NOTES FROM RICCARTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22520, 14 March 1935, Page 6

NOTES FROM RICCARTON

(Special to Daily Times.* CHRISTCHURCH, March 13. P. V. Mason left for Trentham to-night with Variant and Hostis. They have done exceptionally well lately, and look like paying their way. Variant will keep her two opponents busy in the St. Lcger, while Hostis will bo bard to beat in hack engagements, as he is an improved gelding. L. J. Ellis has been secured t'< do the riding. S. Barr took Colossi an and Silver Sight north to-night. The former, who will

compete in the high-weight events, in which G. Farr may ride him, ha« been working in good style. Silver Sight, who will be handled by A. Measervy, will find a mile too short in the company he -will meet in the Thompson Handicap, but ho will be well suited by the longer journey of the Autumn Handicap on the second day. Two members of S. Barr’s team have been gelded, and will be spelled for a time before they resume work. - They are the Lord Quex—Bay View four-year-old First View, who has been off the scene since early in January, and the Cape Horn—Eurella two-year-old Golden Glow, who was purchased at Trentham during the Wellington Cup meeting. The Australian-bred four-year-old Southdown has made good progress since he was gelded, and A. M’Caulay intends to start him again in light exercise in a week or two.

Final Shot was badly knocked about in the Forsyth Hack Handicap at Motukarara, where she ran third after a very rough passage. One of her legs showed signs of weakness afterwards, and, though she has improved, she may require a spell before she can resume work. When it was found necessary early in the season to stop working Friday Night on account of leg trouble he was given a complete rest for a few months, during which he made good progress. He was then placed under the care of Mr E. F. C. Hinds, whose team of pacers and trotters includes the crack pacer Harold Logan. A course of treatment, including sea bathing and light exercise on the beach and mud flats at South Brighton, worked wonders with the brother to Phar Lap. He was under veterinary inspection recently, and was pronounced quite sound. There was some intention at stage of putting him into work with a view to racing at Easter, but his owner, Mr F. Armstrong, decided against that proframme, and he will be given more time, n the meantime he is being broken to harness in order that he may be given useful work without involving the strain on his legs of having to carry weight on his back. Much of his exercise will be done this way at New Brighton until about the end of June, after which he will resume regular training, and it is hoped that he will be ready to race again at the Grand National meeting in August.