STEEPLECHASERS BACK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26355, 9 January 1947, Page 7

STEEPLECHASERS BACK

HAZLETT TEAM AT INVERCARGILL (Special) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 8. With the opening of the 1947 Southland steeplechase season at Wlnton on February 1, attention will be focussed on. the training of jumpers in the next few weeks. Judged by the number of steeplechasers in work at the present time, however, the prospects for early events are not bright. Unless Wlngatui stables are more strongly represented than usual, there seems little material In Southland to draiv on. The Hazlett stable Is strongly represented at present, while F. J. Boyle can always be relied on to provide some useful talent. Minority is likely to be put to steeplechasing, while other hurdlers in Royal Writ, Invulnerable. Banco; Hangover, and Court Dress will probably be tried in this department. Filibeg’s forward showing among the Southland hurdlers makes him a bright prospect In early steeplechase contests, particularly over the Winton country. The Hazlett stable promises to be strongly represented in the jumping line this season. Kassai, French Knight and Aidis Lamp, all four-year-olds, represent the younger brigade in the stable, while Bonnie Simper, True Range, Lisheen, King Canute, and Sir Percy are back in work at Invercargill; Noko and Anglo French are working at Riverton; and Double Light and Pocket Flash are doing preliminary work on a country track. French Knight, a younger brother to Anglo French, and a half-brother to Colonel French, was a winner over hurdles at the Southland meeting after being narrowly beaten by his stablemate Kassai on the first day. French Knight’s schooling before the meeting had been of a high order and like other members of this family, he is a capable fencer. Kassai’s forward showing pointed to him carrying on with the business, and as he stays well, he is the type to race well over country. Both Kassai and French Knight will probably contest the Winton Steeplechase in February. Aidis Lamp, who has recently been placed on the flat, has shown some ability in the schooling he has done, and he is the type to develop useful jumping form. Lisheen Again

Lisheen, who was recommissioned a short time back, is carrying more condition than usual. His form last season was of a high order, when he won seven races and was eight times placed. He won in his first attempt over country—at the Birchwood meeting in March last —but his form fell away in later attempts and his best effort was a fourth in the Southland Steeplechase. At his best Lisheen is a fine jumper and his pace on the flat gives him a big advantage in a jumping field. Sir Percy has not raced since he contested the Wellington Steeplechase in July, 1945. As a five-year-old that season he was one of the best steeplechasers in New Zealand, winning four races and being three times placed in 10 starts. His successes that year included the Riverton Steeplechase, the Southland Steeplechase, and the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie. Bonnie Simper showed useful form In hunters’ events last season while King Canute showed promise In the little racing he did over hurdles. He is a five-year-old Siegfried geldlhg from Surge and thus a half-brother to Kassai. Pocket Flash raced only once last season but the previous year, as a five-year-old. the Man's Pal gelding compiled a useful record as a hurdler. Double Light is another who has not raced for some time, but he has some useful placed form over country. Veteran Pair Noko and Anglo French, both of which have been troubled with unsoundness at different times, will be given the benefit of beach work at Riverton. Noko, who is now in his ninth year, appeared only once last season—at the Birchwood Hunt meeting—while the last occasion that he was a winner was in the 1944 Riverton Steeplechase. The last occasion that Anglo French raced was in the 1943 Homeby Steeplechase when he carried 11.7 and finished second to Kanui Te Pai. Anglo French is also in his ninth year. Ballyaggan is an active worker at Riverton. He has done little racing in the last two years and his last appearance was in the Manawatu Hunt Cup Steeplechase in July, 1945. The Irish Lancer gelding is now in his tenth year.