RICCARTON OPENING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21878, 14 August 1934, Page 7

RICCARTON OPENING

TODAY'S STEEPLECHASE JRACK LIKELY TO BE FAST REVIEW of the fields The racing carnival of- the Cantejhury Jockey Club opens at Riccarton to-dav, when the principal event is tho Grand National Steeplechase. Telegraphing last evening our Christchurch correspondent stated that fine weather prevailed yesterday and there was every prospect of the conditions continuing to-day. The track would ■'/ not be hard, but the going should be exceptionally fast for this time of the year. The win and place betting sys- • tem would be used. Following are tho acceptances, with a review of the prospects in each race 1 by our correspondent: — > 11.35—TRIAL HURDLES, ' Of £175; 13 miles. st. lb. st. lb. %■ Blacksmith ..10 13 Fleet. Glance . 9 8 Gold Knight .10 1 Transact ..95 Emotion . . 913 Sunward ..90 Verden . . 9 12 Brigadore ..90 Revision ..99 This should be one of the most interesting races at the meeting and the result of it has often given a valuable line toward the outcome of bigger hurdle events on the progr«mme. Three of those carded are engaged in the Grand National Hurdles, and all of the remainder will probably be seen in / action again during the week. The field can be said to be fairly evenly balanced. Blacksmith ran so well at Trentham that he should be in favour in this company, and uthers, such as Emotion, Verden, Tranfinct, Sunward nnd Revision, have to be taken into consideration. The best supported may be BLACKSMITH VERDEN TRANSACT. 12.15—PAPARUA HANDICAP, Of £200; 6 fur. st. lb. st. lb. Copyist ... 9 2 Chhota ... 8 3 Dismiss . . 5K 1 Grecian Prince 8 0 Cranford . . 813 Quietly ... 8 0 i - Guarantee . . 811 Moatoa ... 8 0 Mobile ... 8 9 Royal Sceptre 8 0 Might ; ... 8 8 Lady Rene . 8 0 More. Prince . 8 5 Recent good form is strongly represented in the field and several will, demand support. Copyist /has failed in the last few months, but will be at his best again on his home course. He is very well and is certain to race prominently throughout the week. Dismiss had impressive form last season, but is unfortunately badly troubled in the wind. Cranford is not quite ready, but Guarantee . has only to reproduce his recent form, especially that at Trentham, to be a danger. Of the remainder Mobile and Mercian Prince read the best. The final summing-up of investors may be in favour of COPYIST MERCIAN PRINCE ■" GUARANTEE. 12.55—CASHMERE PLATE, Of £150; three-year-olds 8.0, four-year-olds and upwards 8.11; G fur. / st. lb. lit. lb. Arrowin . 811 Silver Foil .8 11 Br.iw Lad . . 811 Silver Step . 811 Epris .' . . 811 Top Rank . 811 General Travenna . . 811 O'Duffy . . 811 Wino ... 8 0 Hunting Go . 811 Dollar Bill . 8 0 Hostile ■ 811 Emissary ..80 Kavino/ . . 811 Friday Night. 8 0 Milnrow . . 811 Horn's Reef .80 Motunau . . 811 Impossible . 8 0 Rebel Chief . 811 Knock Out . 8 0 Rcratchmere Rona Bay ..80 Scar . N . 811 Trumpet Blast 8 0

*/ Bracket: Horn's Reef and Knock Out. This race has drawn the usual mixed field and Investors, are faced with an intricate probleta. The onlyjvinner in the list is Top Rank, who easily accounted for the maiden event at the hunt fixture. He will again be ridden by A. E. Ellis and is certain to be a short-priced, favourite. There are others in the race, however, capable of thoroughly testing him and these include /scratchmere Scar, Braw Lad. Rebel Chief, Horn's Reef. Friday Night, Trumpet Blast. Hostile. Milnrow and Motunau. This should be an inter--5 ' eating race, with a preference for TOP RANK SCRATCHMERE SCAR /. REBEL CHIEF. t.4O—JUMPERS' FLAT RACE, Of £'l6o; li miles st. lb. st. lb. Mount Bea . .10 8 Free Air ..95 Revision . . 913 Starshooter ..90 Rational 3!. 911 Henry of Royal Hounslow ..99 Huntique ..90 Arcade .97 Royal Limond 9 0 Invictus . . 9 6 Chile . . ~.90 Blacksmith ..95 Night Parade .-9 0 Bracket: Blacksmith and Henry of Navarre. Blacksmith will not start in this race, but the stable will be represented by Henry of Navarre. A glance through the list reveals many likely performers over a mile and ahalf and investors have a wide choice, especially in the face of the fact that none *• has been seen out in flat races lately. The best form is probably represented bj' Mount Boa. Rational 11.. Royal Lineage, Arcade. Free Air, Henry of Navarre, Huntique and Night Parade, and the best supported may be MOUNT BOA HUNTIQUE ROYAL LINEAGE. 2.2O—GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLEGHASE, j ' Of £IOOO ;3j miles st. lb. st. lb Billy Boy , . 11 13 Membo .... 0»2 Callamart . . 10 13 Valves .... 9 0 Thurina . . . 10 11 Umtnli .... 90 Riotous ,- . . 10 11 Harrington ..90 Valpeen . . . 10 • 0 Peterette ... 9 0 Quinopal . . ,10 0 The .number of likely startere may not be as large as in previous years, and some or those accepted for cannot.be considered to have much chunce and their presence in the field mav possibly jeopardise the chances of more eligible contestants. indications are that Billy Boy, Ca.lamart, rhiuina. Riotous and Valpeen will go to the post and these alone. discarding ■ altogether the others on the card, should provide one of the best contests in the history of the race. Th°se are entitled to serious regard and .there should be a close tussle for favouritism. Billy Boy is well and his trainer stated during the week-end that he was satisfied he was a stone better horse than he was Inst year and as well as when he won the race two years ago., Callamart is very well in the handicap, but may find tnc country too solid for him. Thurina has been a much-discussed horse since the Wellington meeting. He has certainly been up find down a* far as soundness goes and hns not done any strenuous work for nearly a week. He Put up an outstanding performance in the Wellington Steeplechase when °njy ready, but on this occasion will feel the want of racing arid work. Riotous kept him com* pany for a Rood way in that rage and wor-r'-<V Valpeen out of first place' on the coneh'd'ns day. Theso two can be depended ii"ni to he in the picture throughout. Of the rprrininder, Valves would have to be given a jumper's chanc» if he had had the necessary prepnrntion, and Peterette has won twice ever the Riccortort country, but not in anything like the company this race will attract. Favouritism may rest with

BILLY BOY RTOTOUS THURINA 3.S—ENFIE-I-D STEEPLECHASE, Of £200; about 2 miles ' st. lb st. lb. Kapuns . . 10 13 Currpjontf . . 0 11 Punchostown 10 11 Night Club 9 7 Rrtional II 10 0 Willow Glen 9 6 Tll ura Lnd . .10 3 Andy .... 9 0 V/ The smallest field of the day will parade - in th" Knfield Steeplechase, but. nevertheless, n close tussle should bo stuped. On recent Hunt Club form Night Club is l'kelv to be favourite, while Punchentown, Tntira Lad, Currnjong and Kapuna have all proved cntrable fencers. Thr A e who are ukelv to attract attention are NIGHT CLUB ~ TAURA LAD PUN.CHESTOWN. 3.45 WINTER CUP HANDICAP, |i| Of £500: 1 mile et. lb. et. lb. Autopav . 9 II Palermo ..,82 Southdown ..94 Lunbohm . . . 8 - Mintage . . . 8 !8 Fracas .... 8 ' Polydora ... 8 13 Some Shamble 8 1 J-avolo . . ».8 11 Oiggleswick . 8 0 Ranelagli ... . 810 Huulbowhnti 8 0 Water Power 8 i) Fruit 8 0 Slippery 8 9 l?ed Sun . . . 8 0 Bay Tree . 8 "J Princess Dcreen 8 0» G rent Star ..88 Niggerhead . 8 0 Vnntrac ..88 L.udy Spy ... 8 0 Prince Vnl ..84 Silver bight . 8 0 Tiger Gain ..83 Boudoir . . • 8 0

The more one studies the field the more intricate the problem facing investors appears. There are at least a dozen of the 27 carded who arc entitled to dispute the honour of favouritism. A more representative collection of mile performers has not been assembled in a race in the Dominion for many years past, and a wcll-dißtributed cool is inevitable. Curie was withdrawn yesterday. The prospects of Southdown, Vintage, Davolo, Bay Tree, Water Power, Slippery. Great Star, Veutrac, Fracas, .Giggleawick, R-fl Sun, Princess Doreen and Niggerheael have to be taken in to consideration, and the trio finally selected by investors may consist of BAY TREE GREAT STAR DAVOLO. 4.3O—AVONHEAD HANDICAP, Of £'180: 7 fur. first Division st. lb. st. lb. Hunting: Jay . 913 Cottinghnm . 8 3 Sam Smith . 813 Knocklong ..81 Square Acre 8 13 First View ..81 Grand Review 8 12 Wee Musk,. . 8 0 Dollar Prince . 8 10 Moonbeam ..80 Jacobin ... 8 8 Wild Sky ..80 Vocal .... 8 S Cinders ... 8 0 Gratjipinn ..84 Bright Shade , 8 0 Star Raider . 8 8 SecoiH Division st. lb. st. lb. Red Dance .91 Timorous ..83 Synagogue . . 8 13 Weatherly ..81 Strong Light . 813 Elgindale ..81 S°a Fox 8 11 Tea Garden . 8 1 Colossian ..89 Korero ... 8 0 Mast. Reynard 8 8 Teresa . . 8 0 Osculate . 8 7 Lord Masham S 0 Windward '.89 Maroha ... 8 0 Brackets: Teresa and Wild Sky, Lord Mashnm and Cinders, Maroha and Bright Shade This race is certain to be decided in two divisions, with two win dividends on the winners of each division and place dividends on the first and second horses in each division. In the first division jpost appeal may bo made ffy KNOCKLONG SQUARE ACRE HUNTING .TAT. In the second division most confidence may be shown in SYNAGOGUE COLOSSIAN ELGINDALE.

FINAL TRACK WORK FAST TIMES RECORDED RANELAGH SHOWS GOOD FORM PRINCESS DOREEN GOES WELL [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday The final track work at Riccarton to-day provided interest for a large gathering of watchers. Th© inside of the trial grass was in use for galloping, and, in the absence of the hard frosts which have lately prevailed, the surface provided excellent going. The times were much faster than thpse of last week, and the best work-outs had to be credited to Bay Tree, Knockfin, Synagogue, Scratchmere Soar, . Red Sun, Southdown, Rajielagh, Square Acre and Princess Doreen. The sand track was also kept busy, while a few horses were restricted to trotting in the middle of the grounds. Hostile and Haere Tonu tan five furlongs in 1.5, the last half-mile in 50 l-5s Mobile finished half-a-length in front of Sam Smith after covering five furlongs in 1.3 3-5, the last half-mile in 495. Mercian Princt, and Tiger Gam were given easy work over five furlongs, taking 1.6 4-5. Red Sun again showed his track ability by rerHncr off half-a-milc in 49 *2-ss. Cleaner and Red Dance ran furlongs in 1.5. finishing together, and Niggerhead and Some Shamble went over the same ground in 1.5 3-5 Southdown and Hanlbowhne were compan ions in a similar task, taking 1.3 3-d, the last half-mile in 50s. The former was going very easily at the finish. ,_ -

Kalmuk arid Dollar Bill ' Kalmuk and Dollar Bill sprinted half-a-mile in 50s, and Cranford followed in 50 2-ss. while Giggleswick was under restraint in recording 535. Master Reynard and Tea Garden covered a similar journey in 50s. and other useful half-mile tasks were credited to Vintage. 525, Riotous, 55s Argentic, 51 2-s*. Grampian, in front of Chile in 51 l-ss. Cheap Money. 51 1-58, Windward, 51 l-ss. Cottinfflmm and Poljdorn, 50 2-ss, Willow Glen and Kevino. 51 2-ss, Great Star and Grand Review, 50s. Timorous and Korero. 50 l-ss. Lady Rene. 51 4-ss. Royal Sceptre. 50 l-ss. Synagogue led Scratchmere Scar to within a few strides of the post in a fourfurlonus effort, but they finished ft deadheat in the smart time of 48 l-ss. Royal Limond finished several lengths in front of Doiran at the end of half-a-milft in 49 3-ss. This was an' outstanding time for a hurdle horse... :| Five-furlong tasks were executed by Quietly and First View, in 1.4 3-5, Emotion and Passion Fruit, in 1.5 4-5, Autopsy in 1.6 1-5. Colossian. in 1.7 2-5. and Osculate and Chotta.'in 1.6 1-5. Knockfin and Bay Tree were sent out to gnllop half-a-mile along the back together, but the former gave trouble before reaching the mark and Bay Tree broke away two lengths in front. He was under restraint over the first two furlongs to keep back to the filly, but the latter gradually drew up after covering half the journey and the pair wers abreast in 4Ps. This T"' 08 Knockfin's time, and that of Bay Tree would be a fraction slower. Knockfin covered the first two furlongs in 23 4-5s and the first three in 3Rs. They slowed down after passing the half-mile, but the watch showed 1.2 3-5 as they reached the five-furlongs P< Hunti<iue had n slight advantage from Revision at the end of seven furlongs, run in 1.34. ' Ranelagh's Good Gallop

Ranelagh ' was always going better than Slippery in a six-furlongs gallop takinc 1.17 2-5, the last three in 38 2-ss. The former has displayed attractive form m each of his two recent gallops with Slippery. Water Power and Elgindale strode over six furlongs in 1.17 4-5, and their stablemate Vocal, who could not be persuaded to go on the grass track, was timed to run half-a-mile on the sand in 51 l-ss. Fleeting Glance and Silver Sight ran seven furlongs in 1.32 3-5. Blacksmith and Henry of Navarre - covered seven furlongs comfortably in 1.38. The former is to start in the Trial Hurdles and Henry of Navarre in the Jumpers' Flat. Both horses will be ridden by A. McDonald. Esteem covered n mile in 1.48. Princess Doreen ran the first, three furlongs of a mile gallop in 3Gs, the half-mile in 49 4-5s and the full journey in 1.43 2-5. This filly may spring a surprise at the meeting. Friday Night and Rona Bay sprinted three furlongs down the straight in 35 l-ss, the latter finishing slightly in front. Pleasant Memory (J. Veevers) set-oft to negotiate a round of hurdles, but fell at the second. She was soon remounted and completed her tusk in a pleasing manner. , , Night Parade (H. Turner) jumped four hurdles satisfactorily. Transact (S. Wright) dashed over two hurdles well. Currajong (M, Nicol) negotiated of the bruoh schooling fences safely.

A Spectacular Display x ! Night Club (R. Dealp) and Royal Buck (N Trillol gave a spectacular display over a' round of schooling fences. Royal Buck had too roltch pace over the first three fences, but Night Club was up with him at the conclusion of the work. Both- are finished jumpers and should race prominently during the week. Royal Duck is to have his first race in .the Hunt, Cup on Thursday and will be ridden by Inllo. Curie unfortunately did not show any improvement over tho week-end, and, although there was every possibility that the trouble might pass off to allow him to race later in the week, his trainer to-day decided not to take any risks with him, but to return home with him. Curie was vvitbdrawn from the Winter Cup at 2.10 p.m. to-day. . „ . <• Thurina was restricted to walking exercise again to-day. His lameness has not passed oft, nor has it been located satisfactorily. However, it is intended to start him to-morrow unless tho trouble becomes worse overnight, lie has not done any solid work for the past week,i but is in reasonably advanced order, and, although his prospects would have b<en brighter had lie enjoyed an uninterrupted preparation since he raced so well in the Wellington Steeplechase, he can stijjl be expected to give a good performance." .Davolo was not workeil to-day owing to siNjering hum a cold. It is not thought that the cold wyl affect him seriously as he has got through « solid preparation and tho loss of a gallop should not jeopardise his chance in";, to-morrow's engagement. I

CONSTANT SUN SCRATCHED [BY TKIiEORAPH —PRESS 'ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHTJRCH, Monday Constant Sun was scratched for the Trial Hurdles at three o'clock tjiis afternoon.