The Nationals

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 431, 13 August 1928, Page 10

The Nationals

Steeplechase Run To-Morrow

Will Tuki Show the Pace ?

ONE of tlie most popular meetings of the year is the Grand National at Riccarton, and despite the dearth of jumpers engaged on the opening day to-morrow, this season’s fixttire promises to be just as interesting as its predecessors. On Thursday and Saturday the meeting will be continued. To-morrow the big events are the Grand National Steeplechase and Winter Cup, the Grand National Hurdles being set down for Thursday.

TT is to be regretted that there will be only nine starters in th§ Grand Na.tional Steeplechase, but the event will possess a very lively interest for Aucklanders, for the province has three worthy representatives—Beau Cavalier from Ellerslie and Pouri and Wiltshire from Te Rapa. The trio will be well in the betting market too. The only other Aucklander engaged to-morrow is the hurdler Quincoma, and despite the fact that he has his full share of weight, he will not disgrace himself if ho receives the right assistance from the fellow on top. Unless rain actually falls during the racing the big Riccarton course is likely to be dressed in its best, with the going in first-class order. In the other events, particularly on the flat, the fields have filled splendidly. There are 20 left in the Winter Cup, with the probable runners numbering seventeen or eighteen. Smartness out of the barrier is one of the essentials for a Winter Cup, despite the long straight, and a glance through the records will show that many good sprinters have been successful in this contest—one of the hardest of races to win.

The Babe, Matu and Passin’ Through are not greatly fancied, the issue appearing to lie between Beau Cavalier, Pouri. Tuki and Wiltshire, with the backers making plunges on Tuki and Pouri.

After the class 'chasers come the second-class jumpers in the

I-lis one schooling effort at Riccarton did not show Radiate up in a favourable light, but if he goes right he will be a hard one to beat. Jovial is one of the tearaway type, and with a stand up should set a merry pace. Royal Fashion and Royal Wink are useful, and Captain Sarto has a modest jumpers’ chance. Rangi Sarto should be all the better for his outing 10 days earlier, and as he is regarded as one of the promising recruits in what is admittedly a lean year he must be respected. Backers may decide upon Rangi Sarto and Radiate. The big flat race is the

A start is to be made with the

WINTER CUP Of £750; 1 mile

HUNTERS’ HURDLES, Of £250; l| miles.

Class horse and all that he has proved himself on the flat, Loughrea’s weight should stop him. Pink Rose. Home Made, Rangi Sarto (who will no doubt be reserved for the minor ’chasing event), Goldtown, Chrissarto (who sprang a surprise in a similar race at Awapuni last year), and the winner of last Saturday week, Diana’s Lad. read nicely placed. Four that make most appeal are Pink Rose, Home Made. Chrissarto and Diana’s Lad, and of these the actual favourite should be either Home Made or Diana’s Lad. There is some promising material in the second event, the

There are so many really good milers and sprinters engaged that this event presents a rare problem. Those that can be said to hajfe good chances are the Black Mint—Royal Game bracket, Taboo, Royal Damon, Solferite, Kaiti, Nincompoop, Town Bank, Bisox, Panther, Fist Sight, Chelone, Kalos, Royal Saxon. For some time the quintette most fancied comprised Panther, Kaiti, First Sight, Royal Damon (whose gallop on Saturday was brilliant), and Bisox. It is quite on the cards that the five mentioned will provide the place-getters, although it is more than likely that one. of the lightweights (those under 10.0 have won 23 out of 29 Winter Cups decided to date), will split them. The actual favourites may be Royal Damon and First Sight. One of the toughest races of the day is the concluding event, the

TRIAL HURDLES, Of £300; 12 miles.

AVOXHEAD HANDICAP, Of £250: 7 furlongs.

Quincoma has his full share of weight, but he is an improving jumper, and properly handled should do himself and his trainer justice, although one would be more optimistic were Henderson in the saddle. Nucleus will be having her first race over sticks for a time, and may do better later. Nine of Spades is a good hurdler, and Craigmore may do better now that he has been over the Riccarton obstacles. The flying Standard may want seasfound out ovar the last bit. Those mentioned appear to be the probables, and the final favourites will probably be Craigmore and Nine of Spades. Not the least interesting race on the card is the third event, the

The topweight may be in need of a race, but Tripaway, Royal Lineage. Historic, Pangolin, Princess Mafalda, Page Boy and Solfello have all run well recently, and to them should be added as likely ones Boy, Lancer, Crossbow. Beaming and Zeuxis. Perhaps punters will decide in favour of the more seasoned horses (a generally payable policy at this period of the season) and of them none should appeal to them more than Royal Lineage and Historic. The Grand National Hurdles, to be decided on Thursday, will form the subject of a special review on Wednesday. In the meantime the issue appears to lie between Red Fuchsia, Beau Cavalier, Gaze and Nukumai, in that order.

CASHMERE PLATE, Of £250; 6 fur.

Several of the above have performed promisingly in public the past few weeks, among them being Despot. Locarno, Malmsey, Narrative, Waihemo. First Raid, Sarnia, Starshooter, Toawai and The Viscount, while Noteworthy last season was a pretty smart two-year-old. If the last-named has gone on the right way in the interim he will take all sorts of bea.ting. The public fancies may be Noteworthy and Locarno. Only a small field will line up for the JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP. Of £250; 12 miles.

Nukumai has his share of weight, although three pounds less than last year, and he does not appear to be quite as good now. Chickwheat and Scion can gallop, while Atareria and Gaze in the mood would be difficult. Tarleton has been going like a two-year-old in his work, and what beats him ought to win—or track work counts for little. Lady Gay and Kilburn have some pace on the flat, and the latter is capable of springing a surprise. Best-backed may be Tarleton and Atareria. The way is now paved for the NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE Of £1,600; 3* miles

It seems as if the top weight will be the favourite, but if the race were to be run at Ellerslie this would not be the case. With Beau Cavalier the weight so far has effectively stopped him, and to-morrow he has more averdupois than ever. It remains to be seen if he will prove that the weightcarrying bogey is a myth—Aucklanders will hope that it is. Pamplona is a topnotcher if right, but latest reports are not encouraging, although the fact that he will be coupled with a promising sort like Dubious is encouraging. It is stated that the latter should have won the Homeby Steeplechase last Saturday week. Pouri is greatly fancied, for he has a nice weight. Just how the big fences will find him out remains to be seen, but if he takes on the Beau again in the lead he is liable to crash. A similar feeling exists with regard to Wiltshire. who has not shown himself a perfect jumper to date. Tuki pleases more than anything, for the reason that while the other good ones have soared in the handicaps he has stayed on a handy mark. He is a rare fencer, although rather devoid of pace, but at Riccarton more than anywhere else jumping is the greatest requirement on the part, of a National winner. Three years ago Tuki won the National, and now he has an excellent chance of getting on the winning list again.

Loughrea . . 12 9 Chrissarto 9 9 Pink Rose . 10 13 Kemps ey . . 9 9 Home Made 10 5 Diana’s Lad 9 8 Rangi Sarto 10 3 Prompter . . 9 2 Goldtown . . 9 10 Umtali .... 9 2 Lord Leslie . 9 10

Qulncoma 10 13 Standard . . 9 10 Loughrea . . 10 13 Steel Bar . . 9 0 Nucleus . . . 9 13 Erin-go-Panorama 9 12 Bragh . . . 9 0 Nine of Amorist . . 9 0 Spades . . 9 11 Carinthia . . 9 0 Craig-more . 9 11 Piccanniny . 9 0 Lady PassenNo Response 9 0 ger .... 9 10

Despot .... 9 11 Noteworthy 9 0 Locarno . . . 9 11 Radiant Malmsey . . 9 11 Knight . . 9 0 Narrative . . 9 11 Roi De Val . 9 0 Smithereens 9 11 Sarnia . . . 9 0 W aihemo . . 9 11 Starshooter 9 0 Bon Raid . . 9 0 Toawai . . . 9 0 Filosel . . . 9 0 The Viscount 9 0 First Raid . 9 0

Nukumai . . 12 9 Tarleton . . 9 13 Chickwheat 11 5 Brigadier Scion . 10 3 Bill . . . 9 12 Atareria . 10 Lady Gay . . 9 11 Gaze . . . . 10 3 Kilburn . 9 10

st lb st lb Beau The Babe . 9 13 Cavalier . 12 5 Dubious . . . 9 13 Pamplona . 10 12 Matu . . . . . 9 1 Tuki . . . . 10 9 Passin’ Pouri . . . . 10 9 Through , 9 0 Wiltshire . . 9 13

ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE. Of £250; 2 miles. Radiate ... 11 2 Royal Wink. 10 6 Jovial ... 11 2 Rangi Sarto 10 3 Royal Captain Sarto 9 9 Fashion . . 10 6 Donation 9 0

-Black Mint . 10 11 First . 9 4 Taboo . . . 10 6 Gold Mint . . 9 0 Royal Damon 10 3 Chelone . . . 9 0 Solferite . 9 11 Rotor . . . 9 0 Kaiti 9 10 Don Jose . . 9 o Nincompoop . 9 9 Miss Winkie 9 0 Royal Game 9 6 Antrim Boy . 9 0 Town Bank . 9 6 Kalos .... 9 0 Bisox . 9 6 Royal Saxon .. 9 u Panther . 9 6 Amor .... 9 0

Vigilance . . 10 7 Tripaway . . 10 7 Page Boy . . 9 i> . 10 2 . 9 13 Lineage . Historic Beaming . . 9 0 Pangolin . Princess . 9 13 Zeuxis . . . 9 0 Mafalda . Boy .... 9 11 . 9 11 cess .... 9 0 Lancer . . Grand National . . 9 8 .Membo . . . 9 0