RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 7

RACING

(Continued) losFthree in A SEASON

HASTING’S TRAINER HAS BAD RUN OF ILL-LUCK

To lose the services of three excellent jumpers in the 12 months ,s the unfortunate experience of the Hastings trainer, Vern. Collelo. In this respect this mentor is ner haps not so badly off as the Awapuni trainer, L. Knapp, who in three months lost Ardath. Puwhero, Cracker Day and Lady Comet. This is about the hundred per cent, of bad luck. Ardath was one of the fatalities at Wanganui a couple of months ago, and Lady Comet injured herself so severely that she has yet to appear on the scene again. The remaining two may not race again. LAST AT ELLERSLIE It was in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase recently that Fireblight fell and injured herself so seriously that it was deemed necessary to requisition the friendly bullet. She had been a good performer in her day across country, a sound chaser possessed with not too much pace. Among her best performances was

a second in the Grand National Steeplechase of two years ago. Prior to contesting the Hastings event Firelight ran in the Great Northern Steeplechase, but could not foot it with the others, and at the second to last fence she was pulled up Avhen hopelessly out of it. Only a short time before this Good Sport broke down badly, and it is extremely unlikely that he will race again. UNLUCKY LANDBIRD Fourteen months ago Landbird, sold cheaply by trainer J. H. Jefferd, who prepares Mr. A. B. Williams’s team, after winning some good hurdle races was tried over country, and his first race was in the Wanganui Steeplechase. How he succeeded in this, his tirst attempt, is now* history. Last 'car Landbird then came on to Ellerslie, and here he created a mild surprise by scoring in the Great Northern Hurdles. So far the plan of mixing the two jumping games was successful, but disaster was to follow, probably through no fault of anyone connected with the gelding. TRODDEN ON Subsequently Vern. Collelo took Air. McFarlane’s representative to Riccarton for the purpose of contesting the big cross country events there, after being permitted to run in the Grand National Hurdles, won so easily by Comical. Landbird was unplaced in that event, and his second appearance at the fixture was in the Lincoln Steeplechase. This was the last seen of Landbird on a racecourse. He was reported to be going very well at the time of the

a °cident, as a result of which he broke bis back and was destroyed. He fell a t one obstacle, and another horse landed on top of him, with disastrous results. So ended a career that was full °f promise. SPELL BROKEN It was hard to lose a horse in that banner, but in the autumn, when Bennanee won three races off the reel, it rf *ally appeared as if Collelo’s luck had changed for the better, but it was actually the calm before the storm. When he brought Fireblight to Ellerslie last m °nth he expressed the hope that the a Sed mare would collect another race before her racing career terminated, but "’as not to be. The Hastings trainer was an ardent ■'ipporter of Hawke’s Bav when it came Jo the Ranfurly Shield, and to lose that trophy would be in the nature of adding to 'the run of ill-luck. Good ‘ Port last year was credited with being a very promising performer over the stl <iks. but he not have much chance 0 show what he could do he : I;i d to be thrown out of training. Now seems that he has gone for good. The palm for bad luck for the racing • just closing must undoubtedly be I; mded to trainers L. Knapp and V. ’ °Helo. May they soon find that it has 0 be a long road that has no turning. meetings to come •[illy 12, 14, Is —Wellington R-C. w’ 21—Watmate Hunt Club. •jiby 23—Canterbury Hunt Club. Ja y 28. 30—Olsborne R.C. „ _ .u.y 30—Christchurch Hunt Club. 1927-28 Season August 6.—Poverty Bav Hunt Club. August 9, 11, 13.— Canterbury J.C. August 20 Pakuranga Hunt Club. September 3.—North Taranaki H.C. “ÜBtember 7. B.—Marton J.C. September 10.—Otago Hunt Club, September 24. 26.—Napier Park R.C. September 24. 26.—Avondale J.C. “Ptember 29. 30.—Geraldine R.C. £t°ber I.—Hawke's Bay J.C. uc t°ber s.— Manawatu Hunt Club.