THE CENTURY HURDLES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 121, 7 May 1934, Page 2

THE CENTURY HURDLES

REVIEW OF THE FIELD. (By ‘‘The Barb.”) The Century Hurdles will be decided at Wanganui on Thursday next, the first day of that club’s winter meeting. Noteworthy names are to be found on the list oi winners of this race. From 1901 to 1927 the distance was two miles and a quarter, but in 1928 the distance was reduced to two miles, and later to a mile and three-quarters. Five Hawke's Bay owners have been successful, viz.: 1904, Mr E. J. Watt’s Roseshoot (Torpedo—Primrose); 1908, the late Mr A. F. Douglas's Waipu (Torpedo—Ua); 1910, Mr E. J. Watts Wimmera (Meriwee — Mousqueterie/ ; 1911, Mr “A. Stuart s’’ (the assumed name for a well-known stock auctioneer) Appin (The Possible —Miss Beckwith); and Mr W. J. Craig's Gaze (All Black— Gazalie) in 1926. Six other winners in Hydrant, Uelario, Bercola, Euripos, Dubious and Zircon were Hawke’s Bay-bred geldings. Last year, with a stake of £125 offering, only five moderates went to tho post, but this season the club decided to make a substantial increase in the stakes by giving, £250, with the happy result that just on two dozen nominated, and no less than 17 accepted, representing practically the best class of hurdlers in the Dominion. The following is a review of Thursday's runners:— Make Up this last two seasons ha* proved to be one of our leading jumpers, winning both over country and hurdles. His success last season in the Great Northern Hurdles, and second in the same race the season before, stamps him as a horse of class, so that 11.10 is not prohibitive. Hounslow, a young jumper, has performances only too recent to be enlarged on again. Last week fit Hawera he went a fair race to finish in the bunch, behind the placed horses, and there is every reasop to anticipate that that race will do him the world oi good. Blacksmith, at 10.7 will appeal to many, as he has won quite a few hurdle races in lair company. Easterly, from tho same stable, is a fair mare, and in this race two years ago ran second to Conjuror H. Consent has been a disappointmen I. and on his last three or four efforts between the flags cannot be recommended at nil. High Falutin’ won this race last season, but since then his form has not been encouraging. Knollmere won two race* on this course in the spring, and as he is a brilliant juniper and handles Wanganui going well, the Okawa-bred gelding is going to ba one that the best will find troublesome. High Grader is a good jumper, and as ho has been racing since last January should have the required condition, but in this writer’s opinion the turning track will not suit the Lord Quex gelding on account of his “hanging out’’ tendencies. InvictUs has won well of late, and his last effort at Murton was worthy of mention, as he never gave any tiling else a chance from tho word go. Million won t>« » narrow margin at Hawera, but aas in front three furlongs from (joine. Callamart has a luxurious weight lor one of his performances, and at 9.9. must enter the argument, albeit the distance may be just a shade short for the Callaghan gelding.. True Shalt hus been a performer on the flat above the average, and as he was. in the money m the C.J.C. Stewards’, would, if a morn seasoned jumper, have a host of friends. He wag an “alsq ran” at Hawera a bis only start in this department. Brown Abbey has been “mixing” it lately, and for that reason, may have lost a little of his hurdling speed. Constant Suu has given promise as * hack hurdler. Royal Limorjd will be an outsider. Count Lendroff was third the second day at Hawera, but this cannot be accepted as a recommendation-, Ou form Stanchion looks like being the absolute outsider of the field. It is a very interesting field, with plenty ot possibilities, but on Qie day the mo»t favoured on the totalisator may aura out to be Knollmere, Blacksmith aud Hounslow,