GOOD FORM

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 13

GOOD FORM

Padishah’s National Chance NOTES AND COMMENTS Horses For Riccarton

I Ry

The Watcheb.)

It looks certain, bar accidents, that Padishah will again beat his Homeby opponents in the National, which leaves only Erination and Survoy as possibilities to upset him. A few years ago it was a firmly held belief that no horse could win a National without a previous visit to Riccarton, but that myth was exploded by Peter Maxwell and first-up runners over the National country have won since. Consequently Padishah with Saturday s experience and excellent display will start a warm favourite, and it is difficult to see anything improving sufficiently to be really dangerous to him. The National field has to run another mile, but apart from tile extra jumps the distance should be more in Padishah’s favour, as he lias pronounced superiority on the flat. That and his now unquestionable ability to jump makes him almost , invincible on paper. The thorn in his side, if there is to be one, may be Erination. ■

Amateurs Over Fences. The able performance of Mr. G. G. Beatson on Padishah in the Homeby Steeplechase on Saturday did hot surprise those who are acquainted with his skill and experience with jumping horses, but it has attracted widespread comment because it is unusual for an amateur to ride over fences in public in New Zealand in races against professional jockeys. In England, on the other hand, amateurs are often in the leading flight of cross-country riders and have more than once won the Grand National.

Aussie Ba’s Good Trial. Of the National hurdlers seen in actioji at Riccarton on Saturday the best triai was definitely that of Aussie Ra, and as he comes, down 81b. for the big race and is a pronounced stayer he firmly emphasized the impression he made in Marton on the previous Saturday. The field he beat Was not quite the full strength of th,e National lot, as was the case with Padishah in the steeplechase, but he beat them all so decisively as to leave little doubt that he has an excellent chance of winning next week. It is interesting to see, however, that in weighting the horses for the Trial Hurdles on the first day, Mr. Russell, despite Aussie Ra’s form, does not make a very wide difference in his opinion of the relative merits of Aussie Ra and Peter Beckford. With some of the horses, for instance. Dividend, Last Link and Araboa, Aussie Ra is set to meet them on 151 b., 181 b. and 181 b. worse terms respectively than in the National. Peter Beckford, however, is in not more than 121 b. better, an indication that he is regarded ae a National possibility.

In Form Again. Twelve months ago Pukeko won the O|ien Handicap at the Manawatu Hunt Club’s meeting and then went on to winning form at the Grand National meeting. This year the stable would appear to have a good chance of repeating history with Gay Chou. His race on Saturday was a good one, and as it was his first since Easter he can be relied upon to improve. Should Go Well.

Tidewaiter was another horse in good winning form at Christchurch at this period last year, and judged by the way he finished at the end of seven furlongs on Saturday, he should pay expenses if taken south, specially as he will have an opportunity over a longer journey. For the National.

The following horses were shipped south last night:—Mittie, Lady Tinkle, Indian Sun, Black Thread, Raana, Charade. Begorrah, Export, Hanover and Bridegroom. Form Looks Good.

Taking a line through Aussie Ra, who defeated Hunting Lore at Marton, Toper, who repeated the dose at Awapuni _on Saturday, should have a chance of picking up a stake if taken to Riccarton, He jumps and stays well. Well Bred.

Patahi, who brought off a surprise win in the maiden race tX Awa.puii, is by Danilof, who is closely Sasanof, both being out of Ukraine, while Sasanof is by Martian and Danilof is by his haltbrother, Bouiform. The <tam of Patahi is Blue Paper, a mare bred by the late Mr. C. F. Vallance, by Paper Money—Blue Lake, by Royal Fusilier,

Should Pay Her Way. Lady Montana might not win the Winter Cup, but she cannot be denied a chance, and even if she misses there she should have prospects over a longer journey during the meeting. The rape she had on Saturday should be just what she required for next week.

Glenvane. Glenvane is in hunters’ events at Riccarton, and as he jumps and stays well, he may pay his way if taken down.

Impressive Form. , • • Nig’htcalm impressed good judges by ms winning form on Satuwtay. lie is a smart horse and by winning when so fresh he should be in excellent shaoe for his Winter Cap engagements. Horses with his pace are tough opponents over a mile journey. Alma. L Alma, who ran third in the Brabazxin, won last year, but was beaten into thii'u place in the Winter Cup. This year she ran third in the Brabazon, so by a reversal of placings she would win the Cup

Catalogue. Catalogue was ridden at Riccarton on Saturday by A. E. Didham, but W. Jenkins will be hln jockey in the Winter Cup. Catalogue appears to have run poorly on Saturday.

Ellis’s Ride. Dictate was promiaeut in tire early stages of the Brabazon Handicap, but fini"hcd in the ruck. He is credited with being A. E. Ellis’s ride in the Winter Cup, Ellis was on the winner on Saturday, and no doubt would prefer to be on again.

Jumped Iligb, . Cottingham, when he won the National Hurdle Race tiwo years ago, jumped very big. A picture of him taking ,a fence in the Homeby Steeplechase on Saturday shows him very high over the obstacles. Cottingham is bound to improve for the National, but it looks like Padishah being an insuperable obstacle.

A Great Success. The success of the Manawatu Hunt Club's fixture on Saturday can be gauged from the fact that the turnover under single pool was within £192 of that at Riecarton with National fields and win and place.

Small Field Likely. Casualties have reduced the Grand National field, but though only, eight or nine look likely to go to the post, it should be a good race.

Tutor and Tooley Street . At Ellerslie on Saturday nioruing. Tutor (Wiggins) finished attractively to beat Whenua (Bruce) by several lengths over six furlongs in 1.32 1-5, the last haitmile occupying 56 1-5. It is doubtful it Tutor has ever been fitter, and his special mission at Riecarton will be the Jumpers' Flat Race, in which he will be ridden by the apprentice jockey M. Ritchie, who has been riding him in hurdle races in Ihe north and at Wellington. A smart gallop went to the credit of Tooley Street (Wig-

gins), who conceded the speedy Valvern (Kerr) four or five lengths’ start and boat her at the end of half a mile in 52 3-5. Tooley Street, after running his first furlong in 13, finished very resolutely. It was one of the best sprints for some time, in view of the conditions He will be ridden ut Riccarton by 11. ig«u is These horses are due in Wellington today to be shipped south.

Generous Winner. <• Sir Abe Bailey did not forget the poor when his horse Caerloptie won the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. He gave £aUO to the Jockey Club to distribute atrong poor people connect oil with racing in Great Britain, and £550 to the Salvation Army to distribute among poor people in ooutn Africa living in towns associated with fin career. Seven towns were specially mentioned.

Answers to Correspondents. “Wager," Tower Hutt: The race was the Wellesley Stakes, then four furlongs, run on October 23. 1915. The result was: 12 Rockboumd (R. Reed), 1; 1 Egypt (JO'Shea), 2; 7 Tino Atua (A. Reed), 3 Twelve started. Head; length and a half. Time, 48. “Subscriber,” Wanganui: (1) £lO. (2) £lO. (3) £lO. “Form,” Paremata: (11 £3. (2) £10; £3/1/6. “Stranded," Foxton: £3/16/6 ; £l/10/-. “Plato,” Wairoa: (1), £10; (2), £10; (3). £lO. , „. “BAY.,” Wellington: (1) £2/3/0; (2) £3/16/“Good Luck,” Otaki: (1) £2/0/6; (2) £l/14/-; (3) £2/8/-; (4) £l/19/-; (5) £3/16/-; (6) £l/16/6. “M.11.M.,” Palmerston North: Sporting Gift had his first race as a Two-yenr-old at. Wairoa on January 30. 1936, when he was unplaced in the Maiden Scurry won by Sybil Song. It was bL only race that season, but he started 13 times ns a three-year-old for one first, one second, and two thirds.