WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 48

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Fbou Our Own Correspondent.) January 18. was not accented for in the Telegraph Handicap on the opening day of the Wellington meeting. Ho was brought down, and will contest the Kolburn Plato, the halfmile wcight-for-age race, on the second day. Ho will have tho assistance of B. Deeley. 'Although ho ran second to Desert Gold in the Electrio Plate at Riccarton, he will probably find the best of the two-year-olds more than a match for him. Rain which fell at Trentham to-day will improve the going and take the sting out 'of the ground. Nobleman has been favourite for the Cup since ho won at Manawatu before tho weights appeared. He accounted for Multiply and Alteration in a gallop yesterday. Nobleman will have tho services of Harold Young, a great rider in long-distance events, and for a five-year-old with 7.9 does not want to be a good one to win. The only thing that may beat him 13 the going. lie was taken to three or four meetings at tho beginning of the season, but was not started, owing to the going being bad. Ho has only been beaten this season by Devotion. She ia, in great fettle, and may again boat him. Tho writer frequently hears complaints from trainers about tho rough treatment their charges receive travelling from and to meetings. Galoro, a member of T. Pritchard's Opaki team, ree-eived some injuries during shunting operations on the jouuncy, and will not be able to start at tho meeting in consequcnoo.

Long Range accompanied his stable mates that raced at Auckland to Trentham, and was worked there. It was not intended to race him here, and ho was shipped south yesterday. T. F. Quinlivan, the well-known Hawke's Bay trainer, will not bo present at the Wellington meeting. He is busy at Hastings, making preparations for his long-deferred trip to .Sydney, where he will act as private trainer for Mr E. J. Watt. Two of his sons (Ken and Alf) arc here with horses.

The surprise of the Wellington Cup acceptances was the inclusion of Chortle's namo ■in the list. When he came to Trentham he showed signs of soreness, and one of his forelegs, which had been pricked at Ellerslie, did not look too well on it. He came down in charge of Sid Pveid, who rides him in his races, and said ho was an unlikely starter at the meeting. He has been worked since, and has improved, and it is said his connections like his prospects. He has certainly been let down a few pounds in the weights. A. Goodman brought back from the West Coast a mare named Lady Phyllis. She is a full sister to the Auckland performer, Rebel, and is intended for the Blenheim and Nelson meetings. Speedwell Mac, who paid over half a century when he won the Hurdles at iStratford, has not accepted at Foxton. His nextappearance will be at Takapuna. After racing at Trentham to-day The Golfer will go through to Foxton for the Hurdles on Tuesday next. They are not a good 16t at Foxton, and The Golfer,', who has been galloping well at Trentham, might win there. t Your correspondent had a yarn with R. J. Mason, Mr G. D. Greenwood's trainer, on his arrival from south. Mr Mason stated that he was awaiting the appearance of the handicaps for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, in which Biplane had been engaged, but ho considered the Oomedv King colt was unlikely to visit Australia this autumn. He also informed me that Biplane occupied the same stone box at Flemington that Lurline filled when the well-known trainer paid a visit to A r ictoria 43 years ago. Subterfuge and Belair, trained at Riccarton by J. M'Combe. were accepted for on the opening day at Trentham. Word came from trie south that one of them had been hurt, and the proposed trip has been cancelled.

Rose Pink returned from the West Coast early in the week. She and her stable mates —Arihia and Pall Mall—are under orders for Foxton, where they are engaged on Tuesday next.

A big contingent of South Island horses are engaged at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on Monday next. The Gold Cup candidates—Red Heather, Sympathy, Albert Wallace, and Reggio Huon —arrived this morning. Other southern competitors to put ’in an appearance are Zone, Otarama, Puwhenua, Waiwera, Reta Peter, De Why, and Vermilion. Trials, who won at Manawatu and Hgwke’s Bay, is considered a cut above his opponents engaged in the Foxton Oup. Waimatao may bo outclassed in the company he is pitted against in the Telegraph Handioap at Trentham; but his owner has an excellent chance of picking up a stake at Foxton, where the opposition does not appear strong. —Turangapito has been accepted for in two events at Foxton. Ho is a cut above the ordinary hack, and should win whichever race ho is started in. Bradamante and Kiltess arrived back from the West Coast this morning, and were railed through to Foxton. Bradamante has incurred 101 b penalty in both events in which she has been engaged at the West Coast meeting.