JUMPING DISPLAY BY WHERO AFTER LENGTHY ABSENCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22868, 11 February 1949, Page 4 (Supplement)

JUMPING DISPLAY BY WHERO AFTER LENGTHY ABSENCE

(Herald Special Service.) At the races in Gisborne on Saturday the Gisborne-owned but Hastingstrained nine-year-old Iliard-Black Cat gelding, Whero, proved the third favourite to come home in successive events. A week earlier this chestnut finished second in the hack mile at Wairoa. This was his first race since 1945, and trainer W. D. Young is to be complimented on his success with a horse after such a long absence from racing. At present he is in rare, robust condition for a jumper. He was acquired by Mr. Henry Dods. of Gisborne, mainly for steeplechasing, and may this winter be a good second string to Master Meruit. For a race like the Great Northern, run at Ellerslie, Whero may be preferred to the Master Colossus gelding, whose makeup favours courses like Trentham or Riccarton. Considering that he has not had a hurdle race since early last spring The Scotchman ran well in finishing second to Whero and may, on the law of averages, turn the tables next dayMagnus Lux had probably the best racing condition in the Geld and ran a close third. He may improve on that form this week, but on former inconsistencies may also be one of the last to finish. Foxbrae was nicely treated in the weights. His flat racing during the mid-summer months may have influenced his failure on Saturday.

According to a Hawera report, Atomic might have his next race at Trentham in March. Atomic ran a first and a second in mile races at the recent Wellington meeting and one would not be surprised if the Thompson Handicap were hi» mission next month. Peter’s Choice is in work again at Hawera. Due to an injured tendon he has not raced since last June, when he won the Century Hurdles and the Wanganui Steeplechase at the Wanganui winter meeting.

Mr. H. T. Crocker, Hawera, has been appointed to do the starting at the Egmont autumn meeting as Mr. L. G. Morris, who usually officiates, will be engaged at Trentham. 'lllustrious ricked a joint when contesting the Fitzherbert Handicap which she Won, on the first day of the Wellington meeting. This accounted for her withdrawal from her engagement at Wanganui last week. The one time crack steeplechaser Master Meruit is reported to be in light work again.