GRANDSTAND STEEPLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 4

GRANDSTAND STEEPLES

TODAY'S CROSS-COUNTRY EVENT THE FIELDS REVIEWED (By “KESTREL.”) With only sufficient rain falling yesterday morning to tahr. the sting out of the ground, prospects appear bright for to-day, when the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting will "be concluded, and judging by the fields engaged in the various events there will be some interesting racing. The Grandstand Steeplechase will find the cross-coun-try performers in action, while there are in addition two events over the small sticks and four on the flat. The number of acceptors in the flat events is such that the issue will remain in doubt until the judge is reached, and with several newcomers engaged investors are likely to find the task of sorting out the ultimate win- • ner just as difficult as was the case on the opening day. With seven events on the card there is likely to be an earlier conclusion to the day’s racing. Fields are reviewed as follows. RATA HACK HURDLES (Of 175 sovs; 1A miles).

A dozen are carded for the opening event, but the tnree at the head of the list claim engagements in the May Hurdles, also. If they start here Royal Acre might atone for his fall on Thursday, for on his Hawera display he should beat the other two. Airforce ran such a good race in th - Kaitokc Hack Hurdles that he is likely to go out favourite to -day. Whisogne shaped well for a mile and a-half in the Century Hurdles. Town Bird put up a creditable display for a beginner, and Wyeford was always in the picture on Thursday. First Ruler reads best of the others. In the probable absence of the top-weights backers may declare for AIRFORCE, WYEFORD, TOWN BIRD. BALGOWNIE HACK (Of 175 sovs; 1 mile and a distance) For the distance hack event ten remain in, and as some of these have shown good form recently there may be some spirited betting. Werata was fourth over 8| furlongs the first day at Hawcra and second, oeaten a head, over seven furlongs last Situ:-.lay. On Thursday he finished from well back to 4'iin third place over six furlongs, so it is reasonable to expect him to show up to-day. Latakia ran a really good race the first day, while Brilliant Light was not disgraced. Auctioneer will appreciate the longer distance to-day, while of the others Calamine and General Gas may count friends. However, three that should be prominent are WERATA, AUCTIONEER, LATAKIA. MAY HURDLES (Of 300 sovs; If miles) The open hurdle race has attracted eight acceptors, included being Royal Acre, Whenuanui and Vivo, who are engaged in the Hack Hurdles, while there is a newcomer in Beaumont. Elicit ran a good race in the Century Hurdles and the distance to-day may suit hi better. Prince Ln disappointed on Thursday just when his supporters thought he might finish on. Aurora Borealis has gone up 141 b. but she had a good bit in hand in the Century Hurdles. Vivo reads best of the next trio, but Perle de Leon finished with great dash on Thursday and should beat them. Beaumont, must be respected as he is a tough customer. A preference may be expressed for the chances of ELICIT, PERLE DE LEON, BEAUMONT GRANDSTAND STEEPLES (Of 300 sovs; 21 miles). Eight is also the main for the cross-country event, and some indication of the class may be gathered from the fact that but three of those engaged contested the Wanganui Steeplechase, four of the others hiving been seen out in the Hack Steeplechase. ' Brigadier Bill ran quite a good race on Thursday, while Airtight did not lose any friends. Red Bank went up to the 1c lers .in the Hack Steeples just when he wanted to, but Waitaunaha disappointed. Kowhatu gave an impressive display in the big steeplechase and may be tough to-day. Flying Swift may do best of the other three. A trio that may be selected are RED BANK, KOWHATU, AIRTIGHT EMPIRE HANDICAP (Of 275 sovs; 1 mile and a distance) A splendid field is carded for the Empire Handicap, there being sixteen engaged, and it is significant that two of these, Equitant and Atholspear, contested the open sprint on Thursday. Sil vermine will appreciate the fact that the sting is out of the ground. Ho is reported to be very well. The Swell was right up behind the placed horses in the Connolly Handicap, and Admiral Drake ran a splendid race in that event. Cashier was not well placed in the early stages and it was not surprising to find him at the rear at the finish. He may have be f ter luck to-day. Atholspear will appreciate the longer distance after his several sprint efforts. High Faintin’ put in a great finishing run on Thursday. As the Fordell stable has three engaged Equitant will probably take on the open sprint. Mountain Heath was n close fourth in the Connolly, and Austerity and Llyn Dij may do best of the others. A difficult race may find backers declaring for ATHOLSPEAR, CASHIER, MOUNTAIN HEATH FAREWELL HACK <Of 175 sovs; 6 furlongs). Rather a problem is presented in the hack sprint, for some of those engaged were unlucky on Thursday and in a smaller field to-day they may show improvement. Blue Paper is certainly given a great chance with 9.0 and she likes the circular course. Valstreet is a j articularly smart customer and might easily score his third win in succession. Hunting Boy was a big disappointment on Thursday. Latakia and Brilliant Light arc engaged in the second race. Tahoma was unlucky on the opening day in getting chopped out. ’ Ben Hur and Treasury will have friends, but Portray was the unluckiest in the first'race on Thursday. Thus there is reason to anticipate support for PORTRAY, TAHOMA, BLUE PAPER WINTER OATS HANDICAP (Of 250 sovs; 6 furlongs) Sixteen are engaged in the concluding event, and even allowing for a couple of defections there will be a good field. Laughing Prince retains his brilliance, as he showed in the Borough Handicap on Thursday, when he was at the head of the bunch behind the place-getters. Havering is a newcomer who must be respected, and Royal Parade’s finishing run on Thursday will secure him friends to-day. Freehold and Equitant are the Fordell candidates and both should go well. Paleta put up a satisfactory performance on the opening day. Of the next half-dozen Just an Idea may do best, while lower down the list Hopwood and Melissa promise to take a part in proceedings. It is hard to dismiss the division below Bst, but a preference must be expressed for the chances of LAUGHING PRINCE, HAVERING, ROYAL PARADE

11.45 Royal Acre . - 11 10 Vivo 11 9 Whenuanui . 11 7 V> hisogne .. 10 1 Town Bird 9 11 Airforce . - . 9 10 Second Thought . • 9 8 Lin Arlington .. 9 2 Limosa .. « 9 2 Wveford .- 9 2 y”a Im a . - 9 0 First Ruler . < . 9 • 12.25 We rata .. .. 9 3 Latakia .. .. 8 6 Brilliant Light . . . . 8 4 Auctioneer .. , 12 Calamine . . 7 11 General Gas 7 5 Spearform .. 7 0 Banbridge .. 7 0 Corwen .. 7 0 Rioghail .. 7 9 1.10 Elicit .. .. 11 2 Prince Lu .. 10 12 Aurora Borealiald 5 Royal Acre 10 3 Whenuanui 10 0 Vivo .. .. 9 13 Perle de Leon 9 11 Beaumont .. 8 7 1.55 Brigadier Bill .. .. 10 12 Airtight .. .. 9 11 Red Bank .. 9 11 Waitaunaha . 9 8 Kowhatu .. 9 0 Maidos .. .. 9 0 Calithe .. . 9 0 Flying Swift 9 0 2.10 Silvermine .. 8 8 The Swell . ■ 8 8 Admiral Drake • 8 3 Cashier 7 13 Atholspear -. High lalutin 7 10 Equit a nt .. 7 9 M’tain Heath 7 fc Or azone 7 B Austerity . . . 7 0 Flying Juliet 7 <l ■ Llyn Du .. .. . 7 0 Monsogne .. 7 0 Cuticle .. . • 7 0 Kawhakina 7 0 Break o’ Day 3.25 Blue Pai>er .. 9 0 V alstreet .. 8 13 Hunting Boy S 11 Latakia .. .. 8 11 Brilliant Ugh t 8 9 Tahoma .. .. 8 5 Ben Hur 8 3 Treasury 8 2 Portray .. . 7 8 Coon Song . . 7 5 Some Acre . . 7 2 Crown Link . 7 0 4.10 Laugh. Prince q Havering .. 8 8 Royal Parade 8 X Freehold .. . . 8 4 Paleta .. . . 8 0 Ridgemount . 7 13 Equitant .. 7 11 Moa Bird . . 7 11 Kaihoro .. 7 10 J ust So .. . . 7 7 Just an Ides i 7 fi Llanore .. . 7 5 Bonogne 7 5 Hopwood .. . . 7 3 Melissa .. .. Potoaform 7 0