RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 7

RACING.

jWANGANUI STEEPLES.

FIELD OF EIGHT ENGAGED

REVIEW OF THE PROSPECTS.

PONJOLA AND MATU FANCIED

Last year there were nine runners in the ■\Vanganui Steeplechase and victory was achieved by Brigadier Bill, who also won jn UI'JS. 'I his year the field will bo smaller, as there are only eight acceptors and it is probable that at. least one of tlio candidates jn Birkbeck will be missing, Birkbeck was saddled up'to run in tlio Adamson Steeplechase on tlio second day at Unworn, but he was feeling the effects of his fall on tlio first day and was withdrawn after doing his preliminary.

All of the eight horses engaged wore runners at Hawera last week and form there saya most for the chances of Ponjo'a and Main. Ponjola won the Egmont Steeplechaso in dashing stylo and ho is likely to ho an unproved horse for that raoo. A3 ho has previously uhown that ho possesses stamina. there should bo no doubt about' his ability to run tho extra distanco i:i this race. For his win last week he been rehandicapped to 9.0 and ho will now have to meet the horses he defeated last week on the following worse terms:—Brigadier Bill 101b., Matu !olb., Maunga Sib, Airlight 10lb. and Birkbeck 10lb. Jnder tjio altered terms and over tho longer distanco Matu, who will bo a better horsp for bis nice at Hawera, may bo tho likeliest to turn tho tables on this occasion. Matu was finishing on well at Hawera and the extra distance is going to favour him more than some of tho others. As winner of the rnco for two years in succession. Brigadier Bill must bo entitled to some rpspect, although his form at Hawera was not, particularly encouraging. However, onlj far jumping tho sodwall very badly each timo there, ho might have done better and is therefore not n forlorn hope.

Birkbeck was going well when he fell in tho Egtnont Steeplechase and would have a chauco if all right, but it is doubtful whether ho will throw off his Borene3s, quickly enough. Maunga showed some dash in his race* at Hawera, but mado mistakes and was out of the contests some distance irora the finish each day. Maunga has been ati unlucky horse in steeplechases and is not a pood one to follow. Still he stays well mid will only require to stand up to bo a possibility. Airtight i 3 a reliable fencer with a jumper' 3 chance, but Democratic and Kowhatu did not race well enough last week to bo seriously considered.

To sum up. tho prospects of Ponjola and ilatn rerul best and they will have a host of ndmirers, with Ponjola probably the actual favourite.

THE CENTURY HURDLES.

[INTER EST IN G RACE LIKELY.

i PRINCE LU'S GOOD CHANCE.

"With only eight acceptors for the Century Hurdles, tho field scarcely comes up to expectations, although the presence of horses like Mister "6arrip, Elicit, Prince Lu and othsr Great Northern Hurdles candidates in Aurora Borealis t.nd Glenaiar will invest the race with considerable interest. Four-of tho candidates in Glans'.ar, Aurora Borcalis. Diana's Lad and Whisagne* were runners nfc Hawera-last week, when Aurora Borealis showed good form in winning tho Adamson" Steeplechase and Glcnstar run two respectable secoudu among the back hurdlers. The other two did no,! perform well enough to lie seriously considered in this company and of the Hawera runners Aurora Borealis may. be tho best prospect. Last year's winner. Mister Gamp, who afterwards won tho Great Northern Hurdles, heads the list with 11.G, and, although this is 'illb. more than he carried last year, he is ft class hurdler who may have to be seriously reckoned with. Thore is just a "doubt whether he will be ready to show his best at present, as ho had to be eased in his work after a schooling mishap some weeks ago arid may be a trifle backward without recent racing. On form Prince Lu and Elicit, wno finished second and third respectively in a record-run race in the Brighton Hurules a£ Bllerslie at Easter, appear to have a call over Mister Gamp on this occasion, but at his best he would be selected to beat both.

As'between Frince Lu and Elicit the disposition is to favour Princo Lu, who meets Elicit on only 41 b. wor3o terms for a two and a-half lengths' beating at Elleralie, and will be entirely suited by tho turning course s.t AVangunui. It is probable, however, that Elicit may have come on since .racing at Lllerslio and therefore there may be little to choose between them. Of the others in the field, Aurora Borealis and Glenslar may be the one 3 to give the topweights most trouble, for -Perle do Leon may feel tho lack of recent racing and form at Hawera does r.ot say much for the chances of Diana's Lad &nd Whisogne.

Aurora is6realis has won over hurdles and country in the past few months and she is so well at present that she must take some heating with a handy weight like 0.5. At ' er ' ast start oveir hurdles fibo won the Kai in'lnit at Awapuni with' 0.0. beating occasion 'i->n llom 1 ' I " J w '" meet 0,1 lius r J r. b - v, ' orau lenus - ,} y lensth rn riX. olcnßlar 'B at Uawera was znii'/rl ," P . to " ,0 expectations of his adcu i w ?' s rather good and lie may deal nf tF 0r be lias not lind a groat 13 iikciy to h ' ivo tir.r,' le »v backers have to make a final solecftith' r y V " Probably choose tho horses *»th some recent form and go for Prince • and Aurora Borealis.

RIDING ENGAGEMENTS

JOCKEYS FOR WANGANUI

Tlio following riding engagements have W'n announced for the first day of the "iganui Jockey Club's merting, which will bo held od Thursday:i!o3tf;r.—Gknstar and Town Bird. • Dulieu.—Hoy a 1 Acre, Waitaunaha and Aurora Borealis.

J j . Dulieu. Per.io do Leon and Hymcslra' •on,

Wiggins.-Moa Bird and Iligh Folutin'

local jockeys at hawera

SUCCESS IN JUMPING RACES

Uckland jockey 3 were well ill Ihe limoit in the jumping races at Hawera. whero f® wl; r .lhati four of (hem rode a winner, the first day J. Smith won tho Tonga hoe iurdles on Whenuanui, F. Foster was on l "o runner-up. Gk-nstar, and L Dulieu was o tio third horse, Royal Acre, while H. u 'cu won the Hack .Steeplechase on WaiWon't (1 } Vi l <ilir,! 0,1 Airtight in tho I, ? ,1- '''''h' l !i>.' ; e. On tho second day Bo"" 1 !' 11 w on the Afnnuwupois Hurdles on tw Ln° r . C i!"' 1 K " "»* «K»i« «>« ,Vc, n tlin" \ 1 Jrsc ' J.'hsnstur. Foster also i'-orenlli. i 'IV' 01 ' Steeplechase on Aurora tight a , iJll!i( ' 11 w «« tl' 1 " 1 "» AirRin« ) A, " jkh,ntl ri(lor iri 11 ■ Wiit ' 'he iri'pnd, 0 '' Klimm " some success at t*o ,hi, ( , R IK ' a B , IK ' L ' three seconds and u 'uuus m flat events.

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

v T 'f , ' I® Southland Racing Club. Mm ir' 17 ~ Wrt "K ;,n>li Jockey Club, llav oi I J~ ,^ar 'ho r ough Racing Club. X[ai o umaruinii Kacinj? Club. Ma! ~^ hbur,o » County Racing Club. June" o . m " Bunedin Jockey Club. ■Juiip V c khnid Racing Club. • 4—Otaki Maori Racing Club.