HORSES AT MATAMATA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1932, Page 16

HORSES AT MATAMATA.

:>.; MR. J. CLOTHIER'S TEAM. ■AN ADDITION. ~•' Welcome Boy, with E. E. Thomson in the saddle, was given a round over six' hurdles on Wednesday morning at Mata•anata and acquitted himself, well for a novice. Welcome Boy has never looked better than at present and would appeal as a'fair .proposition in a hurdle race where the company is not too select. He is to have his nest race at Te Rapa. Spearwin ' (Speardance — Blodwin) was operated upon a" few days ago .and will do his future racing as a gelding, it is not anticipated'that' -Mr. Itos'e'ts two-year-old will be off the'scene long and it is hoped to have him ready for late summer racing. To leave for Wellington with two horses and land back at Mataniata with his own and an unknown horse was the experience of Mr. J. Clothier. Mr. Clothier loaded his horses at Lower Hutt and there was a spare stall in the railway wagon. At Trentham a railway official informed Mr. Clothier that there was a horse to be loaded for him. "No," said the Matamata owner, "I've got my two." The boy in charge knew little' and the horse was loaded, there being little time to argue the point. He was cared for to. Mataniata, but still Mr. Clothier was in the dark, and it was not until two days after arrival that ho received a letter stating the horse, a promising ■ hurdler, was . intended for a sportsman at Eotorua. A Trentham trainer had intended to inform Mr. Clothier of the ; circumstances at the races, but had omitted to do so. Attached to the episode is the fact that the horse and Mr. Clothier's young calves had a real xlonnybrook in the paddock where they were located for a few hours, with several of • the calves showing distinct signs of the encounter. Laptown, who was on the injured list for several weeks, is now" in work again. Laptown will be prepared for "the country circuit. . Mr. W. Casey,,,the owner-trainer of Chief Lap, is having exasperating luck with that gelding. Chief Lap won" at his only start at Matainata, and then contracted a severe cold. When just about right he was injured through getting tato a fence, which threw him out of work for several months. 'He''was going along nicely again until' this week, when lie contracted another severe chill,, which has meant him being eased up again. ■ One start, one win, is his record to date. Until near the end of last season jumping was not a feature of Matamata training 6perations. Slump being the only recognised "lenper" from that centre. -Then Standfast* Joined him. This season there ai'e six hurdlers and steeplechasers in active commission, namely,, Standfas.U Welcome Boy, Nassock, Lucess, Slump and Day Lark.'