TRENTHAM NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 23166, 6 April 1937, Page 10

TRENTHAM NEWS

SKILLED LABOUR SCARCE TRAINERS COMPLAIN (Special to The Times) WELLINGTON, April 4. Farmers are not the only section of the stock community who are crying out against the shortage of skilled labour, as Trentham trainers all agree. So great is the shortage of grooms and lads with some riding experience that the stable of H. Telford, whose stalls are usually full of yearlings after the sales, shelter only about 25 per cent, of their usual quota at this time of year. This year Telford had reluctantly to send all the Australian purchases he previously kept for several months direct'to their new owners for no other reason than that it was impossible to get boys capable of looking after them. The position is not improving, nor is the standard of horsemanship among the apprentices. Bonnie Rollox, the Australian-bred ’chaser purchased in Australia for T. R. George’s stable, was as “poor as a crow” when he first arrived, owing to his faring badly on the trip, but he is picking up quickly, and it will not be long before he is in racing condition again. His record over the country in Australia was nothing startling, and in his last race there he fell with only 9.11 on his back. He is a tall,. wiry customer, however, and looks as though he could stay for ever. Debham is to have a well-earned rest. His record since joining H. Telford’s stable is an imposing one, and he has been a wonderful money-spinner. There is no reason why Debham should not get a mile and a-quarter with continued j success, for his dam is the Martian mare Deborah, who is of the same maternal line as Left, the dam of Peter Jackson, Wotan, and Gaine Carrington. That arch deceiver Roaming has been galloping over anything matched against him in Trentham trials, and if he races in the same manner :.t Awapuni this week he is bound to get some money. Recently Boomerang was of no use to the Nightmarch gelding in a stirring trial over six furlongs, and Roaming looked as though he could have done even better. He is very fit. Too much notice should not be taken of his failures at the Wellington meeting, because he got into trouble there on the first day. Myriam’s trip to Riccarton worked a great deal of improvement in her condition, and this good-looking daughter of Lord Warden is one .of the likeliest early prospects from this centre. She got nine furlongs very well when finishing second to Sovereign Lady at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting and if she is as good as her condition she will win more than one race during the autumn and winter.

Now that the tracks are likely to become softer, Korero must be reckoned with. He ran second to Martara in the Autumn Handicap at Trentham in track conditions that were thought to be entirely against him, and ho has done well since then. He is booked for the Manawatu meeting, where he will be ridden by H. N. Wiggins. The veteran trainer J. W. Lowe leaves for Sydney on a month’s holiday on April 15. His horses, including Red Sun, Sunee, and Good Sun, will be kept in light work during his absence, and on his return Red Sun will undergo a special preparation for the Grand National Hurdles. Lowe has a very high opinion of Red Sun’s prospects of carrying weight with the best horses that will contest that event. NEW ZEALANDER HEADS LIST McCARTEN’S SUCCESS AT RANDWICK SYDNEY, April 5. The former New Zealand jockey, Maurice McCarten, during the recent big meetings at Sydney and Melbourne, has emphasized his ability and understanding in handling horses suited to varying types of running and his wins on Aurie’s Star in the Newmarket Handicap and on Ajax, Cereza and Royal Step in Sydney events were masterly exhibitions of riding mounts which favour leading throughout, while he also rode some fine races from behind. With six wins to his credit at the Randwick meeting McCarten headed the jockey’s list, while Munro and O’Sullivan with three wins each, were next. Cereza and Treasure Trove, after a spell in New South Wales, will be sent to New Zealand to commence a stud career next spring. SYDNEY BLOODSTOCK SALES SYDNEY, April 5. The bloodstock sales today included the following stallions: Sylvandale, bought by A. E. Thompson and Sons at 1900 guineas; Salmagundi bought by Wright. Stephenson and Co., Ltd., New Zealand, for 600 guineas. Roger De Busli (sire of Oro and Rogilla) realized only 50 guineas. The brood mare Financial, by Paper Money, realized 100 guineas. The racehorse Remittent sold for 60 guineas and Vista for 110 guineas. The racehorse Lady Leyland was bought by Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd. for 120 guineas. We Three was bought for 22) guineas, Irving for 375 guineas and Bombus for 475 guineas. Mananui was passed in at 600 guineas.