WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 942, 26 March 1908, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, March 24. Local trainers will make a move towards Opaki (Masterton) course early in the week. Frank Higgott’s team will include Tupono and Moata. The Medallion mare has undergone a careful preparation, and should do her owner good service ere the season ends. Moata has not been seen with the colours up for some time, and even should he miss catching the judge’s eye at Opaki the racing will improve him for events later in the season. J. Lowe’s pair, Aeolus and Blue Bell, after racing at Dannevirke and Napier Park, have returned to Trentham. The former, although most leniently treated for Masterton, will be left in his box. On his recent displays the son of Euroclydon appears to have lost all form. Aeolus established some good records last season, and when his trainei* gets him back to his best form he should make amends for this season’s failures. Blue Bell’s owner gave her a run at Napier Park with 9st 51b. The Masterton handicapper allotted her Bst 41b, but her trainer, however, probably found that the mare would not stand racing three weeks in succession, and wisely determined to give her a spell. Wharekura, another inmate of Lowe’s stable, has recovered from a slight mishap ,which befell him a couple of weeks ago, and will fulfil his Masterton engagements. W. Davies’ contribution to the meeting consists of Yosami and Ancyc'.e. The latter, a half-brother to Ballarat, has proved somewhat of a frost since coming into Davies’ hands. The company he will meet at Masterton is very ordinary, and should he again fail to score, Ancycle’s owner may as well abandon all idea of securing a race with him. C. Pritchard’s team includes Naumia and Mon Ami. The former has not been saddled up for some time. Last November his connections thought Naumia good enough to take on the cream of New Zealand sprinters at Riccarton. He then essayed to win the Electric Stakes, a weight-for-age event, which fell to Fleetfoot, with Armlet and Lord Soult filling the places. The Conqueror gelding has only to repeat the trials he gave his trainer in the spring to pay his way

during the remainder of the season. Saga, Axite and Sardonyx are being treated to a respite from work. The former has been in training during the last eighteen months, and will be benefited by a rest. Petticoat, Liberator, Truthful and Talune are being allowed to run in the paddock. Their trainer, F. Higgott, declares that oats are too dear to waste on other than horses that can give promise of winning occasionally. W. Davies has removed to his new quarters at Trentham. As his boxes are not yet finished, his team, nine in number, Including Ballarat, Seaman, Ancycle, Sekraine, Yosami, and Landwern are at present quartered in the W.R.C. boxes on the racecourse.

Advantage, formerly trained at Trentham by C. Birkett, has joined H. Telford’s team at Awapuni (Manawatu).