LLYN DU ENGAGED IN BIG HURDLES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 173, 23 July 1931, Page 13

LLYN DU ENGAGED IN BIG HURDLES.

NUKUMAI RECORDS WIN IN AWAPUNI STEEPLES. (By MARTIAN.) Llvn Du sprang a regular surprise in the Clifford Handicap at Awapuni. running out the ten furlongs in good stvle and winning by a length and a half. The Kilbroney gelding had not had a race for a long time, and this was responsible, no doubt, for his being neglected. Llyn Du, who is trained by Mrs A. W. M’Donald, at Awapuni, did his early racing this season over hurdles, in which he showed considerable promise. At the Manawatu winter meeting last August he was third to Disrank and Omeo in the Longburn Hurdles. He then came on to Riccarton and won the Trial Hurdle Handicap. He was fifth favourite in the Grand National Hurdles, but though he ran a solid race for most of the way he faded out towards the end. Llyn Du is again nominated for the big hurdle race, and his good form on the flat suggests that he will be m apple-pie order for a hard contest. llis weight at Riccarton is 0.0. Trentham Form.

Form at Trentham worked out in the Awapuni Steeplechase yesterday, for Nukumai, second to Paris in the Wellington Steeplechase, was a winner, while Omeo, second to Dark Prince in the July Steeplechase, turned the tables on him and finished second. Nukumai’s success was well anticipated and he was a good favourite. The Manchinecl gelding’s cross-country work is a great improvement on last season’s, when he was a failure, and his brilliant displays will bring him into greater prominence for Riccarton events, where he is engaged in the big jumping double. Nukumai carried only 9.12, and at Riccarton Mr Henrys has given him 10.2. Omeo derived great' benefit from his race at Trentham last Saturday, and his second to Nukumai yesterday was a fine effort for a horse whose preparation has been interfered with. It is to be hoped nothing comes amiss with him between now and the Grand National meeting, for his presence in the Steeplechase will invest that event with increased interest, in view of the generally poor class engaged. Dark Prince again ran a solid race in the Awapuni Steeplechase, but his increased weight anchored him at the finish. He has 10.2 in the Grand National Steeplechase, and as this is only 61b less than he carried yesterday his prospects in the big Riccarton event do not appeal strongly at present. Royal Opera has not done much racing after a long spell, and his second to Llyn Du looks hopeful for an early win. The Royal Stag gelding had a successful season last season, winning seven races, the best being the Easter Handicap at Feilding, and further improvement can be looked for shortly. Manawhenua carried his big weight

in the Clifford Handicap like a tradesman, and demonstrated what a good one he is. The Acre gelding did not win a race last season, but he has showrf wonderful improvement this season, and being a young horse, he appears to have a very bright future. Most of his racing has been done over sprint courses, but yesterday’s run points to his prospects in events at least up to ten furlongs.

Promising Form. Tin Jazz scored an easy victory in the Kiwitea Hack Hurdles. The Tribulation mare showed up in events at Ellerslie and her form looks promising. She has not had much experience over hurdles, but at the Manawatu winter meeting last year was second to Postman in a hunters’ hurdles event. After her success yesterday, which appears to have been quite comfortable, it should not be long before she is heard from again. Unoco ran some good races at Ellerslie and was expected to win a race at Trentham, but though he got sonic monev his form did not come up to expectations. He again failed to materialise at Awapuni, third being the best he could do. With experience the Some Boy 11. gelding may come right. . Curie, winner of the Rangitane 1 late at Awapuni. has had a fairly solid season’s racing, but has not met with much success, his only victory being in the Prince of Wales Stakes, for two-year-olds, over four furlongs, at Napier Park last October. The Arausio youngster has been unlucky at times, showing a lot of pace, and he should make considerable improvement during the coming season. Merry Hunter was having lus first race when he finished second to Curie in the Rangitane Plate, and his earlygood form points- to his prospects in the spring. . Beverage was well backed to win the Rangitane Plate, but the best he could do was third. He had some good form to recommend him, for he beat some experienced horses when lie won the Greenmeadows Hack Handicap at Napier Park, among those finishing behind him being Navaho, Nightspeaker, Moatoa and Lady Ronald. llis turn should come again soon. Landmark again proved his ability by winning'the Rongotea Hurdles in good style. He is in great order just now and in his present form looks a likelv sort for further honours. Callamart, on Trentham form, appeared to have good prospects in the Rongotea Hurdles, and with Landmark I out of the way he would have been the winner. llis record to date over the obstacles is not inspiring, but in his latest efforts he has shown more aptitude for the game and he may not be long in atoning for past failures. May Make Good.

Spearmiss failed to win a race last season, and so far this season her record has been just as bad. She had a race over hurdles yesterday and ran into third place. She lias shown promise in her schooling essays and looks a likely' one to make good in this branch of the sport. Taneriri ran a great race in the Stewards’ Handicap, only to be beaten by the little-fancied Juggle, whose form this season has been bad. The Antagonist gelding has run out his races very' solidly lately and he is not vet done with.

Wild Country confirmed her consistent form at Trentham with a good win in the Broadway Hack Handicap. She has been some time in coming to hand, but now looks a paying proposition for her owner-trainer. 11. Rama.

ENGLISH RACING. EPSOM REFLECTIONS. (Special to the “Star.”') LONDON, June 11. Is Cameronian, the Derby winner, the best of his year? Since the Epsom classic it has been suggested that, if the race were to be run over again. Lord Rosebery's Sandwich would finish in front. I have no patience with those who seize every opportunity to deprecate -the merit of a- house's performance. After the two Thousand Guineas it was proclaimed that Cameronian's win was a very lucky one. It was pointed ou' that, ‘hr ugh swerving at the start Goyescas lost as many as eiglii lang h r -. and yet was beaten by orh half a length. Under these conditions he was bound to turn the tables on Camefonian when they met again. As a mat-

ter of fact, Goyescas was well beaten at Epsom. The argument now in regard to the Derby is much the same. If only Wragg on Sandwich had got away smarter and been with les<= to do in the straight he would undoubtedly have overhauled the winner or. it the race had been a quarter of a mile farther, the prize would have gone to Lord Rosebery’s colt. I admit that Sandwich did not get a wav well and that Wragg, the jockey, could not find a way through the field until after Tattcnham Corner. It is equally true that the horse made a heroic effort in the straight and that he gained quickly on both Cameronian and Orpen. But it does not follow from this that he would have won in more favourable circumstances. As I saw the race Fox. on the favourite, was concerned with only the challenge of Orpen, and I believe he did no more than was necessary to hold off the Manton representative. At the same time, as far as it was possible to judge, I think Cameronian was capable of a greater effort. “ But,” say the backers of Sandwich, “ wait until the St Legcr. He’s sure

to beat Cameronian at Doncaster.” Sandwich has splendid stamina, and I think lie will be a serious rival to the Derby winner in the last of the classics, but if I were Mr Dewar I should be fairly confident of winning the triple crown. There is. however, another horse who must be taken into account for the St Leger. This is Jacopo, who was badly handicapped through illness; which caused his preparation . for the Derby to be interrupted. .Yet, in finishing sixth, he ran well, and l am sure I'.* will l-.e a very d'fferent horse in c :-ro ember. Meanwhile, there is Ascot. It has not yet been decided whether Cameronian will run at the Royal meeting. He is

is worth £SOOO. so that there is a strong inducement to bring the horse out again, instead of keeping him in reserve for the St Leger. He was not upset by running in the Derby, and I think Fred Darling will advise Mr Dewar to let the colt take his chance at Ascot.

Darling had a great Epsom meeting. After the success of Cameronian. lie carried off the Coronation Cup with Parenthesis, who belongs to Lord Woolavington. Then, in the Oaks, he ran Four Course, who won the One Thousand Guineas, and the filly was only narrowly beaten by Brulette, a sister to Ilotweed, the French Derby winner of two years ago. Brulette was bred in France by Lieut.-Colonel Birkin, and she had excellent form m France. She is a splendid stayer, and she ran Four Course out of the prize in the last furlong. One of the surprises of the Epsom meeting was that the Derby favourite was allowed to start at such good odds. There is an interesting explanation for this unusual liberality on the part of

the bookmakers. It seems that a syndicate was formed to buy up the tickets of those who had drawn C ameronian in the Irish Sweepstake, and in the circumstances it was in their interests that the price of the favourite should be as large as possible, because the lower it was the more they would have to pay for the tickets. The syndicate, who j were able to control the betting. _ did I well in their sweepstake transactions, i but on the whole, the bookmakers were I verv badlv hit by Cameronian’s win. As j a matter of fact, the amount of welshi ing on the hill, which is outside the I rings, was greater than ever before, and I there have been many prosecutions. ] Though some of the regular bookmakers I experienced difficulty in paying their clients, I have not heard of any dc-