RICCARTON’S RICH PRIZES

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 5

RICCARTON’S RICH PRIZES

OMEO MEETS" THE FIRST PAYMENT

TARANAKIAN STEEPLECHASE FANCY

KING’S JEST HURDLES ■ FAVOURITE

The first acceptance for the National treble cleared the air to some extent, but generally the defections did not surprise. However. calculations were upset when it was found that Lucess had dropped out of the Steeplechase and Historic, White Fang, Mendip, Don Quixote and Chopin were missing from the Winter Cup. All were early chosen to play prominent parts, but nevertheless there iK sufficient talent in all three faces to provide the keenest racing over a period of several years. Though Lucess had done little of note, his Ellerslie efforts.provoked many scribes who had seen him in action to wax enthusiastic, and so the Lucullus gelding became actually the early favourite. It now transpires that he over-reached himself at Waipa and has developed lameness, that evidently did not respond quickly to treatment. In Australia thousands of pounds would have been lost by early “speakers” through this misadventure, but fortunately, antepost betting in the Dominion is almost infinitesimal. In spite of the general feeling that Onieo’s connections would not favour his rise in weight, it is pleasing to find Taranaki represented, and the last big jumping prize of the season is more than a possibility for the New Plymouth hunter. Aurora Matu are the next most discussed. The defection of Prince. Lu, Taumai and Archibald does not come as a surprise in the hurdle event and King’s Jest and Carinthia still command big followings. Most fluctuation is recorded in the favouritism for the Winter Cup, Toxeuma now being left at the top of the list, and it is pleasing to see performers of the calibre of Havering, Black Duke, Full Feather, Best Friend and Co; still standing their ground. Even in the absence of some of the fancied division the big mile presents a problem as difficult to elucidate as ever.

Steeplechase Double. Winners or both the Great Northern Steeplechase and the Grand National Steeplechase are sb common and recent that the cross-country event at Ellerslie can be regarded as.a guide to prospects for the southern steeplechase. Levanter , after winning his second Great Northern Steeplechase with 12.1 in 1897, followed on to win the National under a steadier of 12.7. The following year Dummy won with 11.11 at Auckland and twelve months later carried 10.13 into first place at Riccarton. When Haydn won the National in 1902 he had 10.9, and he reversed Dummy’s performance to win at Auckland the following year with 11.6. There was then a break until 1913, when Bercola won the Northern with 9.13 and the National two months later with 11.3. Lochella carried-9.9 into- first place at Riccarton in 1919 and the next year won at Ellerslie with 11.0. That brilliant jumper Coalition won the National in 1920 with 11.13. In 1921 he was successful at Ellerslie and the same year mastered the maximum weight to win his second National. In 1927 Beau Cavalier took the Great Northern, Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases in succession, carrying 9.7, 10.7 and 11.7 in those respective races. Aurora Borealis may not be as good as these at their best, but she is decidedly useful owing to the paucity of good jumpers.

Wellington Form. The Wellington and National Steeplechases- have been taken in the same year by Gobo (1901), Captain Jingle (1912), Coalition (1921), Oakleigh (1923) and Beau Cavalier (1921), while successes were also credited to Faugh-a-Ballagh, Haydn and To Arai in both races. Therefore Mangani must be given a chance on the score of past records, but nevertheless he was a very tired horse over the last quarter of a mile in the Wellington Steeplechase, and unless he improves in the interim the extra quarter of a mile in the National will prove his greatest difficulty. Aurora Borealis meets him on half a stone better terms, and Ellerslie s.uggests that she should' avenge her head defeat at Trentham. Omeo.

When the weights were declared for the Nationals, it was thought that the extra two pounds allotted to Omeo for scratching in the Wellington Steeplechase would have proved an effectual barrier to the prospects of his tripping south. However, Wellington proved that Ellerslie form was good, and the 15Alb. difference in weight allocation, combined with the fact that Omeo will be many pounds better now that ha has fully recovered from his Ellerslie injuries, leaves the impression that the New Plymouth hunter has only to go to the post to turn the tables on Aurora Borealis, at least. A clever jumper, Riccarton “country” should offer no difficulty to him, and for the reason that Omeo is an exceptionally good stayer he must appeal to the majority as an ideal Grand National aspirant.

Is He Improving? . Since Matu showed fair form at the Egmont winter meeting he has been the medium of heavy plunges at Wanganui, Ellerslie and Trentham, and usually his defeats were attributed to faulty jumping. After he fell in the Wellington Steeplechase the majority gave him best, and to their chagrin he resurrected his best form to stroll home in the July Steeplechase. If that effort could be accepted as a real criterion of further improvement nothing would make, more appeal than the Trenthamite, who is nicely weighted on the 10.5 mark. However, this is a rise of twelve pounds on his Wellington Steeplechase allotment. Matu is no stranger to Riccarton, and last year he carried 9.5 into second place behind that fine jumper Wiltshire. The Polydamon gelding stays well, but being an “iffy” sort, one. cannot, say more than that he would be a reasonable proposition if ho could be depended upon to jump in his very best style, with those who admire a good horse. Black Duke and Full Feather have not so many friends as Taboo, the Winter Oats 'winner, who bos 131bs. more than he carried into third place last year. Best Friend Is more highly considered

The Others. ; „ 1 .■ f Lord Ranald, Hym&strasou, Whaim-

cliilb and Kapuna are not without friends for the cross-country event, and v certainly they are favoured - by, the - t weights. Lord Ranald won the Homeby Steeplechase in his last start, and should he repeat •■the performance this ' year there is a possibility. that he will wind up one of the prime selections." But, until «then it would seem wise to hold off the Masterpiece gelding. Hymestraison is attempting something more -solid than that which he was pitted, against at Trentham, but his two efforts there were' distinctly encouraging, .and he seems able to stay on. Wharncliffe ran a fair fifth in the Wellington Steeplechase and, though he jumped very carefully,‘it is reasonable to expect him to improve. Mr. J. Barrett’s candidate should • not be troubled.by the.distance. Kapuna is an experienced jumper and has raced with come success at minor gatherings. He stays well, but he will need to produce better, than his best form to stand a winning chance here. The Hurdle Favourites.

, Latest quotations show King’s Jest a very warm order for the National Hurdles, and it is accepted on all sides that his race at Trentham will improve him out of all knowledge. Then the fact that he is required to carry no extra" weight for his third and is meeting Carinthia and Fine Acre on 13bs. and 31bs. better terms respectively strengthens the arguments in his favour. His training essays at Riccarton will be watched with interest and, should he favour the southern fences, it is not hard to see him winding up one of the hottest choices for many years. Carinthia still commands a big following and, as he has won at "Riccarton, the fences are not likely to worry •him much. Nukumai is not being altogether left out of calculations and. with a stone less than he carried successfully two years ago, the handicapper has given him a chance to stage a come-back. Mister Gamp's stock has slumped considerably, but ’neyertheless not all of his admirers have left him. Mangani, though his latest hurdle efforts have been disappointing, is still well up in the market, and his decisive win last year is not forgotten. "Aurora Borealis and Omeo are not neglected, though the latter appeals more to Taranaki punters, but the pick of the lightweights is Llyn Du and, with 9.2, he reads a proposition worth considering. A Facer.

The Winter Cup at this stage -is a “facer” for the majority, and seldom, has such a wide range of speculation been offered the public. What makes the event even harder is the fact that the Winter Cup is notorious for the number of wins recorded by poor class horses and the top-weights "have not fared too well in the past. Taranakians are keen on. Havering, and in spite of the fact that he is a ‘master i of weight and winter conditions he has the hardest part‘yet to do. Toxeuma will create a weight-carrying record if ho wins, but there is no doubt that he is the best miler in the field. His running in the Brabazon Handicap will be of exceptional interest and he needs only ; to make a showing there to find favour than Staghunter, and Habit is expected to improve on her sole outing at Trentham. Starshooter ran several good races in the autumn and, with Marjoram, is nicely placed regarding weight. Some good races and some very . bad. races on the flat have. been credited to Llyn Du, but there was a great . ideal of- merit in his third in -the Winter Oats. Ranelagh was unlucky at Trentham, and an improvement can be expected next month, while Ute Hunt Club meeting should give a line on Llmoein’s chances. The Treble. On paper, tha jumping races of the Grand National treble do not appear particularly difficult, Omeo and Aurorar Borealis being the best performed in the Steeplechase, and King’s Jest, Carinthia, Mangani and Llyn Du standing out in the Hurdles. There is a diversity of opinion in the Winter Cup, * however, Havering, Toxeuma, Black ... Duke, Taboo, Best Friend, Llyn Du and. Ranelagh all being fairly evenly faiLcied. However, form indicates that a trio with reasonable • chances would be -.OM3EQ • ... KING’S JEST . : TOXEUMA - ■ ‘