TRENTHAM MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 12

TRENTHAM MEETING.

VAL WATCH TO COMPETE. KEITH liTJ NOT GOING. ROYAL SECRET CHANGES STABLES. THe displays of Keith Lu at Tauranga were not sufficiently encouraging to justify his owner sending him to compete at Trentham next week, so he will not accompany Yal Watch on the trip.. Since competing at the Auckland winter meeting Val Watcli has gone oil the right way in her work and at present is very bright and well. It is understood she is to leave to-morrow in charge of her trainer. E. A. Keesing will have a nice little team to be prepared for early spring events. At present it comprises Golden Sheila, King Musk, Heskertoon, Solaria and Gold Vaals. The first mentioned is wintering splendidly, while the remaining four are in steady work. J. F. Eva, who has just recommissioned Libra, has bright hopes of the Musketoon mare making good in the coming season. It is probable she may develop into a stayer, as she is built on lines of strength, and in her track work has always finished on well. The Waliinepai filly, by Iving Lu, is of the Lucy Rose type. and is coming to hand very satisfactorily. She is one of the Te Aroha juveniles that will be seen out under colours quite early in the new racing season. Black Musk and Fei-Mali have been handed over to A. E. Cox in good, solid condition, - but will require some fining-down-before they will be found running' prominently. The patient policy has been taken, with .Fei-Mah..and may prove, to have been justified. Although Black Musk will not' be two years old until October, in appearance he is more like a three-year-old/especially in-regard to size. He lias already shown galloping ability. H. Eva, who has lately been assisting with Mr. N. Grafa's team at Te Puke, returned to Te Aroha this week, bringing with him Miss Mestor, the two-year-old full-sister to King Mestor. She is at present in J. F. Eva's stable, pending the granting of a trainer's license to H. Eva, who is stated as likely to soon be in charge of several aspirants to racing honours, including more than one of distinctly high-class breeding. Mr. E. G. Gardiner has sent Royal Secret to New Plymouth, where she has joined H. Dulieu's team. The King Lu mare has had more than one setback this season, but her second to Solaria at Tauranga showed she is returning to form.

It is probable that trainer W. G. Stephens may take Armacourt over to Tauranga for the winter months, but a definite decision has not yet been made in this connection.

Mr. R. B. Hines' K.ing_ Brierly, who severely strained a fetlock joint when racing at the Te Aroha meeting last February, has not made a good recovery and the limb still has a much enlarged appearance. The chances of this halfbrother to Master Brierly are not at all bright. This is unfortunate for the owner, for the gelding had shown sufficient form to suggest he would win important events. The recent winning form of Mustang has resulted in inquiries being made relative to his half-sister, by Acre—Lady Ledbury, owrted by Mr. E. Mayo, of Waihou. This filly is rising two years and is bigger than Mustang in conformation. Next' season Solaria isr-to be raceiT.'in the name of Mr. Engla 1. a Hawke's Bay owner, but will remain in E. A. Keesing's team. \ • .

Mr. ,A. Lenriard's Regal Rose is a juvenile that is likely to come to hand early. The state of the track litis, enabled her to be given preliminary education and before many weeks she may be able to give some idea of her galloping ability.