JUMPING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21480, 2 May 1933, Page 7

JUMPING SEASON

OPENING TO-MOEEOW meeting AT HAWERA * rjjjE EGMONT STEEPLES OKOPUA WELL FANCIED by archer The jumping season- will bo commenced iu earnest at Hawera this week, when the Egmont Kacing Club will hold its winter meeting to-morrow and on Thursday. There are only two jumping races on the first day's programme, the. Tongahoe Hurdles and the Egmont Steeplechase, and the fields nro somewhat disappointing, although 'the presence of , tho Great Northern candidates Copey, Okopua and Jayson will £' v 0 particular interest to tho steeplechase contest. On recent form Okopua appears to have the best prospectu in tho Egmont Steeplechase. ]>st week 110 defeated among others Jayson, Hard Gold and Pay Lass when ho finished second to Cailamart in the Marton Steeplechase, and as he will meet them 011 practically the same terms on this occasion it does not appear likely that any of them will turn tho tables 011 him, moro especially as ho was fifty yards ahead of Jayson, who finished third. Jayson is a beginner who should bo improved by the experience, but Okopua is a reliable., customer, who should again hold him safely. Chances of Copey

I The topweight Copey, winner of last | 1 rear's Great -Northern Steeplechase, I would probably be Okopua's chief dan- | ger if produced thoroughly fit, alf -though a longer distance would be more | to his liking. Copey had a couple of | races at Pae'roa last month, but failed I to perform up to expectations, and I would .require to do better than ho did I there to win on this occasion. Still he I should be more forward in condition ' now and should a bettoi account t of himself 011 his home track, where he i is very familiar with the country. I Fine Acre's third in the Club Hurdles I at Marton is likely to gain him some t friends, but the favourite will probably ; be Okopua. / The field. engaged in the Tongahoe | 1 Hurdles is comprised mainly of beginI . ;ncrs and the only experienced jumper | engaged is Callamart, who has won at | hi? last two starts over country. Callamart's condition will bo a factor in his favour a:ad he cart be relied upon for a solid effort. High. Falutin 5 shaped ! •• very creditably at Marton and is a likely improver. Consent is a lino type | to make a hurdler., but does not jump 1 with any confidence in his races and may still lack experience. Chief Link is another new aspirant to jumping honours who shows promise, but better prospects may be Ganpat, who v on at his first start over hurdles, and Invictus, who was second to Easterly at Marton last week. Ganpat and Invictus are both likely to display some improvement and both should run well under their light weights. The race should be interesting because the form j of the beginners should be illuminating but investors may show a preference for horses with recent form, such as Callamart, Ganpat and Invictus. Auckland Horses Arrive The four Auckland candidates for the meeting, Lapstone, King Win, liritish Columbia and Alloy, have all arrived at Hawera. They have all shown form lately and should raco well at the meeting, especially British Columbia, who has run two good seconds lately. Another Aucklander, Instalment, has also made the trip, and he is expected to give a good j/ account of himself in the Hack Scurry Handicap. ■. I The successful light-weight, K. oitre, who is having a remarkably good season, is to ride Carfex and Awaken. Carfex has been working well since his return from Ellerslie, and is •- a strong fancy for the Mcßae Handicap. Aga Khan is another who has been working well and Copey has also been pleasing the trackwatchers by his good schooling displays over the country. v '