TE RAPA FORM

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 201, 23 May 1944, Page 7

TE RAPA FORM

Abbey Lu’s Fencing Impressive

(BY ST. Simon.) The Waikato Racing Club's winter meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday was the last public rehearsal for Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase candidates. Abbey Lu, winner of the Te Steeplechase, was trained for part oi last jumping season by A. Jenkins, but after the Grand National meeting was sent home to his owner. lie was the most promising of the younger horses to come into prominence last season, when as a five-year-old he won the Tamaki Steeplechase at Auckland, the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase at Hastings, and the Mariri Steeplechase at Wellington. Though scarcely seasoned tor the task, ho took on the Grand National but he jumped in slovenly style, and was pulled up. His jumping was the feature of Abbey Lu’s three wins last term and again this season, with another year on hiri age, he has given two splendid exhibitions. He won the Autumn Steeplechase of three miles over the Ellerslie country at Easter with 10.10. and he carried 10.8 over three miles at Te Rapa on Saturday. He was weighted 10.5 for the Great Northern Steeplechase, but is liable to rehandtcap.

Has Shown Promise. Since he rain three places in steeplechases and won the Waikato Hunt Cup in the spring, Surpeen has been racing over hurdles. He won a steeplechase and two hurdle races last season and was several tifies placed. He gave promise then that he would ultimately do well in crosscountry events. He is an aged gelding by Surveyor from a dam of unknown breeding.

How the Race was Run. A northern account of the running of the Te Rapa Steeplechase states that though the favourite. Surpeen, was beaten, his supporters had no real cause for complaint for he jumped beautifully and was always in the vanguard. Winning Tray made the early pace from Bronzemor, Surpeen and Kinkle, followed by Dividend, The Cardinal, Royal Jay. and Hessketoon. Bronzemor and Aintree fell at the end of a mile, and entering the last round Surpeen was leading from Winning Tray, Abbey Lu. Kinkle. The Cardinal, and Dividend. Winning Tray took over the pace again at the five from Surpeen. Abbey Lu, The Cardinal, and Hessketoon, with Chat commencing to make up ground, /it the three furlongs Surpeen and Abbey Lu ■went ahead of Winning Tray, who was tiring, and fell at the brush on the home turn, The. Cardinal and Hessketoon. After jumping the last fence Abbey Lu outstayed Surpeen and beat him by two lengths. Hessketoon finished on three lengths away for third money, and The Cardinal was fourth, with Chat next, then Kinkle, Royal Jay, and Dividend.

Costly Error. _ .... A mistake at the last fence which he hit very hard cost the promising young jumper Gold Cape the Hamilton Hurdle?*. However, the honours of the contest must go to the topweight and favourite, Erndale. who conceded Gold Cape two stone, gave a perfect exhibition of fencing, and sustained a run in the straight under hi« big weight to win by a head. Gold Cape was two lengths clear of Erndale when he made his error, and it was only in tire last few strides that Erndale was able to bridge the gap and win. Sir Grant w T as the early pacemaker from Besiege. Prince Rewa, Transmitter. Stock Exchange, and Hunting Mac. with Erndale one of the last bunch. Stock Exchange and Hunting- Mac were in charge at the seven from Sir Grant. Gold Cape. Besiege. Erndale and Varuna next. Gold Cape lost ground by an indifferent jump at the five, but he quickly made up the ground and joined Stock Exchange in the lead as they ran for the straight with Hunting Wac third and Wildore and Erndale next. Gold Cape drew clear going to the last fence, but Erndale ran him down to win narrowly. Stock Exchange finished a very close third after being prominent throughout, and he is certain to make many friends for his Great Northern Hurdles engagement.

Bred at West Derby, Altess, winner of a division of the Otorohanga Handicap, at Te Rapa, is a three-year-old brown colt by Defoe from Marausio and was bred at the West Derby Stud by Mr. A. Edmund Preston. The colt wag bought by his present owner, Mr. T. Patterson, for lOOgns. at the national sales In 1942. He is bred on the same cross as those good performers bir Crusoe and Daniel Defoe, being by Detoe from an Arausio mare. His dam never raced. She was from Maropa, a sister to Cherubini, winner of the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies, Rossini, winner of the Derby, and to the good handicap performers Soldiers’ Chorus and Tannhausen Altess was having his fifth, start on Saturday since he joined C. W. McManemin’s stable. Good First Attempt. Abdicate, who won recently on the flat for his new owner, Mr. G. W. Clark, was given his first run as a hurdler at Woodville and he performed satisfactorily for a novice, finishing fifth though some distance from the winner.

Few Going North. There will not be the usual representation from the southern eiid of the North Island in the three main events, the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase and Cornwall Handicap, at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting this year. This is solely due to transport difficulties. Indian Sport, Hasten, Dozie Bpy and other horses from Hawke’s Bay who are engaged in the minor events, and Chat from Awapuni, are already in the north, having travelled by sea. but most of the remaining candidates from the southern end of the island will drop out on acceptance day and will do their next racing at Wanganui. Few trainers are agreeable to dispatch their charges by sea unless they can be accompanied by attendants, and passages for stable lads are not available. Colonel Rouge to Spell. J. J. Waller has Lightfair, Lady Spiny and Colonel Rouge engaged in the throe main races, but they are not going north. Colonel Rouge injured himself during the running of the steeplechase at the Taranaki patriotic meeting, and he will require a long spell. The other two members of the team will race at Wanganui. C. J. Thomson had Renascor, Te Kawiti and Young Charles engaged in the Great Northern Hurdles. Renascor had to be thrown out of work after tho Feildlng meeting on account of lameness. Young Charles is likely to contest the Century Hurdles at Wanganui, and Te Kawiti may run on the flat, though he is also in the hurdles. Doubt About Moderate. There is still a- doubt about Moderatp’s programme. After Ills Woodville Cup success his owner is keen to race him at Auckland, but transport is the main problem and the horse's trainer, B. Burgess, is not keen on the sea voyage without an attendant. Next at Mamiwiitu.

For the same reason Kanui te Pai will not fulfil his Auckland steeplechase engagement. He was not entered tor the Wanganui Steeplechase in the belief that lie would be at Auckland, but when the shilling company refused a passage for an attendant, L. Knapp decided to remain at home, and Kanui-te Pai's next outing will be in the Manawatu Steeplechase. It is understood that H. Dulieu’s two hurdlers, Mountain Fox and Noble Fix, will race at Wanganui. Answers to Inquiries. "Buddy," Wellington; £3/7/- and £1 8/6. ••A.8.." Wellington: £2/10/-. < "P.P.M..” Lovin: (1) £B/11/6, £3. £3, £3/1/-. (2) £4B/10/-, £9/13/-, £2/16/-, £2/9/6,