SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 7

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

Austiat 13, 15, 17—Canterbury Jockey Club. August 21—I'akurnnsa Hunt. August 01— Hawko's Bay Hunt. August 28—Dannevirko Racing Club, August 29—Dannevirko Hunt. August 31—Tarannki Hunt. September 4, s—Mnrton Jockey Club. September 7 Otngo Hunt. September 12, 14—Wangnnui Jockey Club. September 21—Ashburton County Racing

Club. September 21~Nnpicr Park Racing Club. September 21 2.l—Avondule Jockey Club. September 20. 27—Geraldino Racing Club. September 28— Hawke's Day Jockey Club. October 2 —Manawatu Hunt. October s—Kurow Jockey Club. October 5, 7—Auckland Racing Club. October 10. 12—Duuedin Jockey Club. October 28—Waikato November 0, 11, 13, 10—Canterbury Jockey Club.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Wager.",—Paritutu ran second to I'aiaano for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race of 1910, nnd in tho year following lie won tho New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase.

NOTES BY PHAETON. NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. Going back to 187G, in which year, eo far aa 1 can gather, the first New Zealand Grand National Steoplechaso was contested, this year will mark the fifty-fifth race. Tho first raco was decided at Uiccarton. Mr. I? Brittain furnished the winnor with Royalty In some of tho following years tho race was run at Tiroaru and Oamaru and tlion Riccarton again became the sceno of tho contest. In 1838 tho Canterbury Jockey Club took over the raco and in tho interval it has always been contested at Uiccarton. A fcaturo of tho early contests was a treble victory on tho part of The Agent, who won ill 1879, ISSO and ISSI.

TO-DAY'S PACE. Tho field for to day's race is much bolow that of sonic previous years, but, looking at matters from tho local standpoint, tho position can be regarded as pleasing, for tlireo of tho eight composing the field hail from thia quarter of the Dominion and they nro all ticked off to play u part in tho settlement of tho question. Kawini (10.13), who heads tho list, can bo accepted as a very oafe fencer and that couuta for much at Hiccarton. Wiltshire (10.9), who follows Kawini in the handicap, beat his field last year in good style, and. having acquitted himself Fatisfactorily in his training work, commands a strong following. King s Guard (10.3) hn3 the Wellington Steeplechase to his credit, but ho had a hard race to beat Fabriano by half a. head in that race, and with an extra two furlongs to travel that may not be altogether to his advantage. Lord Panald (9.0) has the attractive record of scoring four successive victories over country, and having mastered tho big fences at Kiccarton that must be counted to his credit. In somo quarters it is contended that Lord Ranald is not sufficiently seasoned to stay out a journey extending to three miles and a-half, but safe jumping counts for a great deal and Lord Ranald haa a good certificate under that beading.

NORTH V. SOUTH. A survey of tho records attached to the Now Zealand Grand National Steeplechase shows that horses hailing from tho Nortli Island hold the record with 33 wins to their credit. • Tho following are tho respective liets:

North Island. Mangahono, Chemist, Wftterburj, Norton, Mutiny (twice), Lovanter, Dummy, Blackberry, Tho Guard, Gobo. Haydn, Awnhuri. Inniskilleu. Eclair, Eurus, Nadador, Te Arai. Paritutu. Captain Jingle. Ngatoa, Waimai, Master Strowaii, St. Elmn, Coalition (twice). Oakleigh (twice). Sturdee, Tuki, Peter Maxwell. Beau Cavalier, Wiltshire.

South Island.—Royalty, Fakir, Mousetrap, The Agent (three tiine3), Clarence, Katerfeldt, Kosciusro. Moody, Canard. Faugh-a-Ballagh, Daddy Longlegs, Freeman, Ahua, Slow Tom. rhactonilis, Eurus, Tim Doolan, Lochella.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Kaiti. who figures in this year's Winter Cup with 0.9. carried 0.10 into second place behind Bisot (9.C) in Inst, year's contest. At tho Wellington Winter Meeting last month the son of Lucullus won the Members' Handicap (six furlongs) under 9.13. so that he wound up at six years old satisfactorily.

Otairi having wound up at four years old with ft surpriso victory in the Winter Oats Handicap, run at Trcntham last month, ho placed himself on the map in so complete a manner as to keep him well in mind. By all accounts, the son of Paper Money lias trained on well in tho interval and ho is expected to play a part in tho settlement of the Winter Cup.

"Willi CO horses engaged in the Winter Cup. the Canterbury Jockey Club is assured of a strong field for tho mile race set down for decision nt Riccnrton to-day, and, with almost half the field voted equal favourites, those who are endeavouring to find the winner have certainly a diflicult task. A ticking olf of tho ages of the various divisions engaged in to-day's races reveals that tho seven-year-olds are tho most strongly represented so far as numbers nra concerned. Tho seven-year-old division is composed as follows:—Historic, Black Duke, King Balboa, Kaiti, Black Mint, Vespcrus. Zippov and Overdrawn.

'Tho Waikato owner-trainer Mr. R. Hnnnon tins never yet experienced what could be termed a bad year in his racing operations and tho fact that ho breeds his own Uorsc3 Olid trains for himself has to be taken into account in assessing matters. In connection with last season's racing, the horses carrying Mr. Hannou's colours won prize-money to the amount of £3780, which gave him fourth pluco on tho list of winnins owners. A reference to the Turf Register shows that since tho season of 1915 16, embracing it period of 11 years, Mr. Hannon's horses have won stakes to the amount of £71.308, so that it will bo quickly recognised that L)anio Fortune lias not been against the Waikato sportsman.

Though the New Zealand pair Seatowu and Oratrix, suffered defeat in the decision of tho National Plato, run at Ihe Queensland meeting last Saturday, Iho form they displayed was evidently promising. Tli" race in question was run over a. mi.' and a-quarter at weight-for-age, and, as thu distances was encompassed in 2m Cs, that is evidenco of a solid pace. Valparaiso, who heat tho New Zealand pair, has displayed good form in New South Wales, though ho would not be ucceptcd as a first-rater at weight-for-age. Valparaiso, Seatown and Oratrix are engaged in the King's Cup, to ho run next Saturday, and the New Sotllh Wales gelding would appear to have tho best of it on figures compared with Seatown and Oratrix. In the decision of tho National Plato he defeated the first-named at even weights and conceded 21b. to Oratrix. In tho King's Cup Seatown is handicapped to concede his rival 31b., whilo Oratrix' will havo to meet him on 4lb. worso terms than in last Saturday's lace.

Mosstrooper having succeeded in his task of winning the double, Australian Hurdle llaco and Australian Steeplechase, ho will HO doubt be made the subject of much eulogy, but it can bo stoutly argued that the opposition in both races was below that of many previous years, and, with 9.10 in tho first-named event and 10.9 in tho latter, ho was nicely placed in the mutter of poundage. In four provious years tho Australian Hurdle Raco and Australian Steeplechase, tho big doublo at Caulfiold. has been won by tho same horße. Colonel Shillinski won the two races under the respective imposts of 12.5 mid 13.2. defeating 13 opponents in the first-named race and 14 in the latter. In 1923 Lea Paddington won tho hurdle race under 10.9 and tho stccplechaso under 11.4. Roisel has the unique record in connection with tho Australian Hurdlo Race and Australian Sleeplechaso, for ho won tho doublo on two occasions. In 192-1 ho carried 1» home in front in tho hurdlo raeo and ho won the sleeplechaso under 11.9. At an interval of two years Roisel again scored a doublo victory, carrying 11.1 homo in front of IS opponents in tho hurdlo race, and with 12.U in the saddle in the 6teoplechuse he beat a field of 11.