AUCKLAND FORM APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 7

AUCKLAND FORM APPEALS

Prospects In Wellington Steeplechase

(By

St. Simon.)

The fifty-eighth eoritest for the Wellington Steeplechase will be decided at 1 rentham next week. The race was founded in 1885. and this year’s race would have been the sixtieth except for the intervention or two world wars which prevented the holding of a winter meeting In 101’5 and again in 1041. „ , , The race Is run over a course of about three miles and a quarter. Originally the distance was three miles, but it was increased an extra quarter of a mile in l»ou and since then the highest weight carried successfully was 12.11, which Coalition had when he won in 1921 in the colours of Hr E. L. Riddlford, who is today president of the Wellington Racing Club. The next best weight-carrying effort is Master Strowan’s 12.5 In 1918, and on seven other occasions since 1996 horses carrying 11.0 or more have been successful. Au acceptance is due today and this will reduce the field of 20 which was entered. This has not been a good season for crosscountry horses, and if a field of 10 Is secured the club will have reason to congratulate itself, specially In view of the fact that the entry did not. include the current season’s two most important win-ners—Anglo-French (Grand National) and Dozie Bov (Great Northern). The conditions of the race stipulate a maximum weight of 12.0. and Mr. Coyle was able to draw up a natural handicap through having an obvious topweight in Foxiana. In his form of two years ago, Foxiana would overshadow the field at this weight, but tendon trouble has kept him off the scene and a minor injury received while schooling prevented him from being tested with a much-needed outing in the Manawatn Steeplechase. It would be rather much to expect Foxiana to win his second Wellington Steeplechase without the benefit of any public preparation, and with his soundness under suspicion. An Interesting sidelight on Foxiana s class was provided a few days ago by his former trainer. Mr. L. G. Morris, when I asked him how he would eomnare this horse with Clarion Call, a dual Grand National winner whom he also trained. Clarion Call was at the height of his fame when Foxiana embarked on his steeplechasing career and Mr. Morris declared without hesitation that Foxiana was the better performer. As a maiden steeplechaser Foxiana could lead Clarion Call in any track task they were set to perform in company. Mr. Morris paid a tribute to th class of both horses, and added that much credit was due to Clarion Call, whose work as a schooling master made such good jumpers of Foxiana and his two brothers. Old Surrey and Hunting Lore. Good Southern Form. Noko, with 11.0, is rated within 31b. of Foxiana. He was the runner-up in the last Grand National Steeplechase, three miles and a half, with 11.7, to his stablemate, Anglo-French, 9.7, and on the second day with 11.10 on his back, he finished third to Anglo-French, jO.B. and Chat, 10.8, in the Lincoln Steeplechase, three miles. Resuming cross-country racing lor the current winter, he was backward when finishing fourth under 12.10 in the Freyberg Steeplechase, at Invercargill, and then won the Riverton double at Easter, taking the Great Western Steeplechase, three miles, with 12.0, from Anglo-French, ll.«, and on the second day winning the Riverton Steeplechase, two miles and a half, with 12.0. from his fitabiemate. Spanish Main, and two others who were weighted on the minimum. Noko lias thus proved himself under weight against last year’s Grand National winner and other performers of slightly lesser jeallbre, so he will be respected in spite of his weight at Trentham. Much interest will be created if Town Survev takes his place in the field next week for it will be his initial essay over steeplechase country. Last year he established his claim to the position of leading hurdler by winning the Great Northern Hurdles. Winter Hurdles, ana Grand National Hurdles, a feat never previously accomplished. Town Surveys trainer has never had any doubt that this horse would make a first-class steeplechaser. and he has done some schooling over the Te Rapa country this season. If it is Intended to run him his prospects can be assessed by his schooling efforts between now and race day. His 11.2 would not be a prohibitive weight In view of his performances in open handicaps on the flat and over hurdles. Kanui te Pal. who has 1013. was a winner -at his last start over country, when he defeated a weak field in the Manawatu Steeplechase, carrying ll.fi. The margin of his win was narrow, but he had something In reserve and could have won comfortably had his rider desired. His jumping was not without blemish, but It was his first steeplechase for a year. He Is n form horse who would only need to do well in his final schooling to be given a chance. Abbey Lu failed in the Great Northern Steeplechase and Winter Steeplechase at Auckland this month after winning the Te Rapa Steeplechase at the Waikato winter meeting with 10.8. His owner-trainer has expressed the opinion that his failure was due to the long walk which be had to undertake to get to Auckland.. Abbey Lu has 10.9 at Trentham, a handy weight if he-can reproduce his Waikato form. Strip has won the only steeplechase he has'Contested. This was a hack event at Wingatui early this mouth, when he carried 11.8, and gave an impressive performance against a field of moderate class. Strip was a good performer on the flat and over hurdles aqd the estimate of his class is revealed by The fact that he was weighted 11.8 In the first steeplechase he contested, and that in the open class at Trentham lie is assessed within a pound of Abbey Lu, and is asked to give 31b. to True Range, who won both open steeplechases at the Dunedin Winter meeting. Strip has been troubled with unsoundness and last year was occasionally affected by bleeding trouble, but southerners -hold a high opinion of him. True Range will provide a capable second string to Noko for the Hazlett stable. True Range is not yet an accomplished jumper, but is improving. When he won the Enfield Steeplechase at Riccarton last August he gave a very mixed display, nearly falling twice, but he made up his ground on the flat. With 10.0 he was no match for Hanover in the Hunt Cup on the second day. His next appearance delayed till Wingatui this month, when he won the Otago Steepftehase. two miles and a half, with 9.13. and the Wingatui Steeplechase. two miles aud a quarter, with 10.9. On the final da.v he was third with 11.0 in the Churchill Steeplechase, two. miles and a quarter. The track at Dunedin this month was described as the heaviest horses have ever had to contend with in the history of racing in the Dominion, which enhances the merit of True Range's form. He is the ”eut and come again” type, doggedness being the feature of his Winners at Auckland. Valantua. Chat, Khurja and Jehaugir raced at the Auckland winter meeting and it is in this quarter that, many investors will search for the winner. Chat, winner of the Wellington and Great Northern Steeplechases, is the proved steeplechaser of the party. The other three are Just making their mark. Chat did not coinplete’the course io the Great Northern Steeplechase, and finished second with 10.8 to .Tehanglr, 9.6. tn the Patriotic Steeplechase, three miles, after striking the last fence heavily and nearly falling. She meets Jehangir 71b., better nt Trentham. Valhntna was second with 9.8 to Dozie Boy in the Great Northern Steeplechase, beaten two lengths and a bnlf. and then won the Winter Steeplechase, three miles, with 9.12. from Surpeen 10.7, anil .lehanglr 9.4. .Tehangir went on to win the Patriot.le Steeplechase, thus improving the value of Valautua’H Winter Steeplechase form. There Is an additional 31b. between them at Trentham in Jchangir's favour. Jehangir is rhe horse who -went from maiden to open class ilmost In a stride. He ran a good race for fifth in tire Great Northern, improved to finish third in the Winter Stceplei-hase. and then won tlie Patriotic Steeplechase in successive starts. Whether lie has scope fe.r further improve, ment remains to lie proved, hut those who watched him racing at Auckland believe that lie has. At 9.9 he is at a favourable

position in the weights if he still has better form to display. Khurja, on his appearance alone, will gain a lot of friends. He is the type oldtimers believed was essential in tile makeup of a good cross-country horse. He has size with powerful muscular development, and with it pace and the ability to Jump well. . Like Jehangir, he is a comparative novice, but at Auckland he revealed that be is a capable one by running second in the Green Lane Steeplechase with 10.8, and at his next start won the Tamaki Steeplechase, two miles and a hair, with 10.12, These were hack events of only average class and not to be compared With the company In the Wellington Steeplechase. In dropping him only 71b. to 9.13 In the first open event ho is asked to tackle, the handicapper has expressed the opinion that Khurja is a young horse with whom it is not advisable to take any risk. A fourth io tlio Great Northern and two successes in minor events early in the season have earned Forest Glen 3lb. above the minimum, and Opaltown's wins at Wanganui, Manawatu and Hastings are not rated highly with his assessment on the same mark. These are the only two in the “tail” of the field with any form to speak of. Probably the public will rely on the Auckland performances and keep Khurja, Valantua and Jehangir on their tide in the meantime.