PADISHAH EXPECTED TO WIN BOTH NATIONALS

Southland Times, Issue 23888, 5 August 1939, Page 10

PADISHAH EXPECTED TO WIN BOTH NATIONALS

Majority Favoured In Winter Cup

By

NORMAN PIERCE

Will Padishah win the Grand National double, the steeplechase on Tuesday and the hurdles on Thursday? This is probably the most discussed question concerning next week s Grand National meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club. Padishah won the Grand National Hurdles last August when still a novice hurdler and this year it is his owner’s firm intention to attempt the double with him. No horse has yet won the National double in any one year, although many fine jumpers down through the years have attempted it. To win a double such as the National is not an impossibility. Dummy and Haydn won each race, but in different years. The nearest approach to the double being completed was in 1930 when Aurora Borealis won the steeplechase and finished second to Carinthia in the hurdles. Last year Clarion Call won the steeplechase and finished third in the hurdles. Padishah’s success in the Homeby Steeplechase on Saturday has brought him into strong favour for the National Steeplechase, while his claims for the hurdle race appear just as bright. If the Grand National double is to be won in any one year, it may be some time before a horse with the same credentials as Padishah is produced again. His owner, Mr J. A. Hennah, who trains the half-brother to Cuddle, is well known as a keen judge, and as he favours his horse’s chance of annexing the double, it is an opinion worth respecting.

Padishah is probably the most discussed horse in the country today, as he was 12 months ago. When he won the Homeby Steeplechase he had started only once previously in a steeplechase and gave a poor showing, but on Saturday he won in brilliant style. His great stamina and superior speed—he won the Wellington Cup and the Metropolitan Handicap—make him a very hard horse to beat, now that he has shown that he can master the country. The fact that Padishah is to be ridden by a gentleman or amateur rider, Mr G. G. Beatson, may be held to prejudice his chance, but good judges have declared that Mr Beatson is as capable as most professionals. This he showed on Saturday. It is rather an interesting fact that only once previously has a National winner been ridden by an amateur. This was the first Grand National decided, in 1876, when Royalty was ridden by a Mr Martelli, of Timaru. On Tuesday Mr Beatson will attempt to emulate the feat of 1876. WHAT OF SURVOY? Not a great deal has. been heard of Survoy, as he has not raced since the Wellington meeting. This will not be held against him as he has been produced in great order to win the Great Northern Steeplechase and the Wellington Steeplechase. Survoy is essentially a stayer and only Padishah in this field would match him for speed. While Survoy has not won over Riccarton country he has shaped well in the schooling he has done and the course should not trouble him on race day. Eighteen months ago Survoy won his first steeplechase at Otautau, but in his next start fell in the Great Western at Riverton. Last Easter he was again raced at Riverton, but on the flat won the Champion Hack Handicap. He went on to win two' hurdle races before starting in the Great Northern and Wellington Steeplechases, which he also won, and a success in the National Steeplechase would see him complete the most difficult jumping treble of the year. COTTINGHAM IMPROVED Cottingham, who won the National Hurdles a couple of years back, was a useful second to Padishah last Saturday but Padishah should beat him again. Slayer was a fair third and the longer National journey will suit him better than most while a heavy track will not upset his chance. There was a lot of merit in his Trentham double. The horse likely to provide most opposition to the favourites is Erination, a great weight carrier and a genuine stayer. Erination has mixed his racing in recent weeks but is just as adept over country as over hurdles. At Trentham he showed that he was not far from his best in finishing fourth in the Winter Hurdles when carrying 11.6. A jumper of Erination’s class must always be considered. The others do not appear to have much chance and the favourites are entitled to be: Padishah, Survoy, Erination. NATIONAL HURDLES Aussie Ra, who has now won in his only two appearances as a hurdler, has come into strong favour for the National Hurdles, as a result of his win at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. His ability on the flat is not open to question as he finished third in last year’s Wellington Cup to Defaulter and The Sandwichman and as he has been thoroughly schooled, and won really well on Saturday, he is just the type to make a great race of the National. There appears little doubt that he will stay. Padishah and Survoy both have excellent credentials and if they come through their steeplechase engagement without harm, they can also be relied

on to show up. The top-weight. Charade, is set rather a difficult task as in 50 contests for the National Hurdles a mare has yet to be returned the winner. Charade has not raced since she won the Northern Hurdles in brilliant fashion, and in spite of the record against mares in this race, she will have a big following. She is a brilliant jumper but under her big impost of 11.8 she is set no easy task. King Rey lost prestige by his poor showing at the Christchurch Hunt meeting but to go back to Trentham form he is entitled to be one of the favourites. There may have been some reason for his failure on Saturday as he has demonstrated that he is a splendid jumper and retains all his speed on the flat. Ellanui finished second to Curie in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham and as he is an improving young jumper he may go one better. Silk Sox has shown fair form at times while Aussie Ra may finish ahead of Travenna and Recollection again over the longer journey. Erination’s solidness has always be respected. Agog failed badly at Ellerslie and of the others Disturbed and Silk Sox are as likely as any. Vantoon is solid but lacks brilliance and this class may be above Dividend as yet. Those in most favour at this stage are: Padishah, Aussie Ra and King Rey. WINTER CUP The Winter Cup will set the usual difficult problem for investors. The final acceptance has seen a number of those at the bottom of the weights drop out but practically all the early favourites hold their positions. Nightcalm’s success on Saturday may result in the Riccarton candidate being sent out favourite on the day. His trainer is of the opinion that the race last week will have improved him and as he is well up to weight his performance at the Hunt meeting can be regarded as an excellent Cup trial. He has shown his ability to run out a mile by his second to Trench Fight in the Jockey Club Handicap. In Tuesday’s race he has 9.4 but the manner in which he won over six furlongs at Wingatui with 9.7, when conceding 181 b to Fleet Street, was a convincing effort. There is good reason that Nightcalm should be one of the Cup favourites. Haughty Winner’s return to form by his second to Nightcalm will bring him into discussions. At his best he represents good class but Nightcalm appears to hold him safely. Alma’s consistency has to be respected. In finishing third last Saturday she had a lot of ground to make up and as at Trentham, when she finished second to Jack Tar, she was doing her best work at the finish. Up to a mile she will hold her own with the best and at the present she is as well as ever she has been.

Catalogue did not show up last Saturday but he is a better’ horse than this form makes him out to be. Over a mile he has few superiors and a big improvement may be expected in his display on Tuesday. Majority is one who appeals greatly. He is a champion under weight as he showed when he won at Trentham on a heavy track. On this occasion he gave nothing else a chance. Spanish Lad will not be condemned for his defeat last week as he drew an outside position and had a lot of ground to make up. His brilliance at the barrier will stand to him while he also stays well. He looks certain to win a race at the meeting. Fleet Street does not appeal over a mile, but his chance is being considered in some quarters. There is no reason why he should not stay. Of the others Nightdress, Settlement, Dungarven, Dictate and Mishna are the most likely. The best backed may be: Nightcalm, Majority, Ned Cuttie and Alina.