NORTHERN TRIAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 13

NORTHERN TRIAL

'Earlv Bird"^.

Egmont Steeplechase IDEAL TESTING GR0UND

(By Telegraph — From '

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The first real jumping tesfc of the winter season will be staged at Hawera by the Egmont Racing Club on Wedp.esday of next week, Corpnation Day, whetu, the main item of interest is the Egmont Steeplechase, two and a half miles. The hurdle race the same afterhoon will also be full of interest in view of the high-clasa field entered, The Egmont Steeplechase wilj be a pretiminary to more 'important cross-eoun-try events at Tq Rapa and Ellerslie, and it is noticeable that most of the Hawera contestants are also in at the two big northem fixtures. Tho following jumpers are in the Egmont Steeplechase and also in the big contests at Te Rapa and the Great North ern Steeplechase: Bonnie Rollox, Tudor, Forest Glow, Don Erma, Monastic, Sky Pilot, Indiicretion, Cynical Kid and Pahu. Battleground is missing Te Rapa but is in the Great Northern, while Sporting Song, after racing at Hawera, will go to Te Rapa and then on for the minor steeplechases at Ellerslie, if still eligible for that class; a win in the Egmont Steeplechase will automatically put any hack 'chaser into the open class, with a proviso that nominations may be run out. Can Win Anywhere. One reason why the turn over the Hawera country next week should be most suitable for those engaged is that, while the fences are not in themselves actually difficult — with one possible exception they are well sited — they require to be jumped, so that if a horse can handle these obstacles he should have nothing to fenr in this connection at Te Rapa, Ellerslie t and probably Trentham. The stiff .fences at Riccarton are another matter. On a few occasions, and not of very recent years, the going at Hawera has been very heavy indeed and this makes the obstacles more difficult, for, in addition to having to be negotiated fairly cleanly, it means the horses have to pull themselves out of a few inches of mud or sodden tiirf. Several winners of the open steeplechase events at Hawera have done well, among them being Aurora Borealis (winner of the Great Northern and Grand National SteeDlechases), Copey (Great Northern Steeplechase) and Omao (Wellington Steeplechase). Unfortunate RasoitU, Other winners of the E'gmOat Steeplechase in the past decade havo been Brigadier Bill, Roman Abboy, Ponjola, Birkbecli, *Makeup, Riotous, Transact (won both days two years ago and then went wrong) and Rasouli. The last named scored last year and was at once selected as the probable winner of the Great Northern, so impressive was his performanoe. However, at his next start, a fortnight later at Te Rapa, Rasouli broke his back. This brief resume of the list of recent eross-eountry winners at Hawera should be sufficient to indicate that it is generally a good horse that wins there. The field for Coronation day at Hawera is a really good one nnd as the majority of those entered are certain to stand their ground the contest promises to be most interesting, in addition to affiording some knowledge to those who are interesfed' in coming , ©vtnta.