GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 4 June 1924, Page 4

GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE.

(Comments by Maecenas.)

The Great Northern Steepl«»kaserwill be decided at Ellerslie to-morroxr (Thursday), and should provide a. fine race, as the field is a good one, and not. only contains a number of proved "chasers," but several aspirants for "cross country" honours, that ntta^, at ., ! a later date, do well in this department of racing. Oakleigh was produced at Wangahui, but did not look ready, and may want another month. j before being at his best. Pittsworth !is a useful gelding, and represents a dangerous stable. Lochella is thehero of some great contests in steeplechase events, but can he come back? Glenotus has a number of excellent performances to his credit, a*.«i, like Pittsworth, is trained by a. very capable man. Omahu has a number - of in and out performances to kia score, and at times appears to be a gelding of moods, but if caught in the right humour is hard to beat. He ha* been solidly supported" for this event. Explorer can jump and go fast for a distance, but does not relish this difficult task. Silverton. is very ua«£ul, awul some good judges are ticking him off to run well in this event Sea De'il has put up a number of fine performances in this class of race, and is now going well in his work, but some of the younger idvision may be too good for him. Although not generally. known, Lochson, has done a lot of' hunting, and is a really good fencer, and if a. starter will carry some Tarai»aki money. Although he has not raced in public over the big fences, First Born is reputed to be vm. excellent steeplechase jumper, but it will surprise, the writer should he be asked to tackle the Ellerslie "country." Tinokaha and Miss Meiva are unknown quantities as steeplechasers, but jump well in hurdle races. Sir Rosebery has* the qualifications of a good "chaser," but whether he is up to Great Northern standard will be known to-morrow. Royal Abbey is a remarkably good and clever fencer, and is trained by a lucky but clever trainer, and if the "carty" looking gelding is sent to the post he can be relied on to do well. Mary Bruce won in a meritorious manner last year, and" on the concluding day put up a good nght against Omahu. Thingathu, Kke others in the field, is useful in his class, but may not be up to this company. Guanaco gave evidence of developing into a high class cross coun try performer a few seasons back, but broke down badly, and he may never regain his best. Dick is one which | ran a number of fine races last season (he finished a close second in both the Great Northern and Wellington - j Steeplechases). Dick is very well jusf^ now, and has received a special nre- - paration for this race. Black Art will' have many admirers to-morrow in ais maiden effort at eteeplechasing At ttanganm he gave a finished exhibition of jumping. There are «, ■umberof lighter weights engaged, but they have not the- qualifications to make oneenthusiastic about their resp<?ctiv^chanoes. Possibly Omahu, Royap Abbey, Black Art and Dick will dotheir supporters justice.