PARIS SHOWS GOOD DEAL OF PROMISE,

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1931, Page 12

PARIS SHOWS GOOD DEAL OF PROMISE,

LEADS ALL THE WAY IN BIG WELLINGTON EVENT. (By MARTIAN.) Favourites fared badly in the Wellington Steeplechase on Saturday, and it was left to the moderately supported Paris, Xukumai and Copey to fill the places. Paris opened his winning account as a ’chaser in the Waiau Steeplechase at Riverton in April, but it was not until the final day of the Auckland winter meeting that he again scored, the opposition in both instances being poor. That he had benefited by his racing he. demonstrated by being in front all the way on Saturday, giving a fine exhibition, and finishing on well. The Solferino gelding has other crosscountry engagements at Trentham, and all going well in the meantime will, no doubt, fulfil his contract in the Grand National Steeplechase. He was a speedy customer on the flat, and could run out a good ten furlongs, and it looks as though lie will have to be reckoned with in the big event at Riccarton.

Xukumai beat all the others as easily as Paris beat him. lie made a good showing all the way, tiring over the last bit. The Manchinecl gelding was not a success when first put to the game, giving very poor displays, but this winter he has been in the money four times, for three seconds and a third. At Ellerslie he was going well in the Great Northern until he fell. lie has engagements ahead at Awapuni and Riccarton, but he is not as young and vigorous as he was, and the hard and trying journey in the Grand National will not be to his liking. A Safe Jumper.

Copey was fourth in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and followed it up with a good performance to get third money in the Wellington Steeplechase. The Marble Arch gelding is not brilliant, but his safe jumping will always be an asset, and his chance will come when the good ones make mistakes. Fie is likely to come to Riccarton for the Grand National.

Old Tuki might win a steeplechase event before the jumping season closes. Fie was always in a good position in the Wellington Steeplechase and finished fourth. He had a couple of races at Wingatui without getting any money, and he will be still further benefited by his latest outing. lie did not race at all last season, but in the past has been more than useful, with a Grand National as far back as 1925 to his credit. Saturday’s exploit demonstrates that he maintains his prowess, and he is a likely contestant lor further Grand National honours.

West Dome ran up to his best form in annexing the Matai Steeplechase, and the* Balboa gelding should go on to further honours. lie was a great performer in high-weights last season and this season, while he won the Jumpers’ Flat at Riccarton last August. Fie can negotiate both hurdles and fences, and all going well, appears to have a bright future. He is engaged in the chief cross-country events at Riccarton, and is just the type to make good. A Good Novice. Fresh Breeze followed Barrington home in the steeplechase event at Oamaru, and he again had to be content with second money in the hack event at Trentham. Fie is only a novice at the game and his forward running points to his prospects later on at the meeting. Winter Day, who was well backed in the Matai Hack Steeplechase, has had a good run of successes lately, and it was not like him to fall. The heavy track may have been against him, and he should not be discarded on this one mistake. Wild Country, who was a moderate third in the Woburn Handicap, is sheltered in the same . stable as Manawhenua and Taneriri, and is by Antagonist from Country Picnic. She raced poorly last season for a third placing, but in the spring she was third to Waimuri and Volimond at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, third in the Trial Plate at Marton and third in a scurry at Poverty Bay. Recently at Waikato she was third to Valueless and Gay Lap, and she may soon credit her owner-trainer with some reward for his perseverance.

Lord Val ran up to his Ellerslie form in winning the Woburn Flandicap, and judging from his speed in heavy going he should not be long in scoring again. The Valkyrian stock thrive in heavy going, for besides Lord Val, Prince Val won the Stewards’ Handicap just as easily. These two and Yalroe were also winners on the final day at the Auckland winter meeting, when the track was heavy. Water Power disappointed at Oamaru. but she beat all but Lord Val in the Woburn Handicap. The Tractor filly is due for a winning turn, for, apart from Oamaru, her preceding four efforts had resulted in a second and three thirds. Royal Mint’s Promise. Royal Mint, who nearly succeeded in bringing off a surprise in the Vittoria Hurdles, was having his first race of the season, not having had an outing since the South Canterbury Hunt meeting last July. Being by Catmint, he revels in heavy going, And his good showing will have the effect of increasing his admirers in any other event he may contest at the fixture. Unoco did not have much of a record on the flat, but he is likely t.o be from soon over hurdles. Since winning the Maiden Hurdle Handicap at the Waikato meeting last month he has done some excellent schooling, and his third to Tunbridge and Royal Mint was a promising effort. Inevitable again had to be content with place money in the Stewards’ Handicap. The southern-trained gelding has started twelve times this season for two wins, two seconds and four thirds, and his consistency is due for a reward shortly. The seven furlongs of the Members’ Handicap on the second day will be more in his favour than six furlongs, and he is one to keep in mind for that event. One to Follow.

Royal Saxon was not far behind the placed horses in the Stewards’ Handicap, and as.he is at the top of his form he is a good one to follow. He will run out a solid mile if he contests the Parliamentary Handicap on Wednesday. Fitzquex has had a fairly strenuous season’s racing, for he has appeared no fewer than twenty-seven times. That he holds his condition well he demonstrated by his third in the Stewards’ Handicap. The Lord Quex colt’s record this season is interesting, lie has won live races, been second five times and third seven times. Saturday’s was his first effort since Easter, at Feilding, where he beat strong fields each day over seven furlongs, and he is one to keep in mind for events near at hand. Singleton’s last appearance prior to accounting for the Trentham Hurdles was in the Remuera Hurdles at Ellerslie, in which he was fourth. He was a fairly solid performer on the flat, and in his few appearances over the hurdles has shown that he is the makings of a useful jumper. He is not too sound, and the conditions on Saturday were all in his favour. He finished up Kis task strongly, and . there is no reason why, if conditions are similar on the

final day, he should not run a solid race in the Winter Hurdles. Due for a Win. Full Mark's record as a hurdler is encouraging, and lie is due any day now to collect the thick end of a stake. He has been seven times in the money in In's last nine starts, but a mile and three-quarters is plenty far enough for him. Carinthia was not expected to get into the fighting line in the Trentham Hurdles, as the distance was a trifle short. lie can be expected to show up in the Winter Hurdles, and then he will come on to Riccarton for the Grand National Hurdles, by which time he should be at his best. Mahora, winner of the Whyte Handicap, had some good form to recommend him. He had two outings at the Otaki meeting, a second to Ephialtes in the Raukawa Cup and a win in the Te Timi Kara Memorial being the result. Since then he had gone on the right way, and, being a master of winter conditions, he never left the issue in doubt. Although Taneriri came on strongly at the finish, the Lackham gelding stood up to his task well, and triumphed by half a length. Mahora has an engagement in the Winter Cup, and he will come into early calculations. Town Major has run some of his best races at Trentham, and, though his form in the south has been anything but encouraging, lie ran a solid race in the Whyte Memorial, getting third money. Slow Beginner. Mount Boa missed the jump-out in the Whyte Memorial, finishing last. He is a slow beginner at any time t but has a great finishing run. At present he is very well and, providing he leaves the post with the others, his supporters should not have long to wait for a return of their money.

Martian Chief sprang a surprise when he ran away with the Te Aro Handicap. Ilis recent form had been bad, his only success this season being at the Wairarapa meeting on Easter Monday, when the opposition was poor. He is trained at Trentham by 11. B. Lorigan, and races in the colours of Mr R. J. Murphy. The Smuggler, a speedy southern hack, did not show up in the Te Aro Handicap. His form was disappointing, in view of the fact that he had previously held his own in bad going, and he may make amends later at the meeting.

Punchestown had a big burden to carry in the Ta Aro Handicap, and the heavy going would not help him. He is in rare fettle, and may be heard from shortly over a little more ground.