HORSES AND PROSPECTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 June 1926, Page 9

HORSES AND PROSPECTS.

NOTES BY “MAECENAS.” Weights for the Wellington Eaeing Club’s winter meeting are due on Monday next. \fter a long succession of uuluchy races, Taitaiata got on the winning list at the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club’s fixtU\:Vliile the hack races to be decided at the coming Wellington meeting failed to fill as well as last year, the open races have drawn big nominations—considerably'more than last year’s winter meeting. ~ , Trainer J. Fryer evidently expects Taitaiata to show big improvement, on past public performances, as that geldiiig has been nominated at the Wellington meeting amongst the best hurdlers in New Zealand. _ Twelve months ago Alaric was at ins best and ran excellent races at the winter meeting at Trcntham. Since coming in from a good, spell, Alaric has failed to show any form in public. The San Fora gelding has been nominated for the chief flat handicap decided on the first day of the Wellington meeting, while he also figures in the Trenj tliam Hurdles. Eerie gave splendid exhibitions at both the steeplechase meetings held at Trcntham last year, but the name of Nassau’s daughter is missing from this year’s list. As a rule, there are surprise nominations for the big jumping races run at the Wellington winter meeting, but this year no such feature exists, all the horses nominated being of the tried variety. Mireusonta appears amoDgst those nominated for the sjorint events at Trcntham next month, and if he shows a slight improvement on Otaki form he will prove very troublesome there. In past year's horses trained in Taranaki have/figured largely in the races at the. winter meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, but at the coming meeting of that club our nominations arc weak, the only ones engaged in tho flat events on the opening day being Take Take, Captain Gazely and Alaric, but Taitaiata, Rchutar, Passin’ Through, Uncle Dave and Knrcao arc in tho jumping races. . . Some little time ago, it was stated that Llewellyn would probably to Australia for the V.R.C. winter meeting, but as this ’chaser was nominated this week for the Wellington meeting, it appears as if the Australia, trip has been abandoned. Besides winning the richly eudowed Melbourne Cup and other races in Victoria, Windbag won no less a sum than £.11,19!) at Randwiclc (N.S.W.). alone, so his huge total must have proved very profitable to our ex-New Zealand trainer, G. Price. Pericles, which recently won £2600 at Randwiek, was formerly raced by the ex-New Zealander, Mr E. J. Watt, who sold him a short time ago for the modest sum of £350.

After showing consistent form and a lot of pace in races of late, without winning a prize, it is pleasing to chronicle the win of the Taranaki-owned Wlicnuanui in his Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club engagement. Whenuanui is engaged in the five furlongs hack events to be decided on the second and third days of the Wellington meeting next month. Tho connections of Puwhcro must be satisfied that this gelding would not run out n. long journey like “tlia.'fc of tlie Wellington Steeplechase, for, although Puwhcro is better now than at any other period of his career, he has not been nominated for the steeplechases at the Wellington meeting. Usually the tracks arc very heavy in July at Trentham, thus the lot of the non-stayer is made more difficult. The following is from the pen of the well-known Australian writer “Pilot,” and must carry the endorsement of all true “sports”’: When I see racing, business and social lights button-holing trainers on racecourses for tips, I often wonder whether tho information they glean compensates for the loss of dignity in their methods of obtaining it. They would be indignant if a comparative stranger asked them a pointed question in relation to their business, and yet they evidently think a slight acquaintance • with a trainer justifies them in asking him about his employers’ horses. Many trainers resent the position, but cannot afford to answer their questioner in the manner he deserves. “It does make you disgusted,” said a well-known trainer the other day, “to bo fawned on by people who, elsewhere than on a racecourse, would think they were honouring you by a nod. If some of the people who ask me-about my horses’ chances knew the answer I would like to give, it would be a shock for them.”

Uncle Dave was going well: when he fell at- Hastings on Friday last, but, had' no chance of Ideating Little River. Santiago appeared to h'ave an l even money chance of beating Comedy Prince, racing to the last fence in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, but over the final stages he simply would not try. H. Burt was present at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, but is •still- carrying a sling, and will be unable to rid© at Trentham next week. Burt will ride Comical in the Grand .National Hurdles at Riecarton in Angust. The next meeting to exercise the minds of sportsmen is the winter fixture of the Wellington Raleing Club, which opens on Tuesday next. Nukumai looked' well when sent out to contest the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, but lie jumped very poorly,, eventually falling at a- simple fence after going about half the journey. Puwhero will make his next appearance at Riecarton, after which he will be sent to Randwick for the spring carnival of the A.J.C. In all, probability A. McDonald will go across and ride Puwhero there. Supporter ran well for a mile in: the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase last- week, but appeared to “punch” the second fence- of the double, thereby breaking his near hind leg. Little River gave a, splendid display of jumping in the Woodlands Steeplechase at Ha-sting last week. He was simply playing with Woden over the last half-mile, hut -his- rider, -lapsing into a “trance,” allowed' Ryder, on Woden, literally to steal the race. Warner was fined £5 for his neglect, hut can count himself very luclcy to get- off -so lightly. Tnahine wa's sold privately last week, and in my notes I stated that the Hon. T\. S. Williams bad bought her. As a- matter of fact, the' Canterbury owner. Mr R. O. Rutherford, secured Tuahine. Commendation wn« given a gallop between events at the- Hawke’s Bay meeting. This youngster is furnishing well, -and appears .to have quietened down, so one mav expect the -son: of Limond to show up well in the early soring classical races, as he will be very forward. Nukumai will have to 'show vast imorovement on Hawke’s Bay form to have n.nv chance in the Wellington •Steenloehase next week. When sent out to contest the big cross-country event at Hastings, Fire-

blight looked nice and bright, but was not as forward as on© would' like. But her excellent showing suggests this mare as one likely to run prominently in coming races like the Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases. Gauntlet, which was recently bought by the Hon. K. S. Williams, will join H. Lorrigan’s. stable' aib Trentham. This somewhat- disappointing, son of •Marxian- and the English: bred Torquato may be put to hurdle racing, later. Just here it may be stated that Gauntlet has been tried privately at jumping, and acquitted himself well. Mali Jong, was purchased l by Mr. J. Rl. Stanfield last Friday, not Mr. H. Sr a nib ridge, owner of First Line. Mr, Stanfield could have sold Alah Jong a little later for -a considerable amount more than lie gave, but lias decided to race the Australian bred one. H. Doyle- will in future train Mah Jong. Olmahu was produced and backed with confidence by his owner l’or the Hawke’s BSay Steeplechase, but the -son of Maniopoto neither looked or raced anything near as well as last season, and was about a furlong, behind Master Peter ere the race was finished. It certainly appeared as if the best has been seen of this once good jumper. Master Peter looked remarkably well at Hastings, and gave a faultless; exhibition of jumping over a. fairly difficult course. He will be ridden at Trentham by R. E. Thompsoii, who piloted the gelding to victory in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, but - namesake “Rangi” Thompson has accepted the mount on Master Peter in the Grand National Steeplechase, to- be decided at Riecarton in August.

When going well in the- Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. Firefolight took a. risk with the simple looking; sod wall. She actually went down, on all fours, but, making a wonderful recovery, young G. Holland got her back on her legs again. This incident cost Fi reblight many .lengths, not to mention the amount of energy through the impact, and she did well to run second. During an interval in. the racing at Hastings, Trainer J. H. Jeffercl gave Mr A.. R.. William's P'aper Money-—linH pediment rising two-year-old colt and the Paper "Money—Liady Jean filly a ( ‘.buck’ ’ over a couple of furlongs. Air J. Al. Cameron took the opportunity of galloping Gohaavk, an Australian bred youngster claiming Magpie— Fedelma as his breeding. All three are well forward and showed pace.