BIG FIELDS AT ADDINGTON

Southland Times, Issue 23888, 5 August 1939, Page 11

BIG FIELDS AT ADDINGTON

National Carnival To Open SOLID SUPPORT FOR FINE ART COLONEL GRATTAN IS SPRINT SELECTION (From Our Own Reporter) CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. The Grand National carnival, made up of three days’ racing and three days’ trotting, will open at Addington tomorrow, when big fields will contest the majority of events. The tracks at Addington in recent weeks have prevented trainers from giving their horses as much work as desired, but the going promises to be firm, if on the dead side. The chief event on tomorrow’s card is the August Handicap for which Fine Art is a firm favourite, while others in demand will be Plutus and Gallant Knight. The win-and-place system of betting will operate and the first race will start at 11.30 a.m. Fine Art has rarely run a bad race at Addington and as he has come through a sound preparation, the final trials of which were given at Oamaru, he will be a popular choice. The Jack Potts pacer will lack nothing on the score of condition. On a heavy track War Buoy would be a possibility and he appears to hold the others on the front line safely. Renown has done good work while Gallant Knight has given the impression that he is capable of improving on his present mark. Plutus is nicely placed on 24yds and he may provide most opposition. King s Warrior is not out of it from 48yds back but the favourites may be Fine Art, Plutus and Gallant Knight.

SPRINT FIELD Several of those in the International Handicap are engaged earlier in the day but Colonel Grattan, off the front line, is almost certain to have a big following. In recent starts he has shown himself to be well on the way to Cup company and this race, should be another stepping stone. King s Play would only require to hit his hopples correctly to make a great race of it as there are few more capable pacers in commission. Icevus is a brilliant sprinter at his best and Blair Athol represents the best class available. He may, however, require a race to tune him up. Colonel Grattan will be at a short quote with King’s Play and Blair Athol the most likely of the others. Lucky Jack and Parisienne will represent a strong bracket but to concede Colonel Grattan 36yds and 48yds respectively may be beyond them. Escalado reads as well as any in the Introductory Handicap, but very few of the runners have any recent form to their credit. Escalado has shown himself to be a grade above the average at times and at his best would be hard to beat. Native Huon can be relied on to trot solidly all the way while Gracie Fields has improved a good deal. Swordsman and Tonee have shown great speed in their races at different times but neither can be relied on. Gentleman Joe’s solidness has to be respected and the best of the others appears to be Swift Guy, who will be one of the favourites, and Mohican. Swift Guy, Escalado and Gentleman Joe will be entitled to support.

SUPERIOR RANK’S CHANCE Harold Guy, a winner in his only appearance in Canterbury, will be in favour for the Advance Handicap in which he is nicely placed off the front. Loyal Avis and Superior Rank both represent good class and they are the most likely of the others off the front. A heavy track will suit Morewa, while of the remainder Loyal Pat and Ace High have some fair performances to their credit. Superior Rank, Harold Guy and Loyal Avis are a useful trio.Horsepower and Marsceres will be expected to fight out the finish of the Queen Mary Handicap, which had drawn a five-horse field. If a solid pace is set all the way, Sea Gift will not be out of it. The reappearance of Nell Volo in the Stewards’ Handicap will be followed with interest but she may not have done sufficient work to expect her to run out a solid two miles. Blue Logan is improving all the time and he promises to show up. Lament compiled a sound record during the past season and he is capable of making a race of it all the way. Bittersweet is another solid customer while Captain Bolt and Wahnooka will represent a solid bracket. Blue Logan, Lament and the Captain Bolt bracket will be in favour. STRONG FIELD The back-marker Southern Chief, who displayed fine form late last season will be expected to make a bold showing in the Trial Handicap, over two miles. Providing he gets a clear run he may prove too brilliant for this field. Great Divide is a young pacer of promise off the front line and he has already shown his ability to run out the journey. King Potts, Gold Salute and Acuity are others above the average. Of the handicap lot Jdckaranda will also be considered.

A big field in the Selwyn Handicap will find the draw for barrier positions being an important factor. Marlene, Great Jewel, Toorak, Philario, Windsor Lass and Waipahi all off the front are well up to this class and betting is Lbely to take a wide range. The back-

markers may experience difficulty in getting through and of those at this end of the handicap, Donald Dhu, Nervie’s Last and Fremont read best. IN FAVOUR The following horses will be supported : INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP— Swift Guy, Escalado, Gentleman Joe. ADVANCE HANDICAP— Superior Rank, Harold Guy, Loyal Avis. QUEEN MARY HANDlCAP—Horsepower, Marsceres. AUGUST HANDICAP—Fine Art, Plutus, Gallant Knight. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP—BIue Logan, Lament, Captain Bolt bracket. TRIAL HANDICAP—Great Divide, Southern Chief, Acuity. SELWYN HANDICAP—Great Jewel, Marlene, Waipahi. INTERNATIONAL HANDICAP— Colonel Grattan, King’s Play, Blair Athol. The acceptances are as follows: — 11.30 a.m. INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, £3OO. Class 3.34. One mile and a-half. Escalado It lonee 12 Gracie Fields it Gentleman Joe 24 King Franz It Manna's Son 24 Native Huon It Swift Guy 24 Reward It Mohican 36 Violet Wrack It Sonoma King 3b yds bhd Tan John 36 Aircraft 12 Amonos 48 Bill Grattan 12 Timworthy 48 Shadeland 12 Franz Derby 84 Swordsman 12 12.10 p.m. „ „ ADVANCE HANDICAP, £3OO. Class 2.52. One mile and a-quarter. College Boy It Loyal Pat 12 Doubt It Quest 12 Harold Guy It Wee Wrack 12 Ivy Peterson It Effie Parrish 24 Loyal Avis It Mankind 24 Sports Review It Morewa 24 Superior Rank it Repeal *-4 yds bhd Salalon 24 Ace High 12 Token 36 QUEEN MARY HANDICAP, £5OO. Class 4.32. Two miles. Frisco Lady It Sea Gift (T) 12 Silver Guy It Marsceres 24 yds bhd Horse Power 12 1.40 p.m. , . . AUGUST HANDICAP, £750. Class 4.28. Two miles. Ry Ims It Gallant Knight 12 Nervie’s Last It Renown’s Best 12 Rey Spec it Bonny Azure 24 Rocks Ahead It De Soto 24 War Buoy It Graham Direct 24 yds bhd Plutus 24 Fine Art 12 King’s Warrior 48 STEWARDS’ HANDICAP. £5OO. Unhoppled trotters. Class 4.38. Two miles Mute *-lt Lament 24 Nell Volo It Pilot Peter 24 Norman Fox It Royal Romance 24 yds bhd Bittersweet 36 Aristotle 24 Captain Bolt 48 Blue Logan 24 Peggotty 72 Helen’s Bay 24 Wahnooka 72 TRIAL HANDICAP, £3OO. Class 4.37. Two miles. yds bhd Acuity k Battlefield 12 Gold Salute it Bill B 12 Great Divide It Harlequin 12 Jesse Owens it Treasure Bond 12 King Potts It Zincali 12 Wee Potts It Jackaranda 36 Worthy Ned It Southern Chief 36 i 3.40 p.m. I SELWYN HANDICAP, £350. Class 2.48. One mile and a-quarter. Donor It Waitakl Power It Gold Salute It Walter Gay It Great Jewel it Windsor Lass It Marlene It bhd Nell Grattan it Donald Dhu 12 Phllario It Fremont 12 Red Pigeon it Horsepower 12 Silver Guy It Nervie’s Last 12 Subsidy It Red Ranger 12 Token It Carver Doone 24 loorak It George Rey 24 Waipahi It Cantata 36 4.25 p.m. „„ INTERNATIONAL HANDICAP, £4OO. Class 2.45. One mile and a-quarter. Bingen Palm It yds bhd Colonel Grattan it Blair Athol 12 Frisco Boy It Icevus 12 Gallant Knight It King’s Play 24 Glenrossie It Lucky Jack 36 Ironside It Parisienne 48 RIDING ENGAGEMENTS FOR TUESDAY (Special to The Times) CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. The following riding engagements have been made for Tuesday’s programme at the Grand National meetC. Goulsbro.—Haughty Winner, Phen- ' omenal, Swingtime. C. Stokes.—Settlement. A. Stove. —Dividend, The Sandwich- ' man, Silver Sight. A. C. Messervy.—Racewell. C. Wilson. —Jumeaux, Ravine, Counterblast, Trench Fight, Flame Queen. A. Messervy.—Ohmaha, Alma, Not 1 Out, Master Hospur W. F. Ellis.—Gay Rebel, Skyrena. H. Hibberd.—Montessa, Spanish Lad, St. Cloud, Lady Leigh. M. Caddy.—Nightcalm, Jan Ridd, 1 Merry March, Lockit. G. Elliot.—Bit o’ Blue. ' R. Register.—Tomcat, Jewish Lad, Good Health. ! W. Jenkins. —Catalogue. R. Savage.— Manawatu, Uncle Jim. > L. Gough.—McHeath. t W. Broughton.--Indian Sun, Duni garvan. > J. Mcßae.—Hanover. • A. Jenkins. —Slayer, Charade. t H. Turner. —King Rey. A. E. Ellis.—Dictate, Dancing Flame, 1 Survey, Lustral. M. Hollands. —Royal Rank. , J. Dooley.—Roy Bun. R. Humphries.—Blue Coat, Grey Honour, Grey Knight. G. Tattersail.—Waka. A. E. Didham. Wagner, Boloyna. H. Goldfinch.—Mittie, Lady Tinkle. R. Mackie.—Konnetta. A. Leach.—Recollection, Culverden. I. Stratheam.—Astral Flash T. Boyle.—El Caballo, Colonel French. V. Barrington.—Lady Don. D. Craddock.—Agog. Mr G. G. Beatson.—Padishah.

N. McKenzie.--Ned Cuttie. P. Burgess.—Majority. R. Savage, who suffered ar. injury to a collarbone when he fell from Uncle Jim yesterday, was treated as an outpatient at the Christchurch Hospital and was on the tracks today with his arm in a sling. He hopes to be able to fulfil his riding engagements on Tuesday. HEIGHTS OF NATIONAL FENCES The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase is run over three miles and a-half and 21 jumps, which are as follows:— I—Carriage paddock brush 4 5 2 and 3—Stand double brush, each 4 6 4— Cutts’s brush 5 0 5— Sod wall, ditch 3ft 3in _ 3 7 6— Post and rails, ditch 3ft 6in 3 6 7 and B—Kennels double brush— First fence, ditch 3ft 9in 4 10 Second fence 4 6 9—Sod wall ditch 3ft 3in 3 8 10—Top of straight brush 4 10 The first fence is jumped three times and the others twice. The post and rails is only the height of an ordinary hurdle, but is apt to trip a horse able to negotiate the biggest obstacle on the course. Formerly it stood about three

furlongs and a-half from home, and brought many a good jumper down. The brush at the top of the course is considered a bit too severe for a horse finishing up a long journey over country. The highest jump in the Great Northern Steeplechase does not go beyond four feet high.

Other Racing News on Page 14.