GREAT NORTHERN HURDLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 4

GREAT NORTHERN HURDLES

COSMOPOLITAN FIELD BIG- BLLEIISLIE EVEN’D (Special to “Chronicle”) AUCKLAND, May 5 One of the most cosmopolitan lot of horses ever recorded in the history of the race describes the entry for this year’s Great Northern Hurdles. Of the o 7 weighted, 23 hail from provincial stables and of the 14 visitors the South Island IS represented by a quintet, leaving the remaining nine to represent other training centres in the North Island. In many cases some of the visitors will be beaten before they start, tor the reason that knowledge and experience' of the right-hand way of galloping and hurdling is necessary at Ellerslie on heavy ground. The first appearance of Great Northern Hurdles candidates since the declaration of the weights will oe at Hawera this week, and only two of the first day acceptors in Soloist and Contact ngure in the big Ellerslie rave. Soloist’s form is well known already in’the north and a good effort from him at Hawera will serve to remind one that he is in form. Contact, who showed distinct promise at Hastings recently is one that many will be interested in. He has plenty of speed—he wo-, the Waipukurau Cup on Easter Munday, a few days prior to winning his first hurdle race and he is in the r'ght position in the handicap to win a Northern, on the bottom. It has been proved time and again that with a heavy track a horse with 9.0 iVill generally beat another more heavily burdened 'if they are racing together over lhe last two or three furlongs. .In this connection 4 will be recognised what Soloist is op against. King's Aicher, too. has a big wei'-ht. He certainly won the Brighton Hurdles with 1J.2 on a fast track, rnd a rise of a couple of pounds only in l.< avy ground may not be sufli'eient to overcome a dislike to soft turf. Nevertheless King’s Aicher is one, ol: the must improved hurdlers in the province. 'Thespis is a possibility, hut his chance is preferred in the big sleeplechase. Akiste-r Alusk at J 0.4 reads nicely ;n with a handy impost ami as he slays well he must be, given a line chance. Diamond, if he has got over his disability, would be hard to beat with 10.1, but Wee | Pat. the winner two years ago, cannot. |h G improving. Valpeen was third in phis event last, year ami ne has lhe same weight again, sheer stamina rather than ability as a hurdler enabling him | to pick up place money. Will be Favourite Everybody hucnis (o be agreed that Scotch Nation is going to be lhe hardest liorse lb beat and if he goes out on May -jO one ol the, hottest favourites on record. His effort in winning flie ha’ck hurdles at Klerslie on Fastc-i Monday was most impressive, and this confirmed the impression he conveyed when he won his first race as a hurdler at Paeroa. What was thought, of him m the race he won at Fllcrslie was revealed by the dividend —'big odds— and he won in a manner in keeping with the price. He stayed well on lhe flat and therefore should be going on with his handy weight (10.1) when the olh ers are stopping. Sa inly JJix could l >e regarded as one of the picks of the. handicap at the weight and lie may measure up to j the job too’. He is small, but he sUuvs . on, and as he won twice at JOlerslic • at Christmas with 9.4 and 'O.O he must ; be respected. Traveling Agent is another candidate | that appears to be very well treated on his performances, although he has not raced for some time. In ihe spring at Te Rapa he was third over hurdles with 10.12 and won the next day with .10.13, literal. 1 ? walking in on this occasion. A fortnight later at Ellerslie with .11.4 he started favourite, the winner being King’s Archer (-10.0). That was Travelling Agent’s last outing and in the Northern he now meets King’s Archer on no less than 431 b. better tennis. On these figures there should be no hesitation as to which to plump for. In fact, on this basis Travelling Agent can be said to stand right out. Journet and Royal Banquet are promising Hawke’s Bay hurdlers who have not yet. raced righthanded. Clarion Call has a reputation and after blundering the first day a.t Feilding at Easter he wen on the second. He was at Ellerslie- last spring, falling the first day in the steeplechase, and then being second the second day, Gascille winning both races. So that it can be said that he does not dislike the right-handed going. PrinCe of Orange has not yet got back to his good form of three years ago, but he can stick on. King Alestor is handily placed, and of those clown on th© minimum, Balck Marlin would appear to be the pick. So much for the pricinal North Island -andidates.

From South Island The quintet from the South Island is a strong string. R-asouli proved himself a good hu-rdlcr when he visited Ellerslie last June. He was produced the second day and with J 1.2 he was allowed to drift too far back, coming fast when the ra.ee was almost over. Dro-pped a pound the third day he oeat all but Vai \Vat‘ch, to whom he vva,o conceding 111 b.. going under by a head in a strenuous finish. In view of the winner’s later efforts this form was first class. Rasouli has been carrying big weights in the interim in the so»th and so down to 10.8 he will be a prospect on A Lay 30, despite the fact that he may be mixing hurdling with ’chasing. Jolly Beggar had a good run of success last winter, culminating with a Grand National win under 9.10. If he jumps well he will not be out of the Northern with 10.7. Royal Limond may not be relatively as good over hurdles as he is over country, ou<t The Smuggler sticks on and will be up against a difficult problem here. Pahu has failed in the past and ho will not be favoured to nny extent this year. To siim up the Great Northern Hurdles, one must still stick to Scotch Nation, who should still be *capable of improvement, but he may find it difficult to concede Travelling Agent 81bs. Others that may he fancied are Rasouli, Master Musk, Diamond, Jolly Beggar. Sandy Dix and Contact. ANOTHER GOLD ROD? YOUNGSTERS FOR SYDNEY PREPARATION AT TR.ENTHAM During his short trip to New Zealand the former Dominion trainer, George Price, now one of the leading trainers in Australia, will pay a visit to Trcntham to see the yearlings which H. Tcl-