RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 6

RACING

BY “EARLY BIRD.’* auckl and Acceptances. Acceptances for all first day events of the Auckland winter meeting, as well as for the Great Northern Steeplechase, close at 5 p.m. on Friday. Great Northern Meeting. It will not be long now before the Great Northern meeting is in full swing The fixture opens on Friday week, and will be continued on the following Saturady and Wednesday. Nearly A Surprise. When Rayo went to the front in the Steeplechase last Saturday, with only half a mile to go, there was a. prospect of his springing a big surprise, for he was paying over a third of a century to win. However, he lacked the pace and jumping ability to pull it off, and he had to be content with third money. Jumps Too Narrow. The first jump, a brush, that the field In the hack and big steeplechase on the first day at Wanganui had to encounter was altogether too narrow. There was less than a furlong run to it, and in the hack event the first day there was a rush to get over first, and • s a result Advent’s rider was knocked out of the saddle. It was very fortunate that there was nothing more serious to report. A Bad Smash. When Brigadier Bill, the favourite, came down at the first fence in the May Hurdles at Wanganui on Saturday it was thought that his rider would be lucky to get up, for the whole field exeept one appeared to go over him. The rider, F. Corlett, was taken to hospital suffering from concussion, and bodily injuries, including a badly smashed hand. The horse got off well, but it was remarkable how the remainder of the field managed to steer out of the trouble. Got Into Trouble. That promising young hurdler, Troilus, might have won two races at Wanganui instead of one had his rider been more wide awake in his race on Saturday. He got his mount into such a position that he was blinded at almost every jump, and quite failed to appreciate the necessity to keep out of tae trouble. Consequently Troilus did not jump too well. More judiciously bandied Troilus would have won on Saturday. It was disappointing to see TL C. Miles allowing himself to be pocketed in a hurdle race, for he is a > ery promising rider over the fences. Matinee's Form. In the open sprint at Wanganui the first day Matinee finished second to Just. He was then produced in the principal handicap a mije and a distance, the second day, and gave a glimpse of his old form. In the early stages he was in the middle of the Held, and crossing the top he made an effort that carried him up to fifth as they

came into the straight. He failed to go on with it however, and finally finished eighth. Matinee’s next appearance will probably be at the Otaki meeting on June 3, in which he is to contest the principal flat event. Arrived Safely The racehorses Pentagram, Clarus, The Thorn, Solario, Le Choucas, Prince Otto, The Immigrant and Ring the Bell arrived at Sydney yesterday by the Ulimaroa in good condition. Rider’s Engagements Roy Reed is to be on Degage in the Cornwall Handicap; S. Henderson is to pilot Lomint in the same race. R. E. Thomson will be on Tuki in the Great Northern Steeplechase. P. Mcßrearty will be on Koauau in th% big hurdles if the horse is brought north. Taken Out

Town Guard was withdrawn from the Members’ Handicap at 3.25 p.m. yesterday.

Pentagram’s Weight Minterne is top weight in the Australian Steeplechase with 12.8. Pentagram has bene allotted 9.11. As Pentagram ran second over two and a half miles at Ellerslie on Easter Saturday carrying 10.1, it cannot be said that he is harshly treated. The A.J.C. Steeplechase is run over three miles and is worth £1,250 to the winner, plus the sweepstake of a tenner each, which will bring the prize to about the same figure for the winner as the Great Northern. Visitors From Te Aroha

Trainer W. A. McMillan will be bringing Lady Spalpeen and Joke Form to Ellerslie next week from Te Aroha. This trainer was very unfortunate in losing Peter Rosa at Wanganui. He was going nicely in the Wanganui Steeplechase at the time, and even had he not been good enough to win he had already shown enough to cause him to be regarded as a very promising recruit to the lepping business.