THE POINT-TO-POINT

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3046, 31 August 1933, Page 5

THE POINT-TO-POINT

(i THE fields reviewed. I FOUR jumping events. f Interest in the annual Point-to-point meeting, which will be held by the Waikato Hunt Club at Hautapu on Saturday, is increasing as the event, which marks the end of the hunting season, draws nearer. Good fields will be engaged in the four events and some excellent jumping should be witnesed.

The light-weight event should prove an interesting race. Malgarrv, a small horse but full of quality, will have the capable pilot, Mr J. McNaughtou, and should go close to winning. Miss D. Nolan’s Manono is a proficient fencer with the pace on, while the same applies to Mr G. K. Howlett’s Ma Belle. The popular fancy should range round these three: Malgarry, Ma Belle, Manono.

The entries for the heavyweight steeplechase arc disappointingly small. If the obstacles were all wire fences Mr Wynn Brown’s Beckford would be outSrmhis own. Blaze ran a good race in last year’s ladies’ race, which is however a mile shorter than the heavyweight distance. Beckford and Blaze .should be in the firing line. The Race of the Day.

■ The open steeples, with nine likely starters, should prove the race of the day. York Abbey, Beila, Abbey Fair -and Taha are all. experienced lepers,” when the pace is cracked on, while Townsman and Lord Lu are two unknown quantities which may take some solving. York Abbey, ridden by Mr F. Baker, looks like repeating his performance of a year ago, when he won the same race comfortably. However Dame Rumour has been heard to describe his limbs no longer as “legs” but as mere “apondages.” York Abbey, Townsman and Lord Lu should be in the picture. In the ladies’ point-to-point last year’s winner, Emblem, which will be ridden by Miss B. Crowther, also looks likely to make history repeat itself. If Malgarry (Miss C. Gaddes) comes safely through the lightweight venture he must run well.

The unknown quantity here is Scotch Nation (Illumination —Scottish Las), bred by Mr A. Pretty. He has received very patient treatment during the hunting season from his pilot, Miss I. Townsend, and great things arc expect■cctTof him. As a four-vear-old Miss Gath Hay’s Saxon ran third in the same race last year. He lias become quite a gentleman in the hunting field. There is no doubt about his jumping ability and his fitness. The placed hunters will probably be found in Scotch Nation, Malgarry and Emblem.