TOUTING THE TRAINING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 49, 3 April 1914, Page 2

TOUTING THE TRAINING.

EARLY WORK AT RICCARTON. LEADING TRAINEES' TEAMS. iSeen under the drab light of an early uioming sky, Riccarton does not look nearly so attractive as it does in all the bustle and glamour of a race-day. In the first instance it is associated with •work—hard work, too, for some of the "workers —while in the second, pleasure is the dominant note. The difference can well be" compared to that between an undress rehearsal, and-a first night at the opera. Those who would see the famed convincing ground in its utility '"Condition will need to be early risers,> for even at this time of year work commences at about half past five, while .prior to the New Zealand Cup meeting the gates are thrown open even earlier. Just why such early habits are essential in training the thoroughbred is not quite patent to the lay mind, but the fact remains that they are very general, especially with the older horsfes/ No- doubt, the first workers get the best of the track to work oil, especially when the galloping is done on the plough. Tlieji ,again when a trajner has a lengthy team and _ not many jockeys, an'early start is necessary to get-done in reasonable time. RACEGOERS AND TRAINING. . So far very little interest has been 'shown by the general public in training | operations for the forthcoming Autumn meeting.' In their wisdom they are more inclined to stay in bed, and gain their information from the" detailed reports given.■■■by experienced traek watchers in the papers. To see a couple of horses ridden by coatless boys galloping in" a cloud of-"dust on a ploughed tntck conveys little information to-anyone except the experts, and even they have to take quite a Jot on trust. ; . For ; instance, no idea can be f;ained of the weights carried, nor can he *, trailer's - "instructions" be fathomed; He might want to see both horses tried right out, or he may only ■wish to see one thoroughly extended. Again some ihorsqs are free workers in their training, while others will not do their best unless they can hear the rustle of silk. All of which goes to prove that touting the training is not a short cut to fortune, though it is surprising how closely it is followed by newspaper readers. • MODERN METHODS. . So far ve?y few visiting horses have ..pat in an aippfealrknce at Riccarton. In tlese* with so many race meetings in .progress, ti'ainers; are loth to-leave their own particular quarters. Even for a New Zealand Cup meeting the same state*of things prevails, indeed the last . Cap was won by a mare that only arrived at Riccarton the day before the 'Years, ago; the opposite custom prevailed. Then for at least a fortnight before each meeting at Eiccarton the tracks presented a very animated scene, and training operations were much more entertaining and instructive thafi is now the case. Trainers were 'more enterprising in letting their charges measure strides before the race, And., occasionally some v.ery useful information could be gleaned by track watchers. . This has now changed to such an extent that it is a rather rare occurrence to see horses other than stable mates galloping with one another. All of which goes to make a morning at Riccarton dull in comparison to what used to be the ease. Nor is .there much prospect of improvement between now and the Autumn meeting, for the majority of the northern teams will nof'put in an appearance till next week. ■AYNSLEY THE RECORD BREAKER. If there is one local trainer more than another who has helped to liven up proceedings during the past few days it is Geo. Aynsley with Warstep, Stardaneer, and Marsa, each of whom has been responsible for some really good galloping. The team of the veteran E. Cutts, more especially Autumnus and Masterpiece, has also got through a lot of attractive work, and like Aynsley, the Chokebore mentor does not believe in keeping his charges in cotton wool. BREAKFAST TIME. About seven o'clock there is a .gradual disappearance of the horses that have worked, for it is "breakfast time." Each hungry thoroughbred, in charge of a diminutive pilot,; wends his "way to an adjacent stable/ and there eats his iill of Canterbury oats than which there are no better for the purpose in the 'World. Then for an hour the tracks are again given over to solitude, till the monotony is broken by the first of the after breakfast brigade. These are mostly two-year-olds, who occasionally liven up proceedings by galloping a few furlongs in divisions from ; a barrier start. Their tasks completed, ■ the course is giv6n over to a lit>st of well rugged equine figures, and light : hearted attendants who evidently find early rising no bar to. mirth. Round and round the smaller circuits the thoroughbreds stride, or else stroll about some of the grassy, lanes with which Riccarton is so liberally provide'!. TRAINEES' TEAMS. The various Riccarton trainers' lots in strong work are:— E. CUTTS. Masterpiece, Autumnus, Snapdragon, Wise Bird, Don Francisco, Bold Stroke, Court Martial, Stevedore, Wharfinger, Quarantine, •Taskmaster, and Glenfinnan. M. HOBBS. Rinaldo, Peg, Scotch . Melody, ViceAdmiral, Messina, Vanna, Charmilla, Honesty, Angelina, Corrie, and Cincinnatus. R. J. MASON. Emperador, Cherubini, Historietle, Valhalla, Canute, Fastradi, Rencontre, Bimeter, and Camillas. H. THOMSON. Flora Macdonald, Carolus, Martial, Cortes, St. Helen, Miss Kolmar, Martinous, and Bonny Knight. F. CHRISTMAS. The Cornet. Slogan, Vanquish, and Kilmray. E. SCOULLAR. Glenowl, Sir Hamilton, Cosy Corner, and Yancouver,