NOTES BY "MULTIFORM."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17064, 17 August 1917, Page 6

NOTES BY "MULTIFORM."

The victory of Sleight of Hand in the Grand National Huidles did not come as a great surprise to those who had been following the career of tho gelding and his track work prior to the meeting. He had soundly trounced everything h G had been up against in ins training essays, and those who saw Jus winning performances against the hacks nt last year's meeting did not look much further for the winner. Ra is an aged gelding by the Apremont— Mystic sire Mystification, out of a mare by Wonderland, tho sire of many successful jumpers. He was bred by Mr. Geo. Hunter, of Porangahau, and is owned by Mr F. Armstrong, who sent him to Australia last year,, when he was brought back without being raced, owing to the death of his trainer, tb,e late- H. Goodman. Sleight of Hand won his race yesterday with ridiculous ea.se, and how good he really is remains, to be proved. He was ridden by A. McDonald, who had an easy contract.

Contrary to expectation, Merry Lad went out a better favourite than Crib m the 'Grand National Steeplechase, the winner. Master Strowan, going out fourth, favourite. Details of tho /•ace are not to hand, but-as he won by twelve lengths, Mr Eastern's gelding also had a task set him that was well within his ability to compass. He is by th<j Lochiel—Marion horse Strowan (bred by the late-E. G. Stead), one of the fastest sprinters, of his day. out of an Artist mare, .and it is probably from his Painter blood that he inherits his jumping ability. He is xiot I,? any means a typical steeplechaser, being, like Gluepot (the Great Northern and Wangaaiui' Steeplechase winner), one of the "herring-gutted" " variety. That they gallop and stay, in all shapes and sizes has, however, been amply demonstrated by the results of the big steeplechases this year.

The Winter Cup resulted in a complete " boil-over." the winner turning up in the Martian—Rosiphele gelding, King Star, who has at different times shown glimpses pf undoubted■... brilliancy, while' his breeding is another advertisement for the niclpng of. Martian with Musket mares, .The gelding returned his supporters close upon two-thirds of a century. "The Martian's again!" would probably be the exclamation of breeders after the race, and there is no doubt the Martagon— Otterden horse has left some fine and fast stayers.