SURVEY OF FORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 22

SURVEY OF FORM

WINTER SHOW AND RAGING CARNIVAL

THE OTAGO STEEPLECHASE TRISOX THE PROBABLE FAVOURITE By Sentinel Cross-country racing at Wingatui has proved a second-to-none attraction in the annual round of sport provided by the Dunedin Jockey Club, and this year’s programme will not only maintain the popularity of the sport, but will also go a long way towards creating an even greater magnetism for sportsmen. The field for the Otago Steeplechase is not numerically strong, but four of the six engaged hold winning form over fences. The interest and spectacular qualities of a race may be equally supplied by a small field as by a big one. In fact a match over country may provide a greater thrill if a dozen went to the post. Trisox, who occupies pride of place at the head of the field, has won twice this season out of three starts. In the Great Western Steeplechase the Panmure gelding ran off. He won the Winton Steeplechase in February, and winning form at that stage suggests that by now he should be lacking in racing condition. He followed his miss at Riverton by winning the Autumn Steeplechase with 11.2; Sunward (9.8) fell when running in the same race. Trisox also displayed good form last season by winning four times, and finishing twice in a place out of nine starts. His most important win was in the Wingatui Steeplechase, and he was fourth with 9.2 in the Wellington Steeplechase to Santoft 9.0, Pahu 9.2, and Tudor 12.0; and third with 9.2 to Burglar 9.0, All Irish 9.7 in the July Steeplechase. It will be seen that Trisox is a thoroughly experienced horse over fences, and, with V. Langford in the saddle, must be a strong candidate.

Punchestown is getting on in years, but he made a fair start in his race at Timaru, as he finished well, and was up with the field for over two miles. The race was the first since the Grand National meeting of 1936, and should help to bring him along in racing condition, Punchestown was second to Valpeen in the Grand National Steeplechase of 1935, and second to Hounslow in the Grand National Hurdles. Punchestown’s winning form includes an Enfield Steeplechase and a Craigmore Steeplechase. Punchestown’s chance depends on his racing condition, and if this is satisfactory, he will lend much interest to the race.

Turi Steeplechase run in March at the Birchwood Hunt meeting. Last season Black Banner started eleven times and scored four wins and four places. He won the Waiau Steeples and Autumn Steeples at Riverton, the Otautau Steeplechase with 10.6, beating Trisox 10.12 by three lengths, and the Teschemaker Steeplechase with 11.7 from Shillelagh Wood 10.11. Here again is a well experienced steeplechaser who must, on form, hold a good chance, as he has given weight and a beating to Shillelagh Wood and Trisox. Black Banner 10.4 was second in the Otago Steeplechase to Noctumus 10.0, with Shillelagh 9.12 third, and Trisox 10.4 unplaced. Trisox, it may be recalled, won the Wingatui Steeplechase with 10.1, beating Noctumus 11.0 and Sautoft 10.0, v/ith Black Banner 10.10 fourth. Noctumus afterwards won the Grand National Steeplechase, and Santoft the Wellington Steeplechase. Next on the list is Signaller, who has disnlayed by winning form over hurdles and on the flat that he is not deficient in pace. Last season Signaller won the Sputhland Hurdles, and the Otago Hurdles for the second time, but appeared to have trained off when taken up to the Wellington winter meeting. Since then he has been treated to a spell, and southern reports state that the Balboa gelding is doing good work and schooling well. Signaller acts well in soft going, and this, in addition to form on the flat and over hurdles, presents him in the light of a promising sort to make good over fences.

.Black Banner has had one race this season. He was unplaced in the

Sunward was a disappointment on the flat, but made good when tried over the hurdles. He won the June Hurdles at Wingatui in 1935, and the Hinds Hurdles at Ashburton. The following season his only win came in the Sea View Hurdles at the Otago Hunt meeting. Last season Sunward put up two placed performances over hurdles out of five starts, and some unplaced displays over fences. This season Sunward won the Enfield Steeplechase with 9.2 in 3min 55 2-ssec from Arctic Star 10.3, Kelly the Crow 9.10, Lycidas 9.1, and Night Wind 9.0. He was second to Tangled 10.10 in the Hunt Cup with 10.1, beaten a length in smin 17sec, and was third to Tangled and Arctic Star in the Aylesbury Steeples. He was unplaced at Riverton, and then came his second to Flashlight at Timaru, when giving away 91b. On the second day Sunward fell at the first fence. Sunward has only a light weight, and, with its assistance, should make the top-weights carry their burden. The final member of the field is Amy Johnson, who has yet to face the fences in public. Her last win on the flat was in the Southland Handicap, run last season, and a factor in her favour consists in her being got by Tractor, who holds honours as a sire of jumpers.

At present it seems as if Trisox will start favourite, and a satisfactory school from Signaller would bring him into favour.