NATIONAL PROSPECTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 July 1937, Page 12

NATIONAL PROSPECTS.

CHANCE FOR BRIGADORE. EASY AWAPUNI WIN. While attention is being focussed on well-seasoned performers higher up in the weights, and those horses which ran well at the Great Northern and Wellington meetings, little has been heard of the prospects of the Marion owned and tunned gelding Brigadore, who has been weighted close to the minimum in the Grand National Steeplechase, with 9.3, and has been allotted the minimum impost of 9.0 in the Grand National Hurdles. Now rising eight years, the PolozelMydora gelding will probably make the big steeplechase his principal mission, and ho must be regarded as a distinct lightweight possibility He will have the services as pilot in the steeplechase of tho Awapuni cross-country horseman, C. Thomson, who rode Sandy Dix to victory in the Great Northern Hurdles. Thomson, who won the Awapuni _ Steeplechase recently on Brigadore, is evidently sufficiently convinced by the gelding’s performance at the Manawatu winter _ meeting to accept the mount on him in the Grand National Steeplechase. Brigadore is a splendid juniper and can certainly stay, but the question is whether he is really sufficiently seasonod across country this year to be playing a prominent part in tho finish of the big event at Ricoarton. Brigadore was third to Clarion Call and John Charles (since a double winner at Trentham) in the Century Hurdles on the first day at Wanganui, and on the second day went a great race with Clarion Call (who was conceding him two stone) in the three-mile Wanganui Steeplechase. Prominent in the early running, Brigadore then dropped back, but half a mile from home came again with a strong run to close on Clarion Call. He was just about up with ■ the winner at the second last fence when, however, ho crashed, and Clarion Call won by a furlong from the rest of the field. Brigadoro’s next start was in the 2|mile Awapuni Steeplechase, in which, clearing his obstacles beautifully, lie jumped to the front five furlongs from home and went on to score the easiest of wins. Lucidus, winner of tho Bay of Plenty Steeplechase, who was conceding' Brigadore 91b, finished third a long way back. Forest Glow lost his rider at the last fence, but.- wns then under pressure, and had no chance with the winner. Brigadore meets Forest Glow on 51b better terms in the Grand National Steepechase, so that ho appears to be favourably handicapped. He can stay out the 3i miles, and with firm going, can be expected to bo playing a prominent part. Becauso of the heavy track conditions, he was not started at Trentham.