Two Northerns

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 654, 4 May 1929, Page 10

Two Northerns

WILTSHIRE’S PROSPECTS ROSY

Possibilities for the Double

rIE prospects of tlie same horse winning the big jumping double at Ellerslie next month are discussed below by “Early Bird,” who selects four as the most likely to accomplish the feat of capturing the Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase.

With no less than 26—there were 27 before Glendowie pulled out of the G.N. Hurdles —engaged in both the Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie next month there is a great chance of one horse winning that big double, and incidentally of receiving the £2,650 stake money, in addition to the nice betting coup that could be arranged. It is difficult enough even to pick either race, let alone both, or sort out one horse to capture the double. That has been done before, of course, but not often, the last horse to accomplish this being Sir Roseberry. four years ago. Is there another Sir Roseberry, or another Ell Gallo, in the fields next month ? Just at present ther«» is one horse that appeals as probably the most likely to win the double, and that is Wiltshire, third in last year’s Great Northern Steeplechase, and winner of the last Grand National Steeplechase. Racing on the flat n high-weight affairs, Wiltshire has more than held his own. Then he won over hurdles last week at Te Rapa, and that was no mean performance. He caught his connections when he did. win that race and perhaps it was as well, for his owner’s residence was burgled that same night, no doubt the nocturnal visitor being desirous of participating in the big dividend. Rut, like Mother Hubbard, there was nothing doing, in the dividend line, at least. Can Jump In the Waikato hurdle event Wiltshire never put a foot wrong, taking his fences with fine dash and confidence. He had a long way to go to catch the leaders after going half a mile, but he gradually decreased their lead and took charge after negotiating the final fence. That day he carried 10.7, and the handicapper was sufficiently impressed to place him on 10.6 in the best company in the G.N. Hurdles. One is satisfied with Wiltshire’s ability to negotiate the bigger fences at Ellerslie, as his third in last year’s big race showed. Apparently, like Beau Cavalier did last season, he will now blossom out as a hurdler, but, let us hope, not without losing the bloom in his ability to clear the steeplechase fences*. Twelve months ago Beau Cavalier won the hurdle race the first day at Te Rapa, and then came on to win the Great Northern Hurdles. Is Wiltshire good enough to follow suit? The answer to that question is yes. So much for Wiltshire; now for the others. Nukumai is to race at Marton. Egraont and Wanganui, so we can wait until then before committing ourselves. There is no greater hurdler in the Dominion than Nukumai, and now that he is much older he may be a better steeplechaser than three years ago. Still, he is not greatly fancied as a potential double winner. The Wedding March Two years ago Wedding March won tho Great Northern Hurdles so convincingly that he was at once ticked off to do ditto in the Steeplechase, but a now famous incident, concerning Memsahib, saw Wedding March debarred from starting, only an hour and a-half before the contest was to start. He is a fine jumper and a possibility for the two events. One would like to see him more seasoned, however.

Red Fuchsia is a natural jumper, and so too is Elicit, but it is hard to forecast how they will shape over the hill at Ellerslie. Comical, if reports speak true, is to be kept to hurdling only, a decision that comes perhaps a couple of years too late, although even now it may be effective.

Beau Cavalier, a big horse, has not shown a partiality to carrying heavy imposts over this same hill, and his chances in th© Hurdles are more highly assessed. On the other hand, he is at present under a cloud, and the interrupted preparation may tell the tale. Had His Chance Time after time Kawini has just been baulked of winning a really big race. He is to try the double again. iand there will be few more popular wins at the meeting if he cracks it at last. His second in the hurdle race at Te Rapa last Monday showed that he was in fine form, and on that occasion it really looked as if with a bit more assistance from his pilot in the final stages he might have won. Mangani surprised the know-alls by the manner in which he won over the Ellerslie hill on Easter Monday, thus fulfilling after nearly 12 months the good things predicted for him as a ’chaser-as a result of his fine showing in last year’s Great Northern Steeplechase. He is a possibility, too, for he has won several races this season over the sticks. Gaze is a most unlucky horse. Ellerslie appears to have a hoodoo on him, but if he can be got to the post fit and well his success may only have been delayed through a series of misadventures in the past. Last year his owner sent Perle de Leon North, but the same thing happened—the horse went wrong on the eve of the race and did not run. Pouri’s Chances At Te Rapa Pouri went two very fair races over the battens, and on the second day he was going well when he was interfered with by a fallen horse Perhaps he. too, will essay the big double, and he is a possibility* at that. Clockwork is not greatly fancied, although lie has been underrated so far Zircon is a very likely candidate, for h© has bad the racing, and is at home oyer both styles of fences. He was a bit unlucky to get beaten in the Onkaparinga Steeplechase (S.A.) last month. Kapuna is credited from the South to be a fine jumper, and Radiate is highly thought of at Riccarton. The latter may be the pick of the South Islanders.

Golden Wedding stands a better chance in the Hurdles, at which game she is a most promising although scarcely seasoned enough for a tiring race like this, a similar cause for ruling against promising novices such as Glena Bay, Mandarine and Cybele. Roman Abbey comes from the Wedding. March stable, and may prove a useful second string for the double. Braeman is an interesting recruit to 'chasing, and with his staying ability must be reckoned with. Pendavies looks very fit, even if he did not show up in his gallops on the flat at Te Rapa last week. Kilburn Schooled when in Auckland recently, so the country will not be entirely strange to him. He is a possibility for the double. Kamehameha and Odin are not particularly fancied, although it is in the former’s favour that he won over the Ellerslie hill at the first time of asking. It is a rare good field, and although it will of necessity fine down considerably on acceptance day, May 24, there should be all the material for spectacular contests—and Ellerslie is just the place to provide the spectacular, with

its unique steeplechase course running over a formidable hill. So far as the horses that appeal most as possible winners of the Great Northern Hurdles and the Great Northern Steeplechase are concerned, this quartet should have. something to say in the decision: WILTSHIRE KAWINI WEDDING MARCH POURI The following table shows the weights - allotted those horses claiming an engagement in the two Great Northerns:—•

MARLBOROUGH RESULTS

RABBI IS THE CUP WINNER SPRINT TO ARCH ARROW Press Association BLENHEIM, Friday. The course was in splendid condition for the opening day of the Marlborough Racing Club’s autumn meeting, and the attendance was fair. The totalisator handled £7,109. Results were: Novice Stakes, 5 furlongs.—s J. O Meara’s Araemo, 8.7 (A. Fratus), 1: 4 Par l 5.7 ( A. E. Ellis), 2; 3 Painting, 7.13 (iv. Robinson), 3. Also started: 6 Emiform, 2 Gold Chief, 1 Half Acre. Won by two lengths. Time, 1.3. H i llersden Trot, 1J miles.—3 E. E Edmonds’s Lady Bee, 48yds (W. J. Jennings), 1; 2 Waipuke, 12yds (J. Pugh), 2; 3 Bingen Wilkes, 48yds (E. Edmonds), 3. Bingen Wilkes was coupled with winner. Also started: 5 Palm Leaf, 4 Nelson Parish, 6 Pearlie Brent, 8 Humming Bird, 7 Allthorpe, 1 Lochbank. Won by half a length . Time, 3.34 2-5. Waterlea Cup, of £200; miles.—l Rabbi, J. J. Corry’s, 8.4 (A. E. Ellis), 1; 5 Rameses, B. Dooley's, 8.9 (J. Olsen), 2; 2 Black Mint, W. H. Ballinger’s, 9.0 (A. Fratus), 3. Also started: 4 Discourse, 3 Ronaki. Won by two and a-half lengths, with one and a-half lengths between second and third. Time, 2.15 2-5. Beaver Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs.—4 Mrs. A. Champion’s The Dove, 7.5 (L. J. Woolford), 1; 1 Dermod, 9.0 (A. E. Ellis), 2; 5 Catuna (J. Ward), 3. Also started: 2 First Ruler, 6 Makeup, 3 Dainty Ways, 8 Lucklaine, 7 Dancing Star. Won by a neck. Time, 1.17 4-5. Autumn Handicap, 6 furlongs.—2 Mrs. A. Champion’s Arch Arrow. 8.10 (L. J. Woolford), 1; 1 Joybird, 9*3 CA. E. Ellis), and 4 Arrowboy, 7.3 (J. Ward), deadheat, 2. Also started: 3 Smithereens, 6 Raukura, 5 Spode. Won by half a. length. Time, 1.15 4-5. Wither Trot, 15 miles.—3 J. Pugh’s Waipuke, 12yds (J. Pugh), 1; 2 Lady Bee, 12yds (J. W. Edmonds), 2; 2 Bingen Wilkes, 12yds, 3. Also started: 4 Logan Way, 6 Future, 5 Radiola, 7 Castle Chimes, 1 Lochbank, 8 Audubon Child. Won by half a length. Time, 2.58 3-5. Opawa Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs.—6 L. Bloom’s Royal Flower, 7.11 (C. McCarthy), 1; 4 First Ruler, 9.2 (C. Broughton), 2; 2 Masher, 5.2 (A. E. Ellis’), 3. Also started’: 1 Shot Silk, 3 Fallow, 5 Warzone. Won by a head. Time, 1.31 1-5. Delta Handicap, one mile.—l Kiriane, 7.11 (J. Mulvihill), 1; 5 Modern, 8.5 (C. Broughton), 2; 2 Maui, 9.10 CK. Robinson), 3. £Jso started: 4 Lady Gay, 3 Crown Star. Won by a head. Time, 1.46.

Nukumai 12 0 11 10 Wedding March . . 11 5 11 5 Red Fuchsia . . . . . . 10 13 10 8 Elicit . . 10 12 10 7 Comical . . .. 11 9 12 Beau Cavalier .. . . 10 11 11 10 Wiltshire 6 10 7 Kawini 6 10 13 Manqani . . 10 2 10 2 Gaze 2 10 2 Pouri 10 0 10 0 Clockwork 10 9 10 Zircon 9 8 9 8 Kapuna 5 9 5 Radiate 9 1 9 0 Golden Wedding 9 0 9 0 Maunga 9 0 9 11 Glena Bay 9 0 0 Mandarine 9 0 9 0 Pendavies 0 9 0 Kamehameha 9 0 9 0 Cybele 9 0 9 0 Brae man 9 0 9 0 Odin 0 9 0 Kilburn 9 0 9 0 Roman Abbey 9 0 9 0