NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 February 1929, Page 13

NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

ORATRIX TO SPELL. STAR STRANGER TO RACE IX SPRING. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The strained sinew from which Oratrix is suffering and which will prevent her from fulfilling her engagements at Woodville and* Dannevirke, has decided Mr. R. Murphy to put her away for the balance of the season, so that she will not race again till the spring. It is bad luck for Mr. Murphy, for Oratrix was a distinct possibility for one of the big auturi|kjj>rizes, while the Sydney Cup might BhTC seen her with good prospects of success. Rapine's Wanganui Cup victory secured one of the very few worth while racing trophies that this stable had not won. The New Zealand and Auckland Cnpe. Wellington Cup, Trentham Gold Cup. Champion Plate. Awapuni Gold Cup, Hawke'a Bay Cup, Stead Gold Cup and

Ormond Memorial Cup had all been won at various times, but the Wanganui Cup remained to be secured. It was very fitting that it should have fallen to Rapine, for two years ago he was decidedly unlucky to go under by a head to Piuthair.

Knightlike was unable to race at Wanganui. as he had not sufficiently recovered from tlv damage lie received ;it Eginont. Knightlike is to be gelded at once, and similar action is to be taken with the two Hunting Song two-year-olds Hunting Day and False Scent.' Stiir Stranger is still out in the paddock. and as it is too late now to get him ready for autumn racing he will be left until it is time for him to come in for the spring campaign. According to O. Cox. Keremoana suffered more severely than was thought when he was put on the rails during the running of the Plying Handicap on the opening day of the Egmont meeting. The chestnut gelding should be all right again for the North Island Challenge Stakes. Gaseony's recent form has been disappointing to his connections. He certainly ran a lot better in the Jackson Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday than he did the previous week at New Plymouth, but all the same he never had any chance. Gascony showed signs in the birdcage prior to the race of being in a sullen mood, and it may be that he is racing ungenerously.

Xew Zealand is apparently going to be well represented in Sydney this autumn. In addition to the arranged trips of Limerick, Paquito. Catkin. Honour and Agrion, the Sydney boat on Friday took Vertigern over in charge of his trainer, W. 1). Moroney. Vertigern claims an engagement in the Sydney Cup. Another Xew Zealander who is booked to go over and run in weight-for-age races is Paganelli. Possibly G. Paul will join the band with Aussie. If Aussie could defeat Limerick at Randwick a fortune could be won. Joy King's form at Wanganui on Saturday was up to his best standard and apparently he is going to strike his top in the big autumn handicaps, as he usually does. Star Area is again at the top of his form. He is the best Acre we have seen so far, and lots of them have been good. Ridgemount is not so good as his reputation. He had every chance at Wanganui on Saturday. Elicit will win a big hurdle race this winter. He has improved wonderfully since he started as a jumper. Atareria was no good on the flat, but he is racing very creditably and consistently over hurdles.

Vivo is a distinct addition to the ranks of hurdlers, and as she goes well in soft ground she should do well during the winter. Vivo is now eligible for highweight handicaps and will be entered for these events at Trentham next month.

Grand Lupin ran quite a creditable race in the Fordell Hurdles at Wanganui on Saturday, and on this form should win at some of the country meeting?, especially if the tracks become soft. Cimabue is looked upon generally as a hit unreliable, biit he went solidly at Wanganui, and the way he improved with racing, both at Wellington and Wanganui, makes it look as if the more he gets the better he goes.