GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16624, 22 August 1917, Page 9

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

NOTES ON THE RACING. [Br TELEGRAPH. OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The C.J.C. Grand National Meeting turned out well in every respect. The club's luck in the matter of weather is proverbial, and it was again in evidence this week. There was a representative attendance, and the totalisator investments (£106.976 10s) beat all two-day records for the Riecarton course. Fields were large, and some fine racing was witnessed, while the jumping, taken all round, war. first-ciass.

The victory registered bv Master Strowan in the Grand National Steeplechase was undoubtedly meritorious. The eon of Strowan jumped all his fences in capital style, and that he will carry his winning record further is a prediction that can apparently be ad vanced with a. large degree of confidence, for he finished up his task like a true stayer.

Sleight-of-Hand beat his field in the Grand National Hurdle Race in a manner that left no doubt as to his being on the up-grade. A year ago. when Sleight-of-Hand won two hack hurdle races at the Grand National Meeting, he was picked out as a very likely Grand National winner. Since then, his ownor. Mr. Frank Armstrong, never lost confidence, and his optimism gained the horse many admirers, but no more than he secured through his good work on the tracks, where ho beat everything he galloped with in impressivo style. The gelding is held on lease from Mr. F. Armstrong by his trainer. A. ,T. Shearsby, but the lease expires this month. There is a chance that Mr. Armstrong may send him to Australia, unless the strike causes a change of plans, in which case he will be turned out for a good spell.

Among the hacks who raced at the Grand National meeting nothing created such a good impression as Euripos. Ho was galloping well before the meeting, and he won each day in highly attractive style. He is a big. powerful-looking customer, a bit too heavily built to please some people, but ho is a determined galloper, and in each of his races he finished well. Ho can. I think, bo marked off for more wins yet. as he is still on the improve. Euripos was bred by the Hon. J. D. Qrmond. and came here at the same time ns Dionysius. F. D. Jones secured the pair, one being for Mr. H. A. Knieht, who had first choice, and selected Euripos. Ho has no cause to regret the investment up to tho present. Kaupokonui was easily the best of the hunters racing nt the Grand National meeting. He won the Hunt Club Cup nicely on Thursday, and though given a substantial rise in tho weights he scored in the Aylesbury Steeplechase. KauDokonui is. trained in the same stable as Crib, and he is a useful sort, though ho may never be up to tho best company.

Disdainful was responsible for a particularly attractive exhibition of galloping in the August Handicap. She was never far awav from tho leaders, and sno shot out in brilliant style at the distance, winning as she liked. She had always been a great galloper on short courses, but has been a very unlucky mare, especially at Riccarton. where she was injured in her first race, and again the next time she started after a spell. The mare is a great favourite with her trainer. G. Murray Aynsley, who owns her sire. Bonny Glen, a good Stepniak horse, who has been wasted at the stud.

Bon Reve was counted out of a place in the Grand National Hurdle Race, but ho showed to much better advantage in the Sydenham Hurdle Race, which he won. The Sydenham Hurdle Handicap ended the career of Dionysius, who was popularly regarded as one of the most promising young hurdlers who has come out for some time. He cleared the last obstacle with a slight advantage over Bon Reve. but 100 yds further on ho stumbled and broke one of his legs, and the friendly bullet had to be requisitioned. Dionysius won the Trial "urdleo in good style, and he was galloping we'l when he stumbled in the Sydenham Hurdle Rare. It was bad luck for Jones to lose his horse, who looked like being worth a lot of money to him this season.

Cardrona ran a good race in the Winter Cud, being out making the pace in tho early stages, but in the August Handicap run on the second day, ho found a difficulty in going with some of the speedy beginners, and at no stage did he look like a winner.

Tip-up was heavily backed for the August ''nndicap. He failed to go with the leaders in the early part, but he finished well just oil), of a place. He is in rare condition, and looks certain to win at one of the early spring meetings.

Art was very stiff and sore, after his fall in the Grand National Hurdles, and he was not started on the second day. The Sarto gelding will be sent home to his owner's station for a well-earned rest, and will not come back to Riccarton for six months, when he will be got ready for next winter's jumping events.

Killard, who. won the Sumner Handicap on. Thursday, is . a useful galloper. He requires a bit of distance, as he does not begin well, but he shapes like a stayer. Before the season is much further advanced he may be winning in better company. Miss Sation won the bpreydon Hurdle '■nndicop in very decisive style, showing great improvement over her effort in the lnal Hurdles m tho first day. In that race however, she got into trouble at one of the hurdles, losing a lot of ground. Her performance on the second day taken in conjunction with her efforts at Trentham last month, made her look one of the most promising of tho jumpers.

San Sebastian carried his big weight in good style in both his hurdle races he contested, and he will probably win plenty of races at Southern meetings. Rewanga showed a fine dash of speed in the Woolston Handicap. The daughter of Marble Arch was one of the leaders all the way. but she had to be shaken up to stall KL„ ( a i„ e u Un J Minesweeper, whom she heat by a bar© head. Minesweeper was un- ™™ ~a t , l * san . slowly and had to come from fir., long Way u 4" just as he did on the first day. when he finished second to JLiUI lpos.

Hythread completed a nice double for the Gisborne owner. Mr. F. Hall, by landing he Islington Handicap, the final event of S mee V n f- , He was always nicely placed and he looked like a winner, from the time the straight was reached. He is a, solid customer, and may bo expected to do better joLor on. Ti^\f^ lm^' a , Prospects ° capturing the •Beaufort Steeplechase were regarded as of so bright a. character that he always ruled a hot favourite. Sandy Paul, however, beat the much-boomed Ha-ke's Bay "elding in pointless style at the business end. St lulmn was in close attendance at the last fence, but his final effort was very feeble and his two races at Kiccarton did not ennance his reputation as a solid racehorse. . Gluepot was in no condition to do himself justice after a. week of idleness ,on the way down from Auckland, but though he came home very tired in both the Taces lie contested at Riccarton be jumped proficiently throughout.