CAP & JACKET

Observer, Volume XXXVI, Issue 49, 12 August 1916, Page 14

CAP & JACKET

[By the Early Bird.]

On the first blush some of the races did not fill over well in the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting, but when the eight races average seventeen per race things panned out most satisfactorily.

The class of cattle engaged is much better than usual. Colonel Soult, Patetonga, Bluestone, Fisher, Lady Penury, Pindoon, and other good handicap horses, being entered, point to a successful gathering.

Thirty-four horses have been nominated in the Sylvia Park and twenty-six in the Auckland Welter Handicaps, and no less than eighteen in the Marsden Hurdle Race, some promising young hurdlers being among the number.

There will be plenty of scope for Mr Morse's talent to deal with the one hundred and thirty-six horses that have nominated in the eight events —some that will be, probably, unknown to him.

The acceptances are out for the C.J.C. National meeting, and are very satisfactory for the principal events, and the weights have been declared for the minor events.

The Auckland horses, Worcester 9.3, Trial Hurdles, and Tararua Jack, 9.7, Jumpers' Flat Handicap, have nothing to complain about. Kaiwhakahaere, 10.5, in the Hunters' Hurdle Race, has been very favourably treated. The latter gelding and Worcester may make the trip.

Auckland must hold a strong hand in the C.J.C. Grand National Hurdle Race with Master Regal, Te Onga, Tararua Jack, Marconi and Tenacious, which went away a well-conditioned quintette.

C. Coleman's introduction to Riccarton last week was after a heavy downfall of snow. Quite a novelty for Charles to work his horse with a white mantle covering the surface of the track.

Marconi landed at Riccarton in the very pink of condition—so Coleman writes the owner, Mr J. O. E. Jackson. To use Charlie's own words, " the Soult gelding is jumping out of his skin—a good sign."

Mr Joseph May, a very old-time Aucklander, passed away last week at his home at Mount Albert. Mr May has always been identified with horse-racing, and was a steward of the Avondale Jockey Club.

The many friends of Mr Tommy Cunningham will be sorry to hear that he is laid up at the present time in a private hospital with a broken leg through a runaway horse.

Mr Bob Gibbons, one of the old brigade, who had enlisted (the owner of several trotting horses) was passed as sound as a ball of brass, but an attack of rheumatics settled Mr Gibbons' chance at the finish. Quite a number of Mr Gibbons' employees are already at the front.

Maui Nina did not please his connections n his jumping essays over the battens, and the chestnut was not nominated in the jumping events at the P.H.C. fixture.

The ex-Auckland gelding, Home Rule, formerly raced by Mr Joe Molloy, won the Brush Steeplechase at the Aspendale Park R.C. meeting, Victoria, in which three of the other runners were killed.

Hopy* is receiving a sound preparation for the P.H.O. meeting, and has improved ever since his return from the unsuccessful Wellington trip on Saturday. The son of Campfire-Mere beat a companion round the sand in the fair time of 2.6 sees.

Mr George Tuck, the horse-owner, has taken a farm on the Northern Wairoa, Mr Tuck was in town last week, and is getting things into order with bis new venture.

A couple of J. Williamson's Hunt Club division, Duhallow and Okaihau, are being sent along usefully. Hautere, the old chaser in the same stable, seems to be in nice mellow condition.

On Saturday morning Captain Lock alone was sent over the big hurdles and acquitted himself well over the timber.

Royal Irish is ri.lding himself of the bulk of flesh he put on during the spell time. The Soult horse soon conies back.

The novice over the battens, Guiding Way, was popped over four of the pony hurdles on Saturday, taking kindly to the timber. The gelding then followed Worcester and Nildah over one of the big hurdles. The former pair continued over the remaining four, giving their best display over hurdles to date.

P. Conway's pair of Hunt Club candidates, in Fionnuala and Glendalough, are building up condition and should keep the opposition busy on Saturday week at Ellerslie with a fair handicap.

Lady Whitford is back again with W. A. Brown, quite recovered from her recent ailment. King of the Valley is in the same stable, Elysian Rose completing a useful trio.

Bert Oliver has returned to Ellerslie after being away for some time undergoing an operation which was quite successful. Oliver has taken in hand Goldmount, which is a likely runner at the P.H.C. fixture. He also has Blue Black jogging about the roads prior to going into active work.

Mr Sam Bradley's pair, Manukau and the chestnut Spalpeen, which has shown aptitude over the hurdles, were both worked usefully on Saturday mornirg.

On Friday First Call was submitted to auction, but failed to reach the reserve — £100—and went back to F. Stenning's stable. The son of Wairiki-Bonnie Doon is very well.

Next Saturday, August 12th, the Auckland racing season will be opened with the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting, and everything points to a successful gathering. It only rests with the weather to give this deserving Club a bumper house.

Mr P. Jones is moving on the '* flood tide " of erecting half-a-dozen new loose boxes. This popular trainer has no cause to regret leaving his old horne — Waikato—and settling in Ellerslie. We are all wondering what will be the next mission of the stable champion, El Gallo.

Unsurrender. by Signalman-Zamora, was knocked down to Mr Davis for a fiver at Messrs A. Buckland and Son's on Friday last. The pacer, by Harold Dillon, was put back, not reaching the reserve, twenty-two guineas being the bast offer.

Merrimax (Merriwee-Maxima) has cost his Auckland owner some good gold by his recent failures at the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race and again at the Australian Hurdle Race last week in Victoria, running unplaced at each meeting.

The little chestnut, Monojack, recently sold to a Turua sportsman, has been put into work again in Winder's stables at the Thames, and has been entered in the Auckland Welter Handicap at the P.H.C. gathering.

Trotting last week on the Alexandra Park tracks was a dead letter. The heavy rains practically closed them. Most of the owners and trainers are working their horses on the roads and hills. W. A. Scott is keeping Syrie and Miss Huon, junior, up to the collar, and may take the pair to the South. (Continued on Page 23.)