SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 July 1924, Page 3

SPORTING.

TWO WINS FOR FINGOLAND. tii CABr,E— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, July 25. fingoland. which was recently purchased in New Zealand, won the opening handicap and the Jockey Club’s Handicap at the Tam worth races. NOTES BY MAECENAS. The racing season for 1924-25 will lie opened by the Christchurch Hunt meeting on Saturday next (August 2). The ex-New Zealander Mr H. Nathan was laid £6OOO to nothing about his horse Chrysostom for the V.R.'C. Grand National. Chrysostom was one of the last to finish, and had evidently trained off. Although he ran a surprisingly good race in the Great Northern Steeplechase, Lochella was given no chance in the Wellington Steeplechase by the men who lav the odds, but one noticed that such liberal odds are not offering about Lochella’s chance in the Grand National Steeplechase, despite the fact that he is weighted 71b higher than at AYellirigtbn. If Bonnie Winkie were to suddenly regain his four-year-old form what "a job he would make of his opponents in the Winter Cup, but this once splendid galloper has never got over the gruelling races against Gasbag and Mar- ?' ueteur at the Canterbury Jockey hub’s meeting in the spring of 1922/ The success of Master Peter, carrying 12.3, at the Waimate meeting on Thursday, would suggest that the gelding is well, but although the performance was a fair one (he gave Sherlock, which is useful, 301 b), it is very doubtful whether Master Peter will" see out tlie difficult three and a half miles of the Grand National course at Riccarton.

Evidently The Monk stays better than his elder brother Rational, as recently he carried 10.5 and ran a mile in the great time of 1.39. Although the progeny of Absurd have failed to stay, they carry weight remarkably well. Instance the number of times Rational has won, carrying between 9.0 and 10.0. Considering he .had been eased in his work as the result of an accident, Sir Rosebery ran a very creditable race in the Wellington Steeplechase, and was running on well at the finish. Whether the Riccarton country will suit a ‘big” jumper like this gelding remains to be seen. Personally,' I perfer one that takes niore time at his jumps for ■ the Riccarton, course. 4

Sir Rosebery has been ridden by J. Kaan, A. McDonald, and E. Copestake in races over steeplechase courses. Kaan won on him at Egmont, while McDonald and Copestake were each successful at Ellerslie. It is stated that McDonald will steer the gelding in his Grand National Steeplechase engagement at the Canterbury meeting. This may be a. wise selection, as McDonald is a very careful rider, but over a less difficult course Copestake’s style suits Sir Rosebery admirably. _YYhile the A .R.C. Grand National Hurdle* is run over the lengthy course (for a hurdle, race) of three miles, and is thfe longest race of its kind decided in Australasia j tlie club’s Grand National Skeeplechase is. only three mile. l ! and a inriong, a. comparatively sliort course for this eiass of race. lor some' reason hal’d to understand Boomerdav is practically favourite foi the Grand National Hurdles, to he decided at the coming Canterbury meet-, ing. Certainly the ground is often better .at Riccarton in August than that of Ellerslie in June, - q.- Trentham. in July, but on his public performances oVer jumps, Bbomeiday is a false favourite. After steering Red Wink in all his races of late, the eagerness of C. Emerson to defeat M./ McCarten for the jockeys premiership caused the southerner to tr.cn down the winning ride on Red \\ ink ior Eos Ambus at the .South Canterbury mooting. Eos Ambus was looked upon as unbeatable in certain qilarters, lienee Etneison’s wrong choice. The; Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting is a very useful meeting ior owners, as it not only serves as a public ‘Try out” for* horses engaged in such faces as the Grand National Steeplechase, Hurdles aiid Winter tup, lint it also allows horses relegated from fiat racing to qualify for the Jumpers’ Flat. Two geldings that will have to lace at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s gathering before they are eligible far the .lumpers’ Flat are Demand and Hiere, which up to the present have competed in only two obstacle: races. The conditions of the Jumpers’ Flat demands throe appearances over jumps.

That the committee of the Victorian Racing Club watch the interests of their patrons and stand no nonsense from the bookmakers was proved at their recent meeting, when complaints reached the committee that certain bookmakers refused to lay the odds to 5s for a “place.” The committee hailed before them J. \Y. Huntingdon, G. Abrahams, and N. Alendos for a broach of their licenses. Huntingdon and Abrahams * were fined JL’lO each, and were whrned that if similar complaints were heard in future their bookmakers’ licenses would be revoked. N. Alomles was fined £25 and similarly warned. The writer has often heard that the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase was a difficult one to win, owing to the class of jumps to be negotiated, they being described as very formidable, but judging firom a description given of them in the Australasian, the jumps are not by any means high, although they may be solid. By way of comparison with New Zealand steeplechase courses, a description is here given: Tlie race is run over a course three miles and a furlong, over 23 fences, as follows—No. 1 fence 3ft.. hedge 4ft. 2iu.. No. 2 post and rails 4ft lin.. No. 3 post and rails 4ft. liu., No. 4 post and raiis 3 ft. IGin., No. 5 logs 3ft. loin.. No. (; post and rails 4ft., No. 7 post ami rails 4ft.. No. g fence 3ft. high and hedge 4ft.. No. 9 fence 3ft high and hedge 4ft.. No. 10 post and rails 4ft. lin.. No. 11 post and .rails 4ft.. No. 12 paling fence *4t’t.. No E 3 stone wall 3ft. lOin, No. 14 logs 3ft lOin. A remarkable feature of the course is the number of post and rails jumps, which of course tests a horse’s jumping ability. The log fence is also difficult to negotiate, and perhaps this is tlie correct steeplechase course.