SPECTACULAR CONTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 111, 13 May 1933, Page 7

SPECTACULAR CONTEST

GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLES

A FEW FANCIED HORSES

There is no gainsaying that steeplechasing is the most spectacular form of horse racing, and this explains why this type of contest has obtained a strong hold on the imagination of'the racing enthusiast. ■ Indeed, there are very many people all over the world who go to see one day's racing a year. In England it is the Derby of the Grand National Steeplechase. Nearer home, it is the Grand National Steeplechase, the /Wellington Steeplechase, or the Great Northern Steeplechase. The fascination of steeplechasing needs no amplification. _ But on the other hand it will be found that events over hurdles .and also across country are not noted for their heavy ■wagering on the totalisator, except in the case of a few outstanding races, such as those mentioned. Backers generally, and the womenfolk in particular, prefer the obstacles out of the way when they are in speculative mood. A FINE SPECTACLE. | There are many big steeplechase con-1 tests in the Dominion, but as a sheer spectacle the Great Northern Steeplechase stands alone. A wonderful view of the whole contest for its length of nearly four miles is obtainable by everybody on the cburse; it is the longest race in New Zealand, and has no less than 25 fences to be cleared, compared with 21 in the Grand, National at fiiccarton and 20 in the Wellington Steeplechase, while the journey is nearly half a mile farther than the I?iccarton event. For although the distance , of the Great Northern is given aH about a% miles, it is said.to be nearer- four miles. The fences are by no means formidable in the true steepleehasing sense. What makes them really difficult is that generally Ellerslie early in June is a racecourse which holds the water, and therefore at times becomes very heavy indeed, and it is the fact that horses have to rise from fetlock deep in mud to clear obstacles that makes it really hard. Then there is the trip ovor the hill, which has to be covered no less than three times. That hill is about 50 feet high, with a sharp grade to- climb, then two post and rail fences to be jumped on the top. THE REAL TEST. It is this portion of the race, a real test of ■ stamina, that makes the contest so spectacular, for the hill is not far away from the spectators, and they secure a clear view of happenings there —and there is usually plenty of incident at the two obstacles on the hill, especially the third time over, when tired horses begin to feel the severity of the climb. Hero it was twelve months ago that proved fencers in Make Up and Nukumai fell- in the last > ' round, and Nassock came down also. Bearing in mind the strenuous nature \ of the Great Northern Steeplechase, it will' be recognised what'a stiff task it set horses with big weights. And what a ' great horse Kiatere must have been to lump 12.13 and win 28' years ago. Coalition .won1 with 12.5 twelve years back, and he was a splendid cross-country performer. Earlier victors under weight were Macaroni, with 12.0 in 1885; Levanter, with 12.1 in 1897; The Guard, with 12.2 in 1002; and Waimai, with 12.0 in 1918. The biggest .weights carried successfully since Coalition's year were Sir Roseberry's 10.2 and 11.5 in 1924 and 192j respectively; the other nine winners have carried from 0.0 to 9.8. WHERE WEIGHT TELLS. , This will give some indication of what a formidable task confronts Billy Boy next month,' with.his. 12.7, as well as,.all those' who have ten stone or over—arid there are nine of them thus handicapped. ' A prime favourite today1 is Copey, who scored twelve months ago under 9.0. Hitherto a sluggard in,all his races, at Hawera recently he surprised many by keeping right, up with the field in the Egmqnt Steeplechase; it was so at Wanganui last May, when he scored there and then went on to win the Great Northern. Copey has 10.5 in this year's Great Northern Steeplechase, and with this rise of 191b it. is going to be a different matter- to him than winning as he did last.season with 9.0. There was 51b between Copey' and Callamart last year when they finished first and second, the Taranaki^ gelding winning by a length. Callamart was a bit unlucky, for he bored right to the outside fence from the last obstacle, but for which he might have won. Now Callamart meets Copey on one pound worse terras, from which -it is Been that the former has done better in the interim. He beat all but Simeon in the hack steeplechase event at Easter, and then won on the second day' under 10.0, Billy Boy being over a dozen lengths away with 12.9. Now Callamart hai 10.11, quite a handy weight. Wherever they finish in the contest Callamart and Copey may not be far away from each other. On the handicap Copey and Callamart are the initial selections for this year's Great Northern Steeplechase, for they have ..proved themselves over the hill. So have Billy Boy, Simeon, Omeo, Lucess, Master Lv (winner of this race two years ago), Absent, and Kawini. Likely improvers are Make Up,- Royal Visitor, and Creina's King. Some of these may Be seen out at Te Rapa • shortly, and that will convey some line as to their condition and prosr pects for the big Ellerslie test. In the meantime Copey, Callamarti Royal Visitor, and Omeo (if he could only keep sound) are • recommended, • with Creina's King an outside selection-. '