Review of Great Northern Weights

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 41, 11 May 1927, Page 6

Review of Great Northern Weights

COMPARISON WITH WANGANUI

The appearance within a few days of each other of the hatidicaps for the two big jumping events at the forthcoming Auckland and Wanganui winter meetings provides unique scope for a review.

It would not afford a, true comparison to rate as equal in merit horses winning the Wanganui Steeplechase and the Great Northern Steeplechase. The position in regard to the Century Hurdles and Gueat Northern Hurdles is similar. But while it will be granted that Ellerslie provides a much more difficult test for the jumper, there is full scope for a review of the handicaps declared by the two different weight adjusters upon horses engaged in the big hurdles at both meetings. The Wanganui Jockey Club’s handicapper, Mr. H. Coyle, and the Auckland official, Mr. F. J. McManemin, differ in several instances, and in some cases there is startling evidence of a divergence of views in connection with certain horses. IN TOO LIGHT In the hurdles the southern handicapper is at great variance with Mr. McManemin in regard to Koauau, Euchre, Zircon, Brigadier Bill, Day, Bell, Kalakaua, and Star Shell, and according to Mr. Coyle all these horses are in light in the G.N. Hurdles. The discrepancy—if one may call it by that name—is most pronounced in the case of Koauau, Day Bell and Kalakaua, who are considered better horses by 61bs than what the northern official rates them. ABOUT KOAUAU Koauau is a fine jumper, and one is inclined to side with Mr. Coyle in his view. Day Bell has not done anything remarkable, but his win at Ellerslie recently was full of merit and promise, and he was lucky in being let in the G.N. Hurdles on the minimum. Kalakaua is rated as good as Day Bell by both handicappers, with this difference, that Mr. Coyle considers they should carry 61bs above the minimum, and both scales of weights start with Comical, who has only lib more at Wanganui. To hark back to Kalakaua, he is at present an indifferent jumper, and he will not need to take any risks at Ellerslie. ONE IN FORM

Brigadier Bill and Euchre are rated at 51bs higher at Wanganui, and of these two Brigadier Bill, receiving 41bs, is much preferred. He ran second and third at Awapuni recently, and on the first day ,he would probably have won had he not pulled so hard over the first mile. He did not have much sting left for his finishing effort. However, more races over the sticks at Hawera this week and at Wanganui next week will tend to make him more steady in his races.

Brigadier Bill is a fine jumper, but so far as the Great Northern Hurdles is concerned the two and a half miles may find a weak sp.ot. In addition, it has to be remembered that many fine jumpers in the south have proved utter failures when brought to Ellerslie. Euchre was of little use as a racer on the flat, and it was not until he was put to hurdling that he came into his own. Up to the present* however, his best efforts have been confined to events over a mile and, a half. ENARE A GOOD JUMPER O. Cox has Enare in the big Ellerslie double, but he is not in the Wanganui Century Hurdles. He figures in the hack hurdles the same day with 11.2 (top-weight), and such a fine jumper with his undoubted speed will be worth following. In the late spring of last year Enare won the Middleton Hurdles, one mile five furlongs, from a field of a dozen, carrying 10.9 and scoring very comfortably. Early in the season Enare won three hurdle races. Had Mr. Coyle been doing the handicaps for the G.N. Hurdles he would probably have given Enare not less than ten stone.

Star Shell made rather a sensational debut at hurdling in the spring, when he cleared out at his first attempt, and in mud knee deep won pulling up. Subsequently he won at Trentham, but when all is said and done he will probably find the Great Northern Hurdles beyond him. The following table shows the weights awarded by the handicappers to horses engaged in both the Century Hurdles at Wanganui and the G.N. Hurdles:

OVER BIG FENCES The Wanganui course is not to be compared with the Great Northern Steeplechase country. At the southern centre the fences are not very formidable, while the horses have the additional advantage of taking off from firm ground. At Ellerslie the reverse is the case. The course is usually heavy in June, and that really adds something to the height of the obstacles, in addition to which there is the tiring journey over the hill. The scale of weights in the Wanganui Steeplechase is about three or four pounds higher than that set for the big .Ellerslie event, and this has to be borne in mind when making comparisons. Peter Maxwell and Dick have been weighted as better performers at Ellerslie than they would be at Wanganui, and no one will disagree with Mr. McManemin over this.

NOT SUITED BY COUNTRY? There is eight pounds difference in the weights allotted Beau Cavalier and Omahu, and in letting them in so light in the Great Northern Mr. McManemin has apparently considered that Omahu is almost a back number, and Beau Cavalier not suited by the country, despite the fact that he won the last Pakuranga Hunt Cup. Each horse has to carry eight pounds more at Wanganui. Lady Comet is set to carry half a stone more at Wanganui, and Fireblight eight pounds more. The latter has some fair performances to her credit, and in receiving only a pound above the minimum in the Great Northern Steeplechase she is undoubtedly well treated.

The following list shows the weights allotted in the Wanganui and Great Northern Steeplechases:

A HOT FAVOURITE With the brief review and comparison over it is a relief to turn to another source for information, and this is obtainable from the list supplied. Kawini was favourite for the Great Northern double prior to winning at Te Rapa a week ago, and since then his price has come tumbling down, until now he is at a short price. The rushing of Kawini is somewhat similar to the demand for the “two Sir Roseberrys” a couple of years ago. At twice the odds against the favourite is the price to be obtained for Nukumai, Wedding March, and Day Bell, while Royal Form is also advancing in popular favour. Then follow in a bunch Comical, Archibald, Zircon, Royal Abbey, Brigadier Bill, Llewellyn, Glenotus, and Beau Cavalier.

However, up to the present THE SUN knows of no reason why it should adjust its previous ideas of the big Auckland double—Kawini, Comical, Enare, and Day Bell.

THE HURDLES A kid. Wang 2im. 21m. Koauau .. -. 9.13 10.5 Zircon 9.12 10.2 Euchre .. .. 9.11 10.2 Maunga . . . . 9.9 9.10 Brigadier Bill 9.10 Rangatahi . . Bay Bell . . . . 9.6 Kalakaua 9.0 9.6 Star Shell 9.0 9.4

THE STEEPLECHASES Akld. Wang. 3gm. 3m. Comical 11.9 11.12 Nukumai 11.6 11.10 Passin’ Through 10.6 10.13 Peter Maxwell . . *10.3 10.4 Tuki w0.3 10.7 Dick 10.1 9.13 Beau Cavalier . . 0.7 10.1 Omahu 5.7 10.3 Maunga 0.6 9.10 Lady Comet 9.2 9.9 Pireblight .. .. 0.1 9.9 Mallow morn 9.4 9.0 Rayo 9.0 0.0 Glument 9.0 9.0 Advent 9.0 9.0 Goldpiece .. .. 9.0 9.0