TRACK AND STABLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 9

TRACK AND STABLE

PADISHAH ARRIVES NATIONAL CANDIDATE AUSTRALIAN WEIGHTS LENIENTLY TREATED By “Trenton" Padishah has arrived at the scene of the Grand National fixture and His owner-trainer, J. Hcnnah, is reported to be very pleased with his condition. Last year’s Grand National Hurdles winner, • Padishah, appears to have .excellent prospects at Caulfield, .next month. In the Australian Hurdle Race he was awarded 9.12. and 10.3 in the Australian Steeples. At these weights he appears to be exceptionally well treated, despite the handicapper weighting him as a better 'chaser than a hurdler. He has 11.5 in the Grand National Steeples, and 11.7 in the Grand National Hurdles, and his owner’s action in sending him to the scene -if battle early should give him every opportunity. EJlanui Well According to Waikato reports, Ellanui has gone on the right way since returning home from Wellington. On Burly Side I Looking a trifle on tile burly side, Francis Drake has not been required to do more than walking exercise lately, because of the tracks being soft. A very free worker, the Chief Ruler gelding does not take long to come to hand, and he is likely to be ready to race at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. Auckland Racing Club , The Auckland Racing Club’s committee has adopted the same prizemoney as last year for the spring and mid-spring meetings. For the summer meeting the Auckland Cup prize has been increased to £3OOO, the Auckland Racing Club Handicap to £ISOO. and the King’s Plate and Clifford Plate each to £750. Action Resented Although the stipendiary stewards officiating at the annual carnival of Rockhampton (Australia) Jockey Club exonerated all the connections of the Cup winner, Clean Play, after an inquiry into his improved form in that event as compared with his poor display in an earlier race at the meeting .the owner, Mr. H. E. G. Whittle, expressed resentment at the action of the stewards in questioning the running of the gelding. Mr. Whittla is One of the all-too-few sportsmen in ;he central district who race simply for the sport, and has threatened to retire from racing as a result of the inquiry. Royal Minstrel The Nigger Minstrel—Charlady gelding Royal Minstrel has been very disappointing in his recent starts, blit probably the greasy going has prevented him from showing his best form. No fault can be found with Royal Minstrel’s condition, and he is sound again. To Try Again It has been the ambition of Mr. F. Armstrong to win the Grand National Steeplechase, blit so far this has eluded him. He went close to it with The Spaniard and Fireblight, the former finishing second and third in successive years, while Fireblight was runner-up to Tuki.

In 1913 The Spaniard won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase easily and followed this up by accounting for the Napier Steeplechase with 10.11 by 15 lengths, while Nedra beat him by a length in the Wellington Steeplechase, in which he had a similar impost. He was sent out favourite for the Grand National Steeplechase a few weeks later and looked the win • ner with a couple of fences to jump. However, he hit the second to last and this cost him a lot of ground. Bercola and he had a great tussle over the concluding stages, the Spaniard going under by a head. Mr. Armstrong's Morning won the Grand National Hurdles that year, so that he was rather unlucky not to have caught the “double.” The Spaniard did not race much during tire rest of the season, his only other placing being a second in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. In the Grand National in 19)4 he was third to Tim Doolan and Bercola. Despite his two defeats, Powe' - Chief has plenty of supporters for the Grand National. He will be seven next month, and be looks the type to handle the big Riccarton fences. He is by Tractor, who sired several good jumpers, including Overhaul, High Speed, Uintah and Valves.

Mr. Armstrong certainly has had a most exasperating experience in big steeplechase events, but his luck may take a change for the better at Riecarton next month.