OMEO OR CALLAMART?

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 31, 5 August 1933, Page 7

OMEO OR CALLAMART?

ONE OF MINOR PROBLEMS

■ One of (lie incidental problems that investors on the Grand National Steeplechase next Tuesday will have to solve is which is the better of L. Knapp's two representatives, Callamart or Omeo, foi the pair race in different interests and will not be bracketed. There appears to be an opinion at Awapuni and elsewhere that Callamart is the likelier to succeed over the Kiccarton country. In the recent Wellington Steeples Omeo was the winner, with Callamart finishing a poor fourth. Omeo fell early in the July Steeples on the final day, and Callamart finished a poor third, followed home only by three maiden 'chasers, Quinopal, Kaokaoroa, and Tunbridge. Callamart met interference on the last clay through the early falls, but still neither of his performances at the meeting was at all impressive, and with b'lb more on his back in the Grand National than he had in the Wellington Steeples he will need to have improved considerably in the interval to succeed. With Omeo, on the other hand, there is everything to point to possible success' at Riccarton, except the record of two falls in two starts since against him, for no horse had given such a grand exhibition of fencing for a long time as he gave in the Wellington Steeples. It is generally conceded that he was unlucky to fall in either of his subsequent races, other horses being mainly to blame, and, if an 'experienced rider is in his saddle next Tuesday, investors would be taking a rather decided risk to leave him out of serious consideration, even though he is now a stone nearer his stablemate than at Trentham. Omeo's record over the Kiccarton country is marred by two falls in four starts, and that may be why there has been a leaning away from him towards Callamart, so far a very safe fencer, but yot to go over the Riccarton country. Omeo's first start over the Riccarton fences-- was in the 1930 Grand National, when he carried 10.11 into third place behind Aurora Borealis and Corneroff. His .jumping, except at one fence, was satisfactory. After contesting the Grand National Hurdles on the second clay he came out under 10.4 in the Lincoln Steeples on the final day, and he was one of the six out of eleven starters who fell. Twelve months later, under 10.5, he was made the favourite for the Grand National, but he failed for lack of condition, eventually finishing seventh. He had a close call at the second of the stand double, but otherwise his fencing was satisfactory. He missed the Hurdles, then on the final day, under 10.7, again contested ■ the Lincoln Steeples, but he foil at the carriage brush near the end of the first round, only five out of eleven starters again completing. On that occasion he had drifted out to eighth favouritism in the betting, though he had been, the National favourite. Ho was engaged at Ricenrton last year, but did not make the trip. .