Brigadier Bill

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 663, 15 May 1929, Page 12

Brigadier Bill

IN WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE Was Last Year’s Winner THE winter racing season will be advanced a further stage this week, with the Wanganui Jockey Clubs carnival carded for tomorrow and Saturday. Brigadier Bill, last year’s winner of the big event, is again engaged, while particular interest will be taken in the doings of Locarno and Mister Gamp in the Century Hurdles.

The Wanganui racecourse is an ideal ground for the holding of a winter meeting, for the sandy nature of the turf enables it to stand up to the heavy rain admirably, so that it rarely gets heavy, like the majority of other courses, although, of course, it does not improve with continuous rain. Good fields are engaged for the seven events on the opening programme to-morrow, with a division in the Purua Hack, which, however, will be treated as one race only, the totalisator being opened the once only. Why this should be so on a seven-race bill of fare perhaps the committeee of the W.J.C. are alone aware, but it cannot be denied that owners have received scant consideration. Each division is worth £IOO to the winner, but second and third horses get nothing with which to pay for the winter oats. The first day’s card starts off with the: Purua Hack First Division With a field of seventeen, despite the division, the draw at the post on this turning course is of primary importance. It always is in short races at Wanganui. Among those engaged are the two Hawera winners, Havering and Monsogne, the latter winning twice the second day, following a second to Havering the first day, form that should be hard to beat tomorrow. Cool Mint is a big horse with a good weight, and although he failed at Egmont that surely was not his true form. Grand Acre has lost form of late, but at his best he is really good. Second Thought is a good sort, and the circular track should be all in favour of Sylvan Dell. Of the remainder those that can be recommended are High Society, Warflame, Fallow, Rillet, Latakia and Tunbridge. It is a pretty open race, with perhaps backers plumping for MONSOGNE COOL MINT Second Division The recent form of Royal Acre has been quite good, but a longer journey, as on the second day, would suit him better. St. Melba has Keen racing very consistently, without much luck. Propaganda is a particularly promising sort, and then Flying Binge was unlucky at Hawera on Saturday. She goes best over five furlongs, but the six at Wanganui is really a five only. It is a great course for nonstayers. Broxt and Dishonoured are speedy, the latter maybe improving with age. Shrewd was a shade unlucky at Marton recently and should give the favourite a good go here. Hopwood, Le Champ, Bank Note, Naselle and Good Cheer please most of the others. No doubt most money will be forthcoming for

SHREWD BANK NOTE Hack Steeplechase All except three or four of this field were seen out at Marton and Ilawera, so that the form is more or less exposed. Ballyfarnon is an interesting newcomer whose form will be interestingly followed. "Wanganui in the past has proved a fine course to try out novice ’chasers, for many have won there at the first time of asking. Kepuna impressed by his fencing at Hawera, and but for blundering at the sod wall would probably have won there instead of being second. He has already schooled well at Wanganui. Mountain Crag disappointed at Egmont, and apparently has lost confidence for the time being; apart from this he would be difficult to beat. Vexatious is a possible, for she is capable of a good deal of improvement on recent showing. Alaric went wild at Hawera, trying to run off at every obstacle, and Trouble disappointed at Marton. Pikimai is a likely customer, but with 10.2 now Highwayman is still susceptible to improvement. It appears to be just a question of how long lie will be able to keep going with those legs of his. Maidos impressed at Hawera, and so too did Royal Elm. The Hasting gelding is one of the most promising recruits seen out this winter. He was unlucky last Thursday at Hawera, where he collided with another horse at the first fence, but on Saturday his second to Brigadier Bill was a splendid effort. Son o’ Mine is an improver, and of those on the minimum a preference is expressed for Mandarine, Scrap Iron and Ratapiko. In a good betting race there should be most money for ROYAL ELM KAPUNA Wanganui Steeplechase This event does not generally attract a large field, so with nine engaged the club has no cause to complain, for they are all probable starters barring lastminute accidents. Nukumai is an interesting figure, and he has only to take kindly to the fences, quite simple affairs, to beat the lot. if he is forward

enough—which is doubtful. Puwhero mav find the journey a bit strenuous, and in addition he disappointed twice at Hawera. His best chance would 1 appear to be over the shorter distance , on Saturday, an event he has already won a couple of times. Brigadier Bill will take a power of beating, for with an ounce of luck he might have won both days at Hawera instead of a first and second. Wharncliffe’s presence ; will add interest, and with him it may be a case of lack of condition; apart ( from this he is good. Matu won the Marton Steeplechase in dashing style when not considered quite ready, so the obvious inference is that he should be about a stone better. Maunga may need a race, but if he is to stand a chance at Ellerslie he will need to be about ready now. Rangi Sarto may not be seasoned sufficiently, for lie has not raced for a considerable time. Roman Abbey, now up to 10.0, is well treated, but he had had enough by the time he won the Egmont Steeplechase that the journey may find a weakness. However, he is such a grand jumper that he cannot be ruled out. 'I he field is completed with Mandarine, who has something to learn yet, although with his pace he must be given a • chance. However, it is likely that j when the bells cease ringing the prime j fancies may be

BRIGADIER BILL MATU Kaitoke Hack Hurdles The usual big field associated with this race at Wanganui will again be very much in evidence, and it is always an interesting event, for several good fiat performers are given their initial schooling in public. Tomorrow there are Joy King, Tiega, Paul Lucerne, Otairi and one or two others, with Novar, Vivo, Overhaul. Cybele, Red Bank, Ripon Abbey, Gala Day, Raukaponga, Grand Lupin and Umtali as the best of the others. Perhaps the fancies will be RED BANK CI'BELE Century Hurdles This race always attracts a small but select lot. On top is Comical, who is to have his first race over the sticks for some time, so that it will be interesting to see how the winner of the 1927 Grand National Hurdles shapes. Locarno is reputed to be the best of Mrs. McDonald’s hurdlers (the others are Red Fuchsia and Elicit), so that is enough. He won very easily at Hawera on Saturday. Glengariff is at the top of his form, and he is a good one when right. Aberfeldv, on the same mark, was looked to for great things last season, and with another year on to his age he may be more solid. Beaumont is a fine hurdler, perhaps needing a race. Atareria will have to be caught in the right mood to beat this lot. Mister Gamp must go well after the way he shaped last Thursday at Hawera. and he was very unlucky to be beaten by Glengariff. Roman Abbey will go fast if reserved, but no doubt his mission will be the steeplechase. Airtight is a good hurdler, albeit perhaps a bit below this class on anything Vre has yet shown. Ripon Abbey is preferred in the hack affair, in which he stands a chance. It is going to be a good race and produc- ■ tive of keen betting, with this pair ] probably dominating the market; LOCARNO MISTER GAMP Connolly Handicap With no less than 22 engaged it is going to be a glorious scramble, for more than half the field will possess small chance before they have gone a quarter of a mile. Ruanui, Bisox, Benzora, Paitonu. Blimp, Atholspear, Black Mint, Le Choucas, Tcheka, Henna. Spearmiss, Goodwill. Lady Limond and Mithra are a few that can be recommended, but it is rather a hopeless task to sort them out. Perhaps the best backed will be RUANUI BISOX Borough Handicap Booster can do better than his Hawera running last Saturday indicated. Black Duke will relish the soft track, and Limited won so well at Marton that on this shorter course he will take a lot of heading off. Consent is from the Limited stable, and when right is very speedy. Llanore met mith a mishap just prior to Egmont, and she ought to be all the better for her outing on Saturday last. Keddar is at his best, and may be the one to bother the possibles above him. Dobbin is well just now, and First Acre is coming right down in the weights. Another race or two and he will be doing things. Joy Bird, Millais, Broad Acre and ! Value will appreciate the small course, the last three being possibilities on their recent showings. It is quite a good field, with the favourites likclv to be LIMITED KEDDAR