'TIS LONG JOURNEY WITH SOFT GOING

NZ Truth, Issue 1174, 31 May 1928, Page 11

'TIS LONG JOURNEY WITH SOFT GOING

Everything In Favor of Stayers That Get In With Light Poundages BIG HURDLES AT EIEeRSLIE THE FIRST LEG

. — ; — , — : — ■-, : . — __ < •THE Great Northern Hurdles is, the ' 1 richest event decided over the small sticks m the Dominion, arid ' an acceptance of fifteen for this year's two and a-half ' mile event must be considered entirely satisfactory. At time of writing, everything points to the field being larger m - numbers than was the case last year. . \ There is still a payment of 4 soys. , each to be made on the day. A' rough glance through" the list re- . veals the fact that Brigadier Bill has • been left m, which was contrary to \ general belief. ■ With Allan McDonald mentioned as - the rider of Mister Gamp it was con- ' eluded "Brigadier Bill would be fully reserved for the Steeplechase. l Maybe Brigadier Bill has only been . left m on the chance of something i happening to the dangerous element. Should that happen it would be bad s business oh the part of Owner Jim Bull i if he did not have a slap at the rich i prize. If the "Brigadier" should start he will heed deep consideration. . He is fit and can go the pace, while racing over country seems to have im- ' proved his staying powers. 1 Wedding March, though much better than his looks, may find his 11.8 troublesome this year. ' The light-weight division of Saturday haye better qualifications than those which figured m the same event when Wedding March won with nineteen pounds less last June. Harmon's horse has a great heart within his lean frame, but it will take some doing to lump his weight to victory this year. His admirers will cherish hopes because Bill Rennie is the right stamp of horseman to save air possible reserve till the right moment. Archibald is hitting out as well as ever, and likes the mud, but he is burdened with five pounds more than when he went under by three lengths last year. . Certainly, lie now meets Wedding March on, more advantageous terms, 1 but what of those underneath him? r One whose condition appeals for the journey is Perle de Leon, which has t the handy weight of 10.2. After his finishing effort to Red Fuschia m the Century, it would seem that it is only a matter of his rider being as fit as the horse to get the son of Polydamon into the money. He gave out hope last winter m imr portant hurdle events m the south that there was some big money awaiting t him, and .here la his great chance. He has had the right racing to t fit him for the big task, arid is a L mass of condition.

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Since the above was penned Perle de Leon has developed lameness, and it will be no easy matter getting him to the post. It may not be entirely safe to count Pouri right out with 9.12 on his back. It is possible he will. be benefited by Wanganui efforts, though a Great Northern does seem a bit rich. In Aberfeldy, quite a lot of interest is being taken, for he certainly promises to be one of the leading'timbertoppers of the winter. Still, "N.Z, Truth" is a wee bit dubious about the being thoroughly strung-up for the two and a-half-miler. It is admitted he is m at a handy impost, but solid racing condition is usually needed at the close of a lengthy journey over ten fences, and it is just questionable whether Aberfeldy will be the real thing this weekend. . He Is certainly the right goods m the making, and should improve with each bout undertaken, which may be iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiHiiitiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniii

worth remembrance even if he fails ir. the Northern. Royal Form will probably have Bil] Bowden aboard to assist him. . He won the two-mile Brighton at Ellerslie m 1927, but could finish nc nearer than ninth m last year's Northern with only two pounds more than he has to carry this year. Mia Bella is also a two-mile hurdle winner, and because she is In at 9.5 — an impost she has not been favored with for a long time — she is being regarded as more than a hope. . She has shown nothing this season — certainly she has been racing above her best condition— to suggest she will break the long trot of "outs" for those of her sex "m a Great Northern, Hurdles, while if she wins ♦ecent form will have thrown no indication. The records of the -race are greatly against mares taking the prize. From top-weight of 12.2 m the G.N. Steeples to 421bs. less m the Hurdles, may seem queer reasoning, but m big iitiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuimiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiil

©r — — ; .- . • ; hurdle events so far Beau Cavalier has not impressed. ; ' 'S- • He can usually go lor a" bit with the best, but then runs himself out. On this account there is no greal confidence about the meagre suppori being accorded him In the Hurdles. Nevertheless, it may prove unwise to dismiss his prospects entirely, foi he is fit, and Sam Henderson will be aboard. 1 It is hard to particularly favor the . prospects of Vexatious m such a race, 1 and she fell schooling over the Ellerslie hurdles last week-end. c On her most recent form, it would be J a "fluke" if she won, while there is also " the question pf sex to be considered. 1 Kawa is m light enough, but does riol appeal. ' ' ■>'• 3 At his best. Red Comet would be a - mere possibility, though he failed over 1 hurdles m a moderate lot at Te Aroha ■ m February. ■.■.■•.,' Karamu is doing better than ever - m his work, despite his increasing 3 years. He has .sprung at least three 1 surprises on the Auckland public va i hurdle events, 1 but he will again be - risked. 1 The particular light-weight * which does stand out is Mister Gamp. He has been indulged m the necessary racing to strip a fit horse. The chestnut has won over hurdles at a mile and three-quarters, and has given ' promise of staying on a further, distance. A stayer m with a light impost usually has a little on the rest at the close of a Great Northern Hurdles. .,. His fast finishing second with 10.13 over a. mile and a-half at Wanganui was a little impressive for his Northern • prospects, where he has only 9.3 to carry. ' • ■ Add to that the fact that Allan McDonald, who is m winning trim, is likely to be on top, and you simply cannot pass Mister Gamp over too hurriedly, despite the general belief that he is of moody habits. He cleared a few Ellerslie hurdles m masterly style last week-end, and this certainly enhanced his prospects. Maunga has seven pounds less than he carried into fourth place last year.' He must have a plugger's chance, though hurdle fields generally get away from him m the early part. • He seems on the improve since arriving At Ellerslie, and will be staying on better" than some of those which line up for competition. ."■.'■ A trio which threatens to loom into the picture nearing the judge is: MISTER GAMP, ABERFEL-DYand MAUNGA. >