Omeo and Aurora Borealis Were the Stars

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 995, 11 June 1930, Page 12

Omeo and Aurora Borealis Were the Stars

Cross-Country Exponents at Ellerslie

With the field for the Great Northern Steeplechase acknowledged to be inordinately weak, there was keen speculation as to what competition would be like in the cross-country events at Ellerslie last week.

Ponjola would have retained his position of favourite for the big iSteeplechase to the last had not Roman Abbey—he is only a memory now—run such a fine race in the big Hurdles. Whatever chance the Hastings horse had —he had no show at all judged by his running on the Winter Steeplechase two days afterward—was ruined by the pulling tactics adopted, both on the part of horse and rider: it was a veritable tug-of-war running between the first and second fences, and once over the latter he fell on the fiat, not having actually recovered on landing. On Saturday he was going extremely well at the end of the first round, and his rider did an extraordinary thing. He began to ride Ponjola hard, doubtless with the intention of taking up the running, but as there was over a mile and a-quarter to go at this stage it will be rather obvious that the run was premature. This was proved when Mashoor refused to give way in front to Ponjola, and the latter was a beaten horse going up the hill the last time. Ponjola is without a doubt a good jumper, endowed with plenty of pace, but he is the type to be better suited by flat country, such as at Trentham and Riccarton, where the fences should not bother him. A Disappointment One of the best exhibitions of schooling over the Ellerslie steeplechase course before the meeting was that given by Matu. Yet in the Great Northern his jumping lacked confidence, although not marred by any serious blunder, and he was a spent force six furlongs from home. Up to this point he was still going strongly, and was a possibility, but he stopped very suddenly. In the Winter Steeplechase he was again going fairly well for a round, but he appeared to have little chance when he crashed at the brush hurdle at the two-mile post, with a mile still to go. Like Ponjola, Matu will do better on his home track, Trentham, and at Riccarton. He finished second last year to Wiltshire in the Grand National. Mangani still has a lot of pace over fences: also he still retains his penchant lor running down his fences. This was most marked in the Great Northern Steeplechase and again in the Campbell Hurdles last Saturday. Perhaps he will go better on lefthanded courses, such as Trentham ana Riccarton. There is nothing wrong with his condition now, for he is a. fit horse as a result of his recent racing. Promising Recruits In the hack steeples the first day at Ellerslie, Master Lu defeated Lucess by five lengths. On the second day, with his conqueror out of the way, Lucess won the Hunt Cup by a lengths. Two days later Master Lu defeated Lucess easily for the second time, so that on these two pertormances the former can be regarded as something above the ordinary. On the final day Master Lu did not jump at all well, yet he had the race won at any part. He can.be looked to do well over country, although in future he will have to do his ’chasing in open company. So, too, will Lucess, who also is not a bad sort. - » Penny plain is one from the Hannon stable that may get on the winning list over the big fences before the winter passes. He should be benefited bv his experiences at Ellerslie last week, which marked his debut on the 1 others to be kept in mind for events ahead over country arc St. Warrigcw (one of the tear-away type) and Copey. The latter, who is engaged in the Kgmont-Wanganui Hunt Gup at i llnvera this month, was travelling very well in the Tamaki Steeplechase the last day when he fell. He carries the same colours at Airtight, who still manages to race into third place witn commendable if exasperating consistency. _ .. From the foregoing summary of the cross-country performers seen out at Ellerslie last week it will be assumed that the future so far as the jumpers are concerned is not without its bright spots, with promising novices coming .along. However, the two class jumpers noticed were undoubtedly Omeo and Aurora Borealis.

Therefore it came as quite an agreeable surprise to see the events over the famous hill brimful of interest, in addition to which two horses were introduced who should be taking higher honours before the lumping season concludes.

This pair comprised Aurora Borealis and Omeo, and they were well supported by - some of the lesser lights. By virtue of her success in the Great Northern Steeplechase, the palm must be handed to Aurora Borealis. Only a little one, she skimmed the Ellerslie fences in brilliant fashion. Certainly the obstacles at the northern headquarters are not regarded as insuperable, but then the bad ground usually makes it more of a test than is generally thought in Southern parts. Smooth Performances All the way over the tiring Great Northern course Aurora Borealis was going smoothly, and she revelled in the trip up the hill. While most of the others were making heavy weather of :t going up the third and last time the iittle mare was tearing into it in great style, and from being in the leading bunch at the foot of the climb, by the time she arrived at the peak she had a break of five lengths on the nearest horse. That was the really surprising part of her effort. Her jumping was splendid. There was only one blemish in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and strangely enough she repeated it in the Winter Steeplechase on the third day. That was at the stone w.% 1 at the foot of the hill, and this fence she appeared to be taking too confidently, with the result that she brushed the top on each occasion. It is more than probable that Aurora Borealis will now be kept for the Wellington Steeplechase and then the Grand National, and, as she has already won over both courses, it is not the country that is likely to prove a. stumbling block. The five-year-old daughter of Day Comet, being a bit on the small side, is going to feel the pinch when she gets up in the weights. Before that, however, she should get in another win. To Be Sympathised With On the great showing made by Omeo in the Great Northern Steeplechase, it looked as if with ordinary luck ho would have been returned as the victor of 1930 instead of Aurora Borealis, although this should not be allowed to detract from the merit attaching to the mare’s performance. Omeo was put out of action on the Thursday before the meeting opened, exactly a week before the Great Northern Steeplechase, and although lie* was given light work on the Monday and Tuesday, he did not have a gallop until the morning before the race. On the hill the last time the Taranaki horse was from six to eight lengths behind Aurora Borealis, and yet over the last five furlongs he made such a brilliant effort that at the post he had got to within a length of the winner.

Considering the break in his preparation, it was a remarkable performance, and indicated that without the interruption Omeo might well have won last Thursday. Such is the luck of the game.. Took Them Well Omeo gave a fine display of fencing, taking every obstacle in his stride. He carried 9.13 last week, and as a result of his fine showing he will get a few more pounds when the adjustments come to be arranged for the Wellington Steeplechase, which in all probability will mark his next appearance. And if not too' heavily burdened, he will go very close to winning that race next month. The owner of Omeo was doubly unlucky at Ellerslie. Had the gelding been all right throughout he might not Only have won -the Great Northern Steeplechase instead of finishing second, but ne also might have won the Great Northern Hurdles. This latter was not a particularly difficult race to win. Outside of Aurora Borealis and Omeo, the ’chasers seen out at Ellerslie were nothing to write home about. Odin’s third in the Great Northern was a good performance, the last half-mile finding a weakness. On the final day he was going fairly well in the Winter Steeplechase when he tipped out at the old water jump, a brush fence, which is not a difficult obstacle, although awkwardly approached. Stayed On The surprise of the Winter Steeplechase on the final day was the manner in which Mashoor stuck to Aurora Borealis. Over the last half-mile it was odds on the Great Northern winner, but Mashoor was almost up with her at the final fence—pictures show that she was not a full length in front

on landing over that fence—and it was only superior stamina that brought about the defeat of Mashoor. iris jumping was good, and he looks like winning a steeplechase* this season i r given the opportunity. Mashoor’s last win over the steeplechase course at Ellerslie was gained in the spring over 18 months ago, when his rider had to charge a demonstrating crowd on the course proper in the run from the last fence to the judge which he successfully achieved.