SOMETHING TO GO ON

NZ Truth, Issue 1184, 9 August 1928, Page 11

SOMETHING TO GO ON

Competitors In Hurdles Will Be Seen On Flat

The field for the Grand National Hurdles, run the second day of the meeting, promises to be of bigger proportions than that for the Steeplechase;

LAST Saturday's race at. the. Hunt ; meeting threw little or no light on < prospects lor the bigger eventj for neither Peneus nor Brigadier Bill ap- i peal over the longer journey. However, on Tuesday next baokers may. get something to go on. There is one race on the programme that day which will attract the National hopes — the Jumpers' Flat. This will be used by most trainers to give their charges a final work-out. Top weights have their share of success m the National Hurdles, and everything points to a horse under that heading playing a big part m the finish a week from to-day. < Nukumai will be making his. fourth appearance m the race, and, with , 11.11, ' Will be carrying the biggest weight he. has been burdened with m the event./ .. . ' ■ • In 1924 and 1926 he was unplaced with 11.8, while m 1926, with 11.6, he was unlucky enough to bump Into the lightweight Penury. Rose and Jbe beaten into second berth. His fourth attempt may be lucky— as was the case with Sir Solo, which, after running a third and two seconds m successive years, managed to win m 1919. ■ Nukumai has had only one outing over hurdles this winter. •. That, was at Trentham last month, when he ran unplaced m the Winter Hurdles. His running that day was closely followed, and a big improvement can be looked for at ; Rlccarton. In fact, at Riccarton last Saturday, his name was more freely mentioned than any other horse claiming an engagement m the event. . Last winter Beau Cavalier put the big 'chasing trio to his credit, and now this year he is well on his way to repeating thd feat over the Bmaller obstacles. Eighteen pounds more than he won with at Trentham, and nearly three furlongs more to cover, will have some effect on him. The publlo are not going to let him pass, however^ and providing he does npt get a hard race m the Steeplechase two days previously, he will go close to repeating 1 his record. Hawkes Bay will not hear of the defeat of Red Fuschla. , Since his second to Beau Cavalier at Trentham he is said to have Improved

immensely, and that he is m the best of condition he showed last Saturday. Over a sprint distance like the Brabazon it was natural to expect Red Fuschla to be put of his element, but, let it be s,aid, hie was always up m the front bunch and after covering a bit of extra ground, ran fifth. • For that defeat at Trentham ,the All Red gelding now meets Beau Cavalier on seventeen pounds better ter.ms. A big consideration, surely. Gaze has thown off his soreness and is said to be working well. . At his best, he would be a dangerous one, but-looking over the field the three top weights have to be preferred beBert Ellis is to ride Brigadier Bill, but even with that added recommendation' it is difficult to see him getting the journey. His secqnd to Peneus on Saturday last was anything but an encouraging lead to support him next week. Pouri -is there, and m his case it remains to be seen how he will go after taking on the bigger fences. He Bhould be able successfully' to mix it, but as to running out the distance is another thing. . That may be his weak point. ■ Peneus will be bracketed with Red Puschia— that is, if he pays up. And it will come as a surprise if he Is left mon the day. .-',<* ...■■■..., He has no credentials for this dis- ; Maunga was third m the s Northern Hurdles. It is. m his favor that he stays for ever— that is, when he keeps on his feet. ' But the latest news about him Is that he is amiss and will not be at the meeting. . • '"•■•.■ ■ . The only one talked about on the minimum is Scion, which raced. fairly last week. • .. He was a great stayer on the flat and that will stand to him next week. A lot of notice will be taken of his running m the. Trial Hurdles on Tuesday next. But when it comes to a final sorting out, the three on the top of the list stand out pre-eminently. . RED FUSCHIA, NUKUMAI and '■ . BEAU CAVALIER.