llai, lifter commencing slowly, over a round, finished the task in 2.4 1-5, the last half-mile in 54. Clarion Call and Forest Glow traversed a round in 2.0 4-5. the last six furlongs taking 1.24 4-5. Both worked Well. King Mestor did seven furlongs in 1.43 4-5, but did not hit out with his usual freedom. Soloist covered six furlongs in 1.22 3-5, the last half-mile in 54 4-5. Sea Fox did the last half-mile in 51 1-5, going well. The Cornwall Handicap candidates- I’akantti and Tooley Street were iisetociated over a round, the latter finishing well in,

front iu 1.50 2-5. Tooley Street worked well. , , . Solaria did the last half-mile of his work in 50. lie if* in fiiY’t-rate order. Master Musk finished well in front_of United over seven furlongs in 1.32 3-0. Dollar Bill sprinted six furlongs, m 1.17 1-5, equal to the best of the morning over the distance. , One Whetu ran the last half-mile or his work in 52 1-5. Horowhcnua and Lagoon did seven furlongs in 1-32 1-5, both working well. Town Beauty and Billy Boy "'ent a round in 1.59. . Tho best effort over a mile was credited to Crooning and Scotland, who tool-. 1.45 4-5, the last half-mile in al o-u. Mungatoou ran seven furlongs in 1.00 4-5, the last half-mile in 52 3-5. The Jumpers. The jumpers Sporting Song and Saltspray started off for a school over tour hurdles on the course proper. They jumped safely till reaching the third fence, where'both lost their riders. Sporting Soil"- was remounted and jumped the last, fence, but. Saltspray was not. persevered with. . , , Vai Watch "’as given a similar task, and lumped well throughout. Illuminagh and Kanapa shaped well over the same fences in 1.19 4-5. Contact gave a first-class exhibition over four hurdles on the course proper in 1.23 2-5. ami he could have improved. Jolly Beggar, Scotch Nation and Silk Sox also schooled over four hurdles, Jolly Beggar finishing in front in 1.18 2-u. Jolly Beggar jumped exceptionally well. The other pair, however, would lose no friends. , . , Tangled and Royal Limond started off at the' ton of the straight over the hurdles on the course proper and , continued over them along the back. They then went up the hill and wound up their task by jumping the fences on the flat, liot.li went wei;. Royal Limond jumping very evenly throughout. Windsor Lad and Cynical hid gave a good display "over a round of the steeplechase course. Nun Nicer was scratched for all engagements at 11.10 a.m. Imperial Prince was withdrawn from the Greenlane Steeplechase at 11.26 a.m.