SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 95, 24 July 1916, Page 3

SPORTING.

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. (Notes by "Cicero.") The 'Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting opens three weeks hence, and a brief review of the weights may tend to keep "Stratford Post" readers in touch with that important fixture. Braebnm .(11.11) heads the handicap for the Steeplechase, a race worth £ISOO, run over 3 J miles of. difficult country. The top weight was severely kicked oii the hock recently and since has done no work. It is slated that Collello's gelding is a sure starter, but it must lie remembered that a searching preparation is necessary to fit a horse for a National. fill Progresso (11.8) is favourably handicapped oh his Australian form. In the Autumn he cleaned the board in .jumping events, putting the seal oh his fame by carry itig 12.5 to victory on Easter Monday at the A.J.C. Autumn meeting. Takilig the double charts as a, guide (and- they are reliable) this gelding is an unlikely stater. Waimai on the same handicap is harshly treated en performances in comparison, to prove which I here give all his public appearances : Unplaced in Maiden, Te A'roihi; won By Vallambrosa. Second, Hunt Club's Hurdles, EUersHe; won by Takanini. Hunt Club Cup at the same meeing; event won by Advancer. Won Maiden Steeples, Pakuranga Hunt Club's fixture and also won Hunt Club's Cup same afternoon, with Master Leslie second and Transfer third. The Spalpeen gelding has faced the starter on three occasions all at the Great Nor. hern meeting this season and performed well in each event. The following is hjs '.record: tfirst, Maiden Steeplechase, carrying 12 stone, with New York 10.6 second, and Idealism 10.10 third. Second to Ell Gallo (11.5) in the Great Northern Steeplechase under 11.2, with Ngatoa 10.13 third. Carrying 11.10 he also started on the third day in the Waiter Steeplechase, the places of which' were filled by Tarero (10.13)* Idealism (9.10) and M&rt'ori (10.7), but I may here state that the stable also ...started Captain Jack, Svlio carried the confidence * of his owner-trainer. Despite thevweight aliotted to him Waimai witF'he very liard'to dispose of-," and the writer considers him one of the best fencers seen out; this season. Ngatoa (10.12) was unlucky to break a bone in his 1 nose when he fell at Welling■ ton, and. ,i»- a very doubtful starter. fagfjt-XltUa,") has plenty of ''weight, Jiytj.like.Waimai is a most proficient jumped r With (10.9) in the saddle he made a good race with Braeburn (11.3) in. the Gisbbrne Steeplechase last month, and went one better the second day by winning the Te Hapara Steeplechase. Carrying 10.12 he ran fourth" to Bravest (9.9) in the Park Steeplechase at Napier, and followed this up by annexing the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, with an impost of 10\6, and beating amongst others Vascular (10.0), Tarero (11.9), Captain Jack■ (10.12),- Jackmah (10.8), Bravest (10.4). At Trentham last week the San Remo gelding ran a great race in the Wellington Steeplechase, finishing third with 10.7, to Bransfield (9.7) and New York (9.7). Unfortunately Mr Morse's 'chaser is not too clean in the wind. Tarero (10.11) is fancied in some quarters. He is a good one for his size, but may be troubled 'by the big jumps and

long journey of the National. With a stand up I would be quite prepared to see the little black fellow play a prominent part on the second or third day. Vascular 10 11 gave promising displays at Hawke's Bay and Trentham, and is evidently a good one. With a McCahe in the saddle the Karamu "rep" would be difficult to beat. Wirokino gave a great exhibition over two and-a-balf miles each day at Treritliam but the distance is sure to trouble him at Riccarton. Bransrield pulled up "groggy" after the Wellingt6n Steeple, and I would advise punters to stand; off him in "doubles." New York (10.2) is nicely handicapped. Ttie.j chestnut is a very clever jumper, but is rather on the small side. The extra half mile will not be any advantage to him. Daylight Bill (10.2) I do not like. BiWest (10.2) is a possible. He is a brother to the once great Steeplechaser , Corozan, and judging by his displays at Napier Park where he won, and Hastings when he ran second, with any luck he should be in the fighting line. Immensity (9.11) went out at Wellington, whilst Marton (9.11) bled after racing on the second clay. Glenmore (9.11), the hero of many a battle is, judging by his recent efforts, a "has been." N'aiipata has, so far, shown himself a failure over the "big country." If reports are true Vascular badly beat Idealism before leaving for Trentham. so the latter can be written out. Of the lighter weights Merrie Lad, Queen's Post, Black Sea, and Heathorlea all have fighting chances. The latter won alb the steeplechases decided down Southj at Easter time. On, Easter Monday carrying 11.10 he won the Great Western Steeplechase of £3OO at Riverton with The Brewer second and Black Sea third. At Dunedin on June,3rd he finished second under! 11.11 in the Otago Steeplechase of; £SOO. This form is not a strong re- ; commendation for National honors, but merely shows the gelding to have a jumper's chance,. The Grand National Hurdles of £I2OO, ,2i miles, should provide, a great contest. Rorke's Drift (11.9) is on tifip in the handicap, and there are many who do not agree vrtjih Mr Renrys,., but. .the writer is . not one and' was quite prepared to see Jl2 stjone' on the Calibre gelding. The point to remember is, that Rorke's Drift has shown himself to be a firstclass performer on the flat, he is a proved ,stayer, fairly brilliant, (as instance his fourth in. the las! Great Easter at Riccarton beating Tete-a-Tete, Oxenhope, ahd Co.) and being entered for" a hurdle race, the handicapper presumes he can jump. As a matter of fact when one remembers that, a maiden in Record Reign won under 12.12, . and Defiance also a maiden .successfully carried 11.1, it will be. realised tliitt the handieapper was well, within his, right in starting the handicap at the weight quoted. As the.gelding is an unlikely starter in the Hurdles, we will pass on. Crib (11.2) won like a racehorse at Trentlmrn defeating such horses as Pursefiller, Leonta, Styrax, and Co. He is game, aw a great weight-carrier, as a glance at two performances registered at Dunedin six weeks ago will show. On the first day, carrying 12.13, he simply cantered in, and on the second day just suffered defeat at the hands of Rongahero (9.0) under the burden of 18.13, with K'ilmeiiy 11.10 third. His party are sanguine of his National prospects. Pursefiller (10.11) is ; a remarkably;

brilliant mare, but staying is not her forte. After winning the Hack Hurdles at Wanganui, she put up a most impressive performance at Ellerslie by running two miles on a very heavy track in 3.51, This gallop was 1 equal to about 3.44 on a good track. Tragedy King showed no. form at Trentham, and on this ruifining can have little chance in the big Southern event. Kooya (10.9)' is reported os being a sure starter. She is a "great stayer, and lias a record of winning more Cups than any equihe racing at present in the Dominion. The only jumping event, in which"' this mare has taken part wsts decided at Napier Park last March, when third place was her berth. She finished very fast, and Stewards enquired into her performance, but took no; action. This mare jumps well and has pace, hut the writer doubts if she \vi 11 start. Toa Tere (10.9) has his full deserts, although some persons considered he would have to give weight to Rorke's Drift. Te Onga (10.8) is tlio weak point of the handicap. He .won with ease at Ayondale. carrying 10.4., and liad Ell Galio doing his best right past the post .in the Great Northern Hurdles, 2J- miles, carrying 10.7, He has not started since and is said to be 4 a "rod in pickle" for this event. If* stripped at his best lie will be very hard to beat. Leonta (10.7) put up a good performance at Trentham the third day, when he finished very fast at the end of 1$ miles. Two years ago this gelding carried 10.4 into third place, whilst last year he carried i 0.13 into second place. He appears to have an excellent chance this year of improving on those race's!' ; As he is very well, the Conqueror gelding ' must command great' respect.;' Harbor Light gave promise last" Reason of turning out something extra good, but since falling each day at the Feilding meeting appears to lack confidence. Master Kegel was only started in the Jumpers' Flat at Trentham. He was not then fancied by his party, but is being backed by some who profess to know, for the big Riccarion event. On the score of weight he is nicely in, as he won at Wanganui under a similar weight. Marconi (10.5) has eight, pounds more than when he won nicely at Trentham. He' is racing most generously, and many good j ridges have put a tick opposite his name. The much-talked-of Crown Pearl (10.3) is in his right place. There are many who will not hear of his defeat, but two and a half miles in the best of'dOnipan'y may find him wanting/' Tarftfluv' Jack- ran a great race at "had since performed 'badly,' ,; buf according to the "charts" too ,f much importance must not be attached to his recent form. Awahou was backed by his owner at Treritliam, so can have little chance. Gladful was heavily backed by the knowing ones on the third day at Trentham, but gave a wretched display this is not his form, as he is a fair horse. Art. ran like a donkey at Wanganui and did not better at Trentham. The writer gives him r chance with the other Southerner (Crib). Lower.down the list appears the names of Kilmeny, Tenacious, Sir Solo, Banian, Rongahere and Golden March, all of whom have admirers. On tlie appearance of the final payments one should have a better idea. At present the field promises to be large.

AUSTRALIA**! RACING. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, July 22. The six New Zealand horses recently arrived have been particularly successful at the suburban, meetings. Zuland won several races, and Corrio was successful in the Eosehill Hurdles to-day,.'.'..-