Wellington Steeples

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 710, 9 July 1929, Page 14

Wellington Steeples

BRIGADIER BILL’S CHANCE

Liberal Auckland Quota

THAT the jumping season, always short-lived, is drawing to a close is all too evident, for the Wellington meeting opening at Trentham tomorrow is really the semi-final of this class of racing, the winter season practically closing with the Grand Nationals at Ricearton next month. The review of the opening day’s card for Trentham, by ‘‘Early Bird, who suggests a few Auckland successes, is given below.

The winter fixture of the Wellington Racing Club opens at Trentham tomorrow on what is certain to be a heavy track, and will be continued on Thursday and Saturday. There is a strong Auckland contingent engaged, and they should bring back a fair proportion 'of the stake money. The big event is the Wellington Steeplechase, which has attracted a remarkably even field. 13 threatening to line up, and with the result so open the betting market may be instructive and interesting. The principal events to come up for decision tomorrow are the Wellington Steeplechase, Trentham Hurdles (a. preliminary to the more valuable Winter Hurdles) and the Whyte Handicap. On the second day, Thursday, there is the Parliamentary Handicap, the jumpers being provided for by a High-Weight event and hack contests over the sticks and bigger fences. On j the final day, Saturday, there is the j Winter Hurdles. Vittoria Hurdles This is the smallest field of the day, '• but not by any means is it easy. Tresham has been schooling well, but has become such a confirmed bleeder that he could not be fancied. Amorist is a good one, and this is his chance. Moromea ran two good races at Ellerslie, and on those showings she will take a lot of beating. Fine Acre is in the boom, and he showed at Napier that he is a good one in the making. Grand National is a possibility, and Pantagruel reappears at good intervals to run good races. Apache has been schooling well in the far South, and he has come a long way, which in itself is perhaps suggestive. Glena .Bay we have not seen much of over the battens, but what we have has been very promising. Blue Peter and General Wai are not particularly fancied, and Master Doon went one good race at Ellerslie; bis wind is the trouble. In a good opening event backers may declare in favour of. HOROMEA FINE ACRE Woburn Handicap There are some nice hacks in this lot, although some of them may not be quite tuned up. In a brief summary one cannot overlook altogether horses like Havering, High Society, Manga - haere, Glvn Dhu, Australis. Arihana, Last Mark, Mark Mint, Pari and; Tourist. Probably there will be most money forthcoming for ARIHANA HAVERING First Hack Steeplechase It is expected that Glendowie, who now looks a much better horse than when he raced at Ellerslie last month, will be reserved for the big event. Airtight disappointed at Waverley recently, but that form was all wrong, and he may make amends tomorrow. Koauau should make a good ’chaser, and San Fera, if he can see it out, is a possibility. Aurora, Borealis won well at Hastings, and is a likely improver. So too are Alaric and Sir Moment, and of the remainder, Bonaryan and Boomerday (who went very well at Ellerslie), appeal most. It will be hard for backers to go past AIRTIGHT BOOMERDAY Stewards’ Handicap The field in the sprint is a pretty even one all round, and it would occasion little surprise to find recent running very much upset. Black Duke is on top, and his consistent running at Ellerslie, followed by a first and second at Timaru, entitles him to all respect. Historic may not be ready, and Arikiwai is expected to be forward enough if he keeps sound. Taboo is a regular mudlark, and his form at Timaru was too bad to be true; otherwise he would not be taken to Trentham. Kaiti is well and Valkon must be nearly ready, but the open mile reads better for him. Oration may improve on his Waverley third, which is a quite likely contingency. Royal Game is not particularly fancied, but Billikins can be ticked off as one of the really dangerous ones. She has won on this course before. Sudden Storm has been working well at Riccarton. Auckland has a fair sort of trio lower down in Marble King, Waltzer and Takutama, the last-named being preferred. Bulolo is taking on high game, but he has the pace, and his brilliant six furlongs at Ricearton last Thursday cannot be forgotten. Backers may be found plumping for the Southern pair, BLACK DUKE. TABOO. Wellington Steeplechase There are high hopes that this race will develop into one of the most stirring contests ever recorded in the history of the event. They are a particularly even lot, and not one of the 13 acceptors can be safely ruled out. Old Nukumai has a royal chance and if accounts that he fell in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase when holding a strong winning hand when he tipped out owing to the slow pace set be correct, then he has a show here of winning his second steeplechase—the first was at Hawera over three years ago. Kawini will have a lot

of friends and he may be the best backed horse. Holt ever, his Ellerslie j races showed that his pace has not improved. and that he is a great • plugger if no tiling more, and this, combined with splendid fencing, gives him a chance. Glendowie is an improved horse since the Great Northern, and if at his best this race would be easy for him. But is he quite right? Tomorrow will tell. Brigadier Bill reads most impressively, for lie is a beautiful fencer, and has lots of pace. He has a really good chance here. King's Guard is a good horse, and his consistency at Ellerslie last month entitles him to be well supported tomorrow. Matu is good when right, and there was no denying his fine effort at Marton early in the winter. Radiate must be respected, for he is credited with being a fine jumper, although none too sound. _ His win rec-entlv at Timaru was impressite, and as it is known that his connections had designs on the last Great Northern double —the horse went wrong and was not brought North—he is evidently regarded as being above the ordinary. Kauri Park is well treated, but on the actual weights King's Guard should hold him safe. The final day at Ellerslie Kauri Park conceded King’s Guard a big start over the last six furlongs of the Tamaki Steeples, and to get up second was a meritor- j ious performance. Kauri Park lost . some ground at the start of that race and was also sore, so that it he is i tuned right up tomorrow—and he gives every indication of being ~o - j then he is one that may be expected to shine. Maunga is too iffy these j days, and Fabriano comes from the South with good credentials. His | Wingatui form was good. Kamelia- ; meha is a likely one, for he should ; be all the better for his outings at j Ellerslie. which were the first lor some , considerable time. Royal Elm registered a splendid performance in winning the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase under difficulties, and m this field of fair performers only he may get another stake. Rangi Sarto is the goods but he, too, has a weakness underneath. His second to Brigadier Bill in the Wanganui Steeplechase was a nice effort after an absence from ■chasing. That completes the review, and to reduce the field to a dozen one must include Kawini, Brigadier Bill. King’s Guard, Matu. Radiate and Kauri Park. After making a careful analysis of the form so far as it has been exposed this seas .°?i’ 1 be near the mark in pencilling as the likely public favourites, BRIGADIER BIUL KAURI PARK. Trentham Hurdles This is to be a full dress rehearsal l'or the more valuable Winter Hurdles on Saturday, and as the winner of tomorrow's race does not fallin i° r a Pj;” alty. it may be a genuine test. Red Fuchsia and Mister Gamp are to< meet with the latter receiving olb. the better of the weights, and these two good ones may be found fighting it out; Comical and Glengariff are not tgeatiy fancied. From all accounts Bright Land's injury on the trip down V.UI make him an absentee, been doing well at Bulls, and Abtr feldy has never been in better order. He may be the one to set the pace. Some Made is a greatly hurdler, but Beaumont will ne ?d improve on his Napier running Oterhaul is a promising recruit the best of this class seen out at the Great Northern meeting, and his recent defeat at Timaru can be safely oyer looked. Troilus is not in great demand. and Prince Lu will in front, and maybe take s S' a „ 1 i ing. Peshwa performed lair'y well at Napier and Hastings. It seem at this stage that the only horse wUh f prospect® of pushing the topweights is Overhaul, but he win noi be so well backed as MISTER GAMP RED FUCHSIA Whyte Handicap This is a regular puzzle, for wlth 2? remaining in it is sure to develop into an early scramble for positions. Ilor- - that are in splendid fettle and can handle Trentham mud are Huanui. Singleton. Bisox. High Pitch, Paddon, Fairy Herald, Black Mint, \ esperus, Anolo, Gold Cure. Full Feather, Olnnemuri. Bonrose, Merry Mint. Taneriri and Tinokoa. To fine them down to half a dozen —a task that is not at all simple—there are Bisox. Paddon. Fair> Herald, Singleton, Ohinemuri and Merry Mint. Of this sextette the actual favurites may be: BISOX FAIRY HERALD Te Aro Handicap

This event has not attracted the usual big crowd of hacks a field of 17 being of quite modest proportions for this course. The position appears to be rather dominated by Maori Boy, who has lost several races this season through sheer bad riding; tomorrow another might be added to the list, but actually on form he is well treated. Royal Black is a good sticker, and Mothplane is on the up grade. Marjoram looks like coming back to form, and further down there are possibilities about Metellus, Ironic, Justify ana Vinella. Finally summed up, the punters will find it difficult to get beyond : MAORI BOY VINELLA