PONJOLA’S STEEPLES

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

PONJOLA’S STEEPLES

A PERFECT EXHIBITION NOTES ON THE CONTESTANTS By “Kestrel.’’ When Ponjola led the field home in the Wanganui Steeplechase on Thursday and thus followed up his Egrnont Steeplechase win in much the same nashion as did Brigadier Bill, Khaituum and others, he scored just as decisively as he had done at Hawera a week earlier. The jumping of the Taunaha gelding was just as puriect as on the occasions of his previous wins, and he put two or three lengths on the opposition at every fence. This is wliiu has stood to him in his races so far and he must now bo regarded as quite a Great Northern possibility. lie was set to carry 9.G in the G.N. Hurdles and 9.3 /in tne G.N. Steeplechase, but of course he is liable to he re-handicapped for Ellerslie. At the same time it must be borne in mind that the opposition was not strong at Hawera ana was just as weak on Thursday in the Wanganui {Steeplechase, and thus he will have something of quite different calibre to meet at the Auckland meeting next month. Thu Ellerslie fences should not trouble him and he appears a likely type to negotiate the Ellerslie hill. At present the connections of Ponjola may reasonably regard the Great Northern meciing with no little pleasurable anticipation. Matu sweated profusely during the running of the big steeplechase, and over the concluding stages, when he was in pursuit of Ponjola and was under pressure, he jumped in a rather slovenly style. Most probably he was lat this stage getting tired, and his appearance would suggest that he will require some more rousing gallops before tackling Ellerslie. Airtight ran out at his fences again and this was costly in the matter of distance lost on Thursday. The Tree Lucerne gelding has now had the doubtful honour of having filled the minor placing in the Egrnont, Adamson and Wanganui Steeplechases in the short space of eight, days. The veteran Brigadier Bill likes the Wanganui course and gave a much improved display until blundering at the hencoop, the final obstacle. He would not have troubled the winner, as it happened, and it is scarcely likely that he would have been able to head off Matu. Kowhatu gave a somewhat spectacular display lor the first two miles, his ’rider being obviously uncomfortable at (several fences. Later on Kowhatu i may develop into a "chaser with great ■ possibilities, and he may even go on jto win Northern or National honours. ■ Some of the spectators were inclined to become facetious at the expense of Maunga and his rider. M. Nicoll took the ride with the apparent intention of giving Maunga every chance at his fences, and possibly regain confidence, and Maunga certainly completed the course, though he was jumping the hencoop at the bottom of the straight when Ponjola was pulling up. Just what the supporters of Maunga, who invested —or speculated?— £305 on hi chance, thought of the run they got for their money would scarcely pass the sub-editor for publication. ■