RACING AT RICCARTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14142, 18 August 1909, Page 4

RACING AT RICCARTON.

NOTES ON THE GRAND NATIONAL

MEETING.

[nr TELEGKAI'H. —OWN CORKKSI'ONDKNT.] Ciiristcihtrcii, Tuesday.

The recent Grand National meeting may bo described as in many ways the best on record. The Canterbury .Jockey Club has frequently been, described as a particularly lucky club in that it almost invariably secures excellent weather for race meetings at Riccartou,,but in connection with the fixture just concluded all weather records were certainly broken. Throughout the whole week the sun shone brightly, reminiscent of late spring or summer. As a result there was a largo attendance each day, and the financial results should be most satisfactory to the club. In the. first place, the fields were large, added to which the totalisator investments were £59,081, as compared with £57,026 last year, and tho bookmakers' fees amounted to £2210.

While admitting that the meeting was a record one in many respects, I cannot help expressing the opinion that there were directions in which there was room for improvement. To start with, the steeplechases emphasised the present poverty of New Zealand in good cross-country horses. Tho Grand National Steeplechase was a very disappointing race—the worst I ever remember—as four of the nine starters came to grief. I have no wish to detract from Nadador's victory, but that alone should bo enough to convince any unbiassed critic of the poor class of our present 'chasers. This was her fourth attempt to win the race, but she had never previously been placed, and I do not suppose anyone will argue seriously that Sir William Russell's mare is any better now than she was in some other years when she tackled the Riccarton country. Yet this year she won easily, and all because we have a very poor lot of horses about just now. El Dorado ran very consistently, as, after finishing second to Nadador in the Grand National, he won the Beaufort and Lincoln Steeplechases. He is only a five-year-old, but ho is a good cut of a 'chaser, and one that* should have a lot of improvement in him. He is a rare bred one, too. .To Arai • was only out once, when ho finished third in the Grand National. Ho showed a bold front till half a mile from homo, but it struck me that he might have been closer at tho finish if his rider had made less use of him in the early stages. Capitol went out early in the National, but shaped well in the Beaufort Steeplechase, though he had no chance when it came to racing homo with El Dorado. Le Beau was a disappointment, as ho fell in the National through getting too close to one of the fences, and he was not seen out again. Mocassin also made but one appearance, and ho only lasted to the first fence of the National.

Eurus came to grief in a very simple manner in his first two engagements, and on the third day, though he got round, he hit two of the fences hard, and finished a long way back. I am afraid wo must write this horse off as an incorrigible fraud. There is no doubt he can jump, but the trouble seems to be that he does not relish the game. The fence that brought him down in the National was a simple brush hurdle, which he made no attempt to jump. The steeplechaser that took my fancy most at the meeting was Lovell, who won the Enfield and Hunt Club Steeplechases. Ho is a half-brother to Pilot, and quite as good a fencer, and it will Iks no surprise to find him holding his own with the best in the. land next winter. There were plenty of hurdlers at the meeting, but they could not bo described as a high-class lot. Compass, as the winner of tho Grand National Hurdle Race, is entitled to first notice, and his performance was certainly a creditable one, as he came away like a tradesman at the finish. I should class him as the best hurdler in the Dominion on this form, despite his failure on the last day. to which I do not attach much importance. ' Ben Jon son ran two good races, and justified the reputation he brought from the North.

Pikopo took my fancy as a promising young horse. Ho knocked himself about a lot in the Grand National Hurdle Race, but when lie (jets more experience this halfbrother to Tauira may develop into a topnotcher.

Tauira was a disappointment. Ho did not show us any of the brilliant jumping he is said to bo capable of, but I am inclined to think he may not have been quite at his best.

Auratus won the Trial Hurdles like a tradesman, and ran another good race in the Grand National. Such a good performer on the flat should be heard of again over hurdles.

Scotty's form was in and out. Ho did not look like winning the Grand National at any stage, but in the Sydenham Hurdles hewas in a good place all the way, and ho won in rare style at tho finish. Pukcnui was a fancied Grand National candidate, but. he broke down, so that little can be said of him.

Polyanthus and Slanoy, two minor winners over hurdles, aro only moderates at the game. North-cast won the Winter Cup in brilliant style, and ho must be classed with the best North Island hacks wo have seen for some time. Ho has a fine turn of speed, and is likely to lie heard of again during this season.

Penates was a trifle. disappointing, but it struck me that his condition left room for improvement, and ho may do better later on.

Grenadier ran a fair race in the Winter Cup, and a better one in the Islington Handicap on tho second day, but lie could not, quite withstand the late run of Gwendoline!, who is very well at present, and is certain to win more races this season. One of the best flat racers at the meeting was Los Angclos, who captured a double. Ho has a great track reputation, and his two winning efforts showed that ho quite deserved it.

Bonny Glen ran well in each of his races. His win in the Heathcote Handicap was gained in brilliant style. The son of Stepniak is not as well as lie can be made yet, and if ho stands tho necessary work, he will bo hoard of again this season, for there can be no doubt he is a high-class horse. Federal's form at tho meeting confirmed an opinion I have always held of him, that ho is not a good one in a field whero his opponents can keep him going at his top speed. Tho Grand National meeting is always accountable for a number of accidents, and this year's fixture was no' exception to the rule. .Tack Pot and Irish went wrong on the eve of the meeting, and Pukenui and Stepenfeldt broke down while racing. Virtus fell on the first day and died late in the afternoon from her injuries. There were plenty of falls in the jumping races, but fortunately tho jockeys escaped serious injury, a couple of broken collarbones and some stray cuts and bruises being tho extent of the trouble. Kairoma was bleeding at the nose after, Sydenham Hurdle Race on Saturday. He has been sold to H. Hickey, and will probably bo shipped to Sydney with Mundic this week. It is understood that Messrs. Elworthy Bros, were negotiating for El Dorado after he won tho Beaufort Steeplechase, but no deal has resulted. As he won £280 in the Lincoln Steeplechaso on Saturday, he would have been cheap at £500. Le Beau bruised the muscles, of his chest when ho foil in the Grand National Steeplechase, but •he should bo all right again in a few days. At a sale of horses to-day Sweet Angelus realised 255gns. and Hock Ferry 130gns.

INTERPROYINCIAL GOSSIP.

[by telegraph.— correspondents.]

WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Though North Island horses won all the big events at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting, the Wellington stables did not do as well as was expected. Lovell and King Post were the only horses from local stables to actually win at Iticcarton. J. H. Prosser and C. Pritehard did not accept with any of their horses on the concluding day of the- meeting, and they wero shipped homo on Saturday night.

J. Dolaney, who rodo Compass in the .lumpers' Flat and Grand National Hurdles, is now retiring from the saddle. He is going to start as a trainer, and I understand will have charge of the imported horse Cheshire (TarporleyMaybud) and a filly by Meriwco from a Lochicl mare. Delaney has been riding for over 15 years, and will be best remembered as the pilot of Spindrift and North Atlantic.

Clarence O'Neill, the crack hurdle horseman of a couple of years ago, is now getting a fairly lengthy team together at Palmerston North. He will have four horses racing at the Morton meeting next month.

Mr. H. McManaway, who won the Winter Cup with North-cast, laid the rider, A. Oliver, £200 to nothing, the trainer, H. King, £100 to nothing, and the boy who looks after the horse £50 to nothing. It is stated that when Mr. E. J. Watt returns from Australia the committee of the Wellington Racing Club will interview him concerning the running of Wimmera at the recent Trentharn meeting. Mr. Watt was away in Australia at the time of the meeting.