VAL WATCH IMPROVED

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 175, 25 July 1936, Page 20

VAL WATCH IMPROVED

MAY RACE AT RICCARTON. : HORSES AT TE AROHA; ' MAZIR DOING NICELY. . AVhen Yal .Watch arrived back from Trentham,. where she was not started consequent upon contracting a cold, there was an impression.- that the Valkyrian mare "would not be able to fulfil her Grand National meeting engagements. Since then,{however, she has continued her track ■work. and has been nominated for the Longbeach Hurdles at the Christchurch Hunt- Club meeting, which points to, the fact that lier owner and trainer are hoping that she will have sufficiently, recovered to be taken on the southern trip. It is understood that a definite decision will be made in a day or two, and in the meantime the. chances are that Yal Watch will •be a Grand National Hurdles contestant. •Norman .McGwire, who two seasons ago was associated; with the training work of Tin Lap and King Ara, and . later with that of Enge, King Brierly, FeirMah, Nahlin and Black Musk, is now assisting with A. E. Cta's team. As he .does quite. his share of' track riding, his services in this respect will be in keen demand from "the opening of the new racing seasop. •.[ .

Bonnie Song has been recommissioned by- her train'er, A. E. Cox. She has wintered .really, well and is expected to make amends for her present season's failures. Mr. Gordon Wyborn's. D'Artagnan is now being qualified as a' hunter.- • As a jumper he is giving every satisfaction, and any respiratory troubles, he may have, are not very evident at the pace he has 1 to travel at the hunt meets. Mr. R. B. Hines has had his four rising yearlings handled, and from now on they will be .lightly exercised on his private track. The quartet ate by King Lu. Mazir, still somewhat on the big side, is being regularly allotted long, slo<v; work, into which, he is putting vim that denotes that he is in good trim. He is a goodwinded customer and always anxious to increase the pace towards the end of bis tasks. • • • -- - . Gay Rose has again joined the :track workers, not in view of any early engagements, bwt by'reason of her settling down quietly at home after her visits to the course, which does not happen while she is on the easy list.

A Good Youngster. Golden Sheila is improving week by -week and bowling along 011 the tracks in a manner indicating that she should soon be ready for fast work. , She is to be given her first run in the new season at the Avcndale meeting in £?* . ' The' King Lu —Waliinepai filljr in J. F. .Eva's stable has been named Lily Lu.- She is developing into a very nice youngsterand is quite likely to make good in the coming season. Miss Mestor, in the -eame stable, is showing distinct improvement and is now being allotted fast work. Judging by the way in which King Musk is acquitting himself in his track work li« bids fair, to be quite ready to take his place in the spring fields. He is carrying more condition than usual. During the few weeks he has been in Te Aroha, the Gainscourt gelding Solaria has thickened out very considerably and is in- splendid heart at present. As yet he bas not been asked to go fast and is certainly benefiting through the easy tasks allotted him. , Mrs. R. Taylor has sold The Ace gelding ■ Routine Flush to, a Manawaru sportsman, who intends in the meantime to use him for polo playing. Routine Flush's box will now be occupied by a three-year-old filly by. Musketoon—Don't, who is now being hacked .about preparatory to being put into work. In addition to the contract let for the addition of 50ft to the members' stand at the western end and the erection of 50 boxes, the Te Aroha Jockey Club has decided upon a further scheme of improvements. which is to be taken in hand immediately after the next annual race meeting. The-lawn is to be increased by over two acres by the shifting back about four chains of tbe iron fence at the back of the grandstand. The' totalisator buildings are to be transferred' to a central site at the southern boundary of the lawn and will be added to materially. The alterations and additions will necessitate a considerable sum being expended on filling a gully, while a lprge sum will be required for tbe construction of *a new roadway to -be used by race day traffic. The- new area hasalready been peggied :out and it is quite" likely that some of the ground work will: ;b'e : undertaken during the summer months. . . Nominations are'liow being received for the offices of president, vice-presidents, (3), committee men (3)Vand treasurer f<sr the Te -Aroha, Jockey Club. Those retiring, but eligible for re-election, are: —President, Mr. R. L. Somers; vice-presidents. Messrs. P. Baine, R: Burke and J. B. Johnson; , treasurer, ;®lr. J: P. Somers; committee, Messrs. J. A. Hepburn, G. P. Goodfellow and E. J'/ Aislabie. ,