RICCARTON FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23425, 15 August 1939, Page 7

RICCARTON FORM

FEAT OF PADISHAH JUMPING FIELDS VERY WEAK SOUND EFFORT BY CHARADE BY ARCnER The scarcity of jumpers was emphasised by the small fields in the steeplechases and the hurdle races at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting at Riccarton last week and weakness in this direction was tho only disappointing feature of an otherwiso successful gathering. The fields of four in the Sydenham Hurdles, of £6OO, and three in the Lincoln Steeplechase, of £7OO, on the final day, adversely affected tho totalisator turnover, and it is safe to say that tho increase of £4503 10s in the investments for the meeting would have been much more substantial only for these weak fields. The position as regards jumpers at present is far from satisfactory and there is nothing to indicato that it. is likely to be any better in the immediate future. This is unfortunate in view of the fact that the Great Northerns at Ellerslie, the Wellington Steeplechase and Winter Hurdles at Trentham, and the Grand Nationals at Piccarton, have become 6uch popular features of New Zealand racing. However, if they are to retain their popularity with tho public the decline in the quality and numerical strength of tho jumpers will have to bo arrested. Effect of High-weight Races One factpr in this decline has been tho substitution bj' some clubs of highweight handicaps for jumping races. Tho effect of this is now being felt and it is up to clubs to cater as well as possible for jumpers, especially as they play such a great part in our winter racing. Unless owners are given the right encouragement it is scarcely likely they will go in for jumpers, among whom wistage is high, in preference to llat races, and it is to be hoped that this will be forthcoming. • The highlight of tho racing at Piccarton was the notable feat registered by Padishah in winning tho Grand National double, which had not been accomplished hitherto. Tho manner in which ho won his races left no doubt as to the class of Padishah and I feel sure that if he were given a chance overseas and produced fit he would add further lustre to his record. No other winner of either the Grand National Steeplechase or Hurdles has better form on the flat than Padishah, and, as he is a genuine stayer and a clever jumper, ho is entitled to bo classed as the best that has won either event. Favourably Placed One aspect of the National victories of Padishah that.may be mentioned is that for a horse of his class on tho ; flat he was favourably/ placed as regards weight. Seven months before he won the Grand National Hurdles for tho first time in 1938 he won the Wellington Cup, li miles, with 7.9, in 2.31, and yob ho got in with 10!5, against the 12.1 of tho top-weight, Jolly Beggar. On the flat . Jolly Beggar was greatly inferiorto Padishah and the' substantial difference tliat was made between them seemed favourable treat- : ment indeed for a horse with tho abil-' ity of the latter. Again this year Padishah got in well with 11.5 in i' the Grand National Steeplechase, and 11.7 in the Hurdles, receiving 51b. • from Erination in one and lib. from Charade in the other, especially after winning the Metropolitan Handicap with 8.8. Neither of the pair would have had any chance with him over a journey on the flat and because of the fact that he is a great stayer and jumper they were certainly unfavourably placed to hold their own with him in the Nationals. If horses with credentials on the flat such as he possessed, are to be handicapped in the lenient- manner in which he was treated it may have the effect of thinning out ' the fields for the Nationals. Unfortunately not many of his class go to jumping, but the policy, of discounting in the weights good horses on the flat when their attention is turned to fencing does not appear a wise one. Weighting of Record Reign In the past horses with good form on the flat have usually been treated with much respect, and tho case of Record Reign, winner of the Grand National Hurdles in 1900, is one that may bo cited as interesting. Record Reign, whoso form on the flat was good without being up to the standard of that of Padishah, was weighted at 12.12 in the Maiden Hurdles on tho first day and 12,5 in tho Grand National Hurdles. The Maiden Hurdles proved easy for him, and he also won the Grand National Hurdles in spite of a penalty of 71b., which brought v his weight to 12 12. The performance of Charade in carrying top-weight. 11.8, into third place behind Padishah and Aussie Pa in tho Grand National Hurdles, stamped her as the best hurdler of her sex that has raced in the Dominion for a long time. Charade was tho first to tako tho measure of the pacemaker, King Rey, and it was only in the run from the last fence that she surrendered, the lead after Being joined by Padishah at the homo turn. Charade has now reached a position in the weights where she will not find it easy to win, but there is no doubt about, her being really good. A middle distance handicap where the class is not too strong may not bo beyond her. Performances oI King Rey The fact that ho pulled hard and did not jump with much confidence militated against the chance of King Roy in the Grand National Hurdles, and, although ho finished fourth, he was beaten when Charade ran past him approaching tho home turn. With a change, of rider over a shorter journey on the final day, when lie met Aussie Pa on 101b. better terms, King Hey had no difficulty in winning the fourhorse Sydenham Hurdles, in which ho jumped with more confidence than ever previously. Further, good efforts as a hurdler may be expected from King Rey, but the chances are that lie will return to flat racing for tho spring meetings. _ . As it was only his third start over fences, Aussie Pa was responsible for a slashing performance in running second jn the (Jrand National Hurdles, and he was unfortunate to strike ono as good as Padishah. The most pleasing feature of his performance was the courageous manner in which ho fought on at tho finish, and as a result ho was mado a, pronounced favourite 'for, tho Sydenham Hurdles on tho final' day. A rise of 131b., together with a couple of very bad jumps, ono at the first fence, steadied him greatly, and he was unable to trouble' King Roy, besides just beating King Robe for second. Aussie Pa should benefit by the experience ho gained at the meeting and he should bo profitable if raced over hurdles at tho spring and summer meetings.