SPRING EVENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 207, 2 September 1938, Page 12

SPRING EVENTS.

DIVIDEND'S PROGRESS. A PROMISING HURDLER. JO .TO SHOWS APTITUDE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH. this day. Several novice jumpers continue to infuse interest in the work at Riccarton. Some are well advanced iu education and will be ready to race soon, while others will icquire a lot more education before they can lank as proficient. Dividend made his first acquaintance with the jumps after the Grand National meeting and from the start has shown a natural aptitude for the game. He goes at each obstacle straight and loses no ground in fast, clean jumping. Coming from a family which has already produced two horses with good records over the Riccarton steeplechase fence's, Dividend may soon start to earn honours ovei hurdles. He will be entered for Ashburton and Geraldine.

The Sandwichman has been making friends with his displays over hurdles and has left the impression that he knows more about jumping th.ni lie has learned in the past fortnight. He will add interest to hurdle races at Ashburton and Geraldine.

The education of' Avinon has been gone on with regularly, this Auckland-owned gelding being tried several times each week. He continues to jump very big and will need to change his stvle before he can be classed as a proficient raceprospect.

Pipiwhauroa. a grey gelding, has had a few turns over the pony obstacles and his education is being continued regularly. He is a bold jumper and from the manner in whi' h h« shapes in his work he should be useful when the time comes for him to race.

Back Lead is a beginner, tried first in his trainer's naddock, after which he gave a creditable showing on the track. He will, however, take some time to educate. .To •To is one of the most recent of the jumping recruits, but he shows real aptitude for the game, going straight at the obstacles from the first time he saw them. He is a nine-year-old gelding by Hvmestra and is a real novice, having had his only race in the Cashmere Plate at the Grand National meeting, so lie has everything to learn yet.

Disappointed on the Fiat.

Nightdress is the latest horse to be tried at Riccarton as a jumping candidate. The Nightmarch gelding was a great disappointment in his recent racing on the flat. He may be converted into a generous performer after some experience over hurdles, but in the meantime he has shown no inclination to face the obstacles.

S. Barr may have Recollection as liis only representative of the stable at Ashburton. . He will then do the Geraldine meeting, where he will have Flame Queen and the hurdler Sir Rosenor as mates.

M. Conza has had two additions to bis team. He has purchased Haulbowline and will try to repeat some of the successes achieved when that gelding was under his care at an earlier period. A client of the stable has acquired Gay Fire and will have him trained for country fixtures.

Mr. D. Spence has Phalanx on the track again after a spell. The horse looks in good order and should be ready to race at some of the later spring meeting*.

The three-year-old filly Crack o' Dawn by Night Raid from Rawene, showed pro

mise in her track work of being a useful performer. She had her first and only start in a race at the Westport Jockey Club's meeting, held at Riccarton in July. As she developed trouble in her knees, her trainer, F. A. Roberts, lias sent her to Elderslie, where she will take up stud duty. The filly is owned by Dr. Xigel Smith, of Sydney.

A. MoiJuiian will have a busy time at the spring meetings as he will have a useful team for most of the southern fixtures to be held in the next few week*. Two fresh horses have gone into his stable lately, and both are ready to race. One of them. Great Bramble, will be at Ashburton, with Windward, Back Lead and C hanteur as mates. Great Bramble and Windward will also be at Geraldine. where C'omus and Potent will open the spring campaign.

L. J. Kllirt will be riding next week at Wangauui meeting, where lie lias incuts tr,r Sudan. Barley Almond and .i two-year-old from T. R. Georges Trentham stable.