THE GRAND NATIONAL

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17787, 12 August 1929, Page 8

THE GRAND NATIONAL

TO OPEN TO-MORROW. THE FIELDS DISCUSSED. BIG STEEPLES AND WINTER CUP (Special to Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Another National Meeting is on us, and as usual pessimists are bemoaning that our ’chasers are deteriorating, and are very bad indeed. Some poorclass jumpers are in evidence, but also there are some good ones—some already made, and some in the making —'and the pessimists may get a surprise for it is on the cards that a fresh time record will be put up for the Grand National Steeplechase, the Grand National Hurdles, and the Winter Cup. Cross-country Item. If one can believe the talk heard on every side, Wiltshire will probably start a rather better favourite than Lord Ranald for the National Steeplechase, but that will not make him beat the Masterpiece gelding. There is no doubt that Wiltshire is a good horse on firm ground, but rather useless in mud. When the ground is firm he is a beautiful jumper. On soft going he hooks his fences. A hard puller, he goes at his fences with great dash, and his jumping is rather too spectacular. All this must tire him. Also, although bright in the coat and galloping well, he is not showing as much muscle a.?! lie did a year ago. Lord Ranald is of exactly the opposite type, much bigger and better looking than Wiltshire. He is of the easy-going sorf. He lobs along, and his great stride deceives as to the pace he is going. He sets a fence while still one hundred yards from it, skims over it in an effortless manner, and is galloping at once and looking for the next fence, and all the time he has to he hunted on to his hit. Wiltshire may beat him next Tuesday, but the day will come when Lord Ranald will beat him at even weights, and do it easily. One advantage he will always have over the chestnut gelding—he is equally good in mud or on firm ground. Of the other runners in the National Kawini, looks best, as he is a sure jumper, and is very well. Fabriano has a battler's chance. He should beat King’s Guard, who is extremely light in condition, and appears to be gone in the wind. The others, save Maunga, do not appear to have any chance of beating Lord Ranald, Wiltshire, or Kawini. Maunga, being a rare stayer, may, however, trouble them, if he stands up. Grand National Hurdles.

Ever since the weights appeared for the Grand National Hurdles .Mister Gamp has been a pronounced favourite, and rightly so, for his public showings entitled him to that position. Since arriving at Riccarton he has been keenly watched, and his work has not been of a satisfactory nature. For days practically lie did nothing. On Wednesday lie was schooled over four flights of hurdles, having Novar for a companion. He jumped well, but Novar did better, and the time was rather slow. He blew hard after it, and was evidently ' “short of work.” On-Thursday lie galloped over a short course with Elysianor and the black gelding held him easily. He blew hard again. This led people to think that he was not such a good thing for the National Hurdles as was at first thought. Horses that are short of work do not win such races as the National Hurdles.

Now it has been announced that if the ground is Arm, as it is likely to be, Novar will beat him at the weights, but will not do so if it is soft. This announcement has caused Novar to get into the top line. Other National Hurdles candidates in Mangani, Horomea, Bed Fuchsia. Locarno, Overhaul, and Lancer are all doing lots of work, and are doing it well.

Mangani, who is only a pony, is going particularly well. He must give Novar and Mister Gamp a great go for

Overhaul is another that will take a lot of beating. His people are very confident, and so are the connections of Red Fuchsia and Locarno. They are not absolutely confident of winning, but they say their horses are good and fit, and they will have to be beaten.

If one of the so-called roughies in the race defeat the known good ones it is likely to be Lancer. Only a plodder he is a rare stayer, and a fine jumper. He will be battling along when ‘many of his more brilliant opponents have, cried enough. Indeed, he looks sure to finish in a place if the race is run at a solid and such is usually the case, for lie is dead game. The Winter Cup. The Winter Cup looks to be very open. Some good milers are engaged. Since arriving, Gold Cure has done so very well that he w4ll go out one of the favourites. In rare health, he is just the type t.o win a Winter Cup. He will be ridden by' “Snowy" Morris, who is as good as any other rider.

Otairi is being backed with confidence.

Kaiti galloped six furlongs very nicely on Thursday, and he will carry a lot"of money. Also, lie will not want much luck in running to finish in the money. No more seasoned horse will contest the race than the Soullilander, King Balboa. He will take all sorts of beating, for he is good. Bonogne may find the journey just a shade too far, but he will be in the final struggle.

Since running such a good race in the Brabazon Welter at the Hunt meeting, after getting all the worst of a wretched start, Royal Game has come into favour, as he had every right to do. He must run a good race, hut he was not the only horse left in the Brabazon Welter. Overdrawn was just showing in front of him, the two being last of a strung-out lot at the end of the first hundred yards. They came into the straight together. Royal Game was taken to the outer and got second money. Overdrawn’s rider tried to thread his way through the field, and was stopped promptly. As the post was passed he was one of four who were almost in line witli King Balboa, who finished third. He has more than a rough chance. Gold Cure and King Balboa are likely to dispute favouritism, but the race is no certainty for them, and either Kaiti, Overdrawn or Otairi may defeat them. In a Class by Himself. Of the minor class steeplechasers Birkbeck appears to be in a class by himself. He schooled over the course on Wednesday and jumped it quite as well as Wiltshire did. On track form Elysianor is easily the

best of the second-class hurdlers, and next to him comes Gala Day. In the hunters’ division Gay Jim and Mime are likely to shape best. Both are schooling well. The race he had at the Hunt meeting has done Mime a lot of good. Of the hacks engaged Red Boa will carry most money, but Starshooter and Hounslow are sure to race well, especially their second time out. Of the older division that are likely to show up later in the meeting, Haze and Malmsey look a very likely pair. The Taranaki-owned mare Horomea is another that will race well during the meeting. The Acceptances.

RACING IN AUSTRALIA. VICTORIA CLUB’S MEETING. MOSSTROOPER WINS STEEPLES(Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, August 11. The Victoria Amateur Turf Club’s August Meeting was concluded at Caulfield yesterday. The following was the result of the leading event:— TIIE AUSTRALIAN STEEPLECHASE. Of £2IOO. About 3£ miles. MOSSTROOPER, 10.9 1

SEAFIT, 11.5 2 NAM ERA, 10.11 3 Also started:: Sandhurst, 12.7; Epergne, 11-3; George William, 10.7; Willanjie, 9.13. Mosstrooper led over the first fence and going easily passed the stand two lengths ahead of Willanjie and George William. Willanjie fell at the fence near the seven-furlongs post, Sandhurst toppling over him. Mosstrooper had a lead of two and a-half lengths into the straight the last time round from Epergne and Seaflt. Namera was last, but then began to move fonvard. Seaflt looked threatening at the halfmile, but Mosstrooper, jumping well, won easily by three lengths. Namera was three lengths away third, with Epergne five lengths further back, in fourth place. George William was last. Time, 7-01. Mosstrooper won the Australian Hurdle Race on August 3. EVENTS IN QUEENSL&KD. SUCCESS OF VALPARAISO. SEATOWN AND ORATRIX PLACED. (Australian Press Association.) BRISBANE, August 11. The Queensland Turf Club’s meeting opened at Eagle Farm yesterday.. In the decision of the National Plate New Zealand had two representatives

in the shape of Seatown and Oratrlx; ( but, though they ran well, they wer» both defeated by the New South Wales gelding Valparaiso. The following are the details of the event:— NATIONAL PLATE. Of £600; weight-for-age; miles. VALPARAISO, 9.1 1 SEATOWN, 9.1 2 ORATRIX. 8.13 3 Valparaiso won by a length and aquarter from Seatown, who beat Oratrix by a short head for second place. Time, 2.6. ASCOT HANDICAP. The Ascot Handicap, of six furlongs, resulted in Wise Force (8.0), winning from Miss Dry (7-0.).

The following are the acceptances: HUNTERS’ HURDLES, Of £250; 1J miles. st. lb. st lb. Gay Jim * - 10 13 Diam'd Jack 9 0 Blrkbeck - - 10 2 R. Despatch 9 0 Gr’nd .National 9 13 WhllTler - - 9 0 Mime - - - 9 11 Barrington - 9 0 Democratic - 9 0 TRIAL HURDLES, Of £300; 1J miles. st. lb. st. lb Amorist - - 10 11 Apache - - - 9 5 Carlnthia - - 10 11 Scion - - - 9 0 Gala Day - - 10 1 Aur. Borealis 9 0 Tburnnell 10 1 Antrim Boy 9 0 Fine Acre - 9 13 JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP, Of £250; 1J miles. st. lb. st. lb. N'ukum3l - - 11 9 P. de Leon 9 7 Overhaul - - 10 0 Red Fuchsia 9 6 Chlckwheat 9 13 Atarerla - - 9 2 Locarno - - 9 12 Fine Acre - 9 0 Novar - - - 9 12 Elysianor 9 0 Aberfeldy - 9 11 Trollus - - - 9 0 Horomea - - 9 10 Brightllng - 9 0 Lancer - - - 9 10 CASHMERE PLATE, Of £250; 6 fur. St. lb. st. lb. Bonrose - - 9 11 Great Lady - 9 0 Danthonla - 9 11 Jalcu.x - - - 9 0 The Dove - - 9 11 Innisfree - - 9 0 Honeycomb - 9 11 Painting - - 9 0 Kate Kelly - 9 11 Leader - - - 9 0 Solgele - - - 9 11 Pat’s Boy - 9 0 Punchestown 9 11 Q. Plunge - ' 9 0 Acainedy 9 0 Ranelagh - - 9 0 Air Laddie - 9 0 Revision - - 9 0 Captivate - • 9 0 Stately - - - 9 0 Desert Son# 9 0 Storm Raid - 9 0 Grand Song: 9 0 Swlftray - - 9 0

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES, Of £1000; 3£ miles. st. lb. st. lb. Kawini - - - 10 13 Matu - - - - 9 5 Wiltshire - 10 9 Fabriano - - 9 o K. Guard - - 10 3 Rangi Sarto 9 0 Maunga - - 9 11 Lord Ranald 9 0 ENFIELD STEEPLES, Of £250; 2 miles. st. lb. st. lb. Dubious - ■ ■ 10.13 Handy - - - 9 10 Alaric io e Kaikahu - - 9 8 Birkbeck - - 10 3 Silver Light 9 0 Bon Aryan - 9 10 WINTER CUP, Of £750 ; 1 mile. st. lb st. lb. Historic - - 10 4 Vesperus - - 9 2 Royal Saxon 10 3 Taboo - - - 9 o Black Duke 10 3 Zippor - - - 9 1 Otairi - - - 9 11 Maui - - - 9 0 King Balboa 9 10 Town Bank 9 0 Kaiti - - - 9 9 Overdrawn - 9 0 Gay Sonnet 9 9 Tcheka - - - 9 0 Gold Cure - 9 9 Prickles - - 9 0 Black Mint - 9 3 First Raid - 9 0 I\ Feather - 9 3 Royal Game 9 0 AVONHEAD HANDICAP, Of £250 ; 7 fur. st. lb. st. lb. Membo - - 10 10 Marsham - - 9 2 Roi de Val - 10 9 The Viscount 9 1 Shortly - - 10 5 Dumblane - 9 1 S. Refrain - 10 4 Moy Hall - 9 0 Red Boa - - 10 4 Roy. Flower 9 0 Filosol - - - 9 13 Otauru Lass 9 0 Phastar - - 9 8 Wrlgley - - 9 0 Grand Acre 9 7 Morian - - 9 0 Hounslow 9 7 Dundalk - - 9 0 Siarshooter 9 5

Second Day (Thursday). GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES, Of £1200; 2i miles. st. lb st. lb. Nukumai - - 11 9 Aberfeldy - 9 8 M. Gamp - 11 5 Horomea - - 9 4 Red Fuchsia 10 9 P. de Leon - 9 4 Overhaul 10 9 Cralgmore - 9 3 Locarno - - 10 2 Mangani - - 9 2 Kovar - - - 9 13 Lancer - - 9 2 Kawinl - - 9 12 Uralla - - - 9 0 K. Guard - - 9 10

THE MOORFIELD MEETING. RUN IN HEAVY RAIN. CATAPULT IN SECOND PLACE. The Moorfleld (New South Wales) meeting on Saturday was run in heavy rain. The following are the results of the various events: — HANDICAP HURDLES. : i About 2 miles. GARRULA I EGO ZIONIST 3 MAIDEN HANDICAP. One mile. JSTANBAH 1 BRASS .BUTTONS 2 THREEOS 3 THREE & FOUR-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP. One mile. First Division. PRINCE VERDERER 1 LINTA 2 CERTIFICATE 3 Second Division. URANGARRA 1 SHINGLE SHORT . . 2 3 MOORFIELD MILE. STAROFF i LEADLIGHT 2 NAN KOURGAN 3 MOORFIELD HANDICAP. mile. SPEARSHOT 1 KOORATHELLA 2 SHARP SON 3 FLYING WELTER HANDICAP. G furlongs. First Division. DAINTY MICK 1 CATAPULT (N.Z.) 2 BRENDON 3 Six started. Won by half a length. Time, 1.20. Second Division. BEAU DENNIS 1 THE PADRE 2 MORE NOISE 3 PAKURANGA HUNT. HANDICAPS ANNOUNCED.

The following handicaps have been declared by Mr F. J. McManemin for events to be run at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting at Ellersiio on Saturday, August 24:— GREENMOUNT HUNTERS STEEPLES, Of £200; about 2j miles. st. lb. st. lbT. Rambler 0 1 3 Temperature 9 10 Marita 0 I'J G. Man’poto 9 7 Foxhound 9 10 Haeremai 9 7 Sea Comet 9 10 Larrikin 9 7 AUCKLAND HANDICAP. Of £200; 1 mile. st. lb. st. lb. Maori Bov 10 13 Sea Cob 9 0 Kaha 10 1 Mon Star 9 0 Bombarder 10 1 Bonny Day 9 0 Bold Front 10 1 Optimistic 9 0 Cybele 9 9 Otranto 9 0 Whakarite 9 9 Carmint y 0 Justify 9 6 Crimestor 9 0 Some Lady 9 4 Dark Prince 9 0 Te Kawana 9 3 Chesterman 9 0 Bizarro 9 3 M. Mason 9 O C. Cobham 9 0 B. Hinkler 9 0 L. Spalpeen 9 0 Mt. Guide 9 0 L. Hopetoun 9 0 Catoma 9 0 Sulla 9 0 HARRIS MEMORIAL HUNTERS HURDLES. Of £200; 11 miles. st. lb. st. lb. Fair Abbev 10 0 Marita 9 0 Mashoor 9 12 Larrikin 9 0 Dia. Jack 9 12 Agra 9 0 Archangel 9 10 Kawiti 9 0 M’r. Roley 9 9 Waiau Lady 9 0 Pompeius 9 9 M. Clements 9 0 Calithe 9 8 Soami 9 0 Ab. Delight 9 8 PAKURANGA HUNT CUP, Of £600; about 3 miles. st. ib. si. lb. Odin 11 3 Pompeius 9 0 Hui. Girl 10 3 Tarrapeen 9 0 Mashoor 9 13 King Fame 9 0 Mataipuke 9 13 Marita 9 0 Master Arch 9 13 Haeremai 9 0 Archangel 9 8 Sea Comet 9 0 Stonewall 9 3 Soami 9 0 T. Rambler 9 3 SYLVIA PARK HANDICAP, Of £200; 7 fur.

st. lb. st. lb. Blk. Maire 10 12 Killute 9 0 Good Boy 10 12 Par. Amour 9 0 Bold Front 10 5 Tuku 9 0 Bombarder 10 5 Lucul. Filly 9 0 p. Eclipse 10 5 Refresher 9 0 Unoco 10 :i Valquelte 9 0 Arikitoa 10 3 Mon Star 9 0 Wh aka rite 0 13 Dinfc Dons: 9 0 Justify 0 10 Alas. Roley 9 0 Fly. Prince 9 10 New Boy 9 0 Val roe 9 10 Salamander 9 0 Adjuster 9 8 W. Country 9 0 Some Lady 9 8 Kahukura 9 0 Motere 9 1 Snownlane 9 0 Arihana 9 1 Lucky Alice 9 0 Sea Gob 9 1 Belle. Star 9 0 Sulla 9 1 01 ran to 9 0 D. Queen 9 0 Ambrosia 9 0 Takuranpa 9 0 Dark Prince 9 0 Q. Cobham 9 0 Gigolo 9 0 Curra.ionK 9 0 Cheslerman 9 0 Measurer 9 0 Bob Amans 9 0 Section 9 0 Valrelna 9 0 Rul. Chief 9 0 Tukanoa 9 0

DUNEDIN HANDICAP, Of £350; 6 fur. st. lb. st. lb. P. Humph v 1 1 1 Cynthia N. 9 0 G. Money 10 10 Valsier 9 0 Paddon 10 10 Arihana 9 0 Hoariri 10 5 Mark Mint 9 0 Dave 9 12 Value 9 0 Bright Land 9 12 Autornne 9 0 Marble Kins 9 12 Ruffles 9 0 Lady’s Boy 9 <> Palmares 9 0 Oration 9 \ Lunette 9 0 Standfast 9 3 Bennie 9 0 Taneriri 9 3 Par. Eclipse 9 0 Denier 9 1 Welkne 9 0 Fly. Prince 9 0 Otranto 9 0 M. O’Rurke 9 0 JELLIGOE HANDICAP, Of £450; 1J miles. st. lb. st. lb. Prodicc 10 9 The Lover 9 0 Paddon 10 9 Zircon 9 0 High Pitch 10 5 K. Willonyx 9 0 Des. Glow 10 0 Oueen Arch 9 0 Piuthair 9 12 Valsier 9 0 K. Emerald 9 5 Welkne 9 0 Thursby 9 2 Tinokoa 9 0 Barometer 9 1 Sir Archie 9 0 True Blood 9 0 Unoco 9 0 Maori Bov 9 0 Mt. Guard 9 0 Taneriri 9 0 LADIES’ BRACELET HANDICAP, Of £200; li miles. st. lb. st. lb. Odin 11 9 Kinp; Fame 10 12 Masnoor 11 5 Ah. DeliRht 10 12 Pomneius 11 5 Perfecto 10 7 Cali the' 11 4 Agra 10 7 Chari taine 11 2 Wai. Lady 10 7 Temp’ture 11 0 Mt. Knight Foxhound 11 0 mare 10 7