STEEPLECHASE HONOURS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 10

STEEPLECHASE HONOURS

MONDAY’S BIG CONTEST

SURVOY LOOKS THE PART THE FIELD REVIEWED (By “Martian”) GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE or £1775; about 3J miles st lb Erination, Mrs A. Loomb’s ch g, 9 yrs, by Illumination—ErlnagTi 11 13 All Irish, M. O’Connor and A. J. finales’ b g-, Byrs, by Rumination—Kiki .. .. .. 10 12 Hanover, H. H. Brice’s ch g, 7yrs, by Little England—Spalpeen mare .. ..*lO 5 Mio Lump, C. Russo’s b g, i Oyrs, by Illumination—-Merry Sara .10 3 En Tour. F. S. Hill's b g, iOyrs, by General Latour—Glenval ..10 3 John Charles, N. E. F. Loisei’s br g, 11 yrs. by Cynic—Heavenly Dream .. .. .. l o 2 Bryce Street, H. D. Caro’s b g. 6yrs, by Little England—Chancit .10 0 Irish Comet, R. J. Sexton’s ch g. 15yr», by Day Comet—Rape of the Loch .. .. ..95 Power Chief. F. Armstrong’s br g, Oyrs, by Tractor—Asterisin .. 9 3 Smiling Thru’, R. J. Sexton's b m, Oyrs. by Te Monanui—Gold Beauty .. . . ..90 Allegretto. J. R. Vercoe’s ch g, 11 yrs, by Day Comet Lady Faithful .. .. ..90 Pyrenees, R. Hannon’s ch g, Oyrs, by Tinokoa—Mountain Dream ..* 9 0 Count Roussillon, A. 11. Demler’s br g. lOyrs. by Manchineel—Tupeora .. .. . . ..90 Car Lear, F. G. Healey’s b g, 7yrs, by Mint Lear—Campfire rnare 9 0 Survoy, S. Findlay’s ch g, 7yrs, by Surveyor—Pen Lu .. ..90 Gascyne, 11. Robinson’s ch g, 7yrs, by Gasbag—Cynthia .. .. 9 0 London, V. L. Grahame’s b g, lOyrs,. by Little England—liylysian . 9 0 Adsum, Mrs F. M. and F. J. Butterworth’s br g, 9yrs by Chesterfield—Utakura .. .. 9 0 Electric Flash, J. D. Kemp’s blk m, lOyrs, by Prince Alerriwee— Lady Electra . . .. 9 0 Bells of Bow, V. Young’s br g, 9yrs, by Little England brookby 9 0 mare .. .. ..90 Roxy, L. S. James’ br g, lOyrs, by Kilbrony—Danesia .. .. 9 0 Kinkle, W. A. Cole’s br g, 7yrs, by Lurina—Abbey Chimes .. 9 0 With the large field of 22 still remaining in the Great Northern Steeplechase the big Ellerslie crosscountry event of 1939, to be run over a gruelling course of 32 miles on Monday, the issue bears a very open aspect and while several of the runners have advanced their claims as the result of their schooling trials over the past several weeks there is every indication of fancies assuming a wide range.

Te Rapa stables will be represented in Mio Lume, Bryce Street, Allegretto and Gar Leaf and of the quartette Mio Lume may be preferred at this stage. This season he has started on six occasions and when he fell in the Te Rapa steeplechase here the first < day it was the first time he had j missed a place. Prior to that mishap I he had run third in the Waimai Hurdles at Te Rapa in November, his first start of the present term, and on the latter day of that gathering he im- • proved to win the Matangi Hurdles in ! decisive fashion from a good field, j Next came his third in the Grafton I Hurdles to Charade and Pyrenees in ! December, while at the February meetj ing here he annexed the ißaglan Hur- ! dies and later battling out a stirring j finish in the Brighton Hurdles !o win j narrowly from Riotous. Ilis, record over hurdles is an impressive one and j as he has shown ability over country, ; too, he is assured of a strong follow- ! ing on Monday. Preparation Interrupted I Both Bryce Street and Allegretto ! will have to be taken on trust if they | go to the post. Early in the week there appeared little likelihood of the ; former seeing the meeting and seri- ' ous consideration was being given to ! blistering and turning him out. 'However, he made a rather remarkable recovery on Wednesday and hopes are entertained that he will now take his place in the field. Of course it remains to be seen whether the enforced brief let up he has had since the Waikato meeting will have any adverse effect. Allegretto, too, was showing signs of unsoundness after the racing he had at Te Rapa and at the present time it is feared an affected lcjg may cause his absence. If he were to be produced in good order he would possess prospects. Gar Leaf showed promise at the local meeting but whether he can survive such a test as Monday will provide remains to be seen Erination, third last- year, is a fine jumper but 11.13 is a solid impost and though Coalition won in 1921 with 12.5 few have carried the weight of Erination and come out with flying colours. All Irish, third on either ! day here, is a bold jumper, who in I the opinion of his connections, is a better horse now than for some time past and though 10.12 will test the j Illumination gelding fully, he must I enter into calculations. Hanover per- } formed prominently over hurdles at IHawera but came to grief in the Manawatu Steeplechase. Usually he is a reliable jumper and that lapse should

not be held too much against him. En Tour came through his racing here in good heart and must be conceded a jumper's chance. Won at Awapunl Having his first outing of the season the Greenmeadows representative, John Charles, won the Manawatu Steeplechase (22 miles) some three weeks ago and when one recalls his useful steeplechase form of last season one must be Inclined to rate his credentials highly. Irish Comet, fourth last year, and Power Chief, who since his arrival at Ellerslie has been schooling attractively, are lightweight prospects. Smilin’ Thru’ may be held safe by the improving Pyrenees, who is said to have benefited from racing at Te Rapa. Count Roussillon is but a moderate.. Of the lightweights none make greater appeal than the Surveyor seven-year-old Survoy, with whom the handicapper may appear to have erred rather on the side of leniency. At Ellerslie he has been increasing his circle of admirers for major jumying honours at the meeting despite his fall on the hill on Tuesday morning. With A. E. Ellis in the saddle, he will be well served on the score of horsemanship. Resuming racing at the Waimate meeting in April, Surj voy gradually improved until at Easter | he won the Champion Hack Cup at the Riverton meeting, and then put to hurdling he has won the only two J races he has since contested—one at Ashburton and the other at Timaru. Has Experience of Ellerslie 'While this season he has not run in a steeplechase it will be rememtiered that last season he won the Otautau Steeplechase at his first essay ever the country for 18 months. Survoy has previous experience of the big fences at Ellerslie, having run third to Indiscretion and Electric Flash in the Greemount Hunters’ Steeplechase in the August before he went south. In the hunting field he Showed marked ability as a lepper and, those who have inspected him during the past week at Ellerslie are unanimous in the opinion that he will lack nothing on the score of condition for the big job ahead. The uncertainty of racing is seldom better exemplified than in a race such as the Great Northern Steeplechase but indications are a well-supported trio will be

SURVOY MIO LUME JOHN CHARLES SCRATCHINGS POSTED Ssralchings posted yesterday for the Auckland Racing Club's Winter Meeting were as follows: Green Lane Steeplechase.—Mana. Great Northern Hurdles.—Gascyne, 10.40 a.m. All Engagements.—Allegretto, 4.10 p.m. JERVOIS HANDICAP DIVISION PROVIDED FOR In the event of the number of starters in the Jervois Handicap at Ellerslie to-day exceeding the safety number, the race will be run in two divisions, the total prize money will be increased to £SOO, the winner of each division to receive £2OO, second £35 and third £ls. Dividends will be paid as follows: (a) The winner of, or the horses'-dead-heating for first, place, in the first division, shall for the purpose of the win pool be deemed to have dead-heal-ed for first place with the winner of. or the horses dead-heating for first place, in the second division. (1>) The amount of the place pool shall be ‘divided into as many equal parts as there are horses placed in the first two places in the. respective divisions and allotted accordingly. HUNTING BLOOD IN FORM FAST FIVE FURLONGS (By TelegTapn.—Press Association) WANGANUI, Friday A number of visiting horses arrived last night, including Royal Minstrel, Hunting Blood, Corato, Sang Bleu, Royal Choice, Princess Isabel. Journet, Lucullus Boy and Happy Landing. Track work this morning was mostly of the useful kind. Hunting Blood (S. T. Edwards) ran five furlongs in 1.1 4-5, Vaals Queen half-a-niile in 50 4-ss. Student Prince and Royal Choice covered six furlongs in 1.30 comfortably. War Lap schooled over two hurdles, jumping well, as did Airam and Small Roy together. The latter was associated with Eastern Heir in a good working gallop over a mile. Royal Minstrel covered six furlongs, the last five in J. 3. Amoroso gave a poor display in a school over hurdles.