GREAT NORTHERN EVENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 May 1946, Page 6

GREAT NORTHERN EVENTS

Big ffelds are in prospect for tlie first of tlie principal jumping events tliis winter, tlie Great Northern Hurdles and Gieat Northern Steeplechase, to be run at Ellerslie early next month. The' hurdles attracted an entry of 60 and the steeplechase 49, leaving plenty of room for thinning out. Many of the leading jumpers in past seasons may again be on hahd, although ' a notable absentee will be Dauber, last year's Great Northern Steeplechase winner, who suft'ered a perrnanent breakdotvn after nominations were received. Included ' am'ong the nominees are Master Meruit, the We'llingtonGrahd National Steeplechase winner of last winter, and three earlier'winners of the Great Northern Hurdles — Town Survey (1943), Huuto (1944) and Good Armour (1945). The deads of Bright Fox over hurdles uuder weight have elevated liini to the top of the handicap for both Great Northerns, though he has yet to race over country. He has 11.12 in the hurdles and 11.10 in the steeplechase. Bright Fox would need to record a performance without parallel for many years to win either race. Since 1892 the only winners of the hurdles with as much weight as Bright Fox have been Liberator (12. 9. in 1895) and St. Simon (12.12, 1897). Witli less pace on, weight has not stopped the steeplechasers as since Marconi won the first Great Northern Steeplechase in 1885 under 12.0, Liberator (1895), Levanter (1897), Dummy (1899), The Guard 1902), Kaitere (1907), Wainui! (1918) and Coalition ( 1921) have been successful with bigger weights than Bright Fox has been allotted, the winning weight-carrying record being held by Kaitere who mastcred 12.13 when he made liis second winning appearance in the race in 1907. Bright Fox would ueed to be a Eeeord Keigu to take tlie Steeplechase and it will probably be fouud that liis activitics at the meeting wili be confinod to liurdliug. A Favoured Candidate. Bruntomo (11.4) is a candidate who is being freely discussed for the hurdles. He was given a sound preparation on the flat before returning to liurdliug at Ellerslie in the middle oi' last month. With 11.0 he Avas the leader iu tlie Brighton , Hurdles, but tired towards the fiuish of the tAvo miles, aud Kanui te Pai beat hiiu decisively. Brantome had better fortune over two miles in tlie Avondale Hurdles a week ago, mastering liis Great Northern weight -aiid winning by ten lengths from a weak field, it was last winter that Brantome came to the forc among tlie hurdlers, liis speetacular jumping and pace on thc flat making everv race he cdntesled niore than usually interesting. It was a qucstion of how far he would go, but on three occasions lie la.'ted to scorc by good liiargins. Brantome, Avitli another year on liis age, mav be a differont j.iroposition this year and it will be in his l'avour that-he will have the services of the capable Awapuni horseman, W. Jenkins, throughout his engagements. Town Survey 's chance of repeating his suecess of .1943 with 11.2 look slim. He was the outstanding hurdler in tlie winter of 1943 as he also won the Wellington Winter and Grand National Hurdles, a fcat hitherto unaccomplished. Last winter his lone success was in tlie Campbell Hurdles at Ellerslie, lle was switchod to stecplochasing at Trentham,, but did not talcc too kindly to the bigger obstacles. Ilunto Avent th rough last winter without winning, and under 11.0 has the task ahead of him to equal the feat of E1 Gallo by taking the hurdles twice. However, at Paeroa last week he surprised by finishing second to Sporting Gold in the Turua Hurdles with 11.7, his flrst appearance for .nearly 12 months. A Southern Prospect. Good Armour proved the best staying hurdler of last winter, the Great Northern and Wellington Winter Hurdles being his principal triumphs, while he also ran third in the Grand National Hurdles. He has 10.8, the- weight he carried at Kieearton. Boolamskee is a Washdyke entry who has been racing promisingly 011 the flat. No hurdler had more ill-fortune last winter and it looked as if he lost an excellent chance when he crashed at the flnal flight in tlie Grand National. With average luck, W. P. Hogan will win good races with him this winter. He is haudily weighted in the Northern Hurdles with 9.13 and 21b. less in the steeplechase. Master Meruit beat the last Wellington Htceplechase field easilv, while it was a similar story in the Grand National. Master Meruit returncd to racing recently by winning among tlie hurdlers at Hastings and lie promiscs to strip a flt horse for his engagements at Ellerslie. He is not harshly treatcd with 11.3 in the steeplechase. Since thc appearance of thc weights, the Feilding owned and traincd Abdicatc (9.5) has come iuto discussion asa hurdles prospect. His rccent fonn on tlie flat has been good, while last season lie won the Vittoria Hack Ilhrdles at Trentham, and later fluished a good flfth in the Grand National Hurdles. Hc shoulel be oue of the best seasoned horses oiigaged aud is a good juniper Avitli plenty of stamina. Eacing at Waikato this Avcek is likei ly to shetl further light ou the situa-' tion, and the fonn of Northern candif dates raeing therc will be watched Avitli intcrcst.