LIKELY CLAIMANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 5

LIKELY CLAIMANTS

GREAT NORTHERN DOUBLE BROOKBY SONG FANCIED Special to the Daily Times i AUCKLAND, May 28. In past years the running in the Great Northern Hurdles on the first day has often provided a guide to prospects in the Great Northern Steeplechase, of four miles, on the second day of the Auckland Racing Club's winter meeting, which this year will be Monday. No fewer than six of the candidates for the steeplechase are in the hurdles, and these are Brookby Song, Representative, Moderate, Kilmanagh, Gay Fort and Dinkum Pal.

The feat of winning the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase double in the same year is not often accomplished, although it has been achieved by Liberator, El Gallo (twice), Lochella and Sir Roseberry. Nevertheless, Sir Roscberry in 1525 was the last to accomplish the difficult feat, and whether any of the aspirants for the double honour this year has the class to succeed remains to be seen. The one most likely among the six may be Brookby Song, the top-weight in both races, who has 11.9 in the steeplechase. It takes a very good one to score with that weight over the long, tiring journey three times round the hill.

Brookby Song has a remarkable record since he commenced racing two years ago, and after one unsuccessful outing on the fiat he had his attention turned to jumping, and was an immediate success. In all, Brookby Song has had 14 starts over fences for eight firsts and four seconds. There may be some' who are more spectacular than Brookby Song, but there are few more sure and clever. Gay Fort looks like being one of the hardest to beat, but Brookby Song may be capable of turning the tables on him after the Waikato meeting. South Island Candidates There are a couple of other South Island horses in the field besides Gay Fort, and these are Page’s Raid and Spanish Main Page’s Raid is an aged gelding by Night Raid, sire of Phar Lap and Nightmarch, from Royal ,Coat, and has won three steeplechases in succession at Riccarlon early in the current season. After falling two fences from home in the Otago Hunt Cup at Wingatui in September, Page’s Raid was rested, and did not reappear until February. Upon his return to racing he did not take long to strike form, and at his fourth start this year he carried 10.12 and won the Great Western Steeplechase of three miles. Spanish Main did not impress when he was here last year, but was second to Dumbo in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton in August, and therefore must be given a chance, especially when an experienced trainer like F. Holmes considers him worth bringing all the way from Christchurch. Opportunities Limited

An interesting candidate is Town Survey. a first-class hurdler, whose opportunities at steeplechasing have been limited. Actually he has contested only five steeplechases, and has run two seconds. Town Survey was a moderate fourth with 11.0 in the Great Northern Steeplechase last year, and this year he has 11.4. He was in fine form at Ellerslie in April, when he carried 11.7 and won the Brighton Hurdles of two miles by half a length from Brookby Song. Mr W. S. Goosman’s other horse, Representative, finished fourth in the Waikato Steeplechase, and on that occasion jumped carefully and drifted a long way back. Kilmanagh's Recent Form Fresh from her victories with 9.13 in the Egmont Steeplechase (dead-heat for first) and with 10.6 in the Adamson Steeplechase at Hawera recently, Kilmanagh appears handily placed with 10.2. She is a genuine mare, who stays solidly and jumps well, and is likely to give a good account of herself over the long journey. Good Armour was a crack hurdler two years ago, winning the Great Northern Hurdles and the Winter Hurdles, and has only recently resumed racing after a long spell. Whether he will be seasoned enough for such a difficult race just at present mav be doubtful. At his best he Is a grand stayer, who excels in heavy going, and the right kind to succeed at steeplechasing.