SPORTING

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 August 1925, Page 3

SPORTING

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Maecenas.’’) The Grand National meeting 1 opens at Biccarton to-morrow (Tuesday) and gives promise of being just as interesting as ill former years. While being worked on Thursday morning at Riecarton, the Ilaweruowned Blue Peter fell, but whether he was badly liurt was not made clear. On his recent satisfactory jumping, Sir Rosebery has again come into favour for to-morrow’s Grand National Steeplechase, and it would not be surprising to find this gelding one of the totalisator favourites. The class engaged, even for a hunter event, is very poor in the Hunters’ Hurdles, to be decided at the Canterbury meeting to-morrow, and the best of them are stones inferior to last year’s winner, Bulford. Possibly the ancient Muzzle will be favourite. To Kawa won so decisively at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting that he is almost certain to start, favourite, but the extra two furlongs are certain to trouble Te Kawa more than the additional poundage, and Many Colours is certain to make a much better race than he did at the Hunt meeting held a few days ago Another pair in Trespass and Kaikaliu are sure to go well. Evidently Chickwheat frightened the opposition out of the Cashmere Plat'e, but for some unknown reason the Australian bred one was not accepted for. In his absence, Forgery and Serotina will show up well. The first-named is owned by owner-trainer J. McCombe, while Serotina carries Sir G. Clifford’s colours.

Usually the Jumpers’ Flat gives a guide to the pro,speeds of aspirants for Grand National Hurdle Race honours. This, year acceptors for the Grand National Hurdles are numerically strong in the Jumpers’ Flat. If Boomerday is to run prominently in the big hurdle race on Thursday next he should show good form to-morrow, while ’Frisco Mail and Nukumai are expected) to figure prominently also. The Winter Cup, to be decided at Riecarton to-morrow, has drawn an acceptance of twenty-one, and by all is considered! very open. On his win jn the Brabazon Welter, with the big advantage of having 1311) less to carry tomorrow, "81111 Up must be given a royal chance. Whito Comet performed indifferently at the Christchurch Hunt Club meeting, but this race can be discarded. Kiifauo lias not run a bad race in his last half-dozen starts, and is sure to put up a good race to-morrow. Moorland may be troubled by the distance,. and Boadicea may be short of the necessary gallop, but may show up later on. Although galloping well. Killocra let his owner down badly at the recent meeting held at Riecarton, and his chance- is difficult to sum up. Of the lighter weights, Sartist appeals most, while Serene is of a good mile. Possibly Sun Up, Kilfane and AVliito Comet will run well. Birkenclla won well at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting, but his opposition was weak, and to-morrow horses like Uncle Bob and Cashman should at least trouble Birkenella. The Avonhead Welter has not drawn a strong class, and! Boughleen Dhoun will onlv have to repeat Wingatui form to prove a lot of annoyance to the others engaged. Barn Owl, despite her weight, may be the hardest to beat. When Blue Peter crossed his legs and feli at. Riecarton on Thursday last-,. he gave young Dmnbroski a. heavy fall, but, luckily his injuries were not serious.

In a loan year, the like the present has proved to be, twelve acceptors for the Grand National Steeplechase must he regarded as very satisfactory. Of those engaged, Sir Rosebery’s performances of late are easily the best, but with such a weight as 12st 31b he will have, to put up a much better performance than he has ever registered. Passin’ Through has done remarkably well over the Riecarton course — three wins and a second out of four starts —hut. the fact must not be overlooked that these victories were scored in. shorter races, and the writer considers Passin’ Through much bettor over a. short distance steeplechase. Eerie has not done a Grand National preparation l , but she is a mare that races well on little work. For a first attempt at the Riecarton course this mare, did remarkably well at the Christchurch Hunt Club meeting. If patientlv ridden by Walls, Eerie is certain to cause trouble to her opponents. Tigerland, like Eerie, lias had an interrupted preparation, but as he has had tlie advantage of two good races Tigerland may fill a place. Charlatan will strip better in condition than any of those competing against him. He wi* not unduly “hustled’’ when he ran third to Eerie and Passin’ Through, and) tomorrow will cevainly give the. pair more trouble. Maghcra and Kipling only appear to have jumping chances, but the prospects of Firebliglit must be favourably considered, as last month, when not by any means at her best, Firebliglit ran an excellent second in the Wellington Steeplechase. Frenchman rail badly at Treiitham, and one cannot seriously consider his l chance. Classels is one of the old type of “chaser,” but must, be given a. chance, as this event lends itself to a thorough test of a steeplechaser. Tuki did not perform up to expectations in the Wellington Steeplechase, and; on the third day at, Trcntliam. did. little better,, but lie'is capable of better form than that and should be well suited by tlie Piecarton “country.” After weighing the “pros” and “cons,” Eerie. Charlatan and Firebliglit appeal to the writer.

A CSTIi ALLAN STEEPLEOH AS K. POL' fi/ MIT/?: H ADE WON lIY TUPWEIOHT. RY CABT/E -PRESS ASSOCIATION- COPYRIGHT MELBOURNE, A up;. U. A,L Uio Australian Steo.plecsha«e moetinp; of the V.A.T.C., fclio bip; event, the Australian Stoepiioclva.se, was decided for the forty-fourth time, and resulted a.s follows: —• Australian Steeplechase, oi 2100sovsj four miles. —Palbi (N. McKenna), eh.g. \

by Eaton Lad —Pixie, aged, 12.7 ("Pearce, 1 1; Silver Heart, aged, 11./ (Warner), 2; Jupiter, ' syrs, 10.9 (Baker), 3. Seven started. Muir terne and Master Fife were at .the head of affairs alternately till well into the lack round, Master Fife leading along the railway, where Minterue fell. Silver Heart was first over the last fence, followed by File, Reisembler and Pailbi. The last named, finishing last, heat Silver Heart by half a head. Hois,el fell. Time, 8.2. LEFURTE DESTKOYED. SYDNEY, Aug. 9. The visit of the hurdler Lefortc to Sydney ended fatally. The horse fell when negotiating an obstacle in the Moorfield Hurdles on Saturday, broke its hack and was destroyed. The jockey (Harris) was not injured. HAWERA TR (TIMING CLUB. NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICERS. The following have been nominated to fill official positions on the Hawera Trotting Club for the ensuing year: President, Mr B. McCarthy; vicepresident. Mr E. A. Washer ; treasurer, Mr Jns. E. Campbell. There are 11 vacancies for stewards, and as there have been. 13 nominations a ballot will have to ho taken at the annual meeting. The following were nominated: Messrs C. Arden, W. J. Bradford, N. Crocker, H. I. Crocker, B. C. Gibson, A. C. Johnstone, J. Malone, J. vL Nicliol, J. W. Patterson, W. Slattery, J. E. McCarty, T. J. Salmon, J. S. T. Short. A similar number of vacancies wero open for the committee, and a ballot of tlie following will he held: Messrs C. Arden. W. J. Bradford, M. Barraclongh, H. T. Crocker, N. Crocker, B. C. Gibson, F. A. Nixon, J. G. Nicliol, C. J. Preston. IV. Slattery. T. J. Salmon and J. S. T. Short