MOTES FROM THE SOUTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1930, Page 12

MOTES FROM THE SOUTH

DEATH OF MERCIAN KING.

MOUNTS FOR TO-MORROW,

THE CANDIDATES DISCUSSED

ißy T°!e^raph.—Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday.

T. Webster will ride My Own in the Thompson Handicap. So far no rider has been engaged for Concentrate in the Thompson Handicap. His usual jockey, B. H. Morris, will be on Historic. It is possible H. Gray will eventually be up. A. G. Murray will have the mount on Star, Stranger in the Thompson Handicap. White Fang will be ridden by E. A. Keesing. In addition to My Own T. Webster will ride Rapallo, Paiko and Fine Acre. H. Gray, who is at present on The Hawk in the Thompson Handicap, will also ride Air Laddie in the St. Leger, Panther in the Railway Handicap, Paganelli in the North Island Challenge Stakes, Awaken in the Plunket Nursery and Ex Dono in the Tinakori Handicap.

Rumours have been current to the .effect that Moa Bird was unlikely to run in the Railway Handicap owing to soreness, but on the way she dashed into her work this morning there is nothing wrong with her. She hit out very boldly and looks well.

Arikiwal was afflicted by lameness after working on the tracks this morning, but F. D. Jones sent him for another easy round and he pulled up all right. Owing to L. J. Ellis taking the mount on' First Money, Arikiwai, in the Kailway Handicap, will be ridden, by the stable lad, G. Humphreys. M. J. Carroll has Paganelli looking particularly well. By a peculiar coincidence Paganelli was just coming oil the tracks this morning after working when Cimabue was going on and the two rivals are a "credit to their trainers. Cimabue was never better than she i 3 at present.

Lady P<ini put up smart time for five furlongs on the grass at Trentham this morning, being much too good for Miss Ransom Lady Pam has been working well lately.

Historic is never an oil painting, but lie is looking in excellent order. The gallop with Concentrate this morning showed both geldings to be in good condition for they pulled up well. The two-year-old King Musket, who is a half brother by Shambles to Don Quixote, has furnished into a handsome colt under the care of H. 11. Lorigan, and his sprint over half a mile on the course proper this morning with Intruder was an attractive effort.

The Paper Money two-year-old, Autopay, who created a favourable impression by his double win at Wanganui, was galloped on in his second race there and he shows signs of the ordeal. He is, however, m good order and condition, and although he was confined to easy work this morning, there was no mistaking the desire he showed to get into top gear.

J. H. Jefferd included the two-year-old Love Song, in liis team for Trentham, having changed his mind after Napier Park. Love Song, however, is not a certain starter in the Plunket Nursery on Saturday.

Mr. W. T. Hazlett's Latin Quarter and Paris were responsible for a nice work-out .yesterday morning. This stable generally picks up a race at Trentham, and so far as condition js concerned the pair should do well. Paris will be ridden on Saturday by his trainer, F. J. McKay. Goshawk recently bruised a foot, hence his, absence from the Thompson Handicap. The Hawk has arrived to fulfil his engagement.

Star. Stranger will be ridden in the Trentham Gold Cup by H. Gray. C.'Goulsbro's rides on the opening day of the Wellington meeting are Taneriri, Kilstar, Malayan and Sunkissed. Oral,-King Musket and Royal Duke will have F. E. Baker in the'saddle on Saturday. M. Gilmore had been engaged for Hunting Day in the Railway Handicap on condition that he accompanied the team to Trentham. Jefferd brought live horses to the meeting, but Gilmore, so far, has not turned up, and there were only four boys for the five horses, and this morning Jefferd had to ride Don Quixote to and from the course himself. Later in the morning A. G. Murray was engaged to fill Gilmore's place with the horses, and Hunting Day will now be ridden in the Railway Handicap by R.

E. Coveny. The fact that H. Gray is to ride Panther in the Railway Handicap is attracting some attention to the pr.ospects of this Kilbroney gelding. Panther has been working very well on the tracks; in fact he is giving complete satisfaction in this respect. Panther,, however, with his moods has been unreliable with the colours up, and only for the fact that Gray is on top, he would be summarily dismissed by the majority of backers. It is 19 years since Gray rode his only St. Leger winner, Danube, who was the first of the Martians.

Mr. F. B. Donnelly, of Havelock North, met with a stroke of bad luck a few days ago when the imported Australian horse, Mercian King, died. The horse ran a rusty nail into a foot, and despite every possible attention he died from tetanus.

A lightweight that might have a chance in the Railway Handicap is First Money, especially if he reproduced his form of the early spring. At the Trentham October meeting he finished third to Paganelli and Toxeuma the 'first day, and on the second afternoon was beaten only by Cimabue in fast time. Since the spring First Money has been welded and has had only one race in the interval, that was on the opening day at Woodville last month, when he made quite a creditable showing. He may not be quite seasoned enough to stand the final pinch of the open six on Saturday, but he should be prominent. Limerick's brother, Dunraven, has sofar shown no signs of being nearly as good as the champion, though on the tracks his work is suggestive of good things. Up to date Dunraven'e speed has carried him to the front, but he has not run on at the finish. Limerick was rather like this, for unless he was allowed to settle down he could not finish Dunraven is to be ridden behind in the North Island Challenge Stakes, and it will be interesting to note whether thfc will enable him to make a bold display in the concluding stages of the race. /->.,• C. Broushton will ride Don Quixote in the High-Weight Handicap, which opens the Wellington autumn meeting. In addition to the members of ■ Sir George Clifford's team, and also Hunting Day, R. E. Coveny will ride Lord Thomond. Rational 11., who had a let up after winning the Douro Cup last January, is

working along nicely at Treiitham and looks an improved horee. He ie to run on the second day at the forthcoming meeting, and it will be his first start in open company. He will probably need a bit of racing before striking his best form.

It is eleven year.i since the St. Leger lias been won by a- filly, and on that occasion the colours of Mr. G. D. Greenwood were carried to victory by Afterglow. The last two winners of the Thompson Handicap were four-year-olds, who have won three out of the last live contests. Rouen and Highland are the only three-year-old winners -.-ince Aborigine in 1909.

H. Gray, who will be riding in this year'e Thompson Handicap, has a good record in the race. He rode the winner in three successive years—Sasanof, 1919, Arrowsmith, 1920, and Rouen in 1921. NOTES FROM WANGANUI. PAITONU VERY FIT. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") WANGANUI, Thursday. Paitonu is very fit, the racing at Rangitikei having improved him. J. Barry has been engaged to ride him in the Thompson Handicap. Green Linnet and Awaken, both engaged at Trentham, are hitting out in good style. They covered the distance well over five furlongs in 1.5 yesterday. It was a good gallop, as they were wide out on the course proper. Tenacre has won his way out of hack company. Orazone ran a mile in company with Llanore in 1.45 yesterday, being half a length in front at the finish. She is expected to run a big race in the Opunako Cup on Monday. Vivo went seven furlongs in 1.34. She is to run at Treuthain in high-weight fvents, and appears to be in great fettle.