NGAWATI DIES ON BOAT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16338, 12 May 1927, Page 2

NGAWATI DIES ON BOAT

PROMISING CAREER ENDED The rasehorso. Ngawati, owned by Mr. D. J. Barry, of Gisforne, and a performer with a good record and better promise, died on .the boat between Napier and Gisborne, from a •cause as yet unascertained, • Mr. Barry received the news last night, and "all sportsmen will sympathise with him in what amounts to a serious loss. Ngawati was a chest nut gelding by Autumn —Blue Sea, and was foaled at Gisborne on Mr. D. ,'f. Barry property. He had made several fine performances, and though only three years old, had won a considerable number of good races. In his first year, 1923-20, he had nine starts, and was placed on six occasions, his first placed performance being a third in the Nursery Handicap at Avondale, followed by a double at the Poverty Bay Turf Club's meeting. Later ho won the Midsummer Handicap at the Auckland Racing Club's meeting, and returned to Gisborne for the G.R.C. gathering, where he ran a great race for second place to Vivo in the Juvenile Handicap, in which he conceded the winner a substantial margin of weight. His second racing year was the current season, in which he had been unplaced only a few times. Up to the Napier Park meeting he had contested 11 events, and had secured money in all but two, the big end of the stakes coming his way on five occasions. His wins this season included the Junction Handicap and the Juvenile Stakes at the P.B. Turf Club's meeting, the Stewards' Handicap at Wairoa, the Farewell Handicap uf the P.B.T.C. summer meeting, and the St. Patrick's Handicap at Napier Park. At the recent Huwke's Bay Jockey Club's meeting at Hastings Ngawati dead-heated with Decoy Bird, Mr. A, B. Williams' good handicap performer, in the Porangahau Handicap, at even weights, and made a good impression on those, wdio saw the performance. Everything pointed to a most useful career for the Autumn gelding, and his untimely decease will be regretted by all race-goers. In his first season Ngawati won £740, and at the time of his death he had added £772 10s to this tally.