WHO’S WHO IN THE GRAND NATIONAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18831, 7 August 1929, Page 2

WHO’S WHO IN THE GRAND NATIONAL

I.—WILTSHIRE.

Wiltshire, who won the Grand National Steeplechase last year, is on hand again, in an attempt to score a second victory in the cross-country event of the year. He commenced racing at two years, but he was not placed in any of his five starts. The following season he had ten races for two seconds, while at four years his record in fifteen starts was three thirds. He had a few runs over hurdles during the winter.

As a five-year-old, at the Auckland spring meeting, he ran second to Glendowie in the Hunters’ Steeplechase. He was unplaced in two steeplechases at the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting, and was third in a maiden hunters’ steeplechase at the Waikato Hunt meeting. He competed in two highweight handicaps at Rotorua, for a second and a win, while he won a similar event at Franklin. Then came some good form over country. He won two steeplechases at the Auckland autumn meeting, and in June of last year he was third to Glendowie and Tuki in the Great Northern, and fourth in the Winter Steeplechase. Last August he paid his first visit to Riccarton. and, after raising doubts a.’ to his safe jumping by losing his rider in a school over the country, he

won ’he Grand National Steeplechase in brilliant style, while two days later he was third to Tuki and Ranui in the Beaufo. i Steeplechase. After a spell he came out again last autumn, being unplaced three times before he won a hurdle race at the Waikato meeting. Excuses were available fer his failures in the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase, but he wound up the meeting by running second to Kawini in the Winter Steeplechase. During the two months which have elapsed since the Auckland winter meeting, Wiltshire has recovered from the ailment he was understood to be suffering from in June. He appears to nave done well, and he looks a better horse than on the occasion of his visit here last year. His schooling exhibition yesterday was highly pleasing to his admirers, and he looks like playing a prominent part in the big event next 2.—KAWINI. Kawini is no stranger to the Riccarton country. He has run in two previous Grand Nationals and has established a reputation as an exceptionally safe jumper. Before he did any racing Kawini was used as a hunter. His first race was the Pakuranga Hunt Steeplechase, in which he was unplaced, but he won the Ladies’ Bracelet on the same day At Avondale he was second in a hacx welter, while at the Auckland spring meeting he won a hunters’ steeplechaai After a spell he came out in the autumn and since then he has estab-

lished a wonderful record for consistency, though with few wins to break the spell of his placed performances. In five starts, in the autumn of 1926, he was four times second and once third. After being second in a jumpers’ flat race at Franklin, he went to the Auckland meeting, where he was second in the Brighton Hurdles and second in the Autumn Steeplechase. He finished the season by running second to Landbird in the Great Northern Hurdles and second to Dick in the Great Northern Steeplechase. He made his first trip to Riccarton that year, but met with an accident when being landed at Lyttelton. On an interrupted preparation, he ran second to Peter Maxwell in the Grand National Steeplechase. On his return home he won the Onehunga Steeplechase at the Auckland spring meeting. Then he had a spell, reappearing in May to win a hurdle race at the Waikato meeting. A month later he was third to Beau Cavalier and Maunga in the Great Northern Steeplechase and second to Tuki in the Winter Steep echase, while at Trentham he was sec ond to Beau Cavalier in the Wellington Steeplechase. Two years ago he was unplaced in the Grand National Steeplechase, won by Beau Cavalier, and unplaced in Wharncliffe’s Grand National HurdleS. On his return to Auckland he was spelled till the autumn. He had three races before the Great Northern meet ing, at which he ran second to Glen dowie in the Winter Steeplechase. In the following month he was second to

I Pouri in the Wellington Steeplecha.-e I and a few days later won the July } Steeplechase. Last spring he was second in a hurdle race at Avondale and a few weeks later \ won a hurdle race at the Auckland ' meeting. Next he won the Waikato Hunt Cup Steeplechase, after which 1 he had a spell. At the Auckland autumn meeting he was third in the Brighton Hurdles and third to Mangani and Potoanui in the Autumn Steeplechase. A secor d in a hurdle race at Waikato was fol lowed by a similar placing in a highweight race at Franklin. He was as consistent as ever at the Auckland winter meeting, being third in the Great Northern Hurdles to Mister Gamp and Roman Abbey, third in the Great Northern Steeplechase to Uraila and Roman Abbey, and winning tne Winter Steeplechase. He visited l'ren tham last month, running third King’s Guard and Fabriano in tht Wellington Steeplechase and being un placed in the July Steeplechase. Kawini is a great jumper and his record at Riccarton suggests that he is one of the candidates who is sure tc * get round in the Grand National. He ; failed at the business end of his race;at Trentham, but the heavy going | may have been responsible, and his I second to Lancer in the Longbeach j Hurdles last Saturday was evidence l that he is not lacking in speed. He is i likely to assist in an nteresting race