EARLY FAVOURITES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26472, 28 May 1947, Page 8

EARLY FAVOURITES

GREAT NORTHERN HURDLES FOUR PROSPECTS REVIEWED Special to the Daily Times AUCKLAND, May 27. Present indications are that Brookby Song, Air Port, Spirillum and Gay Fort will be among the favourites for the Great Northern Hurdles, of £2500, two miles and a-half, the principal event on the opening day of the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. However, there is a doubt .regarding Gay Fort, who was tender "yesterday. A good field of 24 horses is engaged, and an excellent contest appears to be in prospect. Top Weight’s Chances Having distinguished himself as a jumper both over hurdles and country, the six-year-old Brookby Song has earned his position as top-weight with 11.5. After winning the Pakuranga Hunt Cup in August, his fourth victory in.succession, Brookby Song was rested and did not resume racing until he appeared in the Brighton Hurdles, of two miles, on April 5, when he carried 11.2 and was defeated by half a length by Town Survey (11.7). The race improved him, and three days later he carried 11.'6 and scored easily from Representative (10.12) in the Buckland Hurdles, of two miles. Brookby Song next appeared in the Waikato Steeplechase, of three miles, and ran second with 11.8 to Gay Fort, to whom he was conceding 231 b. Meantime, he has schooled well both over hurdles and country, and he should strip one of the fittest horses in the field. Gay Fort Considered On figures, Brookby Song does not come in well compared with Gay Fort, who will meet him on 51b better terms on Saturday, than over the country at Te Rapa, Gay Fort being in at 9.5 and in receipt of 281 b. Gay Fort is more distinguished as a steeplechaser than as a hurdler, but this may be his golden opportunity to prove than he is relatively as good over the smaller fences. Fourth Last Year Air Port was having only his third start as a hurdler when he finished fourth with 10.9 in the Great Northern Hurdles last year. He has won twice since then, the Waikato Hurdles with 10.10 in May being his latest success. The performance was characterised by a strong finishing run, which showed that Air Port is in fine form. He is now a more seasoned jumper than he was last year, and, although the feat of winning the Great Northern Hurdles with 11.0 is one that is not often completed, Air Port may have the necessary class to accomplish it. Spirillum a Stayer The six-year-old Spirillum has not had the best of luck during his career, having had a couple of setbacks through injury. He is, however, a solid staying hurdler who appeals as a good type for a race like the Great Northern. As might be expected with the amount of St. Simon blood he possesses, he is closely inbred to Limond. Spirillum stays well and his admirers anticipate that he will be running on strongly when many others are tiring. Spirillum is handily placed with 10.3. He has won twice this season, having scored in the Waiwera Hurdles, of two mile's, in January with 9.4, and in the Onewhero Hurdles, of one mile, seven furlongs and 80 yards, on May 3 with 9.13. Besides Gay Fort, there are quite a few possibilities in the division between 10.0 and 9.0, and these include Betterman, Kilmanagh, Foxstar and Representative.