MR C. GIESELER DEAD

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 4

MR C. GIESELER DEAD

Leading N.Z. Trainer Many Times

Mr Charles Gieseler, who died at Ashburton on Sunday, had a long and successful association with racing as a trainer until he took up the position of starter for several clubs in Otago and Southland several years ago. Mr Gieseler was leading New Zealand trainer for three consecutive seasons, and later leading trainer four times in five years. He started his association with racing as private trainer to the late Mr J. C. N. Grigg at Ashburton. After about six years he transferred to Wingatui and in 1916 he won the New Zealand Cup with Ardenvhor, a son of Martian and Mary of Argyle, owned by the late Mr H. Friedlander. Ardenvhor was the only New Zealand Cup winner trained by Mr Gieseler, but he was one of five Waimate Cup winners and one of four

Geraldine Cup winners from the stable. Ardenvhor also won the Riverton Cup as a three-year-old, but did nothing of - note after his New Zealand Cup success later that year. Set Sail twice won the Geraldine Cup for the Gieseler stable, but those performances were overshadowed by several others in the record of this Solferino mare, which was owned by the late Dr. J. E. Rogers. In five seasons’ racing Set Sail recorded 21 wins and was 25 times placed for £8336 10s in stakes—in days when stakes were well below presentday values. Set Sail twice won the Invercargill Cup. As a five-year-old she showed considerable versatility, finishing second to Shirley in the Great Easter Handicap and third in the Great Autumn Handicap to Puithair and Football. Next season she was third to Star Stranger and Pink Coat in the Wellington Cup and third in Reremoana’s Great Easter Handicap. At one Kurow meeting, horses from the Gieseler stable won the five flat races on the programme, and twice Mr Gieseler saddled up horses to finish first, second, and third in a race for one owner.

Other winners prepared by Mr Gieseler were Receipt. Royal Star. Full Swing. Listening Post, First Glance, Rosenor, Mohawk, and Dabchick.