THE NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 470, 27 July 1899, Page 12

THE NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

[’Ey our Canterbury Correspondent.'] Straybird and Torpina are the first of the North Island contingent to arrive at Riecarton to undergo the final preparation for the National Meeting. They were taken to Riecarton on Tuesday. Mr D. Rutherford’s team, Social Pest, Female Franchise, Highlander, and Pensioner, did not ■have a great run of luck at North Island meetings. Only the two first-named succeeded in winning a race. Highlander and Pensioner, especially the latter, are no class. Social Pest has been set a severe task in the Grand National Hurdles, but with all his weight his chance is highly thought of; H (Ideal was sent down as a real good thing for the Stewards’ Handicap at the Wellington meeting. Muscatel and The Friar were favorites in the Steeplechase, very few backers going on Morag. Shylook had very few supporters for the race he won. The handicaps for the three principal events at the Canterbury National Meeting have put a little more life into sporting matters. In the Steeplechase I like the chances of Dummy, Kanaka, Ruby, Barnado, Violence, and Powder Monkey, while a half-dozen from whom I think the winner will come in the National Hurdles are Social Pest, Defiance, Whangaroa, Troubadour, Windermere, and Straybird. It is very difficult to select the winner of the Winter Cup, but the following six are, to my mind, not over-weighted : —Female Franchise, Sequin, Gold Leaf, Whario, Malatua, and Eidelweiss. It is early yat to make selections, and many of the horses engaged have not been seen out for some time. Dummy, Defiance, and Kanaka are favorite doubles for the National Hurdles. Although it has been reported that Battleaxe will not be a starter in the National Hurdle Race the horss continues to be coupled in doubles. I hear that Windermere has been doing some capital work under Lewis’s direction. At Ashburton Dundee, who finished third in the race last year, is also reported to be in good trim. Of the two I prefer Windermere’s chance, Ben Farley has been doing a lot of walking exercise on the roads. Sheenan should have his favorite in racing trim in a couple of weeks. It will be noticed that Mr Henry has allotted Starshot and Dundas the same weight, 11.3, in the Winter Cup. Dundas is, I think, a better miler, but, so far, he has not carried welter weights. It is just possible that Starshot will be at him, and that Benzoin will wollop the pair.