Two-Horse Race

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 688, 13 June 1929, Page 12

Two-Horse Race

NAPIER PARK STEEPLECHASE Prospects For Tomorrow THE winter fixture of the Napier Park Pacing Club opens at Greenmeadows tomorrow and concludes on Saturday. “Early Bird’s” review of the first day’s fields is given below. The various events have filled well, with the exception ol* the Napier Steeplechase in which only five remain in.

At first sight the Napier Steeplechase, to come up for decision tomorrow, appears to be a two-horse affair. Certainly on paper Ballvfa rnon and Frisco Jack dominate the situation, hut although the Napier fences are not generally regarded as formidable, they have to be jumped. In the past several splendid jumpers have met their Waterloo on this course, and no doubt there will be more. Moteo Hack Hurdles Heading the list are those good fast performers, Tresham and Kaiti. The former has schooled well at Trentliam, and his second at Otaki in his first public attempt should soon he improved upon. Kaiti should be the makings of a fine performer over the sticks, and usually good sprinters go well over a mile and a-lialf hurdle course. Grand National is to make a reappearance, and hailing from Mrs. McDonald's powerful stable must he taken

into account. Of those lower down Ahisogne, Heather Blend. Mystum, Fine Acre, Aurora Borealis and Wilmoreana appeal most, but when summing it up one comes hack to

TRESHAM KAITI Petane Hack Steeples The top-weight once again appears, as he usually does at this period of the year, but he is more likely to be reserved for the main event. Alaric jumps well, hut his recent showings would tend to indicate that he is not putting his heart into it. Royal Elm reads a likely sort, for on his Hawera and Wanganui showings he is the makings of a real ’chaser. Master Arch went one fair race at Ellerslie last week, and in this field should certainly show up, for he is a reliable jumper. Lieutenant Bill. Crishna, Ponjola. the tearaway Mandarine, and the novices Aurora Borealis, Bonayron and Rayonnant all have chances. Doubtless the public will plump for: ROYAL ELM MASTER ARCH Meeanee Hack Handicap This field is of quite ample proportions, and what is more it hears a very open appearance. Reducing the ten acceptors by half one is inclined to favour Mangahaere, Sylvan Dell. Glyn Dhu, Tourist and Mouri Rangi, and probably of this quintette the bestbacked will be; SYLVAN DELL MOURI RANGI Napier Steeplechase Would Frisco Jack have won the Marton Steeplechase last month had he stood up? He would not, hut then he was short of work, and up to the time he tipped out —at the end of a mile and a-half —he was setting a slick pace and was jumping like a stag.

With six weeks to get over that fall and to further his preparation he

should nearly he cherry ripe. Ballyfarnon is an interesting recruit to the i ranks of ’chasers, and his two efforts ; at Wanganui entitle him to much j respect. Ballyfarnon and Frisco Jack : are going to he prime fancies. Woden, Bendower and Sometime are the others | in the race, and of this trio the most . fancied is Bendower, and his jumping i will assist him to bother the pair at j the head of affairs. Jumping is going j to play a big part in the decision of ! this contest, which appears to lie j between BALLYFARNON FRISCO JACK Ahuriri Hurdles This is really a splendid field, for five out of the seven are first-class hurdlers. Nukumai should he about j right now. hut perhaps he will he all 1 the better for another race into him. I Perle de Leon from all accounts is ne»: forward enough, and Novar is a hurdler of note that appreciates his rather light weight now. Beaumont reappeared at Wanganui, and as he is reported to have gone on the right way since, he may bo a difficult one to beat. Home Made cannot be overlooked: in fact, he is just the sort to upset calculations. Peshwa and Jen are the ones to spring the real surprise if one is forthcoming. However, favourites are likely to be: BEAUMONT 1 NOVAR Stewards’ Handicap With the horses that have performed well in tho past right up in the scale with the nine-stone minimum in vogue, the chance is offered a promoted hack on the bottom, these promising horses generally coming into their own at this time of the year. One such is Shrewd, who won really well at Wanganui.

Queen’s Choice is a good sort when caught right, and Road Hog has surprised on this course before. King's Jest too is an improving hack, while of those higher up in the list Merry Damon and Royal Damon impress, the latter being a horse that can carry weight. Probably the favourites will ho SHREWD ROYAL DAMON Settlers’ Hack Handicap Sixteen figure in the final event, the hack seven furlongs, and those that have recent form to recommend them are Irish Court, Balloon, Nahi, Rich Harvest, Vinella and Merry Mason, with Calluna. Delude and Essential as the pick of those near the top. However. there should be no lack of support for VINELLA MERRY MASON