N.Z. GRAND NATIONALS.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1180, 10 August 1901, Page 15

N.Z. GRAND NATIONALS.

NEXT Tuesday will see Riccarton crowded with enthusiastic racegoers, eager to witness the great contest for the first of the Grand Nationals — the G.N. Steeplechase. Great numbers of equally enthusiastic turfites in all other parts of the colony will be waiting in the distance for the news of the result. <hi the Thursday following there will be the same attention Riccarton way, for on that day the G.N. Hurdle 1 face, an event of nearly equal importance to the Steeplechase, will be run. Auckland has special interest in these events, for, in the past, her representatives have well upheld the prestige of the Northern capital as a racing centre, and this year again some good horses have gone South to do battle with the Southerners, and these, though they may not win outright, seem certain to make a good light in their respective issues. With a champion like Moifaa in the field for both events, the prospects of our local horses—good though they are — would not at lirst sight seem very bright, but even champions like Moifaa meet their " Waterloo " at times, and that is usually when, having carried all before them for some time, they at last reach a, handicap which enables some admittedly less brilliant, but certainly not less deserving, horse to win. On Tuesday, Moifaa will have to carry the terrific weight of 13st 61b. "Can he do it?" is the question now troubling most turfites. Gauged through the betting figures, which have established him favourite, the answer of the majority would appear to be "Yes." I, for one, am doubtful. I do not forget that other good horses have gone down under big weight and through big weight ; that on the rare occasions when they have triumphed over it, everything has usually been in their favour — good going, and nothing much to make it hot for them. But in this steeplechase, it appears to me there are one or two that can "get" fairly well who are not over-burdened, and, iv addition, there is the fairly presumable prospect of heavy going. It cannot be gainsaid that our sheet anchor in the race — in anticipation — is Cannongate. I see no reason to doubt that he will run well for us. Though not at his best at Ellerslie recently, he has since done well, has arrived at Riccarton in good heart, and is likely to be as much at home over the Riccarton country as at Ellerslie. Natation possibly has an outside chance, but I should be surprised if he were to beat the black. Social Pest has yet to win his spurs over country ; but so had Moifaa when he began his long series of successes, and Social Pest now has the advantage that Maifaa had — light weight. Both Cannongate and Social Pest appear to me to be in receipt of more weight from The Guard than the latter can successfully give them, and Dummy has been too much under a cloud of late for me to conscientiously recommend him, albeit he appears just recently to have been bowling along at Riccarton with something of his old style. Roller is a possible on account of past form, but Gobo's more recent successes seem to me more solid, and I think if he runs up to his Wellington form he will be right in it. There are really very few duffers in the race at

all, whiclj makes the top weights' task the harder, and promises a contest that will be well worth witnessing. I cannot go through the whole list, but will say riglit here that I expect the winner to come from the following :— Social Pest, Oanrtangate, Gobo, Moifaa. [Since the above notes were written a report is to hand to the effect that Cannon^ate has wrenched his foot. Tt is probable this will interfere somewhat with the winding up of his preparation.] Seahorse shipped. Korowai is to go to the stud. N.Z. Grand National next week. Burns to ride Favona at Riccarton. Payment of two dividends becoming general. Only twelve horses struck out of N.Z. (Nip. Oaunongatc arrived ".ill well" at Riccarton. The rumour of Moifan's sale not confirmed. Hastings has been leased to a Southerner. Advance is firm at 5s for the New Zealand Cup. Auckland Racing Club profit for the year £2,322 13s 3d. Advance's starting in N.Z. Cup a <iuestion only of health. Dunedin men look on Pampero as a "good thing" for N.Z. Cup. Stewart will ride The Needle in Ins Grand National engagement. ' Social Pest and The Needle a wellbacked Grand National double. Advance has only recently beew taken up and is now doing very slon work. TheCaulfield (wand National evoked scarcely any local interest on Saturday. The Hempic has boon well supported in Auckland in doubles fur tho. (J N Hurdles. At least eleven horses nro expected to start in the C. ,].('. G.N. Steeple next Tuesday. The linal payments for tlio C.J.C. Grand National fall due to-morrow (Friday) !)th inst. Avondale Jockey Club may probably find it necessary to ask permision to ' race at Kllerslie next montli. St. Ursula is all right again apparently and the reason of the soreness shown by her one morning must have been something very slight. Roller has come into some favour just lately for the Grand National at Riccarton, and some money has gone on him for both events. Dartmoor is looked to as likely to give a great run in the G.N. Hurdles, and it is thought almost certain he will beat those near him in weight. It is reported of Mr Whitney that he denies having offered £15,000 for Volodyovski, he considering that it would be useless to make an offer for the horse knowing that Lady Meux does not wish to sell. Clansman was a prime fancy for the 14.3 Handicap at Kensington, and was supported down to nearly level money. A pony named Kitty won the race, Freedom being second, and the favourite (Clansman) third. The Hurdles will be run on Thursday of next week, and 1 still have another opportunity of noting it. At present, my fancy rests with Hadyn, Needle, and Dartmoor, but it is quite possible the Hist day's running may somewhat alter the prospects. With the nearer problems of the N.Z. Grand Nationals before them, local backers are going slow on the New Zealand Cup. Layers report that the Cup just now ,is almost a dead letter. Advance, however, is as firm as his greatest admirers could wish. The Canterbury Jockey Club advertise that they intend to pay dividends on the first and second horses at the Grand National meeting ; backers of first horse to receive 75 per cent, and of second horse 25 per cent. In races where four or less horses start, the property of different owners, only one dividend will be paid.

Finland has again gone, wrong. It is thought the Riccarton going will suit Cannongate. - ' Several New Zealand racing clubs have resolved to- pay dividends in future on first and second horses, following the example of the Wellington Racing Club, and it seems very probable that the present season will see the new system in general use throughout the colony. Some people thought that adverting to a system of two dividends would be & knock-out to layers, but it hasn't affected them in the least. In fact, they have shown yet another feat of elasticity. You can bet with them either on the new or on the old system, whichever you like. Murrumbeena Handicap was disastrous to Sagacity and to her owner, Ike Foulsham. Sagacity fell soon after the start, sustaining injuries that rendered the. aid of a friendly bullet, Sagacity was favourite for the Caulheld Cup, and it is said that Foulsham only recently refused an offer of £500. Last week Moifaa was reported to have been purchased by Mr Spencer Gollan for 1000 gs., and England was stated to be his intended and early destination. Foundation for the report is wanting, and it seems probable that the rumour originated in the fertile imagination of some sensation monger. Messrs Harnett and Grant recently ottered a prize of 2 guineas for the most appropriate name sent in for their annual turf guide " Form at a (•lance. The suggestions were numerous, but in the opinion of the firm none were more suitable than the name by which the booklet is now known. "Templar/ of the Christchurch hejerec thinks Canterbury owners are not likely to have " much of an innings' m the open events of the .National .Meeting, owing to backwardness of the locally trained horses. He says that the majority of those that have come under his notice have had but light preparation, the bad weather having placed trainers under -Teat disadvantage in their efforts tv «-et their charges ready. The Messrs Nathan have been the subjects of a very cruel turn of fortune's wheel in so suddenly and so quickly losing their lately 'imported ami promising thoroughbred — Fitzsimons. He was an expensive purchase, and great hopes had been centred on the result of his importation ; and to lose him before he had been in' the colony even long enough to be properly looked over is a great misfortune. Auckland, too, is a loser • but apart from that the greatest sympathy will be felt for the Messrs Nathan at such ill-luck.

O.J. C.. in paying two dividends, will still continue to pay sixpeneesr On the possibilities in regard to • " Tattersall," Bulletm says :— " If the' Federal, parliament decides td driver ' or not to ' deliver * Tatt. '* ' letter**, ' '■■ either deoision will presumably applyall over the Commonwealth. In the " first case, ' Tatt.' will' probaldy; go > bock to Sydney as being larger and * moreeentraL In the second easfc, he will probably go to Europe with his fortune (his occupation here bein»gone) ond.become the Duke of Tatter- } nail, or the Earl of Sweep, or some ' such dignitary, and spend the rest of his days in elevated retirement."