HAWERA NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7782, 9 February 1891, Page 2

HAWERA NOTES.

• (IEOK OUB OOBSBBPONDBNT.) Taking advantage of a fine day I rode over to " Waihi Downs," as Messrs Goodson Bros, homestead is called, to have ocular demonstration of the quality of Nordenfeldt, Captivator, and King Cole's gets. Mr A. Goodson kindly ehswed mc round. After having a look ac Budget, who is slung in a box at the house, and is doing fairly well, we took our way to a 300-acre paddock, with grass up to the horses' knees, although there has been 000 sheep and 150 head of cattle on all winter. Verily, this is a great district for crass. The first of the youngsters we came across was the Captivator—Vivandlere fllly. She is a light grey with black points and muzzle ; stands about 14.3 hands, long barrel, splendid quarters well let down, and will evidently come on quickly. Running alongside was the Nordenfelt—Yattacy filly, a dark chestnut with three white stocking-'. She is a little smaller than the grey 'filly, but shows a lot of quality and looks a game one. A little further on we came across the two King Cole fillies, one from Spritsail (British Lion's dam) and the other out of Figurehead ; they are very much alike, the latter being about a hand the smaller, and will be the first to race; they are in nice condition, and we could do with any amount of their class about here.. We then wended our way into another large paddock, where the two oolts are, and soon found them quietly grazing together. ' The first to take the eye is the Captivator—Madcap colt. He is a ''whopper," and no mistake, stands olose upon 15.2, and is rather a plain one, with a big, though determined looking head, long round barrel, rather fair quarters, and legs like bars of steel. He will, to my idea, when matured be more at home over cross country than on the fiat, The very antipodes as regards looks is Nordenfeldt—Erycina colt, alongside, a muscular little fellow about 14h lin in height. He has the true Nordenieldb head, rein, and shoulders, and is well ribbed up; good quarters, nice flab bone, and looks all over what he will be — a racer — a regular cut-and-come-agaln sort of customer. He is the pick ot the basket; he has been named Repeater. I sincerely hope he will repeat some of the deeds of his worthy eire. This completes the lot, with the exception of Lady Mersey, who is located for the present near Normanby. The above lot are an acquisition to the district, and even though they never race a yard the moneys worth is there for breeding purposes. The Messrs Goodson Bros, are to be congratulated upon their discrimination. With the exception of the King | Cole fillies, the others are engaged la some valuable races, viz,, Great Northern ■Foal Stakes, Auckland Guineas, Auckland Derby, A.J.C. Sires Produce Stakes (Repeater excepted), Welcome Stakes (Canterbury), Canterbury Derby, Canterbury Produce Stakes, and Hawke's Bay Guineas.

, The acceptances and general entries for oar meeting hare come out very well for the Hurdles. Bight hare cried conteut, while for the Egmont Handicap twelve have paid, nine for the Welter and ten for the Firing, while seven have entered for the Sapling and Nursery Handicaps, five of whom have never faced the starter. The other two, Rosefeldl and Cretonne, have good records already; the other five are well boned ones so that more than ordinary interest will be taken to see how they shape against the cracks. The Trial Stakes is » failure, only three having entered, viz., Marecbel Neil, Amina, and The Peer, and as the former two have not accepted for anyteing else, it looks like a walk over for The Peer. There is some talk already of altering this race into a five furlong flutter. The hack races have filled well, W for the first flat, 21 for the second, 11 and 10 respectively for the first and second hurdles.

I think the local club would be. fully justified in raising the amount of the stakes for hacks next year, although personally Opposed to having hack racea at all. There must be something like 200 hacks in training on this coast alone, and as it coetejastasmuob to train a hack as it does a racehorse, the outlay must be con* siderable.

Mr G. H. Gibeon, finding his time fully occupied with his hotel duties, has leased his Doxes to Mr EL George, who now carries on the stables. There are six horses atpresent in training. The polling day for the Egmont election is set down for the 17th, the day before the races, so that we shall have plenty excitement daring that week; the favourite doable Is Brace and Dudu.