GREAT NORTHERNS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 228, 19 May 1932, Page 6

GREAT NORTHERNS

"The Judge. ')

PROSPECTS OF SOUTHERN JUMPERS AT ELLERSLIE SOME PROMISING FORM

(Specially Written for the "Post"

by

The first big jumping fixture of the winter racing period is the Auckland Great Northern Meeting at Ellerslie on June 3, 4, and 8, and with some of the form well exposed in the southern part of the North Island it is possible to arrive at the chances of the southern candidates. The Steeples While Make Up and Copey stand out on what has been seen to date of the Great Northern horses, it is difficult to measure them up with the best of the strong Auckland provincial contingent. There was no doubt about the impression Make Up made when he led all the way in the Egmont Steeplechase, this being his first attempt over -the big fences. Then Copey came to light with a bloodless victory in the Wanganui Steeplechase but his effort was not so good actually as that of Make Up, for the latter had some opposition. Yet the difference in their weights in the Great Northern Steeplechase should just

about bring them together. Of the others seen out to date, Nulcumai beat Wiltshire very narrowly the second day at Hawera, and it must not be forgotten that he had been up only a short tirne1 before being asked to race. He is liable to improve more thari many of those he defeated recently. Nulcumai is jumping better than hitherto, the fences at Hawera being no trouble to him. His fall the first day was probably brought about through the horse tiring badly, the result of a light preparation. Due Soon Wiltshire is getting into the sere and yellow stage and his good form at Hawera was probably due more to his fitness following on plenty of autumn racing rather than his superiority. It is a well known fact that Wiltshire is not the horse at Ellers- ' lie that he is at Riccarton. If he can be kept going, his third Grand National Steeplechase is a distinct possibilty, but in the meantime he may

win at Te Rapa. There were many other Great Northeim Sheeplechase horses seen out at Marton, Hawera and Wanganui. Among them was Otairi, a very doubtful starter, who has the weight to carry; Billy Boy, who is considered badly treated on his performances but is good sort; Paris, with plenty of weight and a winner over _ the course last winter, and a possibility; the speedy Prince Lu, a natural jumper; the Make Up — Landmark braclcet, the latter showing promising form when he was produced over the big fences at Hawera, going very well just behind Nulcumai and Wiltshire when he fell. Claremore, the steeplechase find last season, who was narrowly beaten in the A.R.C. Winter Steeplechase at his first attempt; Master Lu, last year's victor, working and schooling well, Omeo, whose old trouble1 came against him at Hawera and caused him to miss Wanganui; Lucas, a big fancy twelve months ago and proved to be deficient in stamina, a weakness that another year of age might have overcome — he finished second and third respectively in the Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie last year, King's Counsel, a horse that goes better at Ellerslie than elsewhere Mangani, who did not impress at Marton. A Stayer Callamart, who is not yet an accomplished fencer but has the ability and the staying power to be included among the possibilities; while those on the minimum are dominated^ by Copey and Nassock, the latter being a genuine stayer. Princess Elizabeth made a successful debut at Wanganui, and despite the fact that she won only when the leading horse fell at the last fence she is one that may develop into a fairly good chaser, alwavs provided that she races more

generously over the bigger fences. Those mentioned could be classified as the horses with the best chances of capturing this winter's Great Northern Steeplechase, _ run usually in bad ground over a distance given as about three and three-quartcr miles, whereas it is nearer four miles. In that tiring journey the horses go twice over the hill, about a 50ft climb, and they have to go over 21 fences, none of them very formidable as such, but the fact that the horses usually have to lift themselves out of a lot of mud makes it a bit hard. Those that appear to fill the bill for this very spectaeular race, in view of what is known as to their present condition, are Claremore, Copey, Make Up and Lucess.' The Hurdles If the fences in the Great Northern Steeplechase are by no means stiff, there is a different story to be told in connection with the obstacles to be cleared by potential winners of the Great Northern Hurdles, for ' the battens erected are eertainly stiff, as difficult as anything in the Dominion, plus the additional penalty of taking off out of the bad ground — and Ellerslie at present loolcs like a real winter track for next month's big meeting. Over twenty horses are engaged in both the 'big hurdles and steeplechase, run this time on consecutive days, which makes it a much more difficult double for the one horse to win. The pace is usually on in this hurdle contest, and it is this that is responsible for lightly weighted horses enjoying such a good spin. Over the last little bit, if there is any light weight alongside one of the heavier weighted runners, it is odds on the jumper with little weight up. For this reason it is possible to pass over even good horses like Otairi and Make Up, with the latter possessing a much better chance in the steeplechase. Perhaps it may be unwise to overlook Make Up altogether, for he was travelling exceedingly well in this event last year when he fell through interference fivp furlongs from home. Prince Lu (last

year's winner) and Landmark are also on the same mark as Make Up. It is only on the score of weight that Make Up and Prince Lu are not included in the final quartet. Luminary's Chance Tenacre is nicely weighted, but on what has been seen of him, a mile and a half is his best distance. Luminary, the Brighton Hurdles winner, is no v/ staying on much better and at ten stone he reads as well as anything near that mark. Nukumai has his share of weight and he may be better now over the bigger fences. High Pitch is a rare mudlark and he should be a better horse now than last winter, but he has not raced over the sticlcs for a long time, a remark that also applies to a good stayer in Pennyplain. Easterly impressed by her three wins on end at the Manawatu and Wanganui meetings; she was considered a possibility last year, for she stays on, and as she is a much better hurdler now her prospeets must be considered rosy. It is also in her favour that she has raced over hurdles previously at Ellerslie. Callamart is a great stayer but is preferred in the steeplechase. Standfast and Claremore, who will be bracketed are from different stables and their chances of capturing the double between them are bright, especially if Claremore is reserved for the steeples. Standfast is a coming hurdler - and he is one that will take some beating. Farther down there are possibilities about Advance Camp, Captain's Gift, Luccess, Full Mark, Nassock, Arch Eagle, Biform, Balloon, Copey and the Wanganui winner Fernden. It is an excellent field engaged in the Great Northern Hurdles, and four that make most appeal at this juncture are Standfast, Easterly, Nassock and Balloon. The racing at the Waikato meeting next Saturday may have a beaiing on the two nortlierhs, for several of those engaged at Te Rapa also figure in the big Ellerslie jumping events.