WAIKATO TAKES DOUBLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 13

WAIKATO TAKES DOUBLE

Engaged At Easy Poundage, Mangani Succeeds FAVORITES FAIL AT FINISH

(From ''N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) In a season so poorly off for steeplechasers, it is reassuring to know that the quality of hurdle horses is maintained at about a respectable standard. ■

THE Grand National Hurdle race this i •year was as gcod a race as the event has seen for some years. The pace was on all the way, the , time, 4.47 2-5 being the fastest.- since Gladful's 4.41 1-5 m 1922. Waikato produced the winner of the Steeplechase on the opening day, and completed the second leg of the double with Mangani, which is by the same sire as Wiltshire. Though a bit on the small side, Mangani jumps well, and he stayed out the two and a-half miles more decisively than anything else m the. race. Horry Dulieu had him well placed, and half a mile from home he was going well within himself and gaining ground at every jump. . The unlucky horse m the i*ace was Horomea. With the slightest breeze m her favor, Roy Syme might have ridden the winning double. . She was lying m a handy position behind the pacemakers and put m a ruri; across the top which was full of promise, but she went slightly, lame during the race and this materially affected her chances. As it was, she only weakened over the last pinch, and - was barely four lengths behind the winner m fourth place. . Percy Johnston has the makings of a useful stake earner m Horomea. She was a smart performer on the flat and has shown unusual promise over hurdles considering the short time she has been at the game. Little Lancer gave his usual game display. He went out to make the pace with Craigmore and was only beaten down the running. / . |

He could not foot it with Mangani and Aberfeldy over the last two hundred yards, but stuck on long enough to head Horomea out of third money. For solidity there is not a better bit of stuff racing, but he is not brilliant. In anything slightly weaker than Grand National class it will take a good sort to beat him. , Owing to Ernie Shaw getting smashed up m a previous race, Ted Stanway got the ride, and while no fault could be found with the way he handled Lancer, the horse would probably have been better served by his usual pilot, who understands him. The finishing eteort of Aberfeldy was the surprise of the race. Ivan Tilson nursed him along m a good position not far from the leaders, and after clearing the last fence he responded gamely, but could not catch, the lightly- weighted Mangani. Once again the favorites got a father of a hiding. Mister Gamp was, as usual, slow to settle down, and was standing the field up a big start three r quarters of a mile from home. He was making up a good deal of ground over the last half-mile and finished, fifth* just m front of Red Fuchsia. Overhaul's- .form was poor m comparison with his Trentham efforts. He did not seem to want to go kindly till it was too late, and he finished well back m the defeated division, being beaten a long way from. home. Red Fuchsia was finishing on well, but his. stable-mate, Locarno, after being prominent for two miles, shut up like a box.