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Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1929, Page 5

West Wicklow was bred in Ireland, from whence, have come such famous horses as Trigo, Athford, Royal Minstrel and other big winners this season. No .wonder the Irish bloodstock sales are ; now patronised .by everybody on the lock-out for embryo champions. The majority of these big winners have all been exceptionally well befriended by Irish backers, and I believe it is a fact that the betting shops in the large towns there have suffered a series of hard knocks throughout the season. West Wicklow could have been sold to India more than once, but his Irish owner has now definitely decided to keep him. It is, I believe, the intention to put him to hurdling during the fast-approaching National Hunt* season. The horse has displayed some aptitude for timber-topping before this.

One unique competitor in the Cesarewitch was the American horse Mike Hall, who had arrived in- England only ten days before he was asked to race. His owner desired to show that an Atlantic crossing does not of necessity rob a horse of all form, and up to a point this view was proved, because Mike Hall finished nearer first than last. It was, indeed, a commendable effort, and before long I think -we shall see Mike Hall doing something better. -Like the famous Reigh Count, who came to England earlier in the year, he is to be ridden by the Royal jockey, J. Childs.