Semi-Final Trials at Riccarton

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 115, 5 August 1927, Page 6

Semi-Final Trials at Riccarton

LATEST NOTES FROM HEADQUARTERS WHEN the promising young ’chaser Crown Coin crashed at Riccarton whilst schooling on Tuesday morning it probably ended the Wanganui gelding's career, for a small bone in a leg was broken, and he may have to be destroyed. This and other interesting news from Riccarton is contained in to-day’s budget from our Christchurch correspondent.

CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. THE following horses arrived this morning by the Wahine:—Black Mint, Vexatious, Cerf, Tresham, Prince Paladin. Hokioi, Kaiti, Royal Lineage, Indian Sage, Nadarino and Phantom. A heavy fog again overhung the training tracks at Riccarton this morning, but it soon lifted, and the semifinal gallops were recorded for the Grand National Meeting before a crowd of about 200 onlookers. The trestles were out about 50 feet on the course proper, and all last work was done on that track. Peter Maxwell galloped about a mile before the fog lifted, and it was impossible to time his gallop. However, he hit out in good style, and appeared to be going well within himself all the way. Aberfeldy and Sir Wai were going easily at the end of a mile, run in lmin. 50sec. Royal Game traversed the last half mile of his work in 54see., and he was going nicely at the finish. CUP FAVOURITE GALLOPS Count Cavonr, Magna Charta and Satrap were companions in a trial over six furlongs. Count Cavour and Magna Charta were together at the end of the gallop, which they left behind them in lmin. 17 l-ssec. Rangatahi, Maunga and Charlatan were galloped over a distance. They were not timed, -but Charlatan and Rangatahi were alongside each other when the post was reached. Coastguard, Bonena and Zircon ran a mile and a-half in 2min. 47 3-ssec. Bonena appeared to travel comfortably all the way, and finished ahead of Coastguard, with Zircon well back in third place. Bonena galloped with plenty of freedom, and his fine performance gained him many friends. Margaret Birney and Cornstalk left a mile behind them in 1 min- 47sec. Cornstalk was slightly in front at the finish. Cornstalk Is an exceptionally good track galloper, which makes Margaret Birney’s effort a good one. A SMART SIX Nincompoop and Huikai were responsible for a good gallop over six furlongs, which they traversed in lmin. 17 l-ssec. The pair were together up the straight, and finished practically on terms. Solferite, with a light weight up, got to the end of seven furlongs in 1 ■min. 32sec. The Solferino gelding ran the last half-mile in 53 l-ssec., and was going very strongly at the finish. It was a good effort. Tuki ran nine furlongs in 2min. 10 sec., and Grand National and Kalos slipped over half a mile in 53 l-ssec. Hoy lake and Lady Swinton skipped over five furlongs in lmin. 4sec., Taboo registered 52 2-ssec. for four furlongs, and Chickwheat galloped attractively over seven furlongs in lmin.* 32 2-ssec. The last-named was assisted over the last half-mile by a stable mate. His performance this morning suggests that he may race prominently in his forthcoming engagementsASSURANCE BEST Assurance and two companions compassed seven furlongs in 1.31 4-5# the best gallop over that distance of the morning. Assurance appeared to be going well when the post was reached. Greenstone (Mackie), Hyperion (1 Tilson), Good Form (D. O’Connor), Osterman (F. Langford), and Kipling (A. E. Ellis) were sent once round over the steeplechase country on the course proper. Osterman and Greenstone, who were together throughout, gave a good display, while Kipling gained ground on his rivals at each fence, though he was outpaced on the flat. Hyperion baulked, while Good Form was tailed off early. NATIONAL FAVOURITE IMPRESSES When Beau Cavalier made his appearance on the steeplechase course there seemed to be a general stir among track watchers. To-day was his first school over Riccarton country, and naturally onlookers were keen on wit-

nessing his great jumping ability. ; He was ridden by his usual pilot. S. , Henderson, who arrived this morning. ! and though inclined to screw a little, j he thoroughly satisfied track watchers j with his performance- Approaching Cutts’s he made a great leap and \ brushed through the fence. It was a | magnificent jump, and one trainer who j was close on hand reckons the son of Chesterfield took off at least 17 feet. Peneus (McDonald) and Te Kawa (A. E. Ellis) jumped four hurdles in good style. Tliolomon and Lutliy cleared six hurdles, but the latter’s display was not impressive. Calluna (McDonald) gave a line exhibition of jumping over four flights of hurdles, and appears to be very well. OWNER’S STRONG HAND Gaze (Thomson) and Perle de Leon (Ellis) gave a good display over a round of hurdles. Gaze rapped the second fence, but afterwards jumped well. Perle dc Leon jumped in good style, and gained many friends for his Grand National Hurdle engagement. Kilcannich jumped four hurdles very slowly. END OF CROWN COIN When Crown Coin fell while schooling over the steeplechase course one morning this week, he broke a bone in his leg, and two veterinary surgeons who attended him consider his case a hopeless one. More than likely Crown Coin will be destroyed to-day. Calluna. who ran fourth in the Kennels Hurdles at Riccarton last week, has been weighted at 11.0 for the Hunters’ Hurdles, which comes up for decision on the first day of the Grand National meeting. The Heather Mixture gelding was in want of a race last Saturday, and perhaps he will prove his form was all wrong at an 1 early date. Aberfeldy is nicely placed in the Trial Hurdles with 10.2. anil if he is a starter he will‘carry heavy support. The Quin Abbey gelding jumped well yesterday, and gained many friends for his approaching engagement. Peneus ran a good race in the Longbeach Hurdles last week with 10-7 aboard, and was unlucky to meet such a good one as Bonena. However, he will meet the Boniform gelding on 81b. better terms next Tuesday, and he should again be a hard one to head off. VERSATILE NUKUMAI Nukumai, who claims an engagement on the first day of the Grand National meeting, has yet to make his appearance at headquarters. He is engaged in the Jumpers’ Flat with 12.12, and notwithstanding his heavy impost he will probably start favourite. His treble win at Trentham suggests that he has never been better at any other period of his career. Grand National lias been accepted for in the Winter Cup, but he has also been entered for the Avonhead Handicap, which is run over seven furlongs on the same day. Grand National is a five-year-old gelding by Martian—Amber and White, and if he succeeded on the opening day of the Grand National meeting, his win would be an appropriate one. THE BABE The Babe won the Kennels Hurdles so easily at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting that it looks as if he will take a lot of beating in the Hunters’ Hurdles next Tuesday with 10.13. The Babe, who is a bay gelding by Cronstadt—Fairlie is very well at present, and is improving with each outKaikahu is going to be allowed to take his place in the Grand National Hurdles. The St. A mans gelding raced very consistently at Trentham. and under his light weight in the big hurdle race he may go a long way. If Jovial reproduces the same form he displayed in the Homeby Steeples he will take a power of beating in the Enfield Steeplechase next Tuesday. In the Homeby Steeples he was always well up. and eventually finished fifth.