HAWKE'S BAY STEEPLECHASE IS HASTINGS FEATURE TODAY

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 June 1948, Page 7

HAWKE'S BAY STEEPLECHASE IS HASTINGS FEATURE TODAY

Though it was first run in 1879 nearly seventy years ago, and had in that period been won by some of the giants of their age. the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase in recent years has-not attracted many of the best of the ’chasers in commission. Perhaps Glenmore in 1912, Oakleigh in 1920 and First Line in 1923 wifi be ranked as the best of the winners within the last thirty years till Master Meruit scored two years ago. That, however, does not detract from the interest likely to be taken in today’s event at Hastings, and it will be the main attraction for the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay winter meeting. ,

Added interest will be pro vided because Master Meruit, Whiphand, Higii Morale and Vernon, four of the contestants, claim engagements in the Wellington Steeplechase, to be run next Saturday, when there will be a clash with the Trentham meeting. That there are large fields of good material in the other events on the programme should ensure that interest will be maintained throughout.

The Hawke’s Bay meeting is the only fixture in the North Island today, so contestants there, should lack nothing in the way of horsemanship, for most of the available jockeys will be on hand. The track promises to be in good winter order. Betting is win-and-place, with brackets more numerous than usual because there are only 16 numbers available on the totalisator. Thus there will be some triple brackets in the divided Hastings Plate, with its 37 acceptors.

Master Meruit is topweight in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase with 11.10, which is lib more than he carried when he won in 1946, the year after he had won the Wellington Steeplechase. Provided he has made a good recovery after having gone amiss at Te Rapa, Master Meruit should make a bold bid for victory. That the class is weak is evident from the fact that Whiphand is in receipt of 251 b from the topweight. This Ringmaster gelding won at the Poverty Bay meeting at Napier Park and then came over to win the Grandstand Steeples at Wanganui. He is a reliable jumper and can be expected to complete the course. "Ellerton Hall ran a good race for some of the distance at Awapuni last Saturday, but should be held safe by Tid-apa, who put up a good showing against Albino and may be improved. Solo Park and Find Out were winners in hack steeplechase company at Napier Park, and Vernon, winner of the Levin Hack Steeples, is another likely to show up. Barring accidents, Master Meruit, Whiphand and Tid-apa may fight out the finish.

Four of the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles field are engaged in the Trentham Hurdles. Glad Fox should be able to improve on his Wanganui display. United Nations has been a consistent performer in ’Bay events, and Blue Title and Vassilikos have useful records over the battens. Apart from these. Whirlwind Star, Nanook and Kelmont may have friends, but the chances of Glad Fox, Blue Title and Whirlwind Star may make most appeal.

Principal flat event is the Winter Handicap, which has attracted a useful field of fourteen. Winner of the two open events at the Napier Park meeting. Welcome Guest will make a strong appeal, but the improving Ballinagh may be the actual favourite- Strong opposition may be forthcoming from Morotai, Opulent and the Precedency-Giidchase bracket, especially as Precedency was the winner last year.

A good deal of interest will be evinced in the form of Distinction. Regal Gem and Findon in the Heretaunga Handicap, as the former pair have been off the scene for some time and Findon makes only occasional appearances. General Victory will probably be the favourite, with strong support likely also for Cot-case and the promising Gay Stitches. Fields in the supporting events are strong numerically, and the following may be fancied by course investors :

Hastings Hack Hurdles. —French Count, The Crofter, Ernbrae. Hastings Plate.—First Division: Balagmore. Island Queen. Second Division: Sonia, Snow Saint. Hawke’s Bay Hurdles.—Glad Fox, Blue Title. Whirlwind Star. Winter Handicap.—Ballinagh, Welcome Guest. Precedency bracket. Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase.—Master Meruit, Whiphand, Tid-apa. Rotopai Hack Handicap.—Kippo, Mabel Knight, Foxtonian. Heretaunga Handicap.—General Victory, Cot-case. Gay Stitches. Clifton Hack Handicap. —Winter Sweet, Broiealice, Bian Rouge.

Following 11.0— are the acceptors:— HASTINGS HACK HURDLES (Of £300; about 1A miles) Prince 10 9 Flying Jim .... n 9 The Crofter . 10 8 Bon Chale .. jj ■> Tribute . 10 6 Crispin 1 Tracer 10 3 Flying Attack <j 1 Ernbrae .. . 9 13 Yalta .. .. u French Count 9 12 Gaelic Salute a o Incision .. .. 9 11 Monito 9 0 Griffin 9 10 Dickens o Highform .. . 9 High Tension 9 0 Astrope 9 3 Twyford Bonifort .... 9 2 11.45— PLATE (Of £250; six furlongs). 9 0 First Division Second Division Brer Acre .. . 8 10 Green Light .. 8 10 Maelstrom 8 Hl Night Action 8 10 Master Grey . 8 10 Karamea 8 10 Robert Emmet*8 10 Citare 7 Cheerful Night 8 10 Miss Majesty 8 7 Black Nymph 8 7 Miss Shirley .. 8 7 Island Queen 8 7 Orelio Blood 8 7 Loud Checks 8 7 Snow Saint .. 8 Scottish Maid 8 7 Triple Star .... 8 7 Balagmore .... 8 7 Mt. Curl .. .. 8 Blue Chief .. 1 3 Village 3 Endowed .. ..) 8 3 Calamity .. .. y (j Fighting Gold 8 0 crystal 0 Hush 8 0 Chatty Maid .. 8 0 Memento 8 0 Giggle 8 0 New Look .. 8 0 Gay Lace .. .. 8 0 Phanion 8 0 Polleta 8 0 Tweeds Only ..8 0 Sonia Magnetic 8 0 12.30— HAWKE’S BAY HURDLES 8 0 (Of £750; bout 1 mile 7A furlongs) Glad Fox .. .. .10 10 Glen Urquhart 9 6 United Nations 10 6 Ernbrae 9 0 Blue Title .. 10 5 Beau Jewel .. 9 0 Vassilikos 10 Denny's Gift 9 0 Whirlwind Star 9 10 Spiro 9 0 Nanook .... 9 7 Kelmont .. .. WINTER HANDICAP (Of £750; 11 furlongs) 9 0 Welcome Ballinagh 7 11 Guest 9 7 Lord Theio .. 7 9 Morotai 8 13 Lowry Bay .. 7 8 Opulent 8 9 Hulabaloo .. .. 7 8 Dark Flash .... 8 4 Earldale .. .. 7 Precedency .... 8 3 Singing Hills 7 7 Gildchase 8 0 Ostentatious . Huntore .. .. 7 13 2.0— HAWKE’S BAY STEEPLECHASE (Of £1000; about 3 miles) 7 ’ Master Meruit 11 10 Find Out .. .. 9 3 Whiphand .. 9 13 Vernon .. .. 9 0 Ellerton Hall 9 9 Bronze Night 9 0 Tid-Apa .. .. 9 8 Spiro 9 0 High Morale ..9 7 Solo Park ..9 4 2.45— ROTOPAI HACK (Of £400; Sterling Gold HANDICAP miles). 9 0 Earnbridge .. 9 9 Master Kip .. 8 4 Lord Latour 9 1 Foxtonian 8 2 Kippo 9 1 Comedy Star 8 • > Mabel Knight 9 0 Guardian .. .. 8 j Lochwinnoch 8 13 Incision 8 1 Robert Keith 8 11 Carter Fell .. 8 0 Sir Warrior .. 8 9 Gold Dip .. .. 8 () Jon Rosa .. .. 8 7 Ratatu 8 0 Master Rich .. 8 7 Roscarea .. .. 8 0 . Prince 8 5 Sports Suit .. 8 0 ~Neap Tide .. .. 8 4 Superior Fox 8 0 Gen. March .... 8 4 3.30— HERETAUNGA (Of f500; 7 Tucker Box .. HANDICAP furlongs i 8 0 Findon .. .. 9 13 Black Beret .. 8 2 Battle Survey 9 4 Duality 8 2 Cot-case .. .. 9 2 Gay Stitches .. 8 1 Distinction .. 9 0 Treasure Tee 8 Regal Gem .. 8 12 Beau Devoir .. 8 ] General Victory 8 10 Flare Path .. 8 0 Broilyn 8 8 Omaio 8 0 Catterick Clive Belle .. Bridge 8 4 4.15— CLIFTON HANDICAP (Of £300; 7 furlongs) 8 0 Broiealice .. .. 9 4 Bold Knight .. 8 0 Horonui 9 3 Erinmore .. .. 8 0 Winter Sweet 9 2 Gondolino .. .. 8 0 Bian Rouge .. 9 1 Ratatu 8 0 La Bian .. .. 8 13 Kahuranaki .. 8 0 Clive Bay .. .. 8 9 Lady Kindine 8 0 Magnus Lux .. S 5 Salient 8 0 Currency Lass Lochrea 8 5 8 2 Silvestre .. .. 8 0