NATIONAL TRIALS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 17

NATIONAL TRIALS

Good Fields For Hunt Club NOTES AND COMMENTS Death of Mr. C. E. Twist

(By

The Watcher.)

The Christchurch Hunt Club received excellent acceptances for its annual meeting to be held on the Riccarton racecourse to-morrow, the only exceptions being the two hunters’ events, which are invariably only moderately patronised. Strong fields will contest the three principal races, the Homeby Steeplechase, Longbeach Hurdles, and Brabazon Handicap, and these dress rehearsals for the Grand National meeting will create a lot of interest. The whole programme is the most attractive the club has presented for many years. In Good Order. Valpeen does not do much spectacular work on the tracks, but there is nothing wrong with his condition, and a horse can be go' ready to race without being continually sent against the watch. Winter Cup. The Winter Cup field might dwindle a little at final acceptance, but it will still remain a punters’ problem. The Brabazon Handicap may throw a little light on it, but several cup horses are not running on Saturday. The first essential in a cup horse is a good beginning and ab’lity to hold position during the running. The pace is always on and 'a slow starter is under a big handicap. In'ured Jockey. L. J. Ellis is to get the doctor’s verdict on his shoulder to-day. If he is fit to ride he will have the mount on Wino in the Winter Cup. Death of Hawke's Bay Owner. The death of Mr. Cl E. Twist removes a prominent Hawke's Bav figure from the racing world. The late Mr. Twist took a keen interest in the sport, esp-ci-ally from, the jumping angle, and always had a horse or two to carry his colours. Latterly he also trained his own horses, and had the satisfaction of winn’ng races with Dozie. Prosy Boy and Lncullus Lad. Tovno and Woden were also among his winners. He also bred his own stock and took an active interest in the game officially, being a steward and a past president of the Napier Park Racing Club. Nr.t'onal Rehearsals. Eighteen Winter Cup horses appear in the Brabazon Handicap at the Chr'stchurch Hunt meeting to-morrow, leaving eight others who do not claim an engagement in the h'e mi’e event. These eight are Rebel Chief. Alma, Araboa. Greek Gold, Metal Bird. Fiord. Owlsrlpam. and Pelmet The Winter Cup horses who are absent to-morrow are Ponty. SilverStreak, Pukeko, Da vole. Big Book. Catalogue. Queen Dorothy. Enris. Half Note. Old Surrey, Mon’pere, Mi'tio, and _ Sir Nigel. Mittje. however, will be seen in a hack snrint to-morrow. It is thus obvious that while the Bra' on may provide a good line on the cnn it will by no means exhaust the possibilities, AH National Horses. Th" whole of the 10 accentors in the Homeby Steeplechase at Riccarton tomorrow are National candidates, and two others, Black Banner and ShilVlngh Wood, are in a hack race. The only National horses missjng to-morrow will ne Irish Comet. Santoft, Brigadore. and Polydora, so the form over the big fences should prove decidedly valuable in summing up prospects for the big race 10 days later. Th" Hurdlers.

The only hordes in the Lon ebe" ch Hurdles to-morrow that nre not in the National Hurdles- are GoFen Lap, Redolent and Master Reynard. On the o’her hand we will not sec Clarion Call. John Charles? Blue Tirer, Brigadore, Master Musk and Irish Comet. Jolly Begg-r's form in a flat race may nnt be nartic.nlarly illuminating, but there should be plenty of material for discussion after the races.

Gone South. Master Musk, who has been at Trenthrm since the Wellington winter meeting, was sent down to Ricearton last night.

Gambling on the Weather. The Christchurch Hunt Club has taken out an insurance against rain for its annual mee'ing to-morrow. The stipulation is for 10 points between 6 and 10 a.m. Lrrt year the club had bad luck. A snowstorm caused the meeting to be abandoned and unfortunately the worst period occurred just after 10 o'clock and the insurance was missed by a fraction. The Favourite. »

Trench Fight, who is the ruling favourite for the Winter Cup, came into the limelight when he won the Spring Plate at the New Zealand Cup meeting with

7 7 in 1.39 4-5 on a greasy track. His etable-mate Wild Chape just beat hint, and no more in the Xew Zealand Derby. Trench Fight (8.4) won the Jockey Club Handicap in 1.38 1-5 when tlie unplaced lot included Concertpitch (8.9). Ee-sex beat Trench Figiit in the Great Northern Derby. Trench Fight then went into retirement, end now eeems to be training back to repeat the promise of his early form. Has Improved. Master Musk, who left Trentham for Ricearton yesterday, looks an improved horse since the Wellington meeting. He might be a National possibility if he improves upon his two recent fourth placings at Ellerslie and Trentham. Answers to Correspondents. “Stan,” Prh'atua : £2/12/-. “Subscriber," Gieborne: (1) £3/11/9; £l/18/6. (2) £2/0/6. (3) £l/7/-, (4) £2/11/6; 9A. ‘‘Firebell," Woodville; Have written for the information.