Wellington Double

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1007, 25 June 1930, Page 14

Wellington Double

STEEPLES 6? WINTER HURDLES

Range of Early Fancies

By

"EARLY BIRD."

There were only four horses successful in completing the course in 1 this month’s Great Northern Steeplechase, and they are all engaged in the Wellington Steeplechase on Tuesday week. That is one of the most interesting points in regard to the big Trentham jumping contest on July 8. It will be re- , membered that in the Great Xorthern Steeplechase Aurora Borealis won by ; a length from Omeo, with Odin ten lengths back and Matu even farther back fourth. Since the Great Xorthern. Aurora Borealis won the Winter Steeplechase, also at Ellerslie, and Matu and Odin both fell. Omeo did not start. In the Wellington Steeplechase next month, the weights compared to those carried in the Great Xorthern are as

Aurora Borealis is not a big mare by any means, although she is all quality. She is now rapidly climbing where the weight will* tell, and although she is still able to win the Wellington Steeplechase under three pounds snort of eleven stone, that may be the end pf her tether so far as winning steeplechases is concerned, for as a winner at Trentharn she will soar up to close upon twelve stone. Then she will be out of it. At her present weight how- • ever she is a distinct possibility for the Wellington Steeplechase. Perfect Jumping This little one—Aurora Borealis is but five years old—gave a wonderful exhibition of fencing in both steeplechases she carried off, going at her fences as straight as a die, never attempting to shirk them or run them down. In addition—and this is an important factor —she just timed them right all the way, and thus got over them without any expenditure of unnecessary energy. In this wise was her stamina materially assisted, and enabled her to see the tiring course out to the end. The Trentharn obstacles take a bit more jumping than those at Ellerslie, and not all horses that win on the northern course a.re capable of doing the trick at Trentharn. Last July, Aurora Borealis finished third in the hack steeplechase event on the opening of the Wellington meeting, so that with her additional experience to offset the increased weight, she can be ticked off as one likely to play a most important part in the Wellington Steeplechase. About Omeo One of the most remarkable performances in the Great Northern Steeplechase was the showing made by Omeo. after he had had to be eased for a week and could not be given a run until the day before the big cross-country race came up for decision. Tie went a banging good race, and over the last couple of furlongs battled it out all the way with Aurora Borealis. That he should get within a length of the winner indicates the merit of his effort. For this galla.nt attempt Mr. Coyle has asked Omeo to carry 101 b. extra, so that on the figures he has none the best of it with his conqueror, seeing that the latter proved the form was right when she also captured the Winter Steeplechase. Still with all his weight Omeo may again bother the mare at a difference in his favour of 1351 b. It is in being put up 101 b. for his second that Omeo appeal's to have been harshly treated. That probably explains why Omeo was scratched immediately. Letting Him Up It is interesting to see that Nukumai has been let off with 10.9. Tie is still a good jumper, and perhaps in his evening on the Turf lie will know how to negotiate the big fences. Kawini was unable to see the post at Ellerslie, but if started at Trentham he should not be out of it, for he has won on this course. It is when one comes next to Pompeius that a reminder is given of a 1 near Turf tragedy. In the Great North - i ern Steeplechase Pompeius was let off I with 9.13, and it was the opinion then j that he was most handsomely treated. To to the consternation of followers of form, who had at once made the Te Rapa representative favourite, he was scratched early in the piece, the object being to keep him to flat racing. Paying the Price What must be the feeling of the owner of Pompeius now that the Wellington weights have made their appearance? One can picture a sigh of regret at what subsequently proved to be a wonderful lost opportunity. In the Great Northern Steeplej chase Pompeius was weighted at 9.13. In the Wellington Steeple- ! chase he has 10.6—71 b. more to carry in a race where the scale can hardly be said to be higher or lower than at Ellerslie. In other words, Pompeius has now got nearly as much more weight as if he had won the Great Northern. To put it another way: Pompeius could have won the Great Northern and got only a few more pounds than tie has now. Assuredly, the Southern handicapper has no false ideas of the ability of the Lucullus gelding over country, and with his view the writer agrees. Whether the connections of the Waikato gelding will take it on at the weight remains to be seen. Perhaps it may pay them to wait for the next Great Northern Steeplechase and so start off with a clean sheet, for he can hardly get more than 9.13 twelve months hence unless he gets into the limelight in the interim. Mangani’s Jumping By his forcing tactics in the Great Northern Steeplechase, Mangani showed that he has a lot more pace than the average steeplechaser. He ran down every fence and had to be steadied and straightened every time h© landed: yet he managed to retain his lead for the best part of three miles. There is a feeling that on a lefthanded course such as Trentharn the Day Comet gelding will be a better proposition, and there is a whole lot to be said in favour of this. Last August Mangani won the Grand National Hurdles handsomely, and Riccarton is a left-handed course. Radiate is a good Southerner; there is a doubt as to his soundness. Wharncliffe has recently made a reappearance as a hurdler, and it is doubtful if he would be sufficiently seasoned for this race. Matu has been a big disappointment and his Hastings failure would point

to his being only a moderate. Never- j theless one cannot wash him out altc- j gether, for there is his second in the j last Grand National to be borne in i mind. Promoted Hacks At the Great Northern meeting earlier in the. month Master Lu won the hack 'chasing events on the first and third days, beating Lucess comfortably each time. On the middle day, with Masetr Lu out of the way, Lucess won the Hunt Cup comfortably. The latter now comes in on 101 b better terms than on the last day at Ellerslie, when Master Lu beat him more comfortably than the margin of one length would indicate. Master Lu is one of the most promising recruits to ’chasing this season. and wherever Lucess is then he should be well clear of him.. In his attempts at Ellerslie Master Lu’s jumping was by no means perfect: indeed, it was patchy at best on the last day, and yet his pace carried him through. He is undoubtedly a good sort. Odin is a possibility. He tired in the last half-mile of the Great Northern, and the flat country at Trentham may enable him to stick on better. Charlatan, like Wharncliffe, has made a reappearance, but may not be forward enough. Of the seven on the minimum, not one appeals. Flying Swift and Red Bank may be the best. The following are the horses most fancied at this stage for the Wellington Steeplechase: AURORA BOREAL] S MANGANI RADIATE MASTER LU ODIN LUCESS. The following table indicates the weights allocated in the Wellington Steeplechase, and also those awarded in the Great Northern and Winter Steeplechases at Ellerslie, the figures alongside in the case of the latter two races showing how the horses fared; where no figures are shown the horse

The Winter Hurdles The most interesting part in the Winter Hurdles, run the third day at Trentham —winners earlier over sticks at the meeting not being called upon to shoulder a penalty—is that King’s Jest, who won the Great Northern Hurdles so well, has gone up a stone, whereas Mister Gamp has come down a couple of pounds. That brings Mister Gamp in on lGlb better terms with King’s Jest. If, as many thought (the writer was one), Mister Gamp would have won the Great Northern Hurdles but for being brought down by Wako King at the second to last Hurdle, then he should beat King’s Jest at such a big difference. Of course, King's Jest is still practically a novice and is susceptible to improvement. Then, of course, Mister Gamp was not tuned right up when he went out to contest the big Ellerslie race, so that lie too should be an improved horse next month. On the figures, it looks like Mister Gamp beating King’s Jest on this occasion. It will be remembered that i last year Mister Gamp was second to Overhaul in both the Winter and Trentham (first day) Hurdles when the mud was up to the knees, two very fine performances indeed. Nukumai has dropped to 10.12, which is good treatment for such an accomplished hurdler. Star Comet and Taumai are two interesting Waikato candidates. The former was the ruling favourite for the Great Northern Hurdles when he went amiss. Taumai has something to do over the two and a-quarter miles, but is a good one and an improver. Aurora Borealis cannot be dismissed, although it is harder at Trentham for a horse to win over country and a few days later over the battens. Her third in the big Ellerslie hurdles, however, was a good effort. Farther down there are distinct possibilities about Pompeius, Mangani, Conjurer 11., Omeo, Perle de Leon, Lancer, Luminary, Mountain Guide and Nucleus. The best half-dozen on the handicaps appear to be MISTER GAMP KING’S JEST TAUMAI OMEO MANGANI LANCER. The following table shows the weights awarded in the Great Northern Hurdles by those who also claim the Wellington engagement, with the

follow: — Aurora Borealis . . . . up lb. Omeo up 10 lb. Odin up 2 lb. Matu .. .. up 2 lb. Mangani up 2 lb.

did not start: — 8 Aurora Borealis 10.11 6 9.1i(1) | ! 10.0(1) Omeo 10.9 9.13(2) 10.6 N ukumai . . . . 10.9 — — Kawi ni . . . . .. 10.8 10.8 10.8 Pompei us . . . . 10.6 9.13 — Mangani 10.3 10.1 (p. i )9.13 Radiate . . . . . .. 9.9 — — W harncl iffe . . 9.9 — — Matu 9.7 9.5(4) 9.4 Master Lu . . . . 9./ 9.0 Lucess 9.6 — — Odin 9.2 9.0(3) 9.0(f) Charlata n .... 9.2 — . . t Birkbeck 9.0 — 9.0 Flying Swift . . 9.0 — — Parader 9.0 — — Handy 9.0 — — Red Ba n k » . . . 9.0 — — Radiac 9.0 — — Scion 9.0 Yng. Thurnham 9.0 — 9.0

handicaps allocated for all the latter event: — horses in v. M ister Gamp . . . . 11.3 11.5(f) N ukumai . . . . 10.12 King's Jest . . ., 10.8 9.8(1) Star Comet . . . . 10.7 10.5 Taumai 10.5 — Elicit 10.3 10.11 Pompeius 10.2 9.13 Aurora Borealis . . 10.1 9.11(3) Prince Lu 10.0 10.0 Mangani 9.13 10.1 Conjurer II 9.11 — Aberfeldy 9.11 — Fine Acre 9.10 — Carinthia 9.9 — Omeo 9.8 9.4 Archibald 9.8 — Perle de Leon ,. 9.7 — La ncer 9.4 — Luminary 9.4 — Brigadier Bill 9.3 — Amorist . 9.2 — Pa ngol in 9.0 — Apache . . . . . . . 9.0 — Beaumont 9.0 — Horomea 9.0 9.4 Mtn. Guide . . . . 9.0 9.0 Nucleus 9.0 — Radiate , . 9.0 — Wako King ic i* 9.0 9.0(f)