FAILED TO WIN DOUBLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1176, 14 June 1928, Page 11

FAILED TO WIN DOUBLE

Just What Beau Cavalier Found Himself Up Against

(From "N.Z, Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

In most years it is almost "odds-on" a horse capable of taking the Great Northern Hurdles, adding the big Steeples to his record at the same meeting.

YET Beau Cavalier failed to accomplish this feat — or even, to get into the minor money. There was an excuse for. Beau Cava.Uier, for he' waa tackling the job under totally different handicap ■ conditions from those of the .five, previous double victors which got through the task safely. . '; .. In short, he was saddled with a more severe impost In the Steeplechase thanany , of the five previous winners which figure on the list. Further, only one of. the hurdle victors carried less than Beau Cavalier in his two and a-half-miler. '•N.Z. Truth"/ gives the five previous double victors, from which it will be seen that Beau Cavalier was set no. easy task to tear off the "double." It may bo mentioned that in Liberators year, the G.N. Hurdles was deoided over a two-mile course, not 2 x /z miles as at present. Hera are the weights carried by previous'G.N. double victors: — 5 ♦G.N. Hurdles/ 11895— Liberator, 12.S ' 1915— El Gallo, 9.0 1916— El Gallo, 10.13 1920— Lochellai 9.13 . 1925— Sir Rosebery, 10.12 . 1928— Beau Cayalier, 9.2 . ■ G.N. Steeples Liberator. 11.12 El Gallo, 9.7 * ... El Gallo, 11.6, Lochella, U.O . , . . ' Sir Rosebery, it s Beau Cavalier^ 12.2 , (finished fourth) v

It will be observed that both Lochella and Beau Cavalier were treated as better 'chasers than hurdlers* because their deeds over, country, were more pronounced thart over the smaller timber. , In Lochella's case, he had previously won the Grand National Steeples at Riccarton with only 9.9, not with-.il. 1 ?, as Beau Cavalier did in the r Grand National last year, after having, added both 'the Great Northern and Wellington Steeplechases to his credit. "'' That should explain why Lochella got in the Great Northern Steeples at 161bs. less than Beau Cavalier this year. Prior to this, year's . contest, 'H"ruth" continually pointed out 'that the prospects were .all against Beau Cavalier carrying his 12.2 to victory. , It takes a great 'chaser to win these days "with over 12.0 <■' Only three have survived, the- test successfully, . carrying more. than Beau Cavalier's weight .during the last 40 years, and then they were such good horses as v The Guard, Kaitere and Coalition. ' . . . - Weight beats the best of them— it beat Beau Cavalier in the Great Northern and ■ again . played its part in his failure to complete the course in the Winter Steeples. ',■'■',. .' ■ ■ » IT. is certain that High Pitch was not at his best during the Ellerslie carnival, but he will come again for sure. '"- •. - ;' ■■■.■•'■ '- : - ■'".,' Arid when he does, the opposition will. not need to be weak to, stave off: defeat. ..' '::,;'•