RACING J. A. Rowland, Veteran Public Trainer, Retires

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 4

RACING J. A. Rowland, Veteran Public Trainer, Retires

After holding a trainer’s licence for 35 years—six years as private trainer to the late Mr W. T. Hazlett, and 29 years as a public trainer—J. A. Rowland, of Invercargill, saddled up his last horse as a public trainer at the Otdgo Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday. It was a successful end to a long career. The horse was Wayren, which decisively won the Vauxhall Handicap. When Rowland established his Endeavour L.'dge property in Invercargill 30 years ago, the first horse he produced as a public trainer was Salerno, which won a race at the 1925 Riverton Easter meeting. He has been one of Southland’s most successful trainers tor a long time, though in recent years he has restricted the size of his team. Rowland has not had a black mark against his licences during 12 years as an apprentice and a licensed jockey, and the 35 years he has been training. He intends to leave next month for a holiday in Australia, and after attending the Melbourne Cup meeting, he will probably continue his holiday in England. . Rowland considers Celerity II the most brilliant galloper he framed, and Great Coon probably the gamest. Celerity II had won both sprints and distance races under big weights, and Rowland thinks she would have reached the best class if it had been possible to travel her; she would not eat a bite from the time she left home until she returned to the stable. Teat as Steepleehaaer Manos, which was trained for several of his races last season by T. I. Smith, Riccarton, has rejoined J. S. McKay’s team in Dunedin, and is to be tried as a steeplechaser at the Eastern Southland Hunt meeting on Saturday. Smith prepared Mances to win his first race at Amberley in May. Wanganui-Bound

Great Tom and Adaris were taken north last evening by their Riccarton trainer, F. A. Roberts, to fulfil engagements at -Wanganui on Saturday. They will both be ridden by D. J. Thistoll.

Great Tom shaped like an early winner at the Grand National meeting, and he should be prominent in the Novice Plate at Wanganui. Adaris is an accfeptor for the mile Seafield Hack Handicap, which is also the mission for Ray Ribbon's stablemate, Trustworthy. Riccarton Jockey's Plans Riccarton is to lose one of its most experienced and capable jockeys, C. McDonald, who will probably settle at Awapuni in October after fulfilling engagements at the Ashburton and Dunedin meetings. The North Island has taken several good jockeys from Riccarton over the last five years, C. T. Wilson, N. Ar Crombie, and K. Nuttall being among them. The absence of trotting races from galloping programmes gives jockeys more opportunities in the north. Success As Jumper Wilshire, winner of the Irwin Steeplechase at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting, appears to have found his right niche as a jumper. He certainly, has done much better in this role than as a flat racer, though good things were expected of him because he is a half-brother to three good stayers, Eriskay, Prawns, and Jan. Those three were got by Salmagundi.

Wilshire is the product of the first mating of Jedburgh with Christopher Robin. He was bred by A. Chisholm, and was bought cheaply by a Dunedin trainer, J. S. McKay, recently. Consistent Race Mare Pleasure Bent again found success just eluding her in the Tally-Ho Handicap at the Otago Hunt meeting, and she added another second to an unusual run of mifior placings. This smart Riccarton-trained Defaulter mare raced 19 times last season for one win, eight seconds, two thirds, and twoT fourths. Her win was at Westport in her second appearance for the season, and some of her placings were in much stronger company. She was runner-up in the Oamaru, Nelson, and Marlborough Cups among other races, and fourth in the Great Easter Handicap, won by the brilliant Clinker. Pleasure Bent was unlucky to meet Peony Royal at the top of her form at Wingatui on Saturday. Peony Royal’s form fell away earlier in the winter, byt some much improved training gallops on the eve of the meeting hinted at a bold race performance. The others behind Pleasure Bent were beaten off, though Taj came from the tail of the field for third. An unusual feature of the race was that mares filled the first three places. Privy Council The Opaki trainer, R. A. Tudor, said on Saturday that Privy Council was not a certain starter for the Wanganui Guineas. The colt had come through his Carterton race well, but Tudor will not run him in the Wanganui classic unless the colt is conditioned to run in the mile. If he does not fulfil that engagement, his first classic race will be the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. Privy Council has been disputing favouritism for the Wanganui Guineas with the Riccarton colt, Ray Ribbon, and these two smart gallopers are to meet in the Flying Handicap on the first day of the Wanganui meeting next Saturday. The distance is six furlongs and a half, and on the Wanganui course Privy Council may shade the South Island hope for sprinting ability. Tudor will retire from public training shortly, but may retain Privy Council and the Boissel two-year-old, which will race in the same colours. In seven seasons, Tudor has had a good deal of success. His best horses have been Golden Spa, Liebestraum, Indian Scholar, Lord Milling, Golden Arch, Golden Jest, Royal Victor, and his own horse, Sanford.

PLANS FOR GENDARME

FORM IN AVONDALE CUP TO BE CONSIDERED (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 31. The Australian visit of the brilliant New Zealand handicapper, Gendarme, depends on his showing in the Avondale Cup at Auckland on Saturday, according to his trainers, F. and G. W. Smith. Although the horse disappointed in the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt Club's meeting last Saturday, he appears to have been improved by fhe race. Gendarme galloped a mile on a heavytrack at Takanini this morning. He was under restraint at the start, but ran the last six furlongs in Imin 20 3-ssec, the last half-mile in 54 3-ssec, and the mile lln Imin 49 3-ssec Gendarme’s usual jockey, W. R. Hooton. said this morning that he, personally, had made no plans to go to Australia.