The Northern Double.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 9

The Northern Double.

Track work at Ellerslie has thrown some light on prospects in the' two big jumping races. ' It is difficult to select what will start favourite for the hurdle race on _Saturday.but there is no doubt that Mister Gamp, Archibald, Wedding March, Aberi'eldy, and Beau Cavalier will all have plenty, of friends, and one of them will be actual favourite. Mister Gamp is the selected first choice, and with his light weight he will bs hard to beat. Next to \ him ia selected Archibald,, who is going really well. . Aberfeldy.might be troubled by the last piece of the journey, but he is selected to go a great race, and might win later in the meeting. Wedding March has plenty of weight, and Beau Cavalier no doubt will do better "in the Steeplechase.- Perle tie Leon, if he goes to the post anything like fit and well, however, will have to be considered. Unfortunately his prospects have to be doubted. There 'is not much doubt that Beau Cavalier and. Brigadier Bill will dispute

i THIS MORNING'S TRACK I! i , WORK •-■ I | •;■' And I I LATEST RACING NEWS I j ' Will be found under f 1 "late sporting." \ e.n.,,m, ..„...„. .„„,„.„„„„.„„„.;.,. „h

favouritism in the Great Northern Steeplechase; Aucklanders are loyal to their own and possibly "The Bean" will be actual first choice no matter if the hurdle race result-,affects the betting on the steeplechase or not. Comical now has to be given; a chance, and Archibald, Maunga, Wiltshire,' and Glendowie will all be in the market. Maunga, Beau Cavalier, and Brigadier Bill should give a good display, and are liked most. .Wanganui Work. The horses at Wanganui are not being nsked; to do a great deal at present. King Mart, who is engaged at Otaki, recently galloped six furlongs in Imih 19 l-ssec. Lady's, Boy, who showed fair hack, form nt the Wanganui Meeting, was much too good for the two two-year-olds, Just So and Curtain, over half a mile. Just So is engaged in the maiden event at Otaki, and Curtain is, the Thespian—Cowl filly who'is, being, got ready to run in the Trial Plate at .Trentjrhni in July." She is somewhat backyards '■ ■ Levenside. ' Levenside, who went the way of all flesh at Ellerslie yesterday, showed' rather decent form in a maiden,plate at "the Avondale Meeting in the spring. Subsequently lie failed to race up to- the promise he showed then, and he was destined to compete in the hunters' events at the coming Northern meeting.- News of his dismissal from this world was received almost simul- . taneously with a letter from a bloodstock agent advising that he had the gelding on his books for sale. Life has some grim coincidences at times. ' Ellerslie Acceptances and Scratchings. Although Brigadier Bill was received as an acceptor locally for the Green Lane Steeplechase on Saturday, the Auckland papers do not show him' in that race! He is still in the Great Northern Hurdle ißace. Farndon also is not an acceptor for the Green Lane Steeplechase. Yoroa was scratched-for-the-Cornwall Handicap at 3.50 p.m. on Monday. . Limerick's Departure for' Sydney. According to present arrangements, -F. D. Jones will leave for Sydney in the last week in June or the first week in July, depending on the time when a suitable steamer is available. Limerick, with his two-year-old half-brother, , Roscrea, and the three-year-old .Arikiwai,' will comprise the team, which may also include the Thurnham—Madrid gelding, if he makes sufficient progress to seem worth taking on the trip. Zaragoza Sore. Zaragoza is a trifle sore at present, as a resultj of being galloped on when racing at Amberley last Saturday.' She is engaged at the Dunedin Jockey Club's Meeting but it is doubtful if she will make the trip South. It is probable that she will again be retired to the stud at the end of this season, ...She,had a spell in the paddock previously ~ and -only resumed training because she failed to breed.' Out for a Spell. Sir' Jßoy ■.; and .^Sagittarius have, been thrown out of ■ commission;. and A. MWiiiluy ivill'-.treat them to a spell'during the winter months. Master Clarence will be kept going and if he 'goes on all right.lie may* be' raced at Trentham in July. Lady Swinton, who has been resting for a. feu' months, is to be put in work again this week. M'Aukiy has a couple of ■ yearlings in his. stable.. Mr.. A. Louisson's Australian-bVed- -filly-, b\V -Saltash from Fairy Lass, is a daily; visitor.to the Riccarton track's,' and lias attracted favourable notioe:,7 She is a shapely youngster, of fair size- and good quality. The other yearling; who is being handled is. n gelding by Arrowsmith from Thea, by Demosthenes. He was bred by -M'Aulay, whose col6urs he will carry later on. Lomint Coming Into Favour. Every gallop seems, to be improving Lomint and-she recorded her best track effort for some time when she went with Princess Rotvnie 6n Saturday." Her trainer, J. E. Thorpe, is hopeful that she might repeat last year's performance, and win the Cornwall Handicap again, even though she has not had a very, lengthy . preparation, writes "Archer." Lomint ' will be racing under her favourite conditions, and that willibc in her favour, but she may feel the lack of racing, as' she has only had one run in public in twelve months. Promising Auckland Hacks. A number of improving hacks were seen out.at the late' autumn meetings, and among them were Miss New Zealand, Oscar, and Bhicspcar. The trio are engaged in hack events at the Auckland Winter Meeting and arc likely to race promi- . nently. .Miss New Zealand belongs to a family that has had some useful winners and may develop into a decent mare, as she lias only raced twice and is already a winner. Bhiespear has been doing nicely | lately, but there have been no reports of Oscar, who is trained at Matamata. . Prince Lu. Many who have seen Prince Lv racing on the flat, anticipate that he will do well as a jumper. Not only has he plenty of size, but also a useful amount of pace, as. he proved in winning a mile hack event at Ellerslie in the summer. Prince Lv is trained at Cambridge by AY. J. M'Lean and as a rule that trainer has his jumpers well schooled. It is therefore possible that Prince Lv will be ready to make a bold showing when he has his first race i jovcr fences in the Pcnrose Hurdles. Otaki Riding Engagements. Some riding engagements reiiortcil fpr OUfki are:—X. Reed, Vespcrus, Royal Lover, JCcddiir. Bisox. and Pangolin: K. J. Mackic, Mount Shannon, Essential, Horomea. and Argue; A. G. Murray, Patcaroa, Wanderlust, and Foe Simple; (J. Broughton,.Le Chump and Valchise; K. • 0. Stratton, .Callanmore:- T. Metcalf, Dancing Star, King Boy, Epistle, Dreamy, Volplane, and Closefire: H. Gordon, Atareria, and possibly Hymcstrason (first day) in their jumping engagements; N. Stratton, RedbanG; B. H. Morris will have the mount on Holus Bolus in the Te Horo Hack Handicap.* R. Hatch has Flaxmere Youngsters. The Awapuni trainer, R. E. Hatch, has received five youngsters from Hawkes Bay recently, the property. of Mr. W. G. Stead. While they will be taken in hand by " Hatch, they will pro- » bably bo senC to Australia later on. The members are a chestnut fjok-Uug by Lord

Quex—-Sundust, who- is incidentally a particularly big horse, a bay filly by Lord Quex —Bayonne, a chestnut filly by Leighton —Los Vegas, a brown filly by Lcigkton —Cheloma and thus a sister to Chelone, and a bay filly by Leightou—Lady Ball. Tho Derby. Cable messages from England to Australian papers state that Fairway, who is owned by Lord Derby, is now favourite for the English Derby, to be run next Wednesday (6th June), at Epsom. Fairway was considered to be the best 'two-year-old of last season, and apparently he has trained in the light way, as in winning the Newmarket Stakes a week or so ago he won with the greatest of ease, and caused a very favourable impression. Fairway is a brother of Pharos, who ran second to Papyrus in the Derby, and was undoubtedly a really good horse up to ten furlongs. They are by Phalaris from Scapa Flow, by Chaucer from Anchora, by Love Wisely, and although sons of Phalaris are not famous as stayers, the stout breeding of Fairway's maternal lines may'assist him to get a mile and a half over tho 'tli/Hcult Epsom course. It is remarkable the manner in which daughters of Chaucer have thrown good horses to Phalaris. Colorado, TPharos, Pharamond, and Fairway are four who have, in recent years, carried Lord Derby's black jacket and white cap to victory in many important races in England. Flamingo, who won the Two Thousand Guineas, apparently did not run in the Newmarket Stakes, and. The Wheedler followed Fairway home. He is a brfcwn colt by Orpheus from Elisalexi, by Swynford, and Lodore, a Royal Lancer colt, owned by Lord Lonsdale, was third. The' cable messages have been silent concerning The Hermit 11., Buland, Gang Warily, and Black Watch, who were considered to be with Fairway and Flamingo the best of the two-year-olds. Scuttle, who won the One-Thousand Guineas for King George,, is not engaged in the Derby, but she is in tho Oaks. Jumpers in Australia. That the Grand Nationals and. other important races over hurdles and fences this season will be as successful as^ any bygone events is practically assured. The indications are that there will be no lack of hurdle-racers and steeplechasers of class. Nearly all the first-class jumpers that ran last season are available. The Sydney champion, Grosvenor, failed in Melbourne, but such a good horse would be a most welcome visitor, states the "Australasian." Pildin has been racing for years, but is still a comparatively young horse, as he started as a three-year-old, and is now only seven years. ■• Roisel has left the busy scene, and Pildiu has taken 'his place as tho doyen of. the Murrell stable. Sandhurst is a fine horse up to two miles at least, and - Arcadius is a horse of great possibilities.' When he was a yearling Broadblade conjured up Grand National visions, and still looks the part. Vanto is another young hurdler of distinct promise, as are Bligny, Quick Deal, and the All Black geldings, Black Allen and Henare. Other hurdle racers well up to the Elemington standard are Coybeau, Bombard, Sir Eaton, Fiscus, the Sydney horse, Really, and several others that could be named. In the'steeplechase ranks are that great Flemington horse Clan Robert, Nyangay, Epergnfe, Bannock, Minterne, and others of the well-tried brigade, and promising young horses such as Grey Friar, Derision, and Chaumont, to mention only three that might make steeplechasing history this winter. Taken all round, the prospects for this season must be regarded as highly favourable. The obstacles encountered on the Melbourne courses are considerably varied both in nature and in number. In the shortest steeplechases (about two miles and half a furlong) at Flemington 15 jumps have to be made, most of them over posts and rails, with others over logs, stone wall; and brush. In about two miles lit Caulfield there are now 13 jumps, most of them over post and rails, two over logs, and three over brush: Obstacles arc most numerous at Moonee Valley, whore in two . miles'2o. jumps have to be made, most of them over brush. At Williamstown .14 jumps are involved, and all are solid. At Epsom, Mentone, and Sandown Park all tho jumps are brush, the number in a two miles course being 13, 14, and 14 respectively. Riccarton Racecourse. Riccarton racecourse is a public: reserve, constituted under the Christchurch Racecourse Reserve Act, IS7S, and is administered by a board appointed by the Government. The present members of the board are Sir- George Clifford (chairman), Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Messrs.' C. G. Dalsety, G. Gould, G. Fulton, R. Allen, and H. A. Knight. The area of the reserve is about 300 acres, 200 acres of which are occupied by the racecourse and its appurtenant lands, while the balance is leased mainly for grazing purposes. The revenue of the board (says the "Lyttelton Times") is very small, find the cost o£ the upkeep of the -beautiful gardens and lawns that make this ground so popular devolves on tho Canterbury Jockey Club. Odds and Ends. • • I Wharncliffe is a regular visitor to tlie Riccarton tracks, as a member of T. H. Gillett's team. He is getting through useful tasks, and some interest attaches to his next appearance over the schooling fences.- . ■ Beau Geste, the five-year-old gelding by "Boniform- from Lady Jean -11., has been sold on account of Lady Fuller, and will in future" be trained by F. P. Claridge, at Riccarton. It is reported that P. M'Brearly will ride Vexatious in (he Great Northern Hurdles. * Llewellyn has come on a lot lately, and may show, up well in .the hack hurdle events at Ellerslie.