Racing and Trotting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18827, 3 August 1929, Page 10

Racing and Trotting.

(BY

“ARGUS.”

RACING NOTES. There was very little of interest in the track work at Riccarton this morning. With a large number of visiting horses on the scene, claiming no engagements at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, it was expected that there would be a lot of galloping. A sharp frost overnight made the tracks very hard, and as the early closing of the gates did not permit the trainers to wait for the ground to thaw they had to revise their plans- A few horses worked on the number seven grass track, but it was too hard early to please most of the trainers, who content ed themselves with useful pace work on the sand. * F. Shaw has arri\ T ed at Riccarton for Wingatui with Brightling, who may be raced over hurdles at the Grand National meeting. * * * * Royal Game and Painting have arrived from the north, with H. Pritchard in charge. * * * c The South Canterbury hunters, C!a~enson and Whiffier, put in an appearance last night. * ijj * When the Wingatui trainer. F. Shaw, came to Riccarton he brought with him for education his two-year-old Banderilla, a bay gelding by imported Last Dart from Suez, by Solferino from Panama, by Vasco from the Stepniak mare Elysium. The youngster is one of the first of the progeny of Last Dart and he is a promising sort. * * JjC * Wiltshire has come in for favourable notice since his arrival at Riccarton He bears a seasoned appearance, and he is going to enter largely into Grand National discussions. Se * * *fr Mangani is regarded in the north as a horse with excellent prospects in the Grand National Hurdles, which will be his first outing on the trip to Riccarton. He has not had a race since the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie tn June, in which he looked a likely winner tin he fell at the second last fence He has been kept to easy task 3 since he arrived here. Historic is credited with working well Trentham, and he is expected to show up prominently in his races at Riccarton. * sis ** Tcheka has done some good work lately on the Trentham tracks He is Considered a possibility for a race at £r and a *i°nal meeting, though t ie Winter Cup is likelv to be beyond 7 m.

Matu is progressing well in his preparation at Trentham. But for unsoundness he might have taken high honours over country. It is not intended to school him prior to the Grand National Steeplechase. He is a good jumper, but lack of practice may tell a tale at the end of the race. * »> as Black Mint is to be tried out as a hurdler, and he is shaping well in his education at Trentham. Lady Limond is stated to be getting through fair work at Foxton, and if she goes on the right wajr she will be a runner in the Winter Cup. When at her best she can run a good mile, not only being a good beginner, but brilliant enough to hold her place with most horses at any part of a handicap, and she stays on well. s* * sjc Hynanna is now a regular attendant on the Trentham tracks. So far he has been kept to pottering about. The Hymestra gelding looks very well, and has freshened up in fine style. * * ifc * C. Gieseler, who has made his home at Wingatui for about twenty years, headed the list of winning trainers in the Dominion last season, with thirtyseven wins, while the Riccarton mentor. F. P. Claridge. filled second place with twenty-eight. It is a coincidence that these two were associated, about thirty-five years ago, with the Lagmhor hounds, at Ashburton, Claridge being the huntsman and Gieseler the whip. It is no new experience for Gieseler to head the winning trainers' list a« he has been in that position three times in the last four, years.- He was seventh in 1924-25 with eighteen winners, first in 1925-26 with thirty-one, first in 1926-27 with thirty, third in 1927-28 with twenty-nine and first last season with thirty-seven, or a total of 150 winners in five seasons. He is well known cn all the South Island courses from Riccarton to Southland, this being his usual touring ground, but be has made more than one visit to Trentham, with satisfactory results. Most of his successes last season were scored in minor events, as he had no horse of good class in his stable, such as Set. Sail, who won him some important races during the preceding season. That Gieseler is a very capable trainer bis record proves and as he commands a good circle of patrons, he should be prominent again during the n3xt twelve months.

The Awapuni trainer, J. P. Coyle, is among the arrivals at Riccarton, with Mister Gamp and Novar, both of whom are in great heart for their engagements at the Grand National meeting. It is not often that a trainer has two hurdlers Of the class of this pair in his stable at the same time. Mister Gamp has been the star performer of the winter campaign, his wins in the Century Hurdles and Great Northern Hurdles being followed by two seconds at Trentham, beaten by Overhaul on each occasion. Overhaul has had a substantial rise in weight and he will find Mister Gamp much harder to beat at Riccarton, where the Otago horse meets his northern rival at a stone worse than in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham. These two can act in heavy ground and both of them can stay, two important qualifications. Under the circumstances, it is no matter for surprise that they’ are the prime fancies for the Grand National Hurdles. While Mister Gamp has done so well this winter, however, it is on the cards that his stable mate, Novar, will have to be seriously’ reckoned with. He was a good performer on the flat, with a Manawatu Cup among his successes. Since he started his career as a jumper he has done well, winding up with a win in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, less than two months ago. He is not partial to heavy going, but with favourable conditions the Riccarton course should be all right for the Grand National Hurdles, in which Novar should have good prospects.

Uralla has arrived at Riccarton and as the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase she has attracted considerable attention. Though not impressive in appearance, she has her good performance at Ellerslie to recommend her as a likely' candidate for Grand National honours. This is her first visit to Riccarton, where the country takes more jumping than Ellerslie. A good deal of interest will centre round her schooling. As it is probable she will be tried out over a course before race day, a good display will make friends for her. Only’ one mare has won the Grand National Steeplechase, twenty years having elapsed since Nadador was successful, but not many of them have essayed the task. It is something in Uralla’s favour that she is a proved stayer.

Glendowie has been a much-discussed candidate for the Grand National Steeplechase for some time past. He failed in each of his starts at the Auckland meeting in June, but his admirers looked for something better at Trentham, especially after he had given a brilliant exhibition of jumping in a schooling effort on the eve of the meeting. In both his races, however, he ran badly. In face of these failures it did not look worth while continuing the trip, but he was shipped south at the c.onclusion of the Wellington meeting. On his arrival here he went into W. j. Tomkinson’s trotting stable at Addington, while his own trainer, A. Rhodes, paid a visit to some of his relations before coming here. It was understood that the horse would be removed to Riccarton about a week later, but the shift has not been made yet. This change of plans was necessitated by his trainer’s bad luck, as Rhodes has been unable to give the horse much personal attention, having been on the sick 1 list since he arrived here. Glendowie was far from being at his best when he raced at Trentham, where it was apparent that he would require to improve a lot to have a chance in the Grand National. It seems extremely unlikely that he has made the necessary improvement and at present _he looks a very doubtful proposition. He was a good horse when he won the Great Northern last year, but he has not struck that form this winter. It need occasion no surprise if he is missing from the Grand National field. * * & * When Royal Saxon was brought to Riccarton a year ago he ranked just above useful hack form. He started off by winning the Brabazon Handicap, in which he carried the minimum weight, while he had only 51b above the minimum when he captured the Selwyn Handicap, the concluding event of the Grand National 'meeting. Since then he __ has made steady improvement, while he has a number of wins to his credit. He was not nominated for the hunt meeting this year, but G. Fielding brought him to Riccarton early’ to get some, good galloping ground. He is. in capital condition and though he will have much heavier weights to carry than was the case last year, he is likely to play a prominent part in some of the fiat events at the Grand National meeting. sir Sic Mr G. Paul’s two horses, Aussie and Papatu, are due to open their Australian campaign to-day, when they will be racing at Warwick Farm. Aussie has. 9.13 in a six furlong handicap, in which he is expected to run well. He will be ridden by one of Australia’s best jockeys, J. Pike. Apparently the Auckland owner-trainer is enamoured with the prospects of the Australian trip, as it is understood that Awarere may be sent to Sydney to join his two stable mates. * * * m The. first trainer to move to Wanganui with his team is W. D. Moroney. He has Vertigern and three two-y’ear-olds. The Caravel—Mar tuk gelding Kalmuk is said to be attractive, and the 1600-guinea youngster Appledore, by RossendaJe from Demeter, is said to be as good-looking as his price suggests. The Chief Ruler—Roseiiate gelding purchased at the Trentham sales completes the trio.

Those people who have stepped in early and backed Seatown and to a lesser degree Nightmarch for the big spring events in Australia did not receive a great deal of encouragement from interviews given by Mr J. Fredric, owner of Seatown, and A. M’Aulay. trainer of Nightmarch, on their arrival in Sj’dney. Mr Fredric said: “Myself and my wife are here for a holiday, and whether Seatown runs in the Metropolitan or the Caulfield Cup depends entirely on his showing in the King’s Cup If he does not shape well in the latter race, I shall possibly send him home, but naturally lam hopeful that he will come through that engagement with fl3’ing colours and then prove his worth in the bigger spring handicaps.” " Personally. I did not want to bring Nightmarch to Sydney,” said M’Aulay, ” but his owner, Mr Louisson. had arranged to come here for a holiday, and he wished to see how the colt would shape in Australia. I intend nominating him for the weight-for-age races, but whether he will be sent after any of the big handicaps is doubtful at present. It all depends on how he shapes in his early engagements.” M’Aulay also added that Nightmarch will possibly be entered for the New Zealand Cup. to be run in November Many of the Dominion’s best horses may be in Melbourne about that time, and races at home might be easy to win.

As an owner, Mr C. W. L. Murchison, ex-stipendiary steward to the Australian Jockey Club, and also in New Zealand, must be regarded as most unfortunate. For five or six years he has been paying high prices for horses, and supporting 6ome of them as if there were no settling days- On occasions his wagers have been successful, but not often, and, as he has yet to secure a high-class horse, his \’entures on the turf must have cost him what to many men would be a. fortune. That his luck has not changed is the only inference from the racing at Canterbury Park. On the Thursday before that meeting, he sold to Mr B. Jolley the Air Balloon gelding Autumn Balloon, for whom he paid Mr J. Brown 600 gs, and two days later the horse registered an easy win in the first decision of the Maiden Welter. “ Thank heavens, I backed him,” was Mr Murchison’s philosophic remark.

Trigo was not sent to Ireland for the Irish Derby after all, the race being won by Kopi, who fell at Epsom, from the White Eagle colt Star Eagle, Cragadour and six others. The three-year-olds in England are now being rated as second class apart from the speed specialist Mr Jinks. Trigo does not find favour, despite his Epsom win, and Kopi, after his effort in Ireland, has increased in favour, but unfortunately he is not in the St Leger. Hunter’s Moon and Walter Gay are both expected to do better at Doncaster, but with regard to Walter Gay there is a doubt about his soundness, for he was relieved of his Ascot engagements when his prospects look bright. Augur, in “Sporting Life,” writes of Trigo and Kopi:—His (Kopi ? s) fil-luck in the Epsbm Derby has been emphasised by his Irish exploit. He won a well run race in a manner such as will have strengthened the opinion that, but for his mishap, he would have beaten Trigo at Epsom.

Lord Hamilton of Dalziel, speaking at Glasgow recently on behalf of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, claimed that the totalisator had had a highly gratifying reception in England. The turnover for four days at Newmarket and three at Carlistle was £67,300. There could be no doubt that the totalisator had taken on with the casual punter, particularly because it allowed for betting for a place only. Moreover, .the clear competition of the totalisator had an indirect effect on the betting market. He could not remember outsiders winning at such generous odds as 33 to 1 in a selling race, with seven runners, or 100 to 1 in a field of five, with bookmakers, yet these prices were paid at Newmarket. But the Control Board did not desire to.injure the bookmakers. An Australian writer adds:—The Betting Control Board is easily pleased. If it is gratified with a turnover of £67,300 in seven days, what would it say if it had the Randwick experience of between £250,000 and £300,000 totalisator investments for a four days’ meeting? Rosehill will do. its £IB,OOO a day, while Moorefield and Canterbury Park get well over £IO,OOO in an ordinary, afternoon. Paris is, however, the home of the totalisator. Recently at Longchamps three and a quarter million tickets were issued in one day, representing about £150,000.

TROTTING NOTES. The race track at Addington was open for training this morning, but the horses were not allowed to work near the rails. The track was in first-class order. <? * * * Nourmahal, who has not been working in her best form of late, did about a mile and a half, finishing fast over the last quarter. She trotted in improved form. * * Sfr Native Prince went away about three lengths in front of Vesuvius in a workout over a mile and a'half. Vesuvius caught the Aucklander in the back stretch the first time, and the pair were together till half a mile from home, when Vesuvius made a slight mistake and dropped back. He got going again quickly, and caught up to Native Prince rounding the turn into the straight. The pair came home fast, and finished together. It was a capital piece of work.

Logan Chief, Jolly Pet, Bonny Logan and. St Maura did a mile and a half. The first mile and a quarter was done at a useful pace, but the quartette turned on full speed once the straight was reached, and finished close together, all going very well.

Audo Bell was given useful work over a little further than a mile and a half, but the trotter was not seen at his best in the effort.

* 4* * * Glideaway started about three lengths in front of Young Blake, with Logan Park six lengths further back The leader commenced at the bottom of the straight.. The trio soon got together, and when two rounds had been covered they sprinted home. Glideaway maintaining her lead to the finish. The two pacers were not thoroughly extended, but Younj* Blake was at top in the concluding stages, and trotted really well.

Maiwhaxit: went nearly tw’O miles at a solid speed, pacing throughout without any mistakes.

Nelson M 7 Cor mack, ridden by J. Walsh, went a mile and a half. After doing one round, he was joined by Carmel. Carmel went on for another round by himself, but neither pacer was extended.

Linkman did strong work without the hopples, but he is not. an attractive worker by himself, nor does he pace solidly without hopples.

Kiowa, who is looking very well, was given useful work over a little further than a mile and a half.

Of the horses engaged in the Trial Handicap on the opening day of the Addington meeting no fewer than six did their earlier racing on Southland tracks,. They are Fair Wave, Sunny Bob, Sunshower, Morning Sun, Hector s

Own, and Wilma Dillon, and they are all more than useful.

A Dunedin report states that the weather has not allowed Lee Todd to get on the track very often of late and he requires a fast' work-out to put racing polish on him. The Dunedinowned trotter has, however, been doing plenty of road work, and J. M’Kewen will probably have him at his best at the time that the Metropolitan meeting happens along. * *

The Dunedin trainer F. Farquharson is putting a two-ycar-old filly by Nelson Bingen from Huegood through her early facings. The 3’oungster will be Mr A. 11. Brown’s candidate for the Sires’ Produce Stakes. Farquharson has not figured prominently as a trainer of winners, but he certainly understands the handling of young ones.

The Auckland trainer E. Sandal! has Margaret Wallace in work again in view of spring racing. The mare has shown speed jn her training, but so farhas not earned any money.

According to reports from Auckland, G. Phipps is again a busy man at Epsom, where he has Haerenga Pai and the maiden b>* Key de Oro—Bequest in work again. The pair have been spelling lately.

Peter Etawah, the fuli brother to Peterwah, is still winning races in the United States, and the latest files to hand give particulars of his racing at matinee meetings. He won the special Free-for-all Trot in two straight heats in 2min 14£sec and 2min 12sec. He will probably do much faster time when raced on the Grand Circuit.

# * * * Pola M’Elwyn, two 3’ears, by Mr M’Elwyn, trotted a mile in 2min Bsec at the breeders’ meeting at Lexington on June 11 (states the correspondent of the “American Horseman and Fair World”). Two other two-year-olds in the Ben White stable beat that, Hoyle trotting in 2min 63sec, and Main M’Elwyn in .2min 7isec. Jessamine went the mile in 2min lOsec fiat. This is the most • sensational display of two-3'ear-old trotting speed ever witnessed on a race track at this time of the 3' ear.

As a result of an inquiry held by the stewards of the Hobart Trotting Club into charges laid against S. G. Schofield, Ivo Schofield (his brother) and rider of the mare Yo!a F in the Hobart Plate, and J. Fenner (trainer of the mare), for being concerned in the use of an electric battery on Yola F at the meeting held at Ascot in J une, disqualification for five years has been imposed on the offenders, ail of whom have lodged appeals against the deci-

Headway is being made with the erection of the new commodious grandstand at Harold Park (says the Sydney “Referee”), and, although the whole of the improvements are not expected to be complete before the end of the year, it is anticipated that sufficient progress will have been made to accommodate the public in the new stand at the Thousand meeting billed for October 8. A meeting of the New South Wales Trotting Club was to go into various espects of the further improvements to the track and grounds which will be

carried cut. A matter in which drivers will be interested is the widening and regrading of the track, and it is proposed to alter the turn out of the straight, to make it easier for horses to get round without materially reducing speed.

If the contention of New Zealand owners is the correct one—that is that the trades in Sydney are two seconds to the mile slower than those in the Dominion—then Auto Machine, in winning the Eppifig Handicap a fortnight ago in 4.31 1-5 was responsible for a brilliant performance (says “Orion”). New Zealanders will remember Auto Machine being brought across to race here three years ago by Mr J. B. Sheehan. who also brought oyer Flying Machine, but, on arriving in the Dominion the name of Flying Machine was. changed to Machine Gun. Both horses won races, Auto Machine winning in 4.34 2-5, while he was also placed in 4.29. Machine Gun won two races, after which he was sold to the Auckland sportsman Mr George M’Millan, who last season secured £2456 in stakes with the son of Machine Brick, but has since sold the gelding. But, although Auto Machine had gone 4.29 to a place, he was not handicapped on that performance on his return to Australia, and, as he had only gone 4.34 2-5 winning, he was placed on a 4.35 mark. This was - his handicap when he registered 4.31 1-5 a fortnight ago. He is the sire of the three-year-old Speed Machine, a colt of whom big things are expected in Sydney.

NOTES FROM AUCKLAND. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, August 3 That good-looking gelding Automne is bowling along very freely in his work at Eiler.slie, and P. Conway intends to give him a race in the Dunedin Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting. He will also compete in hurdle races at the Avondale meeting in- September. Automne gave several promising schooling displays over hurdles just prior to the Great Northern meeting, and his trainer expects him to do well in hurdle events later on. R. Lewis has Clockwork looking bright and healthy, and the horse appears to have thrown oit the soreness that came against him a few weeks ago. put up several good performances over hurdles during the sea- | son just ended, and, as he is still as ‘sound as ever, there should be further I opportunities for him in the future. 'Clockwork’s owner intends to try his luck in Australia, and has made arrangements to ship the Brighton Hurdles winner to Sydney by the Ulimaroa, which is due to leave Auckland on Friday night. Charitaine IT. Chaplin) was given a trial over the pony hurdles at headquarters yesterday morning, and gave a safe display. Salamander has been recommissioned again, and the chestnut gelding looks bright and healthy to undergo a further preparation. Tasty, the Lord Quex —Blended filly, who was shipped to Sydney in company with Paganelli, figures in the nominations /«*>r the Maiden Handicap, to

be run at the Warwick Farm meeting to-day. The Surveyor mare Theodolite has been put into work again at Ellerslie by her owner, A. Kemp. She has done well during the winter, and will be got ready to race at the Avondale meeting in September. A two-year-old half-sis-ter to Town Guard and Eager Rose, by General Lat.our from Wee Rose, is reported to be a likely-looking sort. This filly, who t? located in the Te Awamutu district, will not be raced for some time. The Romeo—Lady Kerman filly, Dusky Maid, has been showing promise on the few occasions that she has been sprinted on the two-year-old track at headquarters. She is making good progress, considering the short time she has been in work.

W. Hawkins put in an appearance at Ellerslie on Thursday morning with his team, which consists of Karamu, Gay Cockade and Master Clements. Gay Cockade has wintered well, having built up nice arid solid since he last appeared in public.

Standfast is doing first-rate, and getting through plenty of serviceable work under N. Cunningham’s care at headquarters. The son of Valkyrian showed good form during the late autumn, and he gives promise of being an improved galloper during the new season. That promising galloper, Town Guard, who was injured through being cast in his box some time ago, is still suffering from the effects of the accident, and will never race again. He has practically lost the use of one of his legs, and his owner may eventually have to destroy him.

Eager Rose, who got cut about as the result of being galloped on during the running of the Cornwall Handicap at the Great Northern .meeting, is spelling in the Te Awamutu district. The Day Comet mare has made a good recovery, and her owner expects to have her in work again before the end of this month.

F. Gilchrist is beginning to send Hampton Park along a bit faster in his work, and the Australian-bred juvenile is shaping in promising form. He is hardly as well grown as some of the other two-year-olds at Ellerslie. Still, he is not lacking as far as quality is concerned, while his breeding suggests that he is likely to make good when his time comes to race. At Te Aroha. E. A. Keesing has now resumed track work riding, in which department he is of considerable assistance to trainers, more especially with the two-year-old division. A greatly improved hunter of late is Gay Comet. He is jumping really well, while his. condition is very solid. It is the owner’s intention to race him at the Waikato Hunt Club meeting on Labour Day. Some of the more forward of the locally trained horses, are to be nominated for the Pakuranga meeting. As training operations have been continu ous throughout the winter, with the exception of one stormy day in June, those that enter the actual contests on August 24 should run prominentiy. Marble King is just about a 1 the top of his form just now, and is striding along in fine style. If properly placed at the Pakuranga meeting, he should give his backers a good run for their money. At the Waikato Hunt Club meet on Wednesday, among those that jumped proficiently were Star of the East, Gay Comet, Archeen, Every Day and Glen Maire. Bert Hinkler, by Quin Abbey, has now settled quietly down to track work, and is more likely to do well in his races than previously. When he first made his appearance here, he appeared to be very highly strung, so much r.o that it. required a very capable horseman to manage him successfully*. C. .VI a Howes has exercised great, patience, and may be recompensed for this virtue in due course. The two-war-old King Lu representative. King Win, is furnishing admirably,; so much so that just now he does not! look his height on the tracks.- He behaves like one of mature age. Hine's other twoyear-olds, Balfour and Art Gallery, are showing pace, and will be racing before long. Queen Arch is in excellent trim, and

should race well this season, as for consistency she is hard to beat. G. A. Reid’s stable will be represented at early spring meetings, as Trig, Glen Star. Archeen and Crown Arch are getting through nice preparations. Wee Prince and King Lap may not be forward enough to show their best form until later in the season. J. H. Wallace has leased the Archiestown gelding Sir Russell to Mr G. Tutt.

On Thursday morning, the plough and grass gallops were in '-atisfactory order. Steady work was indulged in by Black Maire and the Glen Albyn filly The Lamb. HORSES FOR AUSTRALIA. (Special to the “Star/') WELLINGTON. August 2. J. Fryer left to-day by the Marama for Sydney with Bright Glow and the Tonbridge—Lady Egletine two-year-old filly. Bright Glow has done particularly well. The youngster is engaged in the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick, and is . Fryer’s own property. The horses are due back in time for the Wellington spring meeting. Fryer stated that it was quite possible that Mendip would be sent over to him by a later steamer. WAIRARAPA NOTES. ’(Special to the ''Star.' 1 ) MASTERTON. August 2. The Masterton Racing Club will give up to £SOOO in stakes, for the 1929-30 racing season. The reason for such a large provision for stakes is to allow for an additional day’s racing should a permit be obtained.

The Wairarapa Racing Club has had a very successful year, and has come out well on the right side of the ledger. The club intends to carry out further improvements to the course, and it is quite possible that a proposal will be put before the club to substantially increase the stake money, for some of the races in order to attract more Riocarton and Ellerslie horses.

The Hon P. A. de la Perrelle (Minister of Internal Affairs) recently visited the Masterton Racing Club’s course at Opaki, and, after having, made a thorough inspection of the course and appointments, expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied with the up-to-date character of the appointments in general, and complimented the club on the manner in which it conducted its meetings. In reply to a question, the Minister assured the club's patron that, while not committing himself, he could rest assured that, where a dub was entitled to an extra day’s racing, it would receive justice.. The ballot for fourteen stewards of the Masterton Racing Club, which closed on Monday, created more interest in the club’s affairs than has been the case for some years. The question

of a 10s totalisator, the work on the course and various other matters were wrapped round the ballot, and when the final figures were made known on Monday night it was seen that one of the retiring stewards (Mr R. O. Smith) had been defeated, and two new stewards elected (Messrs J. M. James and J B. Thomson). The other unsuccessful candidates were Messrs F. E. Dorset, T. V. CayerhiH and L Wadham. The elected stewards were:—Messrs R. Cooper, A. A. Cameron, H. B. Drummond, S. J. W. Gill. H. P. Hugo, D. K. Logan, A. G. Lawson, D. M. Montgomery. H. Morrison, J. 11. Payton, W. Paqualin, F. B. Vallance, J. M. James and J. B. Thomson. The Masterton Racing Club intends to give the 10s totalisator another trial. The Carterton Racing Club is looking forward to a successful season. The club is in a sound position, and intends to give a substantial sum ill stake money at its annual meeting.