SEASON’S BRIGHT PROSPECTS

Southland Times, Issue 23406, 13 January 1938, Page 10

SEASON’S BRIGHT PROSPECTS

W. E. Hazlett’s Strong Trio

GOOD RECOVERY MADE BY TRISOX The approach of the jumping season in Southland is indicated by the appearance of the weights for the Forde Memorial Steeplechase on the Wairio Club’s card on January 22. The field is quite a useful one and suggests that there will be several new recruits to the jumping ranks during the year. Apart from those listed to race at Wairio several other ’chasers have been recommissioned in view of jumping events ahead. Dunmure has done a good deal of hacking about at South Hillend and was given a run at the non-totalizator meeting at Cattle Flat. The Panmure gelding has been off the scene for some time and high hopes are held of him regaining his best form. Bandy Boa in the same stable has had rather _ a chequered career as a jumper but invariably she can be relied on to be m a place. F. Langford expects to take up Trisox and Gay Boa this week. Trisox has completely recovered from the injuries he sustained at the National meeting last August but it is unlikely that much will be asked of him until later in the year as he is best suited by winter conditions. Trisox won four races and was twice placed in nine starts last season, when he raced right up to the good opinion his trainer has frequently expressed of him. He is one who looks like winning an important steeplechase this winter. GAY BOA’S PROSPECTS

Gay Boa was one of the finds of the novices produced last season, and although he won only one race it was a good field he beat at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting. The Balboa gelding looked like playing a big part in the minor events at last years National meeting, but he was injured at Trentham in July and had to be put aside. In the past he has not carried much condition but he has done particularly well during his recent spell and is in excellent shape to begin a preparation. Second in last year’s Grand National Steeplechase to Noctumus, Shillelagh Wood promises to be one of the stars of the new jumping season in Southland. The Woodend mare is to link up with J. Langford’s team again and it is likely that she will be well forward to contest the Great Western at Easter, a race in which she looked like playing a big part last season but went amiss on the eve-of the meeting. Shillelagh Wood’s Grand National placing will be a great recommendation in her engagements from now on. P. Boyle has a big team in work at Heddon Bush and the number includes, Black Banner, Ballybrit, Last Post, British Star as well as some novices. Last Post is likely to be further persevered with on the flat before a jumping career is planned for him as he has shown plenty of ability to gallop. Black Banner was one of the most improved jumpers of last winter when he won four races and was four times second, in a strenuous season’s racing. He has only to race U P to this form to play a big part in leading jumping events this season. LIKELY TRIO

W. E. Hazlett will have a strong trio in Hunting Go, Burwood and Eastern Chief to represent him. Hunting Go has been taxen along quietly and should be at the top of his form when the more important events come up for decision. Very few horses have taken to the jumping business as kindly as the big Hunting Song gelding and although his first season was rather a strenuous one he strips magnificently at the present time. Burwood, who is being let un at present, displayed great promise in the hunting fields, and his good record as a hurdler, may be bettered when he tackles the big timber. Eastern Chief has attracted attention in private as one who will go a long way in the jumping business. Very few newcomers have shown anything like the same ability over country as has the Chief Ruler gelding.

At Riverton J. Thistleton has Possum in work, and G. Bain will have Glenmure and Royston to represent him. Possum has quite a good record over country and was decidedly unlucky in not winning a race last Easter. Glenmure has not done a great deal of racing but the Panmure mare has shown fair form. Royston is a reliable jumper but his inability to stay on has been his greatest difficulty to date, although it was evident last season that he had improved in this direction. It is also likely that Vitaphone, in J. Thistleton’s team, will be raced across country. H. Morton has Jollyanna and Pandine in forward order and the former is one likely to give a good account of herself at Wairio. At point-to-point meetings last winter she created a good impression in winning a sequence of these, and as a six-year-old now appears ready to perform well with the colours up. She is a half-sister by Panmure to a fine ’chaser of a season or two ago in Ngahue.

While there are also others in work in various parts of the province there is every reason to believe that the prospects of a successful steeplechasing season are bright.