EMONT STEEPLECHASE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1930, Page 5

EMONT STEEPLECHASE

AIRTIGHT TARANAKI’S FANCY

BRIGADIER BILL KNOWS THE LAND

A KEEN CONTEST IS PROMISED.

FAVOURITES DO WELL IN -THIS

The. only jumping event of importance decided in Taranaki is ths Egmont Steeplechase, which has this year again drawn a good, even field and promises a keen contest. In the past the public choice has fared well, and since Nukumai’a mild surprise in 1926, Llewellyn (second favourite) and Brigadier Bill and Roman Abbey (first favourites) have led their fields home.

When Nukumai carried 11.13 in 1926 he was only fifth choice, and in this race he scored his one and only win across country. His subsequent efforts over big fences have proved that Nukumai is out of his element, and this great performer on the flat and over battens can scarcely, be expected to improve at this branch of the sport now that he is rising twelve years. The veteran has been a wonderful stakeearner in the past and.it seems a sharnc to race him where, he is obviously not suited. He paid a nice dividend in 1924, but should he prove the master of this field to-day his price will be even a longer one. Brigadier Bill won the big hurdlesin 1927 and the following year he led Passin’ Through and Bonny Rill home, carrying on. that occasion 10.5. Last year the handsome All Red gelding was unlucky to bump into a cracker-jack performer in Roman Abbey, who was weighted at 9.10. Brigadier Bill had 181 b the worse of. the deal and then ran a close second, making amends by scoring • comfortably -in - the .... Adamson Steeples the second day. Mr. James Bull’s line jumper has won the Wanganui Steeplechase on two occasions, and as his well-known owner is anxious to see his colours carried to victory for the third successive time at the rivercity, Brigadier Bill must be expected to make a bold showing to justify the confidence expressed about his prospects. There is a substantial drop to Matu, and though the • Trentham ’’chaser may need a race or two, his clean jumping will, stand him’ in good stead and the more forward candidates will not be able to afford to make any mistakes. Last season Matu won the Marton Steeplechase, but his best performances were when he chased Maunga home in the July Steeplechase, at Trentham and the following .month filled second berth behind Wiltshire in the Grand National Steeplechase. A repetition of either of these performances would stand him a great winning chance, but his lack of condition may beat him. Maunga may be said to have experienced a very up and down career over big fences, and though some really first-class wins have been recorded by the son of Mountain Knight, his tendency to “tip out” will require speculators to have a second think before inquiring for his scrip. Maunga’s first ’chasing victory worthy of mention was in the Wanganui Steeplechase, and he followed that up by a second to Beau Cavalier in the Great Northern, He has not been a good horse to follow, however, and his. faulty fencing will deter the majority to-day despite the reports that he has been working well. There was not a great deal of meritattached to Airtight’s win over Ellerslie’s big fences at Easter, • but nevertheless the Tree Lucerne gelding proved a safe conveyance, and a good jumper has always a chance, At Avondale Airtight, though racing over smaller fences, was seen to more advan-tage,-and.,the manner in which he cut out the Avondale Hurdles in 2min 42sec showed him to have pace above the average. On the grounds',that he will improve in negotiating country as he gains confidence with experience Airtight must be regarded in a favourable light’and, with 9.19, the Taranakian has been given a great chance to keep the big money in the province. Airtight promises to be a warm fancy today, and on form I should consider Fryer’s candidate to be one of the hardest to head off. Though Birkbeck has performed ■mostly against hunters, last season he beat Brigadier Bill in the June Steeplechase at Hastings, and he opened the current season with seconds in the Hunters’ Hurdles and Hunt Cup Steeples to Democratic and Kaikahu, two solid performers, at the National meeting and on the third day made amends by showing a “clean pair of heels to Kaikahau and company in the Aylesbury Steeplechase. In that race he carried 11.3 and ran out the journey in good time. Birkbeck is only a six-year-old and the best has noUyet been seen of him.

Over country Aurora Borealis must be taken on trust, but -the Day Comet breed generally fence well, and there is no reason why this speedy hurdler should not prove a success at steeplechasing. Ponjola in aaother good claws hunter, and thin season he han won the Ferguson Gold Cup Steeplechase, at Poverty Bay and the Hawke’s Hunt Club Steeplechase, -while his most important victory was in the Waikato Hunt Club Steeplechase, when lie carried 10.6 home ahead of Waitaunaha, Pompeius, Birkbeek and a big field of good class ’chasers, This was a most impressive performance, and it looks as if Mr. Coyle has taken a big risk with the Taunaha gelding. Summing up this race, form and past performances indicate that Brigadier Bill, Matu, Airtight, Birkbeek and Ponjola will all be found at the finish, but to fine the -position down still further, I should incline to favour the recent performances of AIRTIGHT.

Last year Taneriri and Standfast won the divisions of the Jervois Handicap at Auckland, and strangely enough this pair, are most favoured for the Cornwall Handicapid .hb ;; raa- on’ June 3.' : . "jY