A MILD SURPRISE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 9

A MILD SURPRISE

Changed Discussions On Northerns

WIDE RANGE COVERED Discussions on the Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase double reached a new tempo yesterday, and a number of horse# advanced considerably in popular estimation; none more so than Enjoyment in the hurdles. In the morning, Mr. C. Powell's representative was at remunerative odds with practically every acceptor for the big 'chase, but a run set in during the day. and in some quarters last night he was at almost prohibitive prices with anything with a chance in the Steeplechase. 15 a ver y useful horse indeed, as he is at home en the flat, over nurdles and cross-country. He is setting kP„ ln years—he is rising 12—but he has very sparingly raced, and the prenlnJ. tv. , IS best season - After winJriP g r, e Handicap Hurdles at 'w .£" el^ u ? ry last > he finished second in both highweight handicaps at m ' ari followed these good runs impressive win in the Karere at the Manawatu meeting at Marton on March 21. Racing at Hawera on May 16, he was a f'°? r fourth in the Tangahoe Hurdles won by Besiege from Colibri and Erndale, J?" 1 . p the afternoon he easily defeated Dozie Boy and Chat and nine other horses in the Egmont Steeplechase. It is perhaps significant that Mr. Powell oia not give him a nomination for the Great Northern Steeplechase. Enjoyment can be depended upon to give a good account of himself in the hurdles. One thing is certain—no horse will strip in better condition. The Absolute Favourite Other inquiries concerned the prospects of Dividend and Erndale, but Kanui Te Pal remained the absolute favourite, and a . hot one at that. It is quite clear that his bad third behind Colihri and R-inascor in the Hamilton Hurdles last Saturday did not lose Kanui Te Pai any admirers for the Northern. On the contrary, there is a concensus of opinion that he will perform much better over the longer distance of Saturday's race. Conflagration, with six wins to his credit this season, four of them over country, remains the popular fancy for the Steeplechase, but Master Lackham and Clansman have met with marked support during the past forty-eight hours.

Has Been Over Hill Master Lackham Is a brilliant hurdler and also a very useful galloper under high weights on the flat, but he has yet to prove himself over countrv. He was brought to Auckland last Easter, and had a run in «the Autumn Steeplechase, demonstrating his ability to negotiate the course. He finished on strongly in third place and is reported to have 'done well In the interim. Clansman, on the other hand, has done exceedingly well in his cross-country efforts at EUerslie, winning no fewer than four steeplechases there since last June, when he won the Greenlane Steeplechase. Commencing this season in fine style by taking the Pakuranga Hunt Cup. three miles, he has since added the Onehunga and Autumn Steeplechases to his credit. On the other side of the ledger, it is relevant to mention that Clansman, who is a seven-year-old son of Vaals and Judy Kelly, fell In the last Great Northern, but he had had very little experience at the time of that mishap. His present condition is a credit to A. E. Cox, of Te Aroha.