STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 93, 20 April 1932, Page 12

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

RETURNS TO WORK. Little Doubt, who usually performs best on soft "tracks, has been taken in hand again by E. George with_ a view to racing during the winter. A rising two-year-old brother by Chief Ruler has also commenced his education at New Plymouth. HEWITT IN INDIA. Members of the team of L. H. Hewitt scored three firsts and.two seconds at the Poona meeting held just before the last mail from India left for Australia. Hewitt, when a jockey, rode many winners for the late Mr. G. G. Stead, both in New Zealand and Australia. IMPROVED. The two-year-old Merry Way has improved tremendously during her spell in the paddock and is developing into a finelooking filly (says a New Plymouth writer). However, it will be some little time before this daughter of Merry Jest will be required to join the active brigad.' again. PLACED AT ELLERSLIE. Inevitable was brought to Auckland for the last Great Northern meeting, but the best he could do was to finish second to Taneriri in the York Handicap, one mile He was not raced from September till February last, and since then he has been placed twice at Gore and twice at Riverton. ' He is to make his next appearance at Timaru on Saturday, and now that the winter racing will soon be on hand Inevitable may pick up a stake.

LOOKING WELL. R. Barlow.has Sparkling Morn looking better than at any time of her career (says a New Plymouth writer). She will race next at Hawera in May, and from the manner in which she is getting through her tasks it should not be long before she shows that her win at Opunake was no mere flash in the pan. The Hunting Song filly is building up well, and with her speed out of the tapes she will take a Jot of beating in hack sprints on a turning course. WORTH KEEPING IN MIND. Last season Pewa ran second in the Miki Miki Handicap at Masterton, and on coming to the Great Northern meeting deadheated with Lord Val in the Fitzroy Handicap, one mile. At Masterton last baturday, nearly twelve months later, Pewa ran second to Rational 11. in the Handicap, one mile, the chief event of the day. She'was not raced between January and March, but earlier in the season won the Gothard Memorial Handicap, one mile and a distance, at Woodville, beating, among others, Gustavo and Compris. Pewa should be worth remembering from now P n : \ . . . '. O'DONNELL TO RETIRE. The turf in New South Wales will be the poorer by the absence of the well-known Randwick trainer, R. D. ("Dick ) O'Donnell, who contemplates retiring soon (says an Australian writer). Early in his career O'Donnell built up a good reputation in New Zealand as a painstaking trainer, and on coming to Australia met with almost immediate success. Of recent years he has had rather a lean time, though he was well represented a short time back by the Victoria Derby winner, Balloon King. Another horse that more than paid his way for the former Maorilander was ' White Fang. O'Donnell's horses in training are to go-under the hammer at an early date, and when he finally drops out of the game he will carry with him the best wishes of all those with whom he was associated. HAD GLOAMING ON OFFER. Memories of the former New Zealand champion, Gloaming, were revived recently at Ascot, Victoria (says a Melbourne writer), when St. Valour credited Mr. It. V. Gove with the principal sprint event. Mr. Gove and his brother succeeded their father, the late Mr. Julius Gove, as buyers of thoroughbreds for the Indian market. When Gloaming wa3 carrying everything before him, Mr. R. V. Gove bought the gelding on behalf of the Eastern sportsman, M. Goucaldus, subject to a veterinary certificate. Unfortunately for Mr. Gove and his client, the veterinary surgeon consulted in New Zealand would not pass the son of The Welkin as sound, and the sale lapsed. The late Mr. Julius Gove was the original owner of Mountain God, a dual Grand National Steeplechase winner.

HAS PERFORMED WELL. | Captain's Gift, who is engaged in the' hurdles at the South Canterbury meeting next Saturday, should be seen to advant-, age in big jumping events during the forthcoming winter. Early this season he won the Hunters' Hurdles at the Grand National meeting. He was not started again till the Dunedin fixture in September, where he fell in the hurdles, but later ( in the day won the Hunters' Plate. He j was unplaced in his next effort at Kurow, j but on returning to Wingatui won the Waikari Hurdles. His next outings were at Wellington in October, where he annexed the Glen and Ilona Hurdle Races. He then appeared at the New Zealand Cup meeting and ran second to Landmark in . both the Spring Hurdles and the Middleton Hurdles, a narrow margin separating them on each occasion. Captain's Gift '. was not raced .again till he contested a high-weight handicap at the recent Oamani meeting. He is owned and trained by. D. : P. Wilson, of Wingatui. >

NOMINATED FOR MARTON. Mangani has been nominated for the Marton Steeplechase, to be decided at the end of tho month. This horse has not done a great deal of racing recently. In his engagements at Waikato in February he fell in one of the hurdle races, while at Ellerslie at Easter he contested the Autumn Steeplechase, and though he stood up he finished a long,way back. A GOOD 'CHASER. After being off the scene for the best part of a year Birkbeck returned to the jumping game last season at the Hawke's Bay autumn meeting and won the Hack Hurdles. He was unplaced at Marton, but in his next outing won the Egmont Steeplechase and ran third in the Adamson Steeplechase at the same meeting. Going on to Wanganui, Birkbeck won the Wanganui Steeplechase. A little later, while training at Awapuni for the Great Northern Steeplechase at Auckland, he bolted three times round and was very lame afterwards. He has not started since then, but is due to make his reappearance in the Marton Steeplechase at the end of the month.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

P.H. (Kaitoke) —Habit was scratched for tho To Kuiti meeting on April 4 and King's Archer at 2.40 p.m. on April 8.