WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE TO BE BEST CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 3

WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE TO BE BEST CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

Big Field Of Good 'Chasers To Take On Trentham Obstacles

Infusion of fresh jumping- talent into the Wellington Steeplechase should raise it to a much higher plane than tha* evidei t in the Great Northern Steeples at Ellerslie, and the prospects are that the big Trentham ’chase on Saturday will rank as the outstanding cross-country event of the winter campaign. In numbers it is at present the largest field for a Wellington Steeplechase, in many years, and in quality it can compare favourably with contests of the past.

Stake-money for the Welling- | ton Steeplechase is £3500 the win ner’s share being £2275, whereas i at Ellerslie the Great Northern j Steeples was worth £4OOO, with | £2500 for the winner. At Tren-; tham the distance is about three ■ miles and a-quarter against the Ellerslie distance of about four miles—and there is no “hill” at Trentham to be traversed three times, as in the Great Northern ’chase.

Brookby Song won the Great Northern Steeplechase last year with 11.7 and with 12.0 in the sadd.e this year he just toyed with his opponents, giving a brilliant display of jumping to hold the lead after the first round had been covered. That he won pulling up eight lengths clear of a bunch comprising Town Survey, Abbey Lu, Good Armour and Sir Waimai is either suggestive of his outstanding class or indicative of the weakness of the opposition. The Great Nori hern Steeplechase certainly revealed a paucity of good ’chasers in the north, and that in spite of the generous manner in which the northern clubs cater for cross-country performers. Probably the manner in which Brookby Song carried his big impost without difficulty supports the view that the field was not up to standard, but this does not detract from his brilliant display, which was stated to be one of the most impressive seen at Ellerslie for many years. On the final day at Ellerslie the quality of the ’chasers was again, painfully demonstrated whe n Dinkum Pal, a maiden ’chaser who had fallen at his two previous outings at the meeting, streaked away to win the Winter Steeplechase by 15 lengths.

Twelve months ago Brookby Sons came into - ' favour for the Wellington Steenlechase alter winning the Great Northern Steeoles, but a fall in the Winter Steeplechase, in which he carried 12.5, proved more serious than was first expected, and he did not race again until this year. The maximum weight of 12.0 set for the Wellington Steeplechase has give n Brookby Song an advantage in the handicap, and as he has done well in the intervening period he looks like the logical favourite for next Saturday’s big 'chase at Trentham. MASTER MERUIT Winner of the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase last Saturday, Master Meruit comes next to Brookby Song in the handicapper’s assessment of form as far as the acceptors are concerned, and on northern standards he stands out hands above the remainder of the Auckland contingent. His second at Te Rapa was of the impressive order, registered when he was by no means at his peak, and he has come to no harm as a result of the patient policy pursued by his connections. They elected to miss the Ellerslie meeting and allow the Master Colossus gelding to recover from a slight shoulder injury. When Master Meruit was produced at Hastings there were still some doubts about his ability to see out the journey, but apart from hooking a couple of fences Master Meruit gave a splendid display of jumping, outclassing his opponents. That he pulled up well and was showing no signs of unsoundness must have been more satisfying to his connections than the fact that he had scored what could not be termed other than a pointless victory. Master Meruit won the Wellington Steeplechase two yeares ago with a grand exhibition of jumping, and as the fixed maximum has favoured him as much as it has Brookby Song he may be the one to bother the topweight. This pair, in turn, wid stifi have to prove themselves against some of the up-and-coming talent lower down the list, but at present they provide excellent tops in a field which appeals as “the tops’’ in crosscountry talent. Albino made a good impression when he won the Manawatu Steeplechase at his first appearance in a cross-country event for more than a year. His jumping was of the highest standard, and the distance saved by his rider in cutting the corners played no inconsiderable part in his ultimate success. Albino will be flying at much higher game in the Wellington Steeplechase, but there would appear to be good reason for expecting that he will make a bold bid for the major honours. FROM SOUTH ISLAND

Lisheen, on the same mark as Albino, is one of the South Island’s hopes in the big Trentham race. The St. Simper gelding has built up a good record over the country down South, and if some of the others make mistakes the chances are that he will be found running on at the finish, has as much experience as any of his opponents.

Good Armour, last year’s winner, has been withdrawn, as was expected after his poor showing at Ellerslie, though previously he had won like a good one at Te Rapa. He had 10.3, a similar impost to that of Royal Writ, winner of the Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeples and the July Steeplechase at this meeting last year. Royal Writ has not had as much racing this year to fit him for such a big task as confronts him in this major crosscountry event, but he is generally a reliable jumper. Town Survey is still pursued by the jinx which to date has prevented him from winning a steenlechase. He put in a great, finishing burst, at the close of the Great Northern Steeplechase, without having much chance of catching Brookby Song, but this dash was entirely missing on the final day. CHANCES OF VVHOORAY

Whooray went down to Trentham last year with a great prospect of winning the July Steeplechase on the final day, having given indications at the Wanganui meeting that he would appreciate the shorter distance. He might have won had he come home straight from the final fence; as it was, he went under by only threequarters of a length to Royal Writ. In spite of the mistake which cost, him the Grandstand Steep echase and his defeat by Peters Choice and Royai Scholar in the Wanganui Centennial Steeples, Whooray will have many friends on Saturday. Hunting Dink, who will be bracketed with Brookby Song, was a winner on the opening day at Te Rapa. Ho had an unusual experience on the opening day of the Great No them fixture. He contested the Hunt Club

Hurdles and fell at the second fence. Continuings on riderless, he fed again at the fourth hurdle. This was a nasty fall which prevented him from keeping his Great Northern Steeples engagement. He took on The Winter Steeples with 10.0 and finished a modest third. Freshened up again, he may be capable of going a good race in the Wellington Steeplechase. Abbey Lu stayed on for thirl in the Great Northern Steeples, and Welldrop won twice in the minor class at Ellerslie. Whiphand won the Grandstand Steeples at Wanganui and was goinsg well when he ran off in the Hawke’s Bay Steeples. Royal Scholar wen at Hawera and has several times been placed over the country, and Tenorman has previous y won at Trentham. Glenfayle gave a good dispaiy in winning at Awapuni, and Master Play was the winner of the July Steeples last year. These do not exhaust the possibilities in a fairly strong “tail,” but present indications are that Brookby Song. Master Meruit and Albino will attract more attention than those further dewn the list.