NEW LAD’ IN STABLES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30887, 21 October 1965, Page 4

NEW LAD’ IN STABLES

[Specially written for

“The Press” by

JOHN DREW]

The decision of the former Irish Society girl, Lady Nesta Fitzgerald, to come to New Zealand to work as a groom at the famous racing stables of E. A. Winsloe at Gore seems to be turning out a marked success.

Both employee and employer have already expressed pleasure and satisfaction with the arrangement. Preferring to be known as Miss Fitzgerald (she gave up using her title some four years ago), this charming new arrival on the racing scene in New Zealand has been quick to adapt herself to new surroundings. The granddaughter of the Duke of Leinster, she arrived from Dublin only about 10 days ago and has already got into the swing of the Winsloe establishment She has got lodgings not far from the stables and is enjoying her

10 minutes’ early morning walk to work each day. Although she had been grooming, exercising and feeding some of New Zealand’s most promising gallopers from 5.30 a.m. she displayed no sign of tiredness when telephoned. In a pleasing vivacious voice (but without a trace of brogue) she said: “Yes I am very glad I came: I am liking it here: it is rather like being at home —only different in a way.”

Coming from an Irish summer, she found the climate very cold in the early mornings in Southland. “It was snowing and hailing the first few mornings when I got up at half past five but it is into the summer now and I am enjoying it very much,” she said. Many Good Horses She said: “There are so many good horses here I am not quite sure yet which is which but I am quickly finding out and getting to know them fast. I expect to be here about a year.

She said she came to New Zealand through the agency of a girl friend with whom she had been at school in England. This friend had married a neighbour of Mr Winsloe and some six months ago arranged for her to take employment at the Winsloe stables.

Miss Fitzgerald said she decided to come to New Zealand because she found she was rather tied to the farm in Ireland and there were not very many horses there now. She said it was quite commonplace for women to work in racing stables in Britain but her arrival had created quite a lot of interest in Southland and she had received a number of visits from reporters and photographers. Mr Ted Winsloe described Miss Fitzgerald as a very good horsewoman. Background Although she is only 23, Miss Fitzgerald’s competence is not surprising, considering her background and close association with horseracing in England.

Besides working with horses on her own property and in other outside raciing stables she has been closely associated with a number of leading personalities in the racing world in Britain and Ireland. Her voice warmed when she was asked if she knew the famous trainers Paddy Prendergast and Vincent O’Brien. She said she knew them both well. Her brother had worked with Vincent O’Brien and she, herself, had always been more interested in ’chasing whereas Prendergast and O’Brien were now more concerned with flat racing. Miss Fitzgerald said she hoped to have a good look at as many race meetings as possible during her stay in New Zealand. “I have heard they are pretty high class,” she said. The picture shows E. A. Winsloe with his new stable “lad,” Lady Nesta Fitzgerald, who is attending to a leg strap on the cover of the New Zealand Derby, entrant. Summer Magic.