NOT MUCH LIGHT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 7

NOT MUCH LIGHT

Trentham Form For The National

(BY fe’T. bIMO.N.J Cross-countrv events decided at the AVelliii'zton Racintr Club’s winter tueetiug at Trcutham did not throw much light on prospects for the Grand National Steeplechase. It was unfortunate that an injury to Noko prevented him from contesting the Wellington Steeplechase, for he was the one horse in the race who could have put Khurja to the test, and provided the opportunity of gauging Khurja s merit more accurately than was possible because of his runaway w’in. Khurja is the most promising of the young horses to break into steeplecnasing this season. Whether lie is seasoned enough to win a Grand National is another question. His experience of crosscountry racing ks three races, two among the hacks and hunters at Auckland, auu the Wellington Steeplechase, which wa little more than a schooling task. He is assessed highly in the Grand National, being weigh tell 71b. below last year s winner, Anglo-French, Bib. below the dual Great Northern w’iuner, Dossie Boy. and on the same mark as Slayer. Khurja probably will improve more than any of his Wellington rivals, and his physique, together with hid jumping ability and pace on the flat, may compensate for anything he lacks in that well-seasoned condition ■without which few Grand Nationals are won.

Noko made one 'of bis very few errors when ho dropped his rider six furlongs from home in the Jul.v Steeplechase. He appeared to have the‘field at his mercy at this stage and there is little doubt that he would have won. It was good form for a horse who had doue very little work during the week preceding the race. Noko is in the first flight of present-day steeplechasers, and will retain plenty of supporters for the Grand National in spite of bis topweigbt of 11.10. The best was not seen of Valantua or Kanul te Pai at Trentbam. Valantua hurt himself in a schooling task prior to the first day ,and ho competed in the Wellington ‘Steeplechase at a disadvantage. Kanin te Pai was victim to kidney trouble during his visit to Wellington, and was withdrawn from the July Steeplechase. True Range was one of the fittest steeplechasers at the meeting, but he is an erratic jumper. He fell early in the Wellington Steeplechase and gave a mixed display of jumping in the July Steeplechase. His failure to do belter than fourth in the last-named event was a Poor recommendation for Riccartou. As Required was the best of the hack steeplechasers nt Trentbam. Tie showed greater speed in the wet ground on the first day than he did in the puggy ground when the July Steeplechase was run ou Saturday. His jumping can be improved. but experience will do a good deal for him. As Required is soundly bred, being by Tidcrace, who has’’sired tour classic winners, from a mare who traces to Eulogy, and has a background of Night Raid, Limond and Absurd to her pedigree.

.Among the hurdlers, the form of Borak and Foxsen stood out when it came to racing over the longer distance of the Winter Hurdles (two miles and a quarter). Borak was on the minimum, and will have an additional Tllb. to carry in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccartou, and Foxsen has been raised from 9.11 to 10.0. Horsemanship had a good deal to do with the result of the Winter Hurdles. Foxsen was kept on the outside of two horses for a mile and three-quarters and then was taken to the front sooner than was necessary. On the other hand. Borak was given a trailing race over the -shortest route, and from the half-mile, when Foxsen commenced her run, Borak “had the drop” on the Aucklander, and then was fully extended to run her down and win by a length and a half. AVI th less track work to do between the first and second days than she had in the week before the meeting opened. Foxsen was nicely freshened up for the Winter Hurdles, and if she had been ridden the same race as Borak was she probably would have won. Epping foil too early in the Winter Hurdles for any reliable opinion to be formed about his capabilities. Alienale ran a fair race for third, though there was a big gap between him and the first two. He stays well and might be one of the best of the lightweights in the big hurdles at Riccartou.

The form of Young Cbarkf; was better than that, of Authoress and Moderate. Pahidoo impressed when ho won the hack hurdles on the first day, but his trainer had to he easy on him duringjrtho second wook as be struck a fence, and this probably left him -short of condition, for the longer race on the second day. Tl ,c of invincible’s second day win in'the hack hurdles enhanced the value of I’aladeo’s form, and there should he further races in store for Paladco when thoroughl^ , attuned l again.

Invincible promises to <b> well as a hurdler, specially when the ground is bad. He forced Paladeo to a close decision on Hie first day and won easily on Saturday. Rapid Improvement. It scorns obvious that Immediate's outstanding hack form at Trentham was not anticipated by his- connexions, otherwise engagements would have bet;n made for him in the Parliamentary Handicap and the Winter Cup. Horses which can handle track conditions finch as they were each day at Trentham have a big advantage, hut Immediate s form was so definitely superior to his opponents that it was more than ability in bad ground that enabled him to win by such lug margins. This three-year-old also possofises class, and, taking a line through Flahuhik, he would have been a great prospect had he been a starter in the Parliamentary Handicap. Luck Turned. Throughout liis brief career, the Welling-tou-ow.ned Cramond Bay has been an unlucky hor.se, bur. the spell was broken when he won the Woburn Handicap on the first day at Trenthtm. He ran another firstclass race in the Sea loan Handicap, in which lie made up a lot of ground to run the winner, Glad Fox < receiving a stone), to a. nose. Cramond Bay is now out of hacks. Tie is a candidate for the Winter Cup, in whjch he is on the minimum. His half-sister. Lady Tinkle, won the. Winter Cup in 1910. Overcame Wide Draw.

Glad Fox, winner of the Seatouu Handicap. is now out. of hacks, but has Avon only <C4IO in first, money, big only other suceofis prior to Saturday’s being iu a £'l3o maiden at Hastings three weeks ago. He drew IS iu Saturday’s race, but Broughton got him away smartly, and he was in a handy position throughout. The early effort cost him something.- but when tackled in the last furlong by Cramond Bay he fought, on with plenty of courage. Glad Fox is not as big as most of Hie Foxbridge horses, but is compact and shapes like a stayer in the making. His second dam. Merry Jost, by Absurd, was a whiner al Trentbam.

A Yearling. To the long li«st of winners vf important. races who have -been acquired as bargains in ihe yearling sale-ring at. Treiithani can be added the name of Flahuluk, winner of Suturda.v's Parliamoufary Handicap. At the national sub’s in 1911. Mr. F. Elbe. Wellington, paid 2oogns. for this Muslmtoon colt, who has returned hi stakes to date £ll2O. Flahuluk bus been lightly wed. which lias hcen proved the best tactics with Hip Miisketoon breed HH they start to age. He had two ra/pg as a two-year-old, not appearing till the winter and running fourth on each occasion. His seven starts m three years produced a win (at WairarapnL a second and a third, and in six starts as a four-year-old this season prior to Saturday’s success in Hip Parliamentary Handicap lie won twice int. Otaki. and a deadheat at MarlonL ami wa* once second. Thus in U‘> starts bo/has won four times, been second once. Hnrd once, and fourth on four other occasions. Flahuluk is a half-brother to Royal Secret, a smart marc who won ij races. Their dam. Elope, was bred in Australia, being by the Koi Hcrodp horse Ulirysolans. Eh'pe v;as half-siste- to El Svnorita. who won 15 races, including the City TattorsalFs Cup, Rosehill Handicap twice, ami the A.J.C. Dangar Handicap. Elopu's dam. Sri-ret Wedding, won the A.J.C. Nursery Handicap. Ih r half-sister. Silver Wedding. was dam of Silver King, who won the Hoschill Guineas and was second iu the A.J.C. Derby: Wedding FonH. who won eight ra (, os: and Wedding Day. whose eight wins im-luded the Doricastor Handicap. Villiers Stakes. Challenge Stakes, and T.-jnersallV, (’up. Family of Mudlarks.

Ulloas, who did best of the two-year-olds engaged in the Trim Plate, is a gelding by Dink from Cradle Song. » ImeuHus mare whose family, including Crooning, Prival, Clipper and Malaguen.'i, were all noted for their ability to gallop in heavy ground. Dileas is ’trained by G. W. Now for Messrs. J. and L. McMillan, Palmerston North, and Saturday’s was his first race in public. Salmi for Awapiini. Salmi, who ( reached 'Wellington week by sea, is to join Kinsman in R. Beale’s stable at Awapnni. Horses for South.

The steamer express, took 28 horses south hist night, among them several North Islanders who are to compote at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting. Those booked to travel were Amorlad. Good Friend. Khurja. Captain Star. Royal Pageant. I’nsilda. Poutatuu. Roorapa. Foxhaven. Paladco. I’”Xeliase. Sonm Sing. Hlppmlromp, Krornjs. Dividend, Tea Drop. Arcjic Dawn, Kilcato. Roman Son, Lyndon Lea, Strip. Invincible, Notary, Monetary. Roynl Flight, Boloyna, Trillg, and Owaka.