FINAL WORD FROM TRENTHAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 7

FINAL WORD F ROM TRENTHAM

COMMENT ON WORK AND POINTERS FOR TO-MORROW (.Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. This morning was by far the most interesting pre-race meeting morning there has been at Trentham for some time past. There was a lot of schooling over the steeplechase course, and some of the work provided what the track watchers will consider a very fair line on the events of next week. Quite the most interesting pieces of work of the whole morning was the school over five of the steeplechase fences by six horses. The half dozen were Tuki, who was ridden by E. Warner; Scamp, E. Mackie; Ban juke, N. Syme; Sir Wal, H. Gordon; Zircon, E. Garrett; and Hokioi, P. Mcßrearty. Taking things on the whole, the most impressive display was that of Tuki, who jumped well throughout and was not far from the leaders at the finish. .The display he gave at once caused him to increase in favour for the Wellington Steeplechase, and he is now a much more discussed horse than he has been at any other time since the issue of the weights. IN DISGRACE The horse who gave the worst display was Sir Wai, who was tailed off all the way and made just about as poor a showing as it would be possible to expect from a horse honoured with a nomination for a big steeplechase. His rider was having trouble with him all the time, and is sure to have a picnic with him in the race on Tuesday. Banjuke finished in front of all of his companions, and his was a very fine effort. There is no doubt that he is a fine jumper and that he goes fast over the fences, but, like Hokioi, who was close behind him when the last fence was negotiated, he has not shown any staying capacity in his races. As much interest was exhibited in the performance of Scamp as in the work of any horse on the course. He is a fine big fellow and jumps reasonably well, but he has a tendency to screw at his fences. He looks as if he will do better when racing.

ZIRCON’S IMPROVEMENT The other member of the party, Zircon, was not bustled, but he jumped well and his rider could have been with the others or nearly so had he desired. Zircon beyond doubt has made a good deal of improvement since he won a hack steeplechase rather narrowly at the Auckland winter meeting. Comical was worked on the flat this morning, and he got through his task brilliantly. This afternoon Crown Coin ruled as one of the favourites for the big steeplechase, which is to be run on Tuesday, but Beau Cavalier is the actual favourite. Crown Coin’s shares seem to have been given a fresh impetus since his arrival at Trentham, where he worked pleasingly on the flat. It is said that before he left Wanganui for here he schooled very satisfactorily. Rumours are afloat as to who his rider will be, and on the track to-day one story was that W. Bowden would have the mount, while another was that Bowden had to ride Kawini. Possibly if Bowden is free to make a choice he will choose to steer Crown Coin.

BRILLIANT DEGAGE One of the best efforts on the flat was that of Degage, who ran half a mile in 52sec. and was going so easily that it was obvious she could have knocked a great deal off that time. The most brilliant gallop from a time point of view, however, was registered by Carrigallon, who reeled off his half mile in 51sec., but he is a great track worker. There is still a lot of doubt here as to what Wedding March will contest, the steeplechase or the hurdles, but as he was schooled over the steeplechase fences it certainly looks as if he will run over the big country. On the other hand, it seems that his usual pilot, W. Rennie, is to have the mount on Royal Abbey in the Wellington Steeplechase.

NORTHERNER PLEASES Master boon showed that he is all right and able to produce his best by the manner in which he galloped half a mile with Pantagruel. Pantagruel has been doing good work on the tracks, but Master Doon was much superior to him and held him. very cheaply. The reason given by northerners for the absence from the Wellington meeting of Peter Maxwell is that lie knocked himself and was not quite right. It is considered certain that he will be himself again in ample time for the Grand National meeting next month. „ . . . Gauntlet again did so well in his schooling this morning that lie must be considered as hard to beat in anything he takes on in the immediate future. He has worked well all through and has improved steadily all the time. It is very doubtful if he has ever been so well as he is now. EXCUSES FOR THE FAVOURITE No great impression was created by Beau Cavalier when he schooled over five of the big fences, but an excuse can be made for him, as he went alone, and that no doubt accounts for his slowness. _ ~ . . An Aucklander who pleased by his gallop this morning was Ned Kelly, but it is possible that his effort looked better than it really was, as the horse he went in company with, Outfit, went rather indifferently. Kamehameha failed to do as veil as Rahepoto in a spin over the hurdles. Rahepoto made a great impression. Possibly Gaze is about to return to his form of last season. He schooled well on Thursday, and again this morning he gave a fine exhibition in company with Perle do Leon. From being right out of favour before his arrival lie lias so impressed the track watchers that he will now have a verj fair following. NOVICE JUMPERS R. Hannon’s pair of newcomers to hurdling. York Abbey and Lord Star, porned the praise of the criticstheir attempts over the schooling hurdles and there seems to be no reason Why they should not make good ""RoVaf Mi e nt r will start one of the favourites for the Whyte Memorial, unless the market changes between onH Tupstiiiv He galloped well "f home before leaving for Trentham and has arrived here in the pink of ‘ na ,-4 l rjn n nt a good beginner, hutonthe big course at Trentham this wm not be as much against him as it wouhl be on other tracks, as there s a run of three furlongs before a iu rVli a weTghr d to aS c^ aS an°S ly minimum -ne 4gnt reckone d that he wf" have ample' opportunity of getting a good position early m the race.