CROSS-COUNTRY RACING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 5

CROSS-COUNTRY RACING

SPORTING

Great Western Steeples Field

STRONG HAZLETT BRACKET

By the Sporting Editor

Except for the Cup, the event that arouses the greatest interest at the Riverton meeting is the Great Western Steeplechase, another race for which will be run on Saturday. The race must be one of the few big jumping events in the Dominion in which two horses who have finished a dead-heat have run off to decide the winner. That occurred in 1897, when Peter Simple and Nimblefoot could not be separated by the judge. In the run-off Nimblefoot fell, leaving Peter Simple to finish alone. Peter Simple won the race no fewer than three times. The winners of the first two races run.—Waiau in 1888 and Derby in 1889, each carried 12.10, the heaviest weight ever carried by a winner. Other horses who have succeeded with 12 stone or over are Pipi 12.7, Manazona 12.2, Slayer 12.1, Peter Simple .12.0, and Noko 1&0. Horses owned by Mr L. C. Hazlett or his nephews, W. E. and the late J. S. Hazlett, have been successful on many occasions, among them being, St. Kooringa, Pamplona (twice), Top Gear, Greenstone, Spendthrift (twice), Slayer, Noko, and Lisheen, last season’s winner. Of the field of 12 due to go to the post on Saturday, four will carry the colours of Mr W. E. Hazlett—Kassai, Double Light, Waihopi, and Gay Music, and with these horses engaged he has bright prospects of adding to the family record. '