ROUND THE COURSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 4

ROUND THE COURSE

SOME RANDOM JOTTINGS NOTES ON RECENT RUNNING (Llv "KESTREL:') Tlie racing on the opening day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting was of an interesting description, and though the form of some of the well-backed candidates was rather disappointing, backers were generally well informed and dividends on the whole were not of large dimensions. For the concluding day of the meeting there will be some neycomers to add to backers’ problems, while in the Wanganui Steeplechase a trio of Century Hurdles runners will add to the interest shown in the big cross-country event.

The even nature of the fields seen out on Thursday may have had its effect on the returns which backers received. Tho seven events averaged just under ten runners a race—there were 69 starters altogether—and the smallest field was that of seven in the Grandstand Steeplechase. The aggregate of the fourteen dividends paid out on the seven events would have been £43 8s 6d if one had been fortunate enough to have £1 invested on each of them. That, gives a return of £6 a race. It is interesting to note that no dividend was greater than £7, while on only one occasion did backers of a dividend-payer lose money over the transaction. ***** Mountain Heath and Knollmere were the only successful favourites on Thursday, but Paitonu and Afdon both returned dividends to their supporters, and an investment of £1 on each of the seven favourites would have earned a profit of fifteen shillings. Thus one could have had an interest in every race without showing a loss—if one had only known. A feature of Thursday’s racing was the riding of the premier New Zealand jockey, Hector Gray. Three dividends in four mounts was the result of his efforts. He rode Grand Jury in the third race but could only finish fourth. On Paitonu in the Empire Handicap he was in second place, and followed on by steering Orby’s Choice and Orapai to victory.

In the two hurdle races on Thursday L. Dulieu came out with a 100 per cent, record, for he rode both winners. Mountain Heath was his mount in the Rata Hack Hurdles, and he was able to score a comfortable victory on the Heather Mixture gelding, who was favourite at. a good price. In the Century Hurdles L. Dulieu was on Conjurer 11, but strong support fop Aurora Borealis, Make Up and Llandudno caused the Australian-bred gelding to return the best price of the day when he finished a neck in front of Nukumai.

The winner of the Grandstand j Steeplechase, High Heather, has al. rather extravagant action at his jumps . but another cou. 1c of races should tit him fo r the best ’chasing company. He promises to develop into one of the leading cross-country performers. If he does he will rank as a cheap horse at . 300 guineas. In the Wanganui Steeplechase to-day High Heather will carry the sky blue and black hoops of Air F. 8. Easton, of Foxton, the Heather Mixture gelding having been sold after his win on Thursday. It sometimes happens that a horse will win 11 first time up” in his new owner’s colours, and if that should happen to-day Mr Easton will have received an early return on his outlay. Copey jumped better than the winner, High Heather, in the Grandstand Steeplechase, but was beaten for pace on the flat. This useful Marble Arch "■elding won over hurdles at Stratford, and at Hawera he finished second to Birkbeck in the Egm on t Steeplechase, run over a distance similar to that to be covered in the cross-country event to-day. Omeo was the favourite for the Grandstand Steeplechase, carrying nearly a third of the investments, but his many supporters could scarcely have felt pleased at his display. He was kept at the rear of the field for the greater part of the journey and it was not until the winning post was in sight that he was asked for an effort — and then he moved, though too late. Kaokaoroa has still a good bit to learn about the ’chasing game, but when the company is not too good this halfbrother to Maunga should be regarded as a possibility. There was not a great deal of merit in his fourth placing in the Grandstand Steeplechase. The Wanganui-owned Kowhatu fenced cleanly in the steeplechase event on . Thursday and at one stage looked like running into a place. Perhaps his posi- . lion five furlongs from home was only obtained on sufference, for Omeo was still well behind him at that stage. However, Kowhatu should be improved - with racing and as his trainer, B. T. Bennett, knows how to handle a jumper, he should pick up a stake or two <>ur- . ing the winter campaign. t It w 7 as rather flattering to FlyingSwift that he should rule as the nearest to the topweight in the field for the ’ Grandstand Steeplechase, but such was the case when Nukumai was scratched. Flying Swift was entrusted with support to the extent of £7O, but his backers did not have much interest in him t after the first half-mile. , Skyrider was going well when she ’ came to grief less than six furlongs .. from home, hut judging by the ease with which High Heather won Skyrider ... might not have beaten the leader had she stood up. It was particularly hard luck for her owner-trainer, J. P. Coyle, ,: of Awapuni, to lose the services of a , really promising young ’chaser. Skyrider was only six years old so she appeared to have a useful career before her. i- The Wanganui Jockey Club will, it n appears have to do away with the “hend coop” which is the first obstacle in th2 >r back stretch to be jumped by steepleo chase contestants. It brought about e the end of Skyrider on Thursday, and e some years back Ardath came to griel Is at this spot. The Aucklander Slowcoach wius another to have a fatal fall at the hencoop. It may be that, as th? track has a slight, downhill slope al It this point, the horses have too much io pace on and misjudge the obstacle-. Still »s it: is about, time something was done.

Carinthia was topweight for the Century Hurdles but as it appeared obvious that a race or two would benefit him it was not surprising to find the support extended him limited to £5.1. At no stage of the journey was Carinthia within striking distance of the leaders, but he jumped well enough to indicate that he will be improved. Mister Gamp was at a good price in the Century Hurdles, and when he dashed up in the last furlony with a great run it appeared as if he would repeat his victory of two years ago. The winning post was too near, however, and the Bronzetti gelding had to be content with fourth place, but as it was a “blanket” finish there was a lot of merit in Mister Gamp’s performance. There was plenty of money for Make Up in the Century Hurdles, the Surveyor gelding being confidently supported, and looking back on the race one must come to the conclusion that he was a “good thing” beaten. He was not too happy at some of the obstacles, and neither was his rider for that matter. And yet there was only a neck and a head between Make Up and victory when the judge was reached. ***** In winning the Century Hurdles Conjurer 11 put up quite a pleasing performance, and it is understood that his connections profited as a result of the good price he paid. The winner went to the front when L. Dulieu wanted to take the lead, thus avoiding any trouble that might occur, and he had enough <n reserve at the finish to hold off the determined challenges flung out, first by Nukumai a quarter of a mile from home, and then by a bunch comprising Nukumai, Make Up, Mister Gamp, Perle de Leon and Callamart. Conjurer 11. is well engaged on the other side of the Tasman, and that is where he may soon return. In running second to Conjurer 11. in the Century Hurdles Nukumai put up a, sterling performance for a veteran, for he made up a good deal of ground over the concluding six furlongs, was with the eventual winner at the last hurdle, and then hung on to him gamefly. Ho went under by a neck only, so ho was not by any means disgraced. The dividend he returned was a very pleasing one. Three years ago Nukumai won the Grand National Hurdles, and the second placings in the steeplechase at Hawera on Thursday of last week and in the Century Hurdles on Thursday indicate that the veteran is back to his best form. Both Perle de Leon and Callamart appeared on the scene when the last hurdle in the Century Hurdle race had been negotiated, and the scene as the half-dozen leaders swooped down on the judge was one that stirred even the most blase racegoers. Perle de Leon ran quite a pleasing race and is rapidly coming to his best, while Callamart is due for a good hurdle race any time now. The favourite in the Century Hurdles was Aurora Borealis, but she was not in the picture at any stage of the race though at the finish she was at the head of the beaten bunch, but well back. The two races she had at Hawera under heavy weights told their tale Third in favour with totalisator investors, Llandudno did not please his many supporters in the Century Hurdles. He rapped the first hurdle hard and from that stage he was never a possibility. Wanganui had a particular interest in the big hurdle race as The Warder is owned by Mr F. Bristol and is train ed by the veteran George Laing, whe rode one of the dead-heaters in the Wanganui Steeplechase of 1894. Thf Warden was disputing the lead witl Conjurer 11. as the field raced up thi straight the first time, and -was stil there half a mile from home, but aftei that he dropped out altogether, and h< and Hymgrcat. followed the field homo There is no doubt about the quality of Knollmere, who made an exhibitioi of some good hacks in the Balgownii 1 Hack Handicap. He was a warm fa ■ vourito for the mile and a distance event, but strong support for Gram ' Jury and Pewa, and even backing fo ’ several others, caused, the Grandcour gelding to go out -it a good price. Hi was well drawn at the barrier, getting number two marble, and L. G. Morri ; hopped him out smartly. Keeping t.< , the rails, Morris slowed the field dow: . for the first three furlongs, and there after Knollmere had too much pace lef for the rest of the field. Morris kicke< him once at. the entrance to the straigh t and away went Knollmere to win wit! great case. Ho looks like developini into a good stayer, and next seaso: a big middle-distance handicap wont ? not bo beyond him. i Pewa has run some good races thi r season and has won some good hae 1 events, and for that reason he was n< I corded a good deal of support in th > t Balgownio Hack. He was always nn a ning in second position after the fiei had settled down, and when Knollmcr i- ran home ahead of the field Pewa wa q able to return his supporters a profl on their investments. When Pewa got on to open company ho will hold h: own. ,t With Gray in the saddle Grand Jur 3 was supported to the extent of £2ii ■’ in the Balgownio Hack Handicap, th II being more than half the amount, ii , vested on the favourite, Knollmcr ' Grand Jury was conceding weight, a round, and being diawn seventh f'roi the rails he was not too well served f 3 the start. Gray took him up quick! ! . r ' between the six and the four furion 11 pegs in an endeavour to get a goo ■ position, and perhaps the effort told t< much on him, for when they turned f<

homo Grand Jury could not make any impression on Pewa. Ho has prde-l that he can carry weight, but tho,JucK appears against him, though he is always well up in the handicapper’s estimation.

Orby's Choice made two appearances at the Egmont meeting last week, but whereas ho finished second in his initial essay, he was unsighted on the concluding day after leading into the straight. Thursday’s display was a decided improvement, and it may have been that tho Hawora-owned and trained gelding was bettor suited by the firm track. AT any rate he -won comfortably, thou/n to some it appeared as if Gray was taring it a bit too easily on him. As Zarene was accorded nearly three time* as much support ns Orby’s Choice there was a good dividend attaching to the latter’s win. Navaho, who tilled the role of run-ner-up to Orby’s Choice, was seen in a winning role at the Wanganui autumn meeting. On that occasion Navaho ran home four lengths ahead of the opposition in tho Maiden Race. Tf one were to judge Zarene on her display in the Borough Hack Handicap on Thursday one would be inclined to sum her up as scarcely worth keeping. Put followers of form know better than that. At Marton two weeks ago she went under by a head to Leisure when scarcely ready, yet Nimble was the only one of the Borough Hack field to finish behind her on Thursday. Zarene was perhaps not 100 well served nt: the start, when she failed to get balanced, but even half way on the journey sho did not seem to bo going too well. She ha 1 every chance on the home turn, when she was at the head of the bunch behind the leading trio, but she faded right out of it at the finish. Perhap«ho was not herself, and it would not bo wise to disregard her altogether. Of the sprinters seen out on Thurs day Orapai was far away tho best, and he scored a convincing victory over A* ton. Gray rode him to perfection, turning for home in third position, and though he had to ride tho Thespian gelding vigorously from tho distance Orapai responded well. He is well nr in tho weights now and may not make another appearance this season, but there is no doubt about his quality and keen racegoers will keep him in mind for next, sons'