Wellington Steeplechase Meeting Opens at Trentham To-day

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 4

Wellington Steeplechase Meeting Opens at Trentham To-day

Fields are Big and Going Will be Heavy

Popular Steeples Fancy is Power Chief

The Wellington Racing Club’s popular winter meeting will be opened at Trentham to-day and it will be continued on Thursday and concluded on Saturday. Latest reports from Wellington indicate that the going will be heavy. The principal events on to-day’s card are the Wellington Steeplechase, over a course of 3$ miles; the Whyte Handicap, over a mile; the Trentham Hurdles; and the Stewards’ Handicap. The fields will be big with a chance that two races will be run in divisions, and the betting will be win-and-place. The first race is due to start at 11.30 a.m.

The smallest field for the day is that. for the steeplechase, but what is lacking in numbers is more than made up for I in the quality of the horses which will parade for this gruelling race. The topweight is the brilliant jumper from Auckland, All Irish, but 11.5 will piovo a bit of a burden in the heavy going. He cannot be lightly dismissed, however, for he won the Winter Steeples at Ellerslie with 11.2. Riotous is next with 10.13, and his win in the Wanganui Steeples was such a class performance that it will not be surprising if his connections are confident that Riotous will be there or thereabouts when the horses are being asked for their final efforts today. Third on the list is John Charles, who won at Manawatu and the Greenlane Steeples at Ellerslie, but who failed to see it going with Power Chief for most of the journey in the Great Northern Steeples. The distance is not so far to-day and there is no hill and if John Charles has recovered from the hard race he had at Ellerslie, he should be very hard to beat to-day. Court Yard has fairly recent form and he goes well in soft ground. The next two on the list are Power Chief and Survoy, and to-day they will meet at even weights. In the Great Northern Steeples Power Chief set the pace all the way and with nothing in reserve when ho had beaten John Charles, Survoy tackled him 'over the last bit and beat him by a very narrow margin. Power Chief, though ho has not dono much schooling, is more forward than ho was before Auckland and another great race can be expected of him today. Reports about Survoy indicate that he is in splendid order and if the going is to his liking he must be given a great chance of continuing his winning sequence. Next in order is Gold Wren, a South Islander with a great reputation. He has been schooling well at Trentham, and if the distance is not beyond him he is likely to take a prominent part in the finish. The lightweights are Chile and Slayer and their chances will have been improved by the heavy course. It is a great field and at the moment the pick of the handicaps appear to be Power Chief, John Charles, Riotous and Survoy. Unless there are four the Whyte Handicap will be run in two divisions. It is a representative field and tho best of the Auckland horses appear to be Maori Song, Valmint and Rpllicker. Trench Eight, Lowcnberg, Mearnea, Might, Rollicker and Jack Tar are all first-division prospects, and' Maori Song, Whirling, Quadroon, Lady Montana, Valmint, Yours Truly, Tidewaiter, Corrobore© and Skyrena will be solidly backed in tho second. If there is no need to divide tho field, horses which are sure to command respect are Yours Truly, Quadroon, Valmint and Tidowaiter. When the acceptances were announced there were 24 acceptors for the Stewards 7 Handicap and Majority, Catalogue and Elammarion were at the top, Majority, good in heavy going, being required to lump 10.3, and Elammarion, winner of a number of races recently, being weighted at 9.10. Catalogue has raced once since his return to New Zealand, but a couple of gallops he had last week will have sharpened him up. Amigo raced particularly well at Wanganui and he should bo in better order to-day. Royal Batchelor is a northerner with prospects, and among others that cannot be left out of calculations are Counterblast, Kathbella, Lord Cavendish, Prince Acre, Beseige, Gay Seton, Bachelor King and Sporting Gift. The draw will have some bearing on the result and there is every chance of a surprise, but four that seem certain to find favour aro Amigo, Lord Cavendish, Royal Bachelar and Sporting Gift. A LIKELY CANDIDATE Fireguard finished second in his last Grand National Hurdles with 9.11, and third in the Sydenham with 10.5, and should be one of tho hardest propositions in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham with 9.13. Ho is one that should see out tho two miles and a quarter and Wingatui running showed him to be right at the top of his form. His ownertrainer, D. P. Wilson, won tho Trentham and Winter Hurdles a few years ago with Overhaul. He may repeat the performance with Fireguard.—Christchurch Press. A GOOD LINE The Trentham Hurdles usually points the way to the winner of the more important Winter Hurdles on the last day. During tho last five years Rasouli, Revision and John Charles have captured the double, and in tho other two seasons the Trentham Hurdles winner has been placed in the other race. WELL-BRED SLAYER Slayer, who arrived at Trenthqm last week, is a five-year-old gelding by Valkyrian from Battleflag, so is a halfbrother to the recent fiat winner Flagman. He is now owned by Mr. D. C. Hazlett. His dam is by Martian irom Lady Ivinloch, by Menschikoff-Lady Melton, by Bill of Portland, so Slayer is a well-bred jumper. In II races this season he has been only three times out of the money. Chile beat him in his last start in the Dunedin Steeplechase. RACING FIXTURES July 15 —Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 15—Waiinato District Hunt Club. July 22—Rangitikei Hunt Club. July 22 —South Canterbury Hunt Club.

. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS I G. R. Tattersall: Verey Lights, Yours ! Truly, Flammarion, Shining Hours (first 1 day), Girl Pat, Malik Kafur (second day). W. J. McDowell: Riotous, Esteem, To Morehu. J. Mcßae: Hanover, All Irish. A. Jenkins: Bridegroom, Colfort, John Charles, Rarotonga, Export. J. Chaplin: All Blood. I. Robloff: Sunbeam, Count Willonyx (first day), Sunbeam, Southern Blood and probably En Tour (second day). W. Jenkins: Tho Crooner, White Gold. A. E. Lord: Power Chief. W. J. Broughton: Lord Cavendish, Bronwen, Colonel Bogey, Atcas. A. C. Messervy: Tidewaiter, Classform. C. G. Goulsbro: Quadroon. H. N. Wiggins: Matoru, Valmint, Happy Heels, Regicide, Kena, Hunting Royal. R. W. Savage: Lustral, Inness Lad. D. Craddock: Agog. H. M. Challinder: Might, Etzel, Lady Cvgnus. E. Deslandes: Misurina. P. Burgess: Lo wen berg, Majority, High Test, Warehi, Journet. P. Atkins: Colincamps, Lady Montana, Halley, Kathbella, Saki. A. E. Ellis: Phenomenal, Gironde, El Meyncll, Survoy. L. J. Ellis: Amigo, Haughty Winner, Neptune. J. F. Fergus: Royal Dance. W. E. Shand: Gold Wren, Pandine. H. J. Callahan: Black Majesty, War Cloud, Mearnea, Le Toquet, Cuisinicr. B. H. Morris: Snigger, Centrepoise, Sporting Gift, Sly Fox. P. Jarvis: Erebus. G. P. Dowrick: Auto Sweep, Ned Cuttle. S. Anderson: Mishna (Whyte), and Renascor. S. Wilson: Te Ore, Floral Robe (second day). P. Mcßrearty: Far East. R. A. Hawkings: Toper. N. R. McKenzie: Hutana. J. Winder: Maori Song, Susan, Prince Acre. F. E. Baker: Survalyon. G. Cameron: Whirling, Royal Bachelor. O. Mclnally: Ellanui, Awhiowhio. 11. Long: Du Maurier. R. J. Mackie: Fleet Street. J. Richards: Slayer, Vantoon. M. Caddy: Skyrena. W. J. Mudford: Viracious. W. Grindlay: Car Leaf. R. Beale: Ponty, Fireguard, Cottingham. C. T. Wilson: Wild Talk, Counterblast, Trench Fight, Gustavo. R. Register: Chile, Far East. A. Messervey: Alma. J. W. Jennings: Mungatoon, Rex Maitland. A. Leach: Courtyard. A. Stove: Silver Sight. G. Linton: Contract. G. Ridgway: Recollection. H. W. Hibberd: Rebel Mate, Lazybones, Gemara. H. Maria: Jewelled Girdle. H. Turner: King Rey. R. J. Fearn: Jack Tar. ADDITIONAL SCRATCHINGS The additional scratchings so far made for to-day’s racing at Trentham are:— Woburn Handicap: Te Ore (11.55 a.m. yesterday). Vittoria Hurdles: Sunbeam (12.50 p.m. yesterday). WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE COURSE The Wellington Steeplechase has been staged annually (with the exception of one of the war years) since 1885, but it was not till 1906 that the Wellington Racing Club entered upon possession of its present course, the home of the club having been originally at Hutt Park. The Obstacles. Racing over about three-und-a-quarter miles, half-a-milc shorter than the Great Northern, and a quarter-of-a-mile shorter thau the Grand National, competitors in the Wellington Steeplechase arc required to negotiate twenty-two obstacles, the details of which arc:— First Jump.—Boarded fence, 3ft. high, with ditch 2ft. wide in front. Second Jump. —Brush hurdle, 4ft. 9in. high and about Ift. 9in. through at top. Third Jump.—Boarded fence, 3ft. 2in. high, with light brush fence Ift. Gin. in front about 2ft. 6in. from base. Fourth Jump.—Brush hurdle, 4ft. dinhigh and about Ift. 9in. through at top. Fifth Jump.—First or stand double, brush hurdle, 4ft. bin. high and about Ift. 9in. through at top. Sixth Jump. —Second of stand double, similar fence to first of double. Seventh Jump.—Brush hurdle, identical 1 to other brushes. Eighth Jump. —Sod wall, 3i't. Sin. high, I 2ft. 95n. through at top, and oft. through at base. Ninth Jump. —Heavy boarded fence 3ft. sin. high, ditch 2ft. wide in front, about Ift. from base. Tenth to Eighteenth Jumps.—Same as from first to ninth on initial circuit. Nineteenth Jump.—Same as first jump. Twentieth Jump.—Same as first jump. Twenty-first Jump.—Same as first jump. Twenty-second Jump.—Same as fourth jump, brush hurdle a little over a furlong from the finishing post.

PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY Tho going will be very heavy at Trentham to-day and it is possible there will be some “thumping” dividends. With luck likely to play quite a big part in proceedings it is possible that the place machine will be good enough for most people. Horses which might be fancied in their engagements to-day are as under:— Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeples: Bridegroom, Chile, Rapa Waiata. Woburn Handicap: Halley, Erlick (first division); Phenomenal, Rex Maitland (second division). Vitt-oria Hurdles: Erebus, Fireguard, Lustral. Stewards’ Handicap: Royal BathelorJan Ridd bracket, Besiege, Fleet Street. Wellington Steeplechase: Power Chief, Survoy, Riotous. Trentham Hurdles: Esteem, Loombination, Ellanui. Whyte Handicap: Valmint, Yours Truly, Quadroon. Te Aro Handicap: Hutana, Larwood, Colonel Bogey.

THE ACCEPTANCES 11.27 a.m. MARIRI HACK AND HUNTERS' STEEPLECHASE. £350: about 2i Silver Sight U 7 9 Cottingham 11 2 Hanover 10 13 Willonyx 9 7 Bridegroom 10 7 Lactose 9 7 Rapa Waiata 9 13 Car Leaf 9 0 Chile 9 9 12.6 p.m. WOBURN HANDICAP (hack condition.*: > £350; (» furlongs. First Division Wild Talk 9 8 8 5 Halley 9 0 White Rajah 8 Susan 9 0 8 2 Lucullus Boy 8 11 Ueauly 8 Rarotonga 8 9 Gay Hunting 8 Blonde Lady Cygnu* b Princess 8 8 8 0 Erlick 8 7 b Joe Louis 8 6 War Cloud 8 • Second Division Shining Hours 0 3 Phenomenal 8 11 Rex Maitland 8 11 Conversion 8 8 8 0 Auto Sweep 8 8 8 0 High Test 8 7 V iracious 8 6 8 0 Regicide 8 4Tehaka 8 0 12.48 p.m. VTTTQRIA HURDLE HANDICAP (hack conditions), £350; l* miles. Fireguard 11 7 Erebus 11 5 Mount Val 9 6 Ponty 10 33 Lustral 10 13 De Friend 10 10 3 Export 10 10 Araboa 10 4 Misurlna 10 4 0 Jewelled Tutor ft 0 Oirdl* 9 12 0 1.28 p.m. STEWARDS' HANDICAP. £(60; 6 furlongs. Majority 10 3 Besiege 8 12 Catalogue 9 32 8 Amigo 9 11 y Flammarion 9 10 Royal Bachelor 9 8 8 Rebel Mate 9 7 Counterblast 9 5 Kathbella 9 4 .Sporting Gift 8 2 Lord b Cavendish 9 1 Aureus X 0 Notiuni Prince Acre 8 13 Grey Honour 8 12 2.7 p.m. WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE, £1000; about 3i miles. All Irish 11 5 33 Riotous 30 33 Survo.v 9 John Charles 10 8 9 Courtyard 10 4 Chile 0 Slayer 9 0 2.50 p.m. TRENTHAM HURDLES, £o00; 15 mile:. Silver Sight 10 13 Recollection .0 Curie 30 13 " Esteem 10 10 Loombination 10 King Re.v 30 5 lnness Lad 7 Fireguard 10 5 Ellanui 9 Manawatu 0 3.30 a.m. WHYTE HANDIC P, £600; 1 mile First Division Haughty The Crooner S Winner 9 2 Rollicker 7 Trench Fight 8 10 Lazybones 13 Sly Fox 8 9 Might 32 Lowenberg 8 7 Jack Tar Mataroa 8 7 Meamea 8 6 Gay Rebel 7 Mungatoon 8 3 Rustem 7 Monipere 8 2 Skyway 7 Second Division Maori Song 8 11 Kena 7 Whirling 8 20 Tidews ter 7 10 Quadroon 8 9 Wa Italia 7 2 0 Lady Montana 8 8 Corroboree 7 7 8 6 Du Maurier 7 7 Valmint 8 6 Lord Moutoa 7 7 Ned Cuttle 8 2 Rkyrena 7 7 Mishna 8 0 7 7 Yours Truly 8 A 4.15 p.m. TE ARO HANDICAP (hack conditions). £350; 1 mile. El Meynell 9 8 Happy Heels 8 7 9 7 Larwood 8 7 Verey Lights 9 5 Colonel Bogey y Colfort 9 1 Haile Selassie 8 it Wagner 9 1 Haupongi 8 Windsor Chief 8 23 Little Robin 8 0 Le Toquet 8 12 Renascor 8 0 Hu tana 8 21 Selkirk 3 0 Bow Street 8 9 8 0 Vocal 8 8