’Chasing Season Will Have a Good Send-Off

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 14

’Chasing Season Will Have a Good Send-Off

Paeroa Steeplechases are Popular

As the first cross-country contest of the jumping season, the steeplechase events at Paeroa on Saturday and Monday next are naturally arousing the keenest i nterest. There is a field of ten going to line up for the McGuire Memorial Steeplechase on the first day, while the longer race the second day will no doubt see even more competitors. These events are perhaps the most spectacular on

the annual programme of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club, and the formation of the course and the hill slopes overlooking it provide the spectators with admirable viewpoints. Twelve months ago that brilliant jumper. Star of the Hast, was made favourite on the first day, but lie was beaten into third place by another splendid lepper in Pendennis, with Master Arch second, and both were at good odds on the totalisator. The public went off Star of the East on the second day and he gave a masterly display over the obstacles to win nicely from Glenotus and Master Arch. Both these races were very keenly contested, less thank a length separating the placed horses> , tlie first day. In addition to the stirring finishes the contests were full of incident, one rider going off the beaten track and cutting the corners, a little point that tickled everybody. It was not this rider’s fault that his horse was beaten. Of last year’s ’chasers competing at Paeroa, Glenotus and Maslioor will be on hand again this week-end. The former, although he has not raced for some little time, has got through a. lot of work at Ellerslie and should be a pretty fit horse. He will stay for ever, as they put it, and for a ’chaser he is a bit freakish in that he prefers firm ground. Interesting Recruit In the Hurdles the first day of tlie last meeting at Paeroa, twelve months ago, Ah Wera sprang a genuine surprise, taking charge rounding the home turn and winning easily, his price being in the vicinity of a third of a century. Since that win Ah Wera has

run some good races over the sticks, in first-class company. On Saturday Ah Wera is to make his debut as a lepper in tlie Steeplechase at the scene of his first victory over the battens. Will it be a successful debut, as his first attempt at hurdling proved to be? It is some time since All Wera was last seen out in public, but it can be taken for granted that trainer G. A. Reid will

j serve him up well prepared for tl I task ahead. j Odin ran a couple of excellent race ! over country last winter, but he ap j peared to be unable to carry the bi { imposts he was loaded with in his late essays. He has a handy impost c 9.12, and if forward enough—and ther ! appeared to be nothing wrong wit 1 him when given on outing at Puke | kolie last Saturday—he should stai oft' with a good win. Well Seasoned In view of Mashoor’s good form o the flat over the past few months, h will be at nothing like the huge odd obtainable about him at Ellerslie i that never-to-be-forgotten contest 1 months ago. At Pukekohe last wee Mashoor finished right up fourth I the High-weight, and following on sev eral other good showings in simila events, he will be—or he should bethe fittest horse among the ’chasers a Paeroa this week-end. On the otlie hand, his record on the flat is muc! better than over the big fences, bu then his fitness on this occasion shouL stand to him. What is more, he wl! have the services of IT. Dulieu, a ride who has been having a great run thi: season and one who is riding in fin form. Boomerday went some good raco: last winter over country, his chie hindrance a lack of stamina, lb appeared to ber a natural jumper. York Abbey has been off the seem for some time, but lie hails from t strong stable, and for that reasoi alone cannot be entirely overlooked In the same stable is Wedding March and this fine jumper may be seen ii action on Monday next. He is well ui

over both the small and big fences have earned him his impost. Likely Light-weight Probably Foxhound will be at good odds on Saturday, and yet he is a distinct possibility. He has had a race or two of late, and that will have served to sharpen him up for these cross-country events. At Cambridge on Labour Day he was given a run in the Maiden Steeples, a race for amateur riders, and from a hopeless position half a mile from home he came with a rattle to be right up with the place-getters. Foxhound should have won that day and in view of that fact his showing on his home, course on Saturday will be watched with interest. Not much is known of Brundee Boy. for lie lias yet to show form good enough to enable him to be recommended. At his last appearance—a hurdle race at Te Aroha recently—he was well back with half the journey covered, and at that time he dropped his pilot. Ideal Conditions Spalpiko is a good jumper, like all the Spalpeen tribe and, a fair performer over the sticks, the Te Awarautu galloper, who has not been very long in the game, has impressed as one liable to do better over the bigger fences. The final competitor, Spalupin, is to have his first public outing in this contest. It is a good all-round field, full of possibilities, and with the conditions ideal for ’chasing—the sting will just be out of the ground—the spectators at Paeroa should be privileged to sec some excellent fencing and a spirited finish. It is this steeplechasing that lends to the Ohinemuri fixture its own particular fascination and is in a large measure responsible for the popularity of this autumn gathering.