TRAINER MASON ON ENGLISH HORSES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 963, 20 August 1908, Page 5

TRAINER MASON ON ENGLISH HORSES.

The well-known Yaidhurst trainer Mason is back again in Christchurch after his trip to England, and has been giving a southern writer his opinion of English horses. So far as the present season’s horses are concerned, his choice falls on the three fillies, Rhodora, Lesbia, and American Girl. They, in his opinion, are vastly superior to the colts, and with Signorinetta they are bound to dominate the three-year-old position. Of the colts, White Eagle, in Mason’s opinion, may turn out the best, but a lot of them are raced when palpably unfit. In company with several othei’ New Zealanders, Mason saw the Derby run and formed a high opinion of Signorinetta, who, though not exactly a handsome filly, demonstrated her ability to stay, a qualification lacking in most of the better fancied candidates. Little chance of scrutinising the Derby candidates is afforded visitors at Epsom, the horses being brought into the paddock about half an hour before their race and walked about, while as soon as their task is ended they are hurried away to the various training establishments. Concern-

ing Noctuiform, Mason holds a rather 1.-feptimistic opinion. ■ He l found- the son of Multiform looking in the very best of health, finely muscled,. but r ’,father'',ofi 'the gross side;' . Wh’jlfe/at. a loss* to account for ' his poor displays,'Mason is confident "that it ,‘is -bhly a matter 1 of gfettifig hint really ‘• fit for Noctuiform to,'win .good racefs, and he ddes nof‘agrqe With i>ut ; ,the New, ■Zealah'de’f,;.' dowfi/ as; a '■•■»‘h’ab ’ been.” Noctuifofm’s. 'recent win did not impress the horse’s pre- " vibus mentor, though it demonstrated that he is on the improve.