JUMPERS AT MANAWATU

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 7

JUMPERS AT MANAWATU

THE FORM REVIEWED (Special) WELLINGTON, July 8. The absence of The Dozer from the Grand National entries was due to his nomination either having gone astray in transit or arriving too late. His owner-trainer, H. E. Gray, stated that the entry was posted from Auckland early last week. All the runners in the Metropolitan Steeplechase at Awapuni except The Dozer are engaged in the Grand National Steeplechase. Red Glare, the winner, made hacks of his opponents. He jumped boldly throughout, and the dry going enabled him to exploit his speed, of which he has a greater measure than the majority of cross-coun-try horses. Through doing most of his racing in moderate class, he has reached a difficult mark in the weights, and at Hawke’s Bay was weighted within ,11b of Master Meruit.

Indian Sign and Abbey Lu would not appeal as prospective Grand National winners on Saturday’s displays. Kilmanagh experienced the first fall of her career two fences from home on Saturday. Her rider lost an iron a round from home and was unable to give the mare full assistance over the final circuit. Her jumping has not been as consistent this year as it was 12 months ago, when, as a novice, she got round the Riccarton country successfully in the Grand National and Lincoln Steeplechases. Kilmanagh’s prospects are best when the going is at its worst, and she did not get these conditions at Manawatu. The Dozer was evidently not as forward as he looked. He was allowed to drill on the first round and a-half, and when his rider got to work on him with about six furlongs to run he could make little impression on those in front of him. Hunto’s debut as a steeplechaser was far from auspicious. He was tiring when he fell at the sod wall six furlongs from home. He cut a leg, but his trainer considers that the injury

will not keep him out of action for more than a week. Hunto has. been carrying big weights, and, being a nine-year-old. he is finding it difficult to hold his own with his younger opponents, to most of whom he is conceding weight. . Of the 11 Grand National Hurdles candidates who'raced at Awapuni, Blue Title was regarded as the best prospect for Riccarton after his second in the Great Northern Hurdles and-his u'in in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. His failure to give the 11-year-old Peach King 201 b in the County Hurdles on Saturday was a surprise to his supporters. . ■ Blue Title is a sluggish galloper, and Midwood was at work on him a long way from home. He ran past the tiring horses in the straight, but he had no chance of reaching Peach King. Blue Title is in solid condition at present, and his sound jumping and great stamina will be real assets to him over the longer distance of the Grand National Hurdles next month. Hasten, having his fourth start since he resumed racing after a spell, ran another fair race on Saturday to finish third. The outing would be beneficial to his condition, and he may soon stage a return to winning form. He was second, three-quarters of a length from Town Survey, in the Grand National Hurdles two years ago. The form of Lunaria was a little disappointing. He was in fourth place from the half-mile to the straight, but could not hold his position. Lunaria, had not raced for a month, and it, is ptobable that he will do better with the benefit of Saturday’s outing.