RACING

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 July 1924, Page 5

RACING

turf topics.

Doubts are expressed in Taranaki as to Alteration paying up for the Grand National Hurdle Race, He is. reported to have pulled up sore after his race at Trentham.

Mr C. F. Yallanee’s team for Riecarton will consist of Sturdee and Merry Singer. Both have shown winning form recently, and they might not return empty-handed.

Peter Amaus is booked to make the trip to Eiccarton. There is nothing much in the performance of the bay gelding to encourage the ■ belief that he can win the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, but he managed to get up into third place in that event last year, and with 9.8 he has 51b less to carry in this year’s contest. The injuries Rafa suffered prior to the start of the Stewards’ Handicap at Trentham oh Wednesday last have proved much more serious than was at first thought, and he can apparently bo written out for some time.

In the decision of the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race last year Vagabond carried 11.0 and beat all his field w T ith the exception of General Advance, to whom he was conceding 171 b. In this year’s race General Advance (10.12) is called upon to concede Vagabond (10.10) 21b.

'There was an interesting bout of schooling over the big fences at Riccarton on Tuesday, in which Tigerland, Charlatan, Taralga and Swindasa took part. They started over the sod wall, but Swindasa ran off early. The other three jumped eight fences in all. Tigerland and Charlatan led from start to finish, winding up about sixty yards ahead of Taralga, after giving a splendid exhibition of fencing.