RACING AND TROTTING

Grey River Argus, 4 August 1925, Page 6

RACING AND TROTTING

RACING NOTES. Thia week will see the usual exodus of West Coast racing enthusiasts for the Grand National Meeting at Christchurch, starting on Tuesday next.

Captain Sarto raced well for a mile and a-half in Saturday’s hurdle race and then faded out. Tinokaha only lasted about a mile in the hurdle race on Saturday, while Penury Rose and Tenterfield were hi trouble all the wav.

The Riccarton pair, Charlatan and ligerland, who fought out an interesting finish in the South Canterbury Steepl/ hase a week earlier, had another great struggle in the Homcbv Steeplechase on Saturday. Charlatan just beat his rival again and he should repeat it in the Grand National, with "11> advantage in the weights. The long journey may trouble Charlatan, but Tigerland may also fail at the business end, through lack of hard racing condition.

Maghera was beaten in the Honieby Steeplechase six furlongs from borne,, while Uncle Bob retired even earlie", and neither of the pair looks up to Grand National form.

Rational made a great jump at the first hurdle in the Open Hurdle Handicap on Saturday, but at the second, when travelling very fast, he ran off. It was a disappointing result, as it prevented the speedy sprinter from showing what he was capable of, an 1 racegoers arc now as much in the dark as ever about his jumping prospects.

The North Island hack Highflown is racing very unluckily at present. When he ran second to Miss Minerva on Saturday, it marked the fourth successive time he had been in a place. The form was good enough to make him worth watching. There is no news of Nukumai putting in an appearance at Riccarton yet, but the North Island reports credit him with doing well in his preparation for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap. lie will need to improve a lot on his Treiitham form, however, to be a serious factor at the end of two miles and a-half.

The North Island hurdler, Glenidl 1 , has been on the easy list for a fewdays, in fact, he has -not done a great deal since he arrived at Rieeartoii. lie cut one of his legs recently and it became so bad as to require professional treatment.

From a North Island source, it is learned that J. O'Shea has been engaged to ride Serene in the WinterCup. The Southland trai’irer, F. AV. Ellis, who headed the list of wining trainers last season, has fourteen horses under his care to start the new season. He has just taken Listening Post, Tommy Dodd and Bugle Note in hand again. The jumping at Rieeartoii on Saturday was exceptionally good. The two steeplechases were disposed of without a fall, every horse completing the course. In the hurdle races one horse jumped the rail, landing in the inside of the course, while another ran off, these being the only mishaps. R. Johnson was fined £5 by the stewards of the Christchurch Hunt Club cii Saturday for failing to notify at acceptance that he had an interest ill Captain Sarto as well as Rational. The two horses were bracketed ou the fotalisator. Many of the Winter Cup candidates who took part in the Brabazon Welter Handicap on Saturday performed disappointingly. The extra distance may produce changes, but it will require greatly improved form to give some of them much chance in the big mi'e race next week. The Brabazon Welter Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday was a very rough race, according to some of the riders, a lot of bumping taking place soon after the start. Some of it was due to horses wide out making an early dash for a place near the rails. Eerie’s win in the Homeby Steeplechase was a very creditable performance. She joined the front division going along the back and though she was headed by Passin’ Through at the home turn, she came on again to beat him by tq- narrowest of margins, aft-c’ a game struggle. She won the Hack Steeplechase at Waverley in June and a week later captured the Napier Steeplechase, with San Forte and Fireblight in the places. Saturday’s success entitles her to a lot of respect in the Grand National. Fassln’ Through, who won three steeplechases at Riccarton last August, put. up another fine performance in the Hornby Steeplechase on Saturday, whin hi- was narrowly defeated by Eerie. He appeared to make a faulty jump at the, post and rails, but otherwise gave a perfect exhibition of jumping. His rider may have been a little anxious to take the lead before reaching the straight. His Grand National chance looks bright, though the last part of the journey may trouble him. as his preparation this winter has been interrupted.