RETURN OF WINOOKA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 9

RETURN OF WINOOKA

TRAVELLING ON MONTEREY ILL-FORTUNE IN AMERICA FAILURES IN LAST STARTS The brilliant Australian racehorse Winooka passed through Auckland yesterday on tho Monterey on his way back to Sydney under tho control of his trainer, M. Poison. Winooka left Sydney on May 31, 1933, and he has since been campaigning in America. Before leaving Australia ho registered a series of brilliant victories, his most notable being to win the Doncaster Handicap with 9.13 in the fast time of 1.353 for tho mile, but he failed to reproduce tho same form in America, although his trip was not without some measure of success. During his first season in America Winooka won four races, but he had many difficulties to overcome, and some of his efforts were disappointing. Unsuccessful attempts were made to match him with the American champion Equipoise, and he was left in America to winter under the care of his faithful attendant, who has accompanied him all through his long travellings. In the meanwhile his owners, Messrs. Mac Donald and Matthews, and his trainer, M. Poison, returned to Sydney, Poison going back to America about five months ago to superintend his training and racing this season. Two Races This Season Winooka's second - season in America was not productive of any better luck for him than his first, and he had only two races, being narrowly beaten by Ebony Lady in tho Antipodes Purse, six furlongs, at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, on May 10, and .running next to last in a field of nine in tho Washington Park Handicap on the Homewood course on May 24. Before his first race this season Winooka went attractively in an exhibition gallop with a good mare named Advising Ann, whom he defeated very comfortably over half a mile in -His. Pobon was then very satisfied with liis form and condition, but rain fell before the race, and the soft state of the track militated against his chance. Racing in America is conducted on dirt tracks, whereas Winooka was accustomed to racing on turf in Australia, and ho failed to handle them well when the going was soft. Not a great deal of rain was required to make tho going bad, and Winooka was unfortunate, becauso usually he failed to get the ground dry. Moreover, he struck himself on the coronet in his last race in America, and, although the trouble was not serious, it was then that Poison decided to bring him home. Altogether Winooka has travelled over 30,000 miles since leaving Australia, and he would have been home a few weeks earlier only for being held up on account of the Pacific Coast strike. Travelling Quarters Although he was not privileged to enjoy tho day aslioro yesterday, Winooka '.s travelling under the most comfortable conditions possible. Winooka's quarters are on the forward well deck, and he has a stall 12ft. square opening on to a sand runway about 20ft. long, which has enabled him to get some exercise almost daily. The stall is carefully padded everywhere, and ample ventilation was provided to enable him to get plenty of air when going through th 3 tropics. The floor of tho stall was thickly covered with Btraw and the runway with sand, bo that he could exercise and roll with safety.

On arrival in Sydney Winooka will have to spend seven days in Quarantine, and after that he will be sent to Windsor to havo a few days' rest. Winooka lias been nominated for important- eventfl at the spring meetings in Australia, but there is little chance of him keeping any of these engagements. Plans for his future will take definite shape when ho has completed his rest at Windsor. Poison anticipates fireparing him for the Cattlfield Futurity Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap in the early autumn of 1935, and fs hopeful that ho will again prove himself a great racehorse. Winooka won the Futurity Stakes and was fourth in the Newmarket Handicap in 1933, being generally regarded as unlucky in the latter race. Winooka looks remarkably well, considering his long travels. He is a fine specimen of the Australian thoroughbred and is not carrying the amount of surplus flesh that might be expected. Apparently he is not a great deal heavier than when in training, and his health and condition are Remarkable under the circumstances. Moreover, his legs are as clean as could be wished, and it will be interesting to see whether after bis long journeyings he is again capable of reproducing hie former brilliancy

DARGAVILLE CLUB LOSS ON PAST YEAR FUTURE POLICY DISCUSSED [by telegraph OWN correspondent] DARGAVILLE, Friday There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Dargaville Racing Club last night, the president, Mr. R. \V. Cuthbert, presiding. • In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet the president said be regretted that, including £269 written .off for depreciation, there had been a loss on the yoar's working of £547, including a loss of £l5B on the raoe meeting, which the stewards had met personally. For the election of officers only one ballot was required, that for the office of president, and Dr. M. Grevillc defeated the retiring president, Mr. Cutlibert. Other officials re-elected unopposed were:—Patron, Rt Hon. J. G. Coates; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. Massey and C. S. Rush; treasurer, Mr. F. 0. Peat; auditor, Mr. A. L. Billing: stewards, Messrs. R. W. £uthbert, W. L. Powell, P. Moran, J. ISash, J. Fannon and J J. Powell. Mr. A. FinInyson was appointed to a. vacancy among the vice-presidents. A resolution was passed recommending the stewards to revert to an open race meeting instead of restricting it to hacks only. A recommendation was also passed for stewards to consider the question of incorporating the club. ; With regard to future policy Mr. Cuthbert said the e towards should seriously consider going into recess for 12 months, as he could see no immcdiato prospects under present conditions of tho club paying its W The new president appealed to all ber<3 to help the stewards and said he felt confident that the club would overcome its difficulties, which four or five years ago were much more formidable than to-day. At the conclusion of the general meeting tlii stewards met and elected lJr. Greville chairman.