RACING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 29 June 1945, Page 8

RACING NOTES

WELLINGTON STEEPLES. The sum of £2,000 is the stake for the Wellington Steeples. The only ‘chaser of real note missing is Dauber, winner of the Great Northern Steeples, which received a slight injury. The W.R.C. has set al2 stone maximum weight and this will operate most to the advantage of Foxiana, which carried 12st. 51b. when winning the Manawatu Steeples by a neck from Kanui Te Pai, to whom he was conceding 161bs. The extra two furlongs will have no terrors for the Hunting Song gelding, which is one of the neatest jumpers with great stamina, a full share of courage and speed. His rivals will also come in with less poundage than they might have expected with, say, a 12st. 71b. top weight. F’oxiana’s class will onset this to a great degree. The one fly in the ointment is his dicky leg and, so far, this has withstood the strain of racing; in excellent style. Kanui Te Pai, while normally a safe jumper was not seasoned at Manawatu and was unable to head off Foxiana and possibly most opposition may come from a younger animal, such as Sir Percy. There should be no doubt about Sir Percy’s stamina and he can be counted upon to put up a great fight, all going well. Albino is six, a year older than Sir Percy. Khurja was burly when he stifled himself at Te Rapa, prior to the northern meeting. However he apparently ran on all right in third at Hastings, which seems to indicate that he has been working pretty strongly again. Last year, in a fourhorse field, he won by a furlong, but the way was made easy for him by the falling of Kanui Te Pai. After a poor race in the Homeby Steeples at the Christchurch Hunt, he was going like a winner in the Grand National when he fell five furlongs from home. He is a seven-year-old and should be a lot fitter by Trentham. Ramillies, which ran as a hurdler at Auckland, has his defeat of Dauber at Te Rapa to recommend him. He is not in the Trantham Hurdles, but is nominated for the Winter Hurdles and also the July Steeples on the second day. He may not have quite enough experience vet Indian Sun, which failed at Hastings, does not really appeal m the strongest class. Another to miss at. Hawke’s Bay was Abbey Lu, which had been throwing out signs of a return to something like the form which won for him a year ago at Te Rdpa. Paid has quite fair hack form, as have Bisquit- and Roman Son, but perhaps the class here may be a trifle rich for them. “Jumpers” may be the best description of their chances. Kilmanagh and Lightfair staged a great duel at. Hastings, but neither is completely seasoned, though behind them were Khurja, Abbey Lu, Indian Sun, Master Meruit and Opaltown. Sir Ringman and Town Survey are two who will be making their debut as ’chasers, though bom are accomplished hurdlers. The former has been a victim of fate recently and both will be the better for experience, which is not. to say, of course, that victory is impossible for them. Valantua does not seem to be the horse he was last year, but there is a youngster in the field in Steward, who has demonstrated that heavy going has no terrors for him. Steward was not a runner when Strip won very easily on the last day at Dunedin. A clash between them • might have been enlightening. Strip fell in the Otago Steeples, up to which point he had not: impressed. Master Meruit has not lived up io 'the promise shown a little earlier in the season, while Noko might be reserved for the Trentham Hurdles and so might Epping. Old-time Owner Passes: The death has occurred at the Auckland Hospital of Mr. John Samuel August, late of Lower Hutt, in his 87th. year. Mr. August was keenly interested in trotters for 50 years, and drove in races till he was well over 70. He was born at Ngahauranga, and took up farming. Later he leased the Black Horse Hotel in Christchurch, and then acquired the Islington Arms, which he sold about 25 years ago. Mr. August owned a large number of trotters, including King’s Clere and Black Child, the best trotter of his time (about thirty years ago). Others to race with success. in his colours included Sleeve Link, Mary Child and Child Abdullah.