BIG CROSS-COUNTRY EVENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19914, 9 August 1927, Page 4

BIG CROSS-COUNTRY EVENT

CJ.C. MEETING OPENS Can Beau Cavalier Equal Coalition’s Record—Ellerslie, Trentham, Riccarton ? (By * * KESTBEL ’ ’). The C.J.C. Grand National meeting opens to-day at Riccarton and -will he continued on Thursday, the concluding day being Saturday next. The principal events to-day are the Grand National Steeplechase and the Winter Cup and there is no donht that these two events will he keenly contested. With this fixture the curtain will he rung down on cross-country racing in the Dominion for the winter season. Latest news from, the scene of activities, together with notes and anticipations, is provided for • * Chronicle ’ ’ readers.

The Mecca of the sporting fraternity of the Dominion to-day will be Biecarlon, the fine course on which the Canterburv Jockey Club holds its race meetings, and those who w-ill not be there in the body will be present in the spirit, for there is an attraction about the big steeplechase fixture that never fails to exert itself. Wanganui sportsmen will be there in force, though this city will not be represented by a strong contingent of horses. Huikai and Whenuanui being the only ones engaged. In this connection the accident to Crown Coin, which necessitated his destruction on Thursday, will be greatly regretted as he promised to be in the money at the fixture. Proceedings will commence at L3O a.m. with the HUNTERS’ HURDLES. (CH 200 sovs; 1% miles.)

The small field of nine does not contain anything that ean be considered of a very high class, but The Babe and Gay Jim have both credentials to entitle them to support, the former winning the Kennels Hurdles at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting in convincing fashion. Perhaps The Babe, Gay Jim and Eangtawhio will be inquired for. The small field of six has been paid up for in the TRIAL HURDLES. (Oi 2SO sovs; l ? a miles.)

This was onee looked on as a good outing tor Grand National Hurdles can didates, but the Jumpers’ Elat has now ousted the obstacle race from favour. Forle de Leon, Peneus and Aberfeldy are a trio that should be prominent at the business end. There are some promising hacks tn th© CASHMERE PLATE. (Of 250 sovs; six furlongs.

Green Cloth, Paris, Money Peer. Prince Paladin, Quantum, and Wreath of Myrtle are likely to be handy when heads are turned for home and probably Wreath of Myrtle. Prince Paladin and Money Peer will assert themselves. Next on the card is the JUMPERS’ FLAT. (Of 250 sovs; miles.)

In the post of honour at the head of .he handicap is the versatile Nukumai, who has certainly earned the impost. Even with 12.12 he cannot be considered out of it for he has carried similar burdens to victory on previous occasions and may repeat the performances. If Perle de Leon starts in the Trial Hurdles Nukumai’s nearest opponent will be Passionate, who will be receiving 311 b from the Manchineel gelding. However Royal Form, Bonena. Kaikahu and Rangirahi make more appeal. At the finish Nukumai, Bonena and Royal Form may engage attention. The way will now be clear for the big cross country event, the GRANT) NATIONAL STEEPLES. (Of 1600 sovs; about miles.)

It is now over fifty years since this event was first contested and in the half-century some good ones have had their names entered up as winners, among them being Agent, Mutiny, Levanter. Dummy, Paritutu, Waimai, Lochella. Coalition and Oakleigh. The three chief steeplechases in the Dominion have been won by the one horse in one vear onlv, in 1921, when Coalition was successful in the Great Northern, Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases. If Beau Cavalier is as good as

his admirers claim he should be capable of equalling that record. His handicap is only 11.7, not a bad impost for a proved horse that has won four crosscountry events in three months. Kawini has raced with consistent illluck since running second to Peter Maxwell in the Grand National last year, being placed behind Beau Cavalier at Ellerslie and Trentham this year. He has not improved in the interim, so ’tis said, but he may Have to be reckoned with. Tuki ran consistently at the C.J.C. meeting last August and recently won at the Auckland and Wellington meetings. The candidate to engage most attention of late is Maunga, who won the Wanganui Steeplechase in convincing fashion in May, ran second to Beau Cavalier in the G.N. Steeples, and won the Homeby Steeples at Riccarton a little over a week ago. It is the latter performance which has focussed attention on th© Mountain Knight gelding. Zircon has lost caste of late, though his second to Tuki in the July Steeples at Trentham was full of merit. Peter Maxwell has 141 b more to carry to-day than he had when he won this event twelve months ago and it has been freely rumoured that he was “set” for this race months ago. What justification there is for the report will be shown to-day. Charlatan, third last year, may again find the task beyond him, and Kipling, Vice Grand and San Forte appear outclassed. The public, may sum them up in the following order: Beau Cavalier, Tuki. Maunga. With far less interest to punters is the ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE. (Of 250 sovs ; about two miles.)

There are but seven acceptors for this event and the class engaged does not warrant a comprehensive review. It should suffice that Osterman, Hokioi and Jovial may prove to be the public choice. A good field will parade for the WINTER CUP. (Of 750 sovs; one mile.)

This event is usually productive of a keen contest and it is remarkable for the number of hot favourites that have been downed by little-fancied candidates. For to-day’s event the most discussed of the acceptors has been Magna Charta and the King John gelding appeared to set the seal to his favouritism when he captured the Brabazon Welter at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s fixture last Saturday week. There were not wanting critics to find fault with him but his performances entitle him to respect. Black Mint has been prominent since he unexpectedly defeated Civility at Awapuni in April, while Assurance and Chickwheat are Southerners with credentials. Whenuanui appeared a trifle short of work before he left Wanganui but Sol toe and Kaiti are both recent stake-earners. Horomea’s chances also appeal while Taboo, Peho and Solferitc are a trio who may have a say. However, there are many who will decide for Magna Charta, Chickwheat and Assurance. The day’s sport will be brought to a conclusion with the

AVONHEAD HANDICAP. (Of 200 sovs; seven furlongs.)

Of the fourteen carded Fairy Tidings has shown winning form recently and Kalos was only narrowly beaten at Riccarton Last Saturday week and may improve. Of Rowley much has been expected. Once, he was considered worthy of the position of favourite for the Winter Cup but he does not fly for such high game now. Cerf, Royal Head, Gay Bird and Philanderer are also spoken of, but it is hard to pass the top-weights, who are fancied in the following order: Fairy Tidings, Kalos, Rowley.

OFF TO SYDNEY BEAU GESTE AND COMPANY. LADY FULLER’S PURCHASES. I Special *' Chronicle ” Service. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 8. The Christchurch sportsman, Mr E. S. Luttrell, reports having sold his horses to Lady Fuller, wife of Sir Benjamin Fuller, of .Sydney. They include Beau Geste, Bachelor, Streamer, and a two-year-old filly by Paper Monsy —Tortrix. Beau Geste and Streamer will race in their new owner’s colours at the meeting this week.

RICCARTON NOTES LATEST FROM THE COURSE. COMMENT AND TRAINING OPERATIONS. [ Special “ Chronicle ” Service. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 8. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting will be opened tomorrow at Riccarton. The recent good spell of dry weather has left the course in almost perfect order and fast times should be the order of the day. The Steeplechase Field. The recent schooling has been full of I interest and though the field in the Grand National Steeplechase will not be numerically strong and all are not of proved good class, Beau Cavalier, Maunga, Tuki, Charlatan, Peter Maxwell and Kawini represent good jumpers and between them should make an interesting race. Maunga’s display over the big country in the Homeby Steeples at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, a very attractive performance, brought him into favour. Beau Cavalier’s wins in the Great Northern and Wellington Steeples should send him out favourite, and he showed in his schooling ability to get over the big fences. The race is most open but Kawini, Maunga, and Charlatan may be in the placings. The Minor Eveitfts. The programme will open with the Hunters’ Hurdles. Calluna and The Babe should be hard to beat. In the Trial Hurdles Perle de Leon and Aberfeldy should make things interesting. In the Cashmere Plate Quantum, Prince Paladin and Paris look the best. Nukumai has the burden of 12.12 in the Jumpers’ Flat. He has earned it but Passionate will make things interesting and so wi.ll Bonena. In the Enfield Steeplechase Greenstone and Osterman look the best, with Jovial labelled dangerous. The Winter Cup. The Winter Cup will see a big field engaged and Magna Charta is the likely favourite. He is a brilliant galloper but there is doubt as to his gameness. Nothing was pleasing better in track work than Chickwheat, but he is not always genuine. Whenuanui is sure to be well supported and possibly with Kaiti, Chickwheat, and Horomea will fight out the finish. Royal Head should run well in the Avonhead Handicap and Fairy Tidings is also above the average.

TRAINING OPERATIONS The tracks were in first-class order for training operations at Riccarton this morning and a good deal of interesting work was got through by horses engaged at the meeting. Rowley and Fairy Tidings reeled off six furlongs in 1.21, finishing well. Trentham Representatives. Quantum had all'the better of Royal Game in a sprint over half a mile in 50 3-ssec., a distance that Royal Head did up the back stretch in 50 4-ssec. Captain Sarto and San Pedro ran a mile in 1.50, Rangiawhio and Peter Maxwell registering a similar performance. Southerners Well. Solferite easily beat Taboo over seven furlongs in 1.35, and Volant made an Exhibition of Whenuanui and Royal Mint over six furlongs in 1.18, a very smart performance. Charlatan and Maunga did a good working gallop over a mile, and Master Clarence and Hoylake got to the end of six furlongs in 1.20. Master Black Crashes. The Babe (A. E. Ellis) and Master Black (A. H. Burt) were to school over hurdles but Master Black crashed badly at the second fence, his rider being unhurt. Chickwheat went over four furlongs in 51see. and Peneus and Merry Damon ran six furlongs in 1.20. Dubious, Kawini and Beauty Light ran a mile in 1.48 2-5, a good gallop, and Kaiti beat Huikai, with Nincompoop beaten off, running four furlongs in 50sec. Prince Paladin. Prinec Paladin and Tresham covered four furlongs in 51sec., and Paris and a mate slipped over half a mile in 52 l-ssec. Martama and Tuahine sprinted half a mile very pleasingly and Kalos and Calluna occupied 51 l-ssec in running a similar distance. San. Forte, Passin ’ Through aud Hokioi went round over the fences, the former pair giving a safe and pleasing exhibition.

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB SPRING MEETING PROGRAMME. NOMINATIONS DUE ON FRIDAY. With the opening in earnest of the 1927-28 racing season on the occasion of the C.J.C. Grand National meeting, interest will no doubt be focussed un approaching fixtures. One of tiie most important, of these is the Marton Jockey Club’s spring fixture, which will be held on the club's re-modelled course at Marton Junction on September 2 and 3. Those who attend this popular gathering next month will find a wonderful improvement in the lay-out o f the various buildings, while the general aj> pointments xre so comprehensive and so up-to-date in every respect that they challenge comparison with even some of the metropolitan clubs. Owners and trainers can rest assured that they will find the tracks in perfect order and as the “safety number” at any starting post is thirty, there is no danger of overcrowding of fields. The club has 67 loose boxes at the racecourse, and accommodation for as many persons in charge, a matter for which the responsible committee is to be congratulated. The programme for the spring meeting appears on page 12 of this issue, and there should be a fine response from owners and trainers when Mr A. Way announces the receipt of nominations, which close at 9 p.m. on Friday next. The club deserves substantial support and appears certain to receive it.

AUCKLAND NOTES REPRESENTATIVES AT RICCARTON. COMMENT ON CROSS-COUNTRY CANDIDATES. I Special " Chronicle ” Service. ] AUCKLAND, Aug. 8. The Waikato hunter Rangiawhio is capable of improving a whole lot on his display at the Hunt meeting last Saturday week at Riccarton and as it was, had he cleared the last hurdle at all well, might have won. Rangiawhio claims an engagement in the Hunters’ Hurdles to-morrow, the opening day of the Grand National meeting, and if he can succeed in heading the horse at the top of the list, Calluna, he may yet bring laurels back with him. The Day Comet gelding has more pace than the average hunter and with experience should do well in this class. Rangatahi Disappoints. Very disappointing was the display of Rangatahi in the open hurdle event at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. He could not have done worse and for a Grand National candidate his showing was undoubtedly bad. He appears to be a moody customer and if caught right is capable of beating the best of horses over sticks. However, this is not the sort of horse to recommend as a betting proposition and therefore it might be as well to leave him out.

Southerner Stands Out. It is admitted on all hands that the Grand National Hurdles field for nqxt Thursday is one of the weakest for years and such being the case it should not take very much winning. Of course Wharncliffe is the form horse and promises to be a good favourite' on the day, particularly when the field by that time will be still further reduced when the runners in the Grand National Steeplechase are withdrawn, as most of them, are almost sure to be. Auckland’s Hope. The presence of such a promising hurdler as Wharncliffe in the Great Northern Hurdles is generally considered to be a pretty effective check to any hope the Northerners might have of capturing this event. Royal Form was our hope, with Kawini a useful second string if he went to the post. As it is Wharncliffe will not have matters all his own way if Bowden and Boyal Form are in good nick. The Province Represented. Auckland horses as a rule do not liberally patronise the Riccarton meeting for the cost of transit of horses is a formidable item that only rich owners can survive. Therefore with eight to represent the province this week the Northern district can be said to have done fairly well for itself. Four out of ten in the Grand National Steeplechase and five out of fourteen in the Grand National Hurdles is a good representation, for the candidates for honours are all well-perform-ed horses. Steeplechase Honours. All of which brings us to the Grand National Steeplechase, to come up for decision to-morrow. The four Northerners are Beau Cavalier, Kawini, Zircon and Peter Maxwell. These, together with Maunga and Tuki, should provide as good a race as has ever been seen in the event. What makes it more interesting is the fact that this sextette all met a couple of months ago in the Great Northern Steeplechase, in which Beau Cavalier showed the way home to Maunga and Kawini. At Riccarton to-morrow Beau Cavalier, as a result of his win then plus his successful effort at Trentham subsequently, will have to carry 28 pounds more than when he won the Great Northern, and he is now to meet his opponents of to-morrow on very much worse terms. These horses now have the following advantage in weights as compared with Beau Cavalier: Kawini 231 b., Tuki 171 b., Maunga 221 b., Zircon 221 b., and Peter Maxwell 291 b. They are illuminating figures.

Outstanding Figure. Is there any horse in the field capable of beating Beau Cavalier? Answer the question and one would not want to learn any more. The Ellerslie horse is a top-notcher over the big fences and by his schooling effort on Thursday he made it appear as if the Riccarton country possesses no terror for him. Beau Cavalier will have to carry 281 b. more than when he scored in the Great Northern and he is now to meet some of those he defeated then on very much worse terms. These horses have the following advantage in the weights as compared with the horse at the top of the list:—Kawini 231 b., Tuki 171 b., Maunga 221 b., Zircon 221 b., and Peter Maxwell 291 b. They are illuminating figures on the book that should more than bring these half-dozen together, but it won’t, of course. Beau Cavalier’s Mission. Beau Cavalier is such a dashing jumper and he is so quickly into his /stride again on landing that it is confidently expected that he will once again prove the stumbling block for the remainder. Beau Cavalier has only to score to-morrow and no doubt his owner will be convinced of his prowess sufficiently to carry out his intention of taking the horse to the Old Country for the famous Grand National at Aintree. 8. Henderson, who has already won four steeplechases on Beau Cavalier this season, will be on top tomorrow. Unlucky Kawini. Kawini always appears fated to run up against something just a bit too good for him and it may be the same again upon this occasion. A second in the Grand National is already to his credit but he has yet to win a big jumping contest. To date he has been second or third on several occasions. Maunga Likely. Maunga strikes one as a distinctly promising ’chaser and as he has already displayed ability to clear Riccarton’s fences he may be the horse to offer most opposition to Beau Cavalier. Indeed, it would not be surprising to find the result of this yeax’s Grand National not very different from that of the Great Northern, viz., Beau Cavalier, Maunga and Kawini. Tuki has now a name for being a second day horse but there is not much to that. He is a good jumper but he makes mistakes these days and that is

Callana — — 11 0 Ranziawhio .. 9 C The Babe - 10 13 Luthy ....95 Gay Jim .. 9 12 Bandalero - 9 2 Master Black. . 9 10 Plasuc - - 9 0 Royal Fashion 9 9

Perle de Leon H M Vexatious - 9 « Peneus .. -. 10 12 (.uncase .... 94 Aberfeldy -.10 2 Beauty Light 9 C

Green Cloth.. 9 11 Quantum 9 0 Moratorium .. 9 11 Koyal Unease 9 U Paris .... 9 0 Seott ....90 Honey .. - - 9 0 Uproar .... V V Money Peer .90 Wreath o’Myrtle 9 0 Prince Paladin 9 0

Nukumai .. 12 12 Bonena .. ..10 2 Perle de Leon 11 5 Kaikahu . . .. 10 0 Passionate . . 10 9 San Pedro 9 5 <;aie 10 5 Rangitahi 9 2 Royal Form ..10 4 Captain Sarto 9 1 Coastguard .. 10 4 Beauty Light 9 C

Beau Cavalier 11 J Peter Maxwell 10 Kawini .. -.11 1 Charlatan .. 9 10 Tuki 11 0 Sanforte .... 9 0 Maunga .. ..10 5 Kipling .. .. 9 0 Zircon .. .. 10 2 Vice-Grand .. 9 0

Hokioi .. .. 10 12 Sir'Wai .... 9 12 Greenstone . . 10 8 Jovial .. .. 9 5 Osterman .. 10 7 Good Form .. 9 0 Bis Push ..9 3

Merry Damon 10 0 Joy Bird .. 9 1 Magna Charta 10 0 Horomea .. .. 9 1 Black Mint .. 9 11 Taboo .... 9 1 Assurance .. 9 9 Huikai .. .. 9 0 Nincompoop 9 8 Royal Mint .. 9 0 Chickwheat .. 9 7 Peho 9 0 Tresham .... 9 7 Solferite .. 9 0 Indian Sage.. 9 5 Arrowmir .. 9 0 Whenuanui .. 9 Gold Mint .. 9 0 Soltoe .. .. 9 4 Flaming Ray 9 0 Kaiti .. ..9 3 Grand National 9

Kalos .. ..10 8 Bronstell .. 9 5 Fairy Tidings 10 7 Gay Bird .. 9 3 Rowley . . .. 10 1 Master Black 9 2 Hurdy Gurdy 10 0 Cornstalk .. 9 1 Cerf 9 10 Philanderer .. 9 0 Master Clarence 9 9 Spearman . . 9 () Royal Head .. 9 5 Chivalry .. .. 9 0