SEA GIFT IS BACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 22

SEA GIFT IS BACK

ORMALU OR AMATHAS

AIDE-DE-CAMP FOR HAWERA

(Special from "Irvington.")

CHRISTCHURCH, March 5. There have been no classes to suit Sea Gift in her own department for some time, but she is due to make her reappearance at the Timaru Meeting next week, when she will compete against the pacers. The race there should fit her up for the Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter Meeting. At one stage of his career Battlefield appeared likely to reach the best company, but after entering the middle classes he developed bad barrier manners and failed to make any headway. He has been treated to a long speil from racing, and an improvement in his manners may have been effected. ■ Repeal lost condition on his trip to the Nelson Trotting Club's Meeting, and he had to be eased in his work to give him a chance to build up again; He now bears a brighter appearance, and it should not be long before he is back to racing trim. At his best Repeal is decidedly useful. Ace i Pot and Trireme, two of G. McKendry's team, have failed to measure up to the standard necessary for local raping, and it is probable that this pair will do their future racing outside Canterbury Province. They are both honest and solid, and they should not be hard to place to advantage.

A five-year-old gelding by Wrack from Latona has been under E. C. McDermott at Addington for some time, and although he is inclined to pace, he is shaping up well as a trotter, at which gait it is intended to race hini. It will be some time before he will be ready to race.

An attempt was made to restore Golden Dollar to his early form, but ne failed to make any improvement, and his'connections have decided to retire this speedy and erratic pacer. Golden Dollar had more ability than the average horse, but his 'efforts in public were marked by inconsistency, the result of an affliction in the head, and he will not be missed. . ;

Grand Mogul continues to make good, progress in his work and he bears a greatly-improved appearance. It is expected that he will be back to'his best for racing over the Easter period.

S. A. Edwards has had his team strengthened by the inclusion of Grattanella.: a maiden pacer with useful form at non-totalisator meetings to his credit. . ■ , .

Ormalu, who raced in the North Island Challenge Stakes as Amathas, has arrived at Addington, but it will depend upon his progress in the next week as to whether he will take his place in the Timaru, two-year-old classic. Although he, has not been asked anything of a serious nature, Blair Athol is.shaping up well in his work at Addington and to this stage he gives every indication- of , remaining sound. EASTER ENGAGEMENTS. Rey Spec has had a" fairly easy time since he raced at the last Wellington Meeting, and he has returned to work in good order to be prepared for the Metropolitan Easter Meeting. Little has been seen of Bill Grattan in recent months, but he is again back at Addington looking better than of old. This pacer has done little racing and he would only need to live up to his private reputation to prove an early winner. ■ Decoy Bird and Treasure Bond have been shaping up well in recent work, but neither has impressed as being altogether reliable on race day. 'When trained as' a two-year-old by J. J. Kenneiiey at Addington last season Worthy Need showed a good measure of promise, and after a lengthyspell, during which he has grown into a good stamp of pacer, he has been placed back in work under C. , K. Yeatman. - ; . . - - -,

~ No horse at Addington, has done better in recent weeks than has Aide-dc-Camp, who has built up in a remarkable manner. He looks likely to be in the best company early next season. At the moment it is intended to take him to the Hawera Trotting Club's Meeting, where he should do well. A speedy novice in training at headquarters is Raywell,- who. has yet to parade-in public. However, he has been under several trainers without impressing any as a safe racing proposition, as he has always refused to begin from a barrier in private practice.

Although it was reported some time ago that Finnebrogue was to go to Perth, he is again back in work in Canterbury. He was a good juvenile performer, but his more recent form has not pointed to his getting beyond his present class. Free Advice, the dam of Horsepower, has a fine foal at foot by Great Bingen, and she has gone back to Jack Potts. The yearling by Wrack from this^ mare is most disappointing in appearances, and while she has improved in recent months, she has a long way to go before she is up to the standard that could be expected of such a mating.

Poste Haste has not proved .. altogether reliable in. his races to date, but he has. shown a great deal of speed, and lie has built up to such an exter/t oT late that he can be regarded as a bright prospect. He has not been racing over a long period, and he is open to further improvement, especially over distances up to a mile and a half.