WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 64

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(From Our Own CoßßitsroxnENT )

January 13

Mr T. M'Grath. the Masterton ownertrainer, returned from Melbourne this week after an absence of six months. lie failed to win a raco with Tumut or Zealand, hut had a good win over Gunl>oat's success in tho Hopetoun Cup M'Grath is at present in Masterton, and will return to the other sido after the Wellington Cup meeting. He mav take a horse or two with him.

"st"our correspondent visited Mr George Currie's stud at Koatonui during tho holidays. Fiold Battery's place there has been taken by Harrow (Eton—Our Lady) and King Rufus (William Rufus —Arrowroot). Harrow met with an accident on the station, and was never raced. The first of his

progeny are now yearlings, and one of them, a colt from Merveilleux (dam of Aotea, Chinchilla, and Lerida), will be sent to Sydney next autumn. The other colt to go is a brown by Sou It—Our Lady (dam of Bronze). Four or five fillies will bo sent. The biggest of the lot is a brown filly by Soult. Alannah (Salvadan Cuirasetto). Another Soult is a bay filly from Keepsake (St. Leger—Bangle). These are the last of tho Soults, and will no doubt fetch good prices. Barring D.S.O. (half brother to Convoy), none of the progeny of Field Battery sold at Randwick have done much good. * The Hotcbkiss horse will be represented by a bay filly from imported Holyrood (Symington—Lady Dunboyne) and a chestnut filly from Grandeur (Gipsy Grand —St. Florent). At the last sales the progeny of Alannah and Grandeur realised ZSOOgs and 400 gs respectively. A filly from Moira Macree (Cyrenian—Cuirasette), half sister to Alannah, may also be sent. Several of the matrons on the place have foals by King Rufus, the first of that siro's stock. The most valuable foal on the estate is a black colt by imported Traquair (recently deceased) from imported Roscommon (Common —Rosimond?, by Hermit). There are several well-bied mares on the place, and both" the sires named will have a chance of making a name for themselves. The next batch of yearlings to go to Sydney will lie the fourth lot that Mr Currie has sent.

J. H. Prosser, with ten, and 11. Cuits, with oight willhave the biggest teams of horses at Trentham. Messrs S. Whitworth and T. Niison are expected back from Australia next week. The meeting of Prince Soult and Autumnus at the Wellington meeting, should it eventuate, is likelv to prove a big draw. Kohinoor, who has recently been competing successfully in the Southland district has accepted at Foxton, which meeting will be held on tho 20th and 22nd inst. He will be opposed by a smart filly by Royal Fusilier in Blue Lake, a winner at Wairarapa on Now Year's Day. Tho death of the gelding Prince Hassan (Saracen—The Waif) is announced from the Carterton district. Ho competed at Carterton on Boxing Day. R. Butterworth is now training the horses owned by Mr C J. Parker, of Gisborne. _ Mr C. B. Phai-azvn has been on a visit to Wellington, and returned to Sydney yesterday. His horses, Longner and Longstep, will be sent across in a couple of weeks' time. The names of Coromandel and Kanroa appear among the acceptances for both Foxton and Wellington meetings. Both meetings open on Saturday next. The final pavments for the Wellington Stakes include the names of Autumnus and Prince Soult. Sir George Clifford has also paid up for Winning Way. The withdrawal of both Mr Greenwood s representatives (Miss Mischief and Byron) from the Wellington Cup came as a surprise. The latter has boon favourite for the race since tho weights appeared. He has been left in the Telegraph Handicap. six furlongs. Midnight Sun ie now favourite for the Cup, for which Undecided and Gold Circle have been supported. Equitas,• Culprit, and Ireland have been supported for the short race in doubles. It is reported that the price paid for Bollin. recently purchased by a South Island sportsman, was 300 gs. Recently tho Riocarton Trainers' Association wrote to Mr A. E. Whyte. secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, to inquire as to the construction of the sand track at Trentham. as they intended to approach the Canterbury Jockey Club with a view to ascertaining whether the latter body would construct a similar gallop at Riocarton. Mr Whyte supplied the information asked for, but pointed out that on account of the difference between the rainfall at Trentham and that at Riocarton. tho same track might not be suitable in the south. He recommended different construction to suit tho conditions at Riccarton. The Trainers' Association subsequently thanked Mr Whyte for tho information supplied, and stated that it was intended to approach the Jockey Club for the purpose of having a winter gallop constructed on the lines suggested bv the Wellington secretary. T. O'Brien, the well-known horseman, who left some timo ago for Australia, i° reported to bo doing well there. A private letter states he has already ridden half a dozen winner,; there.