CARNIVAL WEEK AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Shannon News, 14 August 1928, Page 4

CARNIVAL WEEK AT CHRISTCHURCH.

GRAND NATIONAL OPENS TO-DAY. WINTER CUP AND STEEPLES. THE FIELDS REVIEWED. (By. Silken-Erin). The Canterbury Jockey ' Club's Grand National'meeting will open tomorrow (Tuesday) and though the fields have dwindled considerably on the nominations the accepted numbers present quite a healhy aspect from that point of view. The quality, too,' with few exceptions, is in keeping with the importance of the meeting though much regret is voiced in the non-appearance of the Great Nothern winner, Glendowie. The fields in the two G.N. events, the steeples on the opening day and hurdles on middle day have both been reduced to nine runners, the nominations being 13 and 14 respectively. The principal flat event, the Winter Cup has a field of 20 .due to start,' 14 failing to produce the final payment. This meeting arouses much interest as its programme includes the last : of the three most important "cross country" events in the Dominion, the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase of 1600 sovs. East year saw Beau Cavalier win the treble but Glendowie and Pouri have so far, divided the honours this year and the former will not contest on thi 3 occasion. Still, the field is a very representative one and an interesting race should result. HUNTERS HURDLES HANDICAP. A field of eleven is promised in the opening event with* Loughrea conceding 241bs to Pink Rose, next on the list and 491bs to the two light-weights Prompter and Urntali. Home Made disappointed at Wellington, his best being a third but his breeding is always worthy of. support in an event of this ..-.'Class and-, on looking over the .-- performances of the field in general the son of All Red instantly appeals as one likely to manage the opposition. Rangi Sarto, of. course, is a proved "' performer, but His mission will probably be the Enfield Steeples and Diana's Lad's recent victory,'.entitles him to ;much respect. On the face, of his ■ Waimate success Gold Town's failure at the last Hunt meeting is hard to ac-count-for unless he is subject to fits of moodiness. He finished last in his latest start, but fit and well he is a dangerous sort. Chrissarto will find little on account of his lack of form but it seems that is when he salutes the judge. There is very little recent form among the whole issue, the best of which is; Home Made Rangi Sarto (if. started) Diana's Lad. TRIAL HURDLES. No less than fourteen are due to start in this event among them are two recent winners; also several who have revealed their qualities by finish- . ing into third money. Quincoma has . 141 b penalty on his Wellington win, while Nine of Spades is up 21b on his Waimata success. The latter's time for li miles is a good deal better than /Quinconia's, but the conditions under which the times were recorded were ■'.■: a good deal different. Loughrea has an earlier engagement, while Nucleus has early season form as a recommen- ■ elation. Panorama, by this time, ..should be coming to his best while Craigmore has southern form that may work out. Lady Passenger ran third at. Wellington last month, and since then is reported to be much improved. '. Both Standard and Steel Bar have fair records on the flat and the former, fit is understood has taken kindly to . this branch of the sport. Erin-go-bragh is a sort that must be reckoned with and. his third at Wellington is a good recommendation. The winner, no doubt, .is well concealed, but a trio that deserve respect are: Quincoma Erin-go-bragh Lady Passenger. CASHMERE PLATE Sixteen are promised t-h.e. starter in this event. I)es.p,Qt a.nd Locarno will be much in demand as the result of their recent showings, but they will nevertheless be kept hard to it to stave off the opposition. Malmsey, Narrative, Waihemo and First Raid all have minor placings in their favour during the last month or so, but of the four, Narrative, has shown most consistency, his.latest credential being a se- ■ cond to Tripaway at Waimate. The ' unexpected often happens in a race of this class, but public opinion will be most towards; Despot Locarno Narrative. JUMPERS FLAT HANDICAP. Nine have fully paid up for this event with Nukumai holding pride of .place with 12,9. The Foxton veteran has not recorded a win yet this year, though his Wellington outing added two seconds to his list of profits. Chickwheat has not won a hurdle event, but has completed the necessary number of obstacle courses and as ' she has exceptional speed on the flat, ■ it is quite possible that she will be on terms with the top-weight, so far as public choice is concerned.. Her last success was at Ashburton on June 30 where she won with 10.5 over \\ mile 3 following up with a third in a hurdles at South Canterbury Hunt Meeting. Scion is quite a good sort while Atereria has speed. Graze is possessed of good finishing efforts a factor which will ear- , ry weight with speculators and Tarleton is fair sort when in form. Brigadier Bill will appreciate the lighter

weight and has probably been left in this race to give him a refresher for his engagement in the G.N. Hurdles. Lady Gay is a fast galloper and that she is in form .is shown in her Wellington running. Kilburn has shown a" liking for this distance and may be the upsetting element. The most favoured trio are:

Chickwheat

Nukumai Lady Gay,

N,Z. GRAND NATIONAL STEELECHASE.

His treble win last year has put Beau Cavalier on top of the list with 12.5, conceding 211 b to Pamplona (No. 2). Records show that in the pastyears several 'chasers have won this event with more poundage than allotted the chesterfield gelding to-morrow and he is set no impossible task, but last year's "idol" has failed to account for a steeple event this year, his inclination, according to performances, being towards hurdle events. S. Henderson wins his races on Beau Cavalier by going to the front early and staying there but the tactics adopted by E. Warner on Pouri at Wellingtion )giYes some, light to the G.N. winner's failures this year. He

appears to be alright when in front 'on his own, but as soon as he is headed, his confidence is shaken and faulty jumping is noticeable; • This is what happened when Pouri was taken up alongside Beau Cavalier at Wellington and the result was tdie latter -fell, leaving Pouri the winner As Warner will be on Pouri to-morrow similar

tactics, mo <dkubt, will |be fallowed out. Pamplona cannot be said to possess any outstanding chances, his most recent win being'the Wingatui Steeples at Dunedin early in June, when he beat The Bab'e on terms with weight. The latter, unfortunately, was not able to give a display at Wellington on account of an injury, but he has a host of admirers in the South. No doubt, The Babe has shown consistent form and at the weight may be dangerous. Tuki. failed to see out the Wellington Steeples, but ran Kawini to half a length in the July Steeples, beating Matu by one length. As Tuki has gone up 41b and Matu down 51b, the latter looks the better proposition, especially as reports to hand say he is fast improving. Though his recent long list of successes have been only hack steeplechases there is no doubt he possesses undeniable chances in this event. Wiltshire can be relied upon to give of his 'best which is good enough to win the Auckland Autumn Steeples, but has more or less been of the scene since. . Dubious has not recorded a win in any outstanding event but has minor placings in cross country events at recent meetings. The Homeby Steeples saw him second to Passin' Through and he has 101 b less to carry to-morrow over a similar distance. " - The 13-year-old , candidate, Passin' Through, appears to have the best of weights considering that with 10.3 he won the Homeby Steeples in 5.34. He will have 151bs less to carry in the big event.- If he could run a race to-morrow like his last win, thou he would more than Ukely salute the judge, but the fact that he Avon from a poor field will account for his being a little neglected. Certainly last year's winner will not have it all his own way and the" best trio to account for him are:* — Pouri Wiltshire «• Matu :. ENFIELD STEEPLES^ This race has tSte- smallest field of the day with only seven starters. Radiate and Jovial are on terms in respect of weights and of the pair. The latter will probably find preference on the machine, being as he is among his own people. Nevertheless, he has a recent win, which ay'iU recommend him while Radiate's past performances are of good class. Royal Fashion and Royal Wink are also together on the same weight and of the pair the former makes most appeal. Captain Sarto with 11.1, accounted for the Waimate Hunt Steeples, and will relish the lighter weight. Donation is of,unknown quality and would pay well if he saluted. The best performed pair are:— Jovial Rangi Sarto. WINTER CUP. The principle flat event of the- meeting, the Winter Cup of 750 sots.,, one mile, has drawn a good field and on looking them over there appears a likelihood of the winner; eoming from the less-favoured .division, as was the case when Solfdrite got the verdict last year. . Black Mint, of course, is entitled to prick- of place, having as a recommendation, the Whyte Memorial and two. similar, events at Dunedin. He is. just tii.e type- of horse for an event of. fc.h,is kind. The opinions in respect of Taboo are to some extent divided. There is no doubt tie is in tip-top form, but he is sl'cfw to, move away from the barrier and ta win., [ any runner cannot afford to be left in i this race. One thing, however, in his favour; is his fine finishing effort, ! which balances his slow starting movei ment. If Taboo can get away well, , ; then the one which beats him will go , near to winning. Royal Damon's op-j portunity will come in thi 3 event, and j though he has no recent winning form ' to recommend him there are minor placings that make him read as dan- : gerous In most of his latest starts' he has certainly not been disgraced, and has filnisihed mostly amcsnjg the first five, while the services of T. Green as his pilot will hot be overlooked by speculators. Solferjte would have to make a big improvement on his last running to repeat last year's performance, but the unexpected often happens in racing. Kaiti finished fifth last year, but he is a much more forward horse this year and has his Hawkes Bay treble in his favour

though the extra furlong or so will steady him a- little. Nincompoop ia a second Kawini, but who knows when his lucky day will come to break the spell. Royal Game will be bracketted with the top weight while Town Bank is more than a moderate sort when in form. Bisox is probably the most improved runner in the race, and the Parliamentary Handicap is a first class performance for a hack to win. A penalty of 01b is the result of her Wellington success. Panther came from nowhere to beat all but Taboo in a "six'' at Wellington, and some are of the opinion that a longer distance would have found Panther the winner. To-morrow will tell, however. First sight 9.5, failed to beat Royal Saxon 9.0 in the Brabazon Handicap, a head separating the pair. First Sight is lib better off on this occasion. Gold Mint with 7.11 and 8.4 won two events at Dunedin early in June, beating Nincompoop and* AJitrirn Boy. The latter has been knocking often of late. Clelone, AWapuni's representative, ran Duke Abbey to a head in the Onslow Handicap, beating King Lu, and the distance to-morrow may appeal better. Rotor, Amor, and Miss Winkie have fair southern form, while Don Jose need only to reproduce last season's form to make an interesting race. Kalos is a useful sprinter, and with the big reduction in weight may see the journey out with success. Punters will find no easy task to sort out their "moral" and when sueh is done, they may then get a surprise. At the present time the most favoured trie appear to be:; — .. Black Mint-Royal Gama _, : Royal Damon Bisox. _ „. AVONHEAD HANDICAP. The concluding event of the first day has a big field and there ib every possibility of a surprise dividend. Vigilance failed at the Hunt meeting, when expected by a majority, but the Foxton runner cannot be disregarded for one failure. Tripaway, with the same weight, won a "six" at Waimate, while Princess MafalSa scored in a seven furlong event on the same day. Historic is a sort that may improve and he has his Wellington win to recommend him, while Pangolin at 9.13 possesses more than outside chances. Boy is good one when right, but there is "no recent form to support him, while Solfello and Lancer finished in that order at the Ashburton meeting. The latter is better treated in respect of weights. The possibilities are many but a good trio are: — Vigilance %r .. Historic \ ,\, 1. :1, Lancer. " '.*,.' ... A G.k. STEEPLE RIDERS. '""f Beau Cavalier: W. J. Bowdea, Pamplona: . ,;'" Tuki: .A- E. Ellis. Pouri: E. Warner. _. ' Wiltshire: R. Syme. The Babe: D. O'Connor. _ Dubious: G. Dempster. _ ~; . Matu: A. Jenkins. Passin' Through: E. Shaw. WINTER CUP ENGAGEMENTS, Black Mint: S. Henderson. L Taboo: B. H,. Brodie. ,; Royal Damon: T. Green. .. Solferite: F. E. Jones. , K Kaiti: R. Reed. Nincompoop: R. J Maekie. Royal Game: R. MeTavish. Town Bank: J. Campbell. A . Bisox: A. McCormac. , ,'. Panther: B. H. Mowis, ± First Sight: A. E. Ellis. t Gold. Mint: D. Cotton. (i : .. Chelone: L. G. Morris ,;j. Jose: L. A. Pine. A Rotor: A. E. Didham, Miss Winkie: J. Olsen. ± Antrim Boy: . Teri: P. Burgess. | Kalos: A. McDonald. Royal Saxon: P. Powell. & Amor: 11. Marshall. ."_ , SUNDRY ENGAGEMENTS. S. Henderson: Lady Gay. '.' t A. E. Ellis: Brigadier Bilk. H. Burt: Rangi Sarto. A R. Reed: Royal Lineage. ± P. Mcßrearty: Radiate. , R. Olive: Quincoma. J. Olsen: Waihemo. A. McDonald: Locarno, Kalos, Grand National. ; ; BRACKETS. / > The following pairs will be bracketted on the totalisator on the opening day:— Trial Hurdles: Loughrea and Craigmore.

G.N. Steeples: Pamplona, and Dubious.

Winter Cup: Black Mint and Royal Game,