THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 262, 4 August 1942, Page 6

THE RACING WORLD

NEW LIGHT ON NATIONAL Hunt Club Form LITTLE TO TROUBLE FOXIANA By Telegraph.—From The Watcher. CHRISTCHURCH, August 3. The form displayed in the Homeby Steeplechase, viewed from the Grand Na tional standpoint, was not exceptional. Giving Ruling Star full marks for his display and success, he is not a horse whose form .particularly appeals as likely to win a Grand National, though it certainly is in his favour that he can jump the Riccarton fences and is a good stayer. Twelve months ago he showed good form to beat ail but Astral Flame in the Lawford Steeples at the Hunt meeting, but while Astral Flame went on to win the National, Ruling Star did not again run up to form It he runs consistently he cannot be denied a lightweight’s chance, but it will be baseu on Saturday’s running and not on hie previous form. Slayer’s Chances. . . . Slayer looks better and brighter this year than he did last year, and his .pre* paration would appear to have been timed for the National. He ran a satisfactory race on Saturday and was staying ou solidly. Slayer has been placed in previous National behind winners of the calibre of Padishah and Clarion Call, and he would appear to hold as good a chance as any. However, he was ehowing signs of heat in a foreleg today, which make his prospects a bit doubtful unless the trouble clears quickly. Doile Boy. . Dozte Boy was running on at the end or the Homebv Steeples, and his rider, Jenkins, is satisfied that the extra mile ot the National will enable him to get into the firing line. Master Rackham. Master Lackham, who could uot start at Wellington because of soreness from a splint, made play for most of the running on Saturday, but after giving a good display over his fences, he was tiring badly at the end. As it was his first race since Auckland in June, he should improve, but It is doubtful if he will be at his best by next Saturday. He also gives the Impression when galloping of moving a little tenderly in front.

At Peak of Form. The style in which Hrudale disposed of the opposition in the Longbeach Hurdles gives any ot them little prospects ot reversing form in the Grand National, and most people will look to the fresh hordes to give Saturday’s winenr most trouble in the big event. Erndale was Inclined to be careful and jump big, no doubt hie experiences at Trentham being fresh in his memory, but he did not lose very muon bv this, and on the hat he was vastly superior. Erndale gives the impression that bis inability to complete the course on either day at Trentham may be a blessing in disguise, as he did not have a searching test in heavy going, with the result that he is at Riccarton bursting with energy and at the peak of his form.

Futur© National Winner? Benevolent, surprise winner of the Lawford Steeplechase, looks the part, despite the fact that he was a flat racing failure. In fact, if all goes well with him, he is a future winner of the National. He was having only his second start over fences when he won and, though he shows inexperience, he will improve, and he has much more pace than the average jumper, while in build he is an ideal type. Benevolent is the first jumper owned by Dr. M. G. Louisson, a good supporter of racing, whose success was deservedly popular. Bjr. Louisson paid 650 guineas for him as a yearling, but Benevolent won only one small race on the flat. He is an exceptionally well bred gelding, being by Beau Pere from Dignified, by Dignity (son of Gainsborough) from Queen Warbler, by Comedy King—Yippingdale, by William the Third from Chelandry., Being only a six-year-old, he appears to have a bright future as a jumper.

Clansman. Clansman did not start in the Homeby Steeplechase, hut there is not much wrong with him apart from slight soreness in front. He will be schooled on Thursday morning. The southern horseman, It. J. Mackie; has been engaged to ride him. Mackie is at present in camp and hopes to 'be able to get leave to school the gelding on Thursday morning.

Still th© Favourite. Taking the form of the National horses all round, including that in the Homeby Steeplechase, there is nothing to cause the followers of Foxiana any anxiety.

Brabazon Form. If the form of the Winter Cup horses in the Brabazon Handicap can he relied on, there does not appear much prospect of many of the runners reversing places with Bashful Lady and All Night. However, Sally Lunn and The Champ should both improve for the big mile. Sally Lunn, who was having her first race since Easter, will definitely improve and. as it was also only the second occasion for The Champ since the Easter meeting at Riccarton, he also should improve. The Champ began well on Saturday and held a prominent position for a long w r ay, weakening only in the last half furlong. 'Saturday’s winner, Bashful Lady, is unique, as she is a five-year-old having her first racing season, and she also has had a foal to a Salmagundi colt with whom she was running out in the paddock early in her career.

Solid Type. All Night>looks a very solid type of gelding, and, as he is inclined to unsoundness and does not get much l ard work on the tracks, racing will do more for him than for many of his opponents. Will be Hard.

■Compeer is making a great bid to fol* low in the footsteps of Treasurer last year in winning the same three, races in succession. .He has the first two in, and there is only the Winter Cup to go. Naturally this is the hardest test, but on the way Compeer gallops there is no reason to doubt his ability to hold his own in open class. In fact, he looks like being one of the hardest horses to beat. Team in Form.

The Ricearton trainer, C. Emmerson, has his team in good order at present. He won two races on Saturday with Benevolent and Foxhaven, and in the last race he supplied the third horse, Arabian Night, who put up a good effort after a very slow beginning. In addition to this trio. Don’t Forget ran a good race in the Brabazon Handicap. His maiden w/nner, Foxhaven, cost Mr. N. H. Barlow oOOgns. as a yearling, but in seven starts as a two-year-old he was placed only once. Since he last raced, he was gelded and, on the way he raced on Saturday he will win again’shortly. Foxhaven is by Foxbridge from Pelagia, by Chief Ruler from Rapture, who was .by Kilbroney from a half-sister to Danube.

Jjikely Hacks. Two hacks from the best Stonyhurst families now racing in other interests ran well on -Saturday. The first was Full Pitch, a four-year-old by Winning Hit from Sailor’s Love, a sister to Fast Passage, and the other is a five-year-old out of Fast Passage herself, Mauretania, who finished a good fourth behind Compeer after a bad passage.

Donnybrook Fair. The four-year-old horse Donnybrook Fair, by Foxbridge from Babel, was not produced in the Maiden Stakes on Saturday. He had been working particularly well and punters were on the lookout for him, but he went a trifle sore and no risks were taken with him. His trainer, Albert Cutts, has a high opinion of this horse. He says that unfortunately just as he is coming right he gets tender, but be declares that if he ever does come right and remains sound, he will prove one of the best gallopers the stable has had for many years.

Aquitaine. Aquitaine, who paid a long price for her third placing in the Maiden Stakes, is a five-year-old mare from a well-known Hawke’s Bay family, being by Gascons' from Tigrone, by Tractor —Tigcroy, by Kilboy—Tigris, bv Birkenhead. She is trained by M. B. Edwards. plenty of Pace.

Home Rule showed plenty of pace out in front of the Maiden field, and had he drawn closer to the rails than. 22. ho would probably have been able to run on better at the finish. Field Weakened. Evan’s Head was scra-tched for all engagements at the Grand National meeting at C> p.m. on -Saturday. The Nightly gelding had a host of admirers for the Grand National Hurdles aft el* his Wellington displays, and his withdrawal weakens the field. Doubtful Starter.

H. Nurse, trainer of Treasurer and St. Cloud, is at present confined to bed with influenza. Treasurer did not run on Saturday, and it is now doubtful if he will be running in the Winter Cup.