GRAND NATIONAL TREBLE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 7

GRAND NATIONAL TREBLE

USUAL BIG FIELDS WEIGHTED

WELLINGTON SHOWED THE WAY.

EARLY FAVOURITES DISCUSSED.

(By

“Moturoa.”)

The Great Northern and Wellington winter meetings have shown the way to some extent as to the prospects of fancied candidates for the Grand National treble, which is now the cynosure of all eyes. Although the Nationals are not as well endowed as the big Ellerslie jumping events, the aspiration to national honours proves a big incentive to Dominion owners, and both races draw the best leppers Maoriland can produce, this year’s nomination list being no exception to the rule.

Last year’s winner, Wiltshire, is again among those weighted, for the Steeplechase, while Glendowie and Uralla, winners of Great Northerns, appear among the numbers. Nukumai, who won the hurdles 12 months ago; again carries topweight in that race this year, but he must improve a lot in the next few weeks to be considered dangerous. Comical won the race in 192 G and Mister Gamp won the last Northern, being in turn conquered by Overhaul in the Winter Hurdles at Wellington.

On paper, both races present a very open appearance and contain such a talented collection of proved jumpers that tile Nationals of 1929 should be worth going a long way to see.

STEEPLECHASE FIELD REVIEWED.

Nukumai tops the list in the Steeples and the list, allotted to the son of Manchineci will frighten most punters away. A safe conveyance and plodding qualities are the only recommendations that can be. given Kawini, but he may not cause much concern. Glendowie has not struck form and the writer does not think this brilliant fellow will be seen at his best this year. Wiltshire has not been attended with the best of luck, but he has made a good recovery from the injuries he receiv. I at Ellerslie and should strip a fit horse in spite of his lack of racing. King’s Guard won the Wellington Steeplechase well, but the rise in weight will keep him back to the field and one inclines to prefer his stablemate, Roman Abbey, who gets in at 9.8. Uralla has

"one up 13 pounds for her Northern win, but that race was somewhat of a fiasco and she will find her task much more difficult .here. Mangani is tho essence of consistency and tho pony is going to find a drop of six pounds much easier to carry. He was most unlucky to lose the Winter Steeplechase on the concluding day at Ellerslie, and he is gonig to have a lot of friends.

Maunga won at Wellington, but his win hardly compensates for his long run of “outs” and, like Brigadier Bill, his jumping is too faulty. Matu ran really good races at Wellington, and that form points to his being fancied amongst those below Roman Abbey. Fabriano fully extended King’s Guard, but he failed next time out. The “nine-stoners” do not make much appeal and, though they make up half the field, Radiate, Young Thurnham and Rangi Sarto can only be viewed as remote possibilities. The first acceptances, which close on Friday night, may do much to elucidate the difficult problem presented to the punters, but at this stage there is a tendency to favour Wiltshire, Matu and the Hannon bracket, Roman Abbey and King’s Guard.

NATIONAL HURDLES CANDIDATES.

The Grand National Hurdles field assumes the aspect of a deadly cross-word puzzle, and unless the acceptance payment fines down the field to much more respectable dimensions the punters are going to suffer many headaches over this nightmare. Again the veteran Nukumai holds the prime position with nine pounds more than the poundage allotted to him in the Steeplechase. Form inclines one to pass him by. Mister Gamp is one of the best hurdlers in the Dominion to-day. Although the Australianbred gelding suffered two defeats at the hands of Overhaul at Wellington, the Tractor gelding is meeting his vis-a-vis on 17 pounds worse terms, and over a quarter of a mile further, figures favour Mister Gamp. Red Fuchsia has not yet been seen at his best and ran a good

third in this race last year. Comical ran his best race for some time when he beat all but Overhaul and Mister Gamp in the Winter Hurdles, and he is entitled to some respect, although he is .getting up in years. The distance might bother Bright Land, Locarno and Glengariff, but the rejuvenated Novar claims consideration.

Kawini can hardly be given a winning chance, and. King’s Guard, though he finished fourth in the Winter Hurdles, would not have as many admirers as Roman Abbey. Atareria has the pace but is not consistent. Wiltshire has won over small battens. South Islanders still hold Aberfeldy in high opinion, but Home Macle and Horomea both make more appeal. The prospects of Perle de Leon and Mangani cannot be disregarded, and the former would have more than a rough chance if well. Of the score on the minimum Kauri Park, Just John, Prince Lu and Master Doon may not be neglected, but they are a poor lot and with Magna Charta again broken down the winner does not look likely to come from this division.

The respective merits of Nukumai, Mister Gamp, Overhaul, Comical, Novar, Red Fuchsia, Roman Abbey, Home Made and Perle de Leon are going to provoke a lot of discussion this week, but “Motfiroa” expects Mister Gamp, Overhaul and Roman Abbey to run prominently, and public opinion may sway in that direction before the final day.

WITH THE OBSTACLES REMOVED.

Tho Winter Cup, run over a mile, is never an easy race to sort out. Records favour the lighter-weighted gallopers. As a general rule the pace is on from the barrier-rise, as previous times show, and a horse not only has to be able to go fast to keep a position in the first bit, but has to be able to struggle right on up that long and tiring straight. Many good horses have failed to carry weights in the race that would will “round turns,” and this year Handicapper “Joe” Henrys has set the punters a fearfully difficult task. Commendation—the brilliant, stout-hearted Commendation of the 1926-27 season —would be given a great chance if produced in anything like his best form, but he has yet to “come back” and many will pass him over in preference to the good Taranaki middie-distance performer, Paitonu, and it would occasion no surprise to see him early favourite for tho race.

Paddon’s three starts this season have been for two wins and a head defeat in the Cornwall Handicap, but his old leg trouble may be a barrier to his prospects of standing up to much solid work. He

would only have to face the starter to secure strong support, and it is to be hoped that lie can be kept sound until next month. White Fang and Historic have done little of late, but the Southerners, Royal Saxon and Black Duke are consistent, the latter appearing a trifle better served in the score ot condition.

Lady Limond is brilliant and we have not seen her at her best, but she is proving difficult to train. Bisox won last year and she must be improved by her recent racing. Otairi spreadeagled the milers on Saturday. Gentleman-joekster Ken Duncan seems to have a good sort here.

King Balboa has won a lot of minor races and Kaiti, w’ho ran Bisox to a head last year, is greatly assisted by his brilliancy. Gold Cure should hold Gay Sonnet safe, and Merry Mint is more forward than Piuthair. Vesperus and Havering will have their quota of supporters, and Taboo will not be overlooked.

Twenty-seven are on the minimum, but they can be fined dow r n to Tcheka, Prickles, Honeycomb, Royal Game, Circulation, Evening and First Raid.

Betting is going to take a wide range this year, and among those early discussed, Paddon may have most admirers. Paitonu may have a preference over Bisox as far as Taranaki punters, are concerned, and Black Duke, OtairF and Lady Limond will be inquired for.

After strenuous efforts for the past few years, Mr. L. A. Nolan at last succeeded in obtaining the two votes for the Taranaki Jockey Club on the conference instead of one. The passing of the remit at the Racing Conference °last week was a trifle surprising, even to its sponsor, as it seemed certain that the delegates would again shelve the matter by passing the amendment to send it to the executive committee for a report.

SEPTUAGENARIAN RIDER.

(By “Moturoa.”)

Mr. P. H. Duncan, a veteran who carries his 73 years remarkably well, had a ride in the. Open Steeplechase at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s point-to-point, held at Tinwald this month, but his mount (Kempton) tossed the game old chap into a water race. Undismayed by his impromptu ducking, Mr. Duncan was “on deck” again for the next event, riding his own horse, Crunchum, into third place in the Hack Flat Handicap. Mr. Duncan will be remembered as the owner and rider of the Australian-bred Avyroski, a smart looking hack spoiled by “original” methods of training and lacking the assistance of an active rider —preferably with a big stick—in his races. Mr. Duncan was too kind to the horse, and would not hear of whip or spur, but the old sport had the satisfaction of seeing his favourite steed win a minor event at Riccarton some time after he removed from the North Island. A very gentlemanly and earnest man, Mr. Duncan, but too kind-hearted to be a successful trainer or amateur jockey.

ELYSIANOR’S PROGRAMME.

(By “Moturoa.”)

Elysianor was given only one race at the Wellington meeting, and in running a good third to more seasoned horses like Overhaul and Mister Gamp in the Trentham Hurdles, he did not disgrace himself. In fact, but for suffering interference at the half-mile peg in the last round he would have made the finish even more interesting. It was his owner’s intention to allow the gelding to make his debut over country in hack company at the meeting, but the track was in such a sloppy state that, acting on Trainer Neale’s advice, Mr. Edhouse decided not to go on with the programme mapped out, and Elysianor did not sport silk again. However, it is pleasing to know that the horse pulled up well, and his showing was sufficiently encouraging to go on •with the southern trip. Efy.

sianor was left in Wellington in charge of E. Stanway, who rode him so well in the Trentham Hurdles, and the pair—horseman and horse —were to have gone on to Christchurch on Monday night. Elysianor has important engagements at the Grand National meeting, but will race at the South Canterbury meeting on July 25 and at the Christchurch Hunt Club meeting on August 3 before again tackling the “big guns” at the National gathering. The gelding needs a race or two to sharpen him up, and with any luck he should pay his way handsomely in the south. DOMINION HORSES AT SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received July 16, 8.30 p.m. Sydney, July 16. The New Zealand racehorses Aussie, Paganelli, I’apatu and Tasty arrived here by the Ulimaroa to-day.