RICCARTON TOPICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 719, 19 July 1929, Page 14

RICCARTON TOPICS

HORSES UNDER ORDERS FOR SOUTH CANTERBURY OVERHAUL’S CAREER (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The tracks at Riccarton thus morning were sloppy and trainers had to work their charges on the sand. Among the first arrivals for the Grand National meeting are Bonaryan, Glepdowie, Young Thurnham and Elysianor. A. McAulay had the three-year-old Night march on the track this morning, and though the colt has not had any stringing-up gallops lately he looks very well. McAulay leaves for the North this evening with Nightmarch and True Shaft, and tomorrow the pair will be shipped to Sydney. As Nightmarch is one of the popular fancies for the Caulfield Cup his appearance in Australia is being eagerly awaited. Elysianor, whose form in running third to Overhaul and Mister Gamp in the Trentham Hurdles last week was excellent, was out on the track this morning, but he was restricted to easy work on the sand. Elysianor, who will be ridden in all his coming engagements by E. Stanway, has been nominated for the South Canterbury meeting next week, aqd if he is taken South he will have a good following. Schooling Tasks The jumpers were again in evidence this morning and some useful schooling tasks were executed. Oriflamb (I. Tilson) jumped three fences in his usual style, giving a first-class display. An interesting piece of work was registered by Gay Jim (G. Salt), Gala Day (Tilson) and Zeuxis (E. Shaw). The trio set off at a fast pace, and

alter jumping three hurdles Gala Day was showing the way to the other pair, but over the last 100yds Gala Day was eased and Gay Jim and Zeuxis finished together about two lengths clear of their companion. For a horse who had his first race over hurdles in May, Overhaul has made amazing improvement, and his defeat of Mister Gamp in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham last Saturday entitles him to be ranked as a firstclass hurdler. Usually a novice needs several races before becoming thoroughly proficient, but Overhaul took to hurdling from the commencement:, and following on his double victory at Wellington it is little wonder than he is disputing favouritism with Mister Gamp for the Grand National Hurdles. Overhaul was bred by Mr. L. C. Hazlett, but that sportsman only raced him till three years old, when he disposed of him to F. Shaw. Subsequently he again changed hands, being acquired by his present owners, Messrs. D. Wilson and J. Richardson, and it is authoritatively stated that the sum of £I,OOO was involved in his purchase. During his five and six-year-old career Overhaul was a disappointment, but since put to hurdling he has proved a very profitable investment, and as he appears to have excellent prospects of winning the National, his joint owners must be in a very happy frame of mind. Stiff Country The Great Northern Steeplechase course at Ellerslie, with its ascent and descent of the famous hill three times, has been the subject of much enthusiastic writing. The three and threequarter miles to be traversed is in itself a most trying journey, but though the Grand National course extends over only three and a-half miles, the fences are perhaps the most formidable in the Dominion. With the near approach of the National gathering the big fences at headquarters are at present being built up. and the fence known as Cutts, which is regarded as one of the stiffest obstacles in the National, is nearly finished. Though she failed to get on the winning list at the Dunedin meeting, Sweet Refrain has done so well lately that she may show a return to her best form at the South Canterbury meeting next week. At this fixture she claims an engagement in the Temuka Hack Handicap. and though heavily burdened, she is sure to give a good account of herself. Much credit is due to A. E. Wormald for the condition the filly is in at present, and many track watchers at headquarters will be surprised if she fails to show up in her immediate engagements. Mrs. J. Campbell has the hurdler Gay Jim in good order at present, and with a race at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting next month he should strip at his best at the Grand National meeting. For some considerable time Gay Jim suffered from an ingrowing splint, but since he was fired and blistered bis leg has given little trouble, and he now appears quite sound. Likely Candidates The Riccarton trainer, W. Stone, is at present paying a lot of attention to the Tea Tray—Victory Bond filly in his stable, and if she goes on well in the next few weeks she will be a certain visitor to Rand wick, where she probably will contest the Gimcrack Stakes, a two-year-old classic confined to fillies. In all probability she will be given a run in the two-year-old trials at the Christchurch Hunt and Grand National meetings next month. Aspiring also is to race at the National meeting, and as she is doing really well now on the light tasks that have been allotted her, she should be in good trim for racing in Sydney in the spring. Though Stone has not 3 r et definitelj T decided when he will leave for Rand wick, it is very probable that lie will take his team over late in August, so as to enable Silver Paper to be given a couple of outings before the A.J.C. meeting. T. FI. Gillett is pottering the Solferir.o gelding Count Cavour about the tracks at present, and as he appears to be sound again, lie may receive a

preparation for spring: racing. Count Cavour has never really recovered from the fall he suffered at Ellerslie in the A.R.C. Handicap IS months ago, but hopes are entertained that he may yet win another big handicap. Though Commendation was nominated for the Winter Cup. he is regarded as an unlikely visitor to the Grand National carnival. A Smart Hack Reports from the South are to the effect that Red Boa is doing really well indiis work, and at the South Canterbury meeting next week is expected to race prominently. At his last start Red Boa was decisivelybeaten by Bonrose, but as it was reported that the Southerner was slightly off colour he may do a lot better at his next start. As Red Boa is a candidate for Winter Cup honours and is regarded as a most promising horse, his form at Washdyke will be watched with a good deal of interest. With the tracks in their present condition Solferite will find things to his liking if produced at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting next week. He is engaged in the Seadown Handicap, with 10.1, and if

he has improved since he was narrowly defeated by Royal Tractor at the Ashburton meeting last month he may run well in the six-furlong race. Two years ago the S.olferino gelding ran third to Magna Charta in the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt Club's meeting and at his next start won the Winter Cup. Amor, who has not been long in work after a spell, looks very well, and if he continues to make progress he will be given a race at the Grand National meeting. Early in his career Amor was a disappointment, but T. IT. Gillett has wrought a remarkable improvement in the Archery gelding, and his brilliant victory in the Autumn Handicap on the concluding day of the W.R.C. autumn meeting, in which he beat Pink Note, Tresham, Pegaway, Bright Glow. Star Area and White Fang, indicated his development. Next season Amor may be more than a useful handicap horse. Since Overdrawn entered F. P. Claridge’s stable lie has not been asked to gallop fast, but he looks very well and his running in the Prince Edward Handicap at Washdyke next week may help to reveal his prospects at the Grand National meeting. Overdrawn has some useful performences to his credit, and if lie returns to the form that enabled him to run third in the New Zealand Cup, he will win good races. RACING FIXTURES JULY 25—Waimate Hunt. 25. 27 Gisborne R.C. 25—South Canterbury 5.0*. 27 South Canterbury Hunt. A UCJUST--3 —Christchurch. Hum ! 3 Poverty Bay Hunt 13. 15, l?—Canterbury J.C. 24—Pakuranga Hunt (at Ellerslie). 21—Hawke's Bay Hunt 28— Dannevirke RC. 29 Dannevirke Hunt 4. s—Marton J C 31—Taranaki Hunt SEPTEMBER 4, s—Marton J.C. 7— Otago Hum 12. 14—Wanganui J.C. 21 —Ashburton R C. 21—Napier Park R.C. 21. 23—Avondale J.C. 26, 27—Geraldine R.C. 28—Hawke’s Bay J.C. OCTOBER 2 Manawatu Hunt 2—Birch wood Hunt. o —Kurow J.C -5. 7—Auckland R.C. 10. 12—Dunedin J C.