RACING NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 213, 7 August 1928, Page 4

RACING NEWS.

FROM STABLE AND COURSE

(By “Binocular.)

Tlio Grand National meeting, which, opens on tlio 14th inst., will be the next fixture to engago attention. The new season was entered upon auspiciously on Saturday when both the Christchurch and Poverty Bay Hunt Clubs experienced increased totalisator returns at their annual fixtures.

Tho public enjoyed an excellent innings at Poverty Bay on Saturday, no loss than six favourites prevailing, while one returned a dividend for second. Thus in eight races the favourite was but once out of tho money. At Riccarton, form was not quite so well disclosed, although the judgment of the mass of patrons was not far astray, for in the eight races two favourites scored and live filled second berths, they being thus but the once out of the money. The Christchurch Hunt fixture has been accepted by trainers as an excellent opportunity to give their charges an outing over tho ground on which they will contest tho more important events at the National fixture to follow, but in several respects Saturday’s contests did not assist tho public to any material extent, particularly in the jumping contests. Tho Awapuni representative, Rangl Sarto, was sent out a good favourite for the Kennels Hurdles at Riccarton on Saturday, but was beaten by Hiana’s Lad, a Gay Lad five-year-old gelding who is trained on the scene of activities. Rangi Sarto had had his training interrupted as tho result of tho injury ho received in Hawke’s Bay and he should consequently be all tho better for tho raco.

The local horseman,, 11. Burt, while he failed to salute the judge following tho deciding of tho Kennels Hurdles —he having been tho pilot of Rangi Sarto—had tho honuor later in the day when ho olpitcd l’assin’ Through to victory in tho, Ilomeby Steeplechase. While the Taranaki representative figures in the G. N. Steeples, the distance promises to discount against his chances. Miss G. Maher, who takes up her residence at Awapuni on September 1., found her early arrival at Riccarton in order to participate at tho Hunt fixture attended with a reward, Poncus taking tho honours in the Longbeach Hurdles—an event in which he ran second last year—while Locarno ran second in tho Hunters’ Plato and Kalos third in tho Hack Flying. A. McDonald was in the saddle in each instance.

A. E. Ellis, who finished third on the jockeys’ championship lablo, last term secured an early lead over Green and Reed last season, and Saturday found him again mark the entry upon activities in an auspicious manner by riding two winners and a second place-getter, Sarnia and Pago Boy furnishing him with championship points. He narrowly failed to add a third point on First Sight, who went under by a head to Royal Saxon in tho Brabazon Handicap. R. J. Mackie, who ha'd been associated with Pale Star when ho had won at his second essay on the concluding day of tho Gisborne R.C. meeting, made the trip through to Gisborne for tho Hunt Club fixture. His long journey was attended by a successful issuo for ho rode Pale Star in the Hexton Handicap. Another Palmerstonian in C. W. Franco was also in attendance and ho annexed tho championship point when he piloted Kensel in the secortd division of tho Swathmore Trial Handicap.

It is not often that the dual positions of judge and ha.idicapper are held by the same official, but it' is going to happen Ut the spring meeting of the Dargaville Club, when Mr F. McManeinin will officiate in both capacities. Tho club has assepted the offer of the Avondale Jockey Club to race on their course on November 1 and 3.

Mr J. Gatenby, of Havelock North, who, at tho January sales held at Trentham, purchased tho full-brother to Talisker (Lord- Quex —Rosamond’s Daughter) has (states the Squire) increased his possessions by the recent . arrival of the Australian-bred Mercian King, by King Offa—Beanfeast, who claims full-brother-hood to Royal Feast.

Though T. Green finished tho season two up on R. Reed, his nearest rival in rhe jockeys’ premiership list, Reed had the finer record in classic races, and also stood head and shoulders abovo his rival in point of averages, comments “Early Bird.” Green rode 75 winners during the season just closed, and had 63 seconds and 69 thirds to his credit; but to attain the eminence he occupied at the end of the season ho had to rido 466 mounts. Reed, on tlio other hand, did not get going until well on into tho season, and his 73 wins, 68 seconds, and 43 thirds were scored out of an aggregate of only 331 rides. Furthermore, Reed had by far the greater number of successes in classic events. Tho percentage of wins to total number of mounts works out approximately at Reed 24 per cent, and Green 17 per cent.

George. Young, best known to the racing ■ ir> ic as the rider of Gloaming, is an enthusiastic member of the Randwick Bowling Club. Though it is not 12 months

since Young took up the game, ho has mude considerable progress in mastering the myystcrics of the bias, and bowling critics speak well of his prospects of reaching championship form. In a recent handicap tourney ,Young came out the winner after beating the club champion in the final. Young had a handicap of 11, and ho defeated the champion, who was on scratch, by 10. Young, by tho way, has not applied to the Australian Jockey Club for a jockey’s licenso for tho new 6oason. 110 has not made up his mind whether ho will take up tho business of training racehorses or break out into some other line of commercial activity. l’anther, who is tho early favourite for tho Winter Cup in the south, is a four-year-old gelding by Kilbroney from Pussyfoot, by Markhope from Colours, by Gipsy Grand from Rainbow. Ho won five hack races last season and a fow weeks ago, at Trentham, he, was narrowly defeated by Taboo ovmr / six furlongs. He gave the impression on that occasion that he was not quite at his best and ho should bo a much improved horse when he has to race at Riccarton. Flo looks just the kind to win a race like the Winter Cup and then go on to further successes. Early speculation on tho Grand National Steeplechase shows Beau Cavalier as favourite, with Pouri pressing him closely, but during the last few days there has boon a growing disposition in tho south to fanc,y Tuki, who may yet threaten the supremacy of tho other nnir. So far as tho Grand National Hurcllo Handicap is concerned,' Beau Cavalier is a pronounced favourite, while Red Fusclua is tho only other horse who is being seriously discussed at present. Panther is tho Winter Cup favourite, but RoyaL Damon and First Sight aro two others with many admirers.*

Tho Waikato-owned Wiltshire is a much discussed animal just now in view of Ins Riccarton engagements. That Wiltshire is a promising young steeplechaser thcro is no doubt, and his prospects over tho big fences arc just as bright as thoso of any of the younger brigade, but whether lie will successfully negotiate the big jumps at Riccarton remains to be seen. Wiltshire can be dcsscribed as a good jumper, but at times is inclined to “chance” his jumps. This fault at Riccarton would, of course, bring about his undoing, but it is possible that this season’s racing has made Wiltshiro more sober. If that is so, then he can be relied on to give a giood account of himself, even in a race like the Grand National Steeplechase.

Pouri is one of the most interesting candidates for tho Grand National Steeplechase this year. As was the case when he won tho Wellington Steeplechase last month, he will bo ridden by E. Warner, whose dashing tactics contributed in nio small measure to the Trentham success. Pouri’s j limping on that occasion was far from being flawless. He blundered at two fences when he rushed up to Beau Cavalier, but his bustling tactics • were rewarded at the next fence, where it wns tho Aucklander whio made a mistake, as he fell. It is possible that Pouri will be handled in similar fashion in tho Grand National, and over the stiff Riccarton fences there is always a prospect that one or other will make a mistake. Pouri is a clever jumper, but lie cannot afford to take undue risks with the stilt obstacles which gio to mako up the Grand National country.

While he is being discussed chifely as a candidate for the Grand National Steeplechase, it is probable that Beau Cavalier will take his place in the Grand National Hurdles on the second day of tho meeting. This was his programme last year, but after winning the Steeplechase, ho was beaten a long way from homo in the hurdle race. He carried lonly 9.6 on tlidt o-casion and a rise to 11.6 will make his task much more difficult on this %occasion. It is true in the interval he has won the Great Northern Hurdles and the Wellington Winter Hurdles, but for those successes he has paid the natural penalty of a substatmal increase in weight, and with 11.6 in tho saddle he will not get so far away from the opposition as was the case at Trentham. The Grand National double has proved too great an ordeal for every horse who has attempted it. The change from the big country to hurdles is very great, but Beau Cavalier is one of the handy sort, who seems able to mix his racing. For that reason he may perform well in tho hurdle race. The last hit may find him out under 11.6, but it will be unwise to disregard his chance altogether, even though he failed under 9.6 last year, for thcro is no doubt that he is an improved house over hurdles since his previous visit to Riccarton. MAUNGA TO BE SPELLED. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 6 Maunga will be an nbsenteo from the Grand National Steeplechase field. Lie appeared to bo all right after his fall in the Ilomeby Steeplechase, but one of his front legs filled badly on Sunday, and his trainer, J. Griffiths, decided to take him back to Hastings. It ca.n now bo suggested that tho last lias been seen of Maunga on a raco track for some time at least.

Beau Cavalier, who narrowly beat Tarleton in a gallop over a mile at Riccarton on Saturday, will be schooled over tho big steeplechase country on Thursday morning. Ho will be ridden by his Grand National Steeplechase pilot, W. J. Bowden.