THE NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 461, 25 May 1899, Page 12

THE NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

[By

Petronel.]

The Auckland Racing Club may be congratulated up jn the general entries for the forthcoming cross-country meeting, for though the nominations might have been more numerous the class of jumping horses competing is undeniably good. In the minor events the entries altogether total 197, which, with the 22 nominated for the Grand National Hurdles and the 25 entered for the Great Northern Steeplechase, makes a grand total of 244 nominations received by Mr Percival. On Friday last the acceptances for the big races came in, and it was found that only six horses had dropped out of the Grand National Hurdles, while sixteen out of the original twenty-five entered for the Great Northern Steeplechase had cried content. The withdrawals from the National are St. Kilda, Cairo, Little Billee, Anita, Kapai, and Pyroxylin. The defection of St. Kilda, Kapai, Little Billee, and Anita was to be expected, but Pyroxylin had been doing good work over the sticks, and some people expected to see him perform well with his light burden. He, however, is engaged in the Maiden Hurdles on the second day, so perhaps it has been found that the mile and three-quarters will suit him better than the two mile course. Cairo is out because of an accident. He slipped up the other day in soft going, and strained some muscles. This is a pity, for the Gipsy King gelding had a very favorable weight, and would undoubtedly have run a good race. I am under the impression that we did not see quite the best of Cairo at the Ellerslie Autumn Meeting, and had he remained fit and well I should have taken Mr Peachey’s gelding as one of the likely ones. Dummy, with all his weight—and he has plenty to carry with list 101 b up—is still in the race, and probably he will be running on when a good few of the light-weight division have hid enough. The Mute’s son would have been nominated for the Wanganui meeting, but it was found that he could not be prepared in time, owing to his en forced absence from the training track. His mishap cannot have affected him very seriously, however, or he would not have been left in the National aud in the b reat Northern Steeplechase. The Takapuna running showed Bellman to be in rattling good form, but I think the Tetford gelding can be made just a trifle better by the time the big hurdle race comes along. After Splinter fell Bellman had matters all his own way, and he proved decisively that the rumours as to his inability to gallop in the mud were all wrong. Saturday was a heavy day with a vengeance, and Mr Hannon’s chestnut was not in the least troubled by the holding state of the track Bellman met Nor’ West with a stone the b st of it at Takapuna, at Ellerslie Bellman has 31bs less to carry, and Nor’-West has 71bs taken off- There is still a difference of lOlbs between the pair, and at that I believe Bellman holds Nor’-West in perfect safety. Splinter’s fall causes a feeling of distrus-.. The Natator ge’ding may go over again for as he flies his hurdles the slightest touch is liable to topple him over. Then again Splinter has not got through such a tremendous Jot of work over hurdles, and though a fast horse on the flat he has before now had to be stopped in his work when in preparation for a jumping race. He certainly looks as fit as a fiddle, and with the careful attention he is receiving at Frank Macmanemin’s hands, he will probably go to the post in splendid fettle, and he well be a well backed horse too. Good accounts of Whangaroa, Kanaka, Marina, and Hangfire have been received and I believe some of the superstitious order of backers have picked on Whangaroa, as a ship beari- g that name was the first to bring news of the missing steamer Perthshire ! The Wanganui running shows that Marina is entitled to the very greatest respect for the Grand National Hurdles, I have a liking for Shylock, for the Wapiti gelding battles all the way through his races, and he has a very nice turn of speed. Mayday is a mare that will run a very good race. I suppose it is a question as to which is the better, Kanaka or Mayday, but I shall not be surprised if the mare is started in the Hurdles and Kanaka reserved for the Steeplechase. At the present time I like the chances of Bellman, Kanaka, Mayday, Marina, and Nor’-West. Ab was expected, Rhino did not accept for the Great Northern Steeplechase, and others who have fallen out are Cairo, Claymore, Perform, Kapai, Ned Kelly, En Avant, Conscript, and Hirstland. These withdrawals leave sixteen acceptors, exactly the same as the National Hurdle Race has. Dummy, with list 111 b, has 121 b more than he carried to victory in the New Zealand Grand National last year, and if he can carry the weight to victory over the trying Ellerslie course he will add glory to his already distinguished reputation. Of the tried performers his most dangerous antagonist, Rhino, is out of the way. The old hands remaining in are Nor’-West, Miss Nelson, Magpie, and Muscatel. All these know the Ellerslie steeplechase course, and may be relied upon to negotiate its difficulties in safety. Old Mangere would probably have done better to have stayed on the other side, but he is another who should have no trouble in getting over the jumps and climbing the hill. Kanaka and Muscatel are very fairly treated indeed. I he first-named is a beautiful ’chaser, and I expect him to handsomely beat all the Auckland horses, On their Takapuna running he should hold Nor’-West easily, and Nor’West I take to be the 'best of the Auckland

horses we know. Splinter has nothing to carry, but he has yet to earn brackets over country; while Dingo, who is always said to be going to astonish the racing world, has not yet done anything to recommend him for such a race as the Great Northern Steeplechase. Muscatel had 61b more to carry this year than she won with at the last A.R.C. National Meeting, and as she is accomplishing good work it is evident that she must command great respect. Probably this year s field is of superior quality to the runners engaged in the ’9B Steeplechase, but I think Muscatel will be very close up at the finish of the race. She is a pretty jumper, and can race on the flat. By her win at Wanganui she incurs a 51b penalty, but even this does not put her outf of court. Amongst the light-weights Kaitoa is performing excellent work at Ellerslie, and Crusado has done very creditably in public. Riot has very little to recommend him, and the “ foreigners ” I want to know more about before taking them on my side. So far I think the winner will come from Kanaka, Muscatel, Dummy, and Crusado.