ONE THAT IS FEARED

NZ Truth, Issue 1173, 24 May 1928, Page 11

ONE THAT IS FEARED

Many Inquiries Are Being Made About Wiltshire (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) It 'is evident .Wiltshire's presence m the Great Northern Steeplechase is troubling 1 not only some owners, but also the punt. era. . ,

DURING the Wanganui meeting: many inquiries were made from those who did not know the horse over country. It was Wiltshire, morning, noon and night, and clearly instanced the fact that. the chestnut's prospects are feared by the visiting division! This being the feeling, "N.Z. Truth" here tells what it knows about the five-year-old son of Day Comet — 'Lady Lobelia. In the first place, an interesting item about Wiltshire Is that he is closely related on the dam's side to El Gallo. That worthy holds a unique record m connection with the Great' Northerns, having won both the Hurdles and the Steeplechase m two successive years. As a fencer, Wiltshire is not regarded up north as anything approaching his noted relative. This Impression has been arrived at because of the fact that he came to grief more than once last year when he appeared to have steeplechase events m his keeping. It was realized then that confidence was all that was required to make Wiltshire. Now it would seem that Wiltshire has gained some of that necessary element. It may be mentioned that Wiltshire started on fifteen occasions last season without notching a single victory, though he got into the ' minor money on three occasions. Prior to taking on timber topping he raced on the flat without much sucoeea, though he always gave promise of Btayinjr ability, i

Racing over country seems to have hardened him up a lot, for so far this season he has done well, having won both on the fiat and over country. His flat victories included highweight events at Rotorua and Franklin during the early autumn, and Uralla, Quincoma and others of their class were among those defeated. ■ This shows that Wiltshire is possessed of some pace. His two steeplechase victories at Ellerslie early m April proved that it is possible for Wiltshire to master the Northern thill. Quite a number contend Wedding March would have defeated his rival, with' a stand-up m the Autumn Steeples, but it has to be. remembered Wiltshire was still doing it well out m front at the time of the mishap to Wedding March. That mishap occurred just prior to ascending the hill on th© last trip. The Great Northern journey is about three-quarters of a mile longer than the Autumn, but Wiltshire was not shirking his task at the close of last month's deed. And he has only slbs. more to carry on Monday week. He has had the necessary racing to strip one of the fittest horses on Great Northern Steeplechase day. The only chance of Wiltshire failing to be prominent at the close of the big event seems to be whether he will get back to the falling tactics he displayed when he lacked the confidence. With a stand-up, It seems that the visitors have every right to fear WiltBhire'fl prospects In the Great Northern.