WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 964, 27 August 1908, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, August 26. The s.s. Moeraki, en route to Sydney on Friday last, was freighted with a valuable consignment of racing stock. The bulk of the blood stock secured by agents of Australian buyers at the Stead clearing sale occupied a considerable portion of the ship’s hold. Multiform and his daughter Golden Slipper, as the stars of the troupe, were interviewed on the steamer by many local sportsmen who had not been able to attend the sale at Ya’.dhurst. Expressions of regret were heard that such fashion-ably-bred stock was lost to New Zealand. There is still in the Dominion a goodly sprinkling of the blood that Multiform springs from, and with recent importations studious studmasters may continue to produce racers able to hold their own in the Commonwealth as in the past. Included in the racing stock quartered in the hold of the Moeraki were the Canterbury horses Cross Battery and Sea King, which their owner (Mr. H. F. Nichol) is sending to Randwick to assist at the A.J.C. spring meeting. The pair are in charge of W. J. Taggart, and look in fairly forward condition. J. W. Lowe, the Trentham trainer, who, it will be remembered, had charge of Solution when she visited Randwick, has also taken wing to Sydney. His charges, Artillerie and Aeolus, were quartered on deck. The filly has grown and filled out, and if appearances go for anything, she should hold her own in any class. Aeo'us has done no racing since he put up a couple of decent performances at the Wanganui winter meeting. He is in nice healthy condition, and, being a clever hurdler, should easily pay his way in the Commonwealth States, where his owner (Mr. Gt McDonald) is at present located. Lowe has only gone to Sydney for a short period, having a large team at Trentham, and he intends being home by the middle of October. Meanwhile H. Goodman, jun., will assume control of Sir Frisco, Wharekura, Iranui. Effort and others that will be racing at the spring meeting. Amongst the Moeraki passengers were Messrs. Tancred (owner of Penates), J. Whitworth, Scott and Martindale (well-known metallicians), and several others who intend enjoying a month or so holiday in Sydney. The Hon. J. D. Ormond was also amongst the passengers who left for Sydney by the Moeraki last Friday.

It is understood he goes on to Queensland to inspect a large property he recently purchased there. The handicaps' for the Marton spring meeting and the nominations for the Rangitikei and Horowhenua meetings is a reminder that the spring gatherings will soon be upon us. W. Davies has Seaman, Landwern and Llanwern engaged, and as tne trio have been doing good work during the winter months there should be a race or two concealed about each of them when pitted against the class usually seen out during the early spring racing season. J. Prosser is busy with a number of juveniles which claim classic engagements at the spring meeting. Some of his team may be given a run at Horowhenua, but the Wanganui spring meeting will probably see the Porirua stable to the fore with a fairly strong team. Gold Crest is in nice healthy condition. Nothing so far has been decided as to his owner sending Gold Crest to the A.J.C. spring meeting. There was a rumour that Frisco and Apa would be taken to Sydney for the A.J.C. spring meeting by J. W. Lowe. This has, however, been abandoned, and the Marton-owned pair will assist at some of the New Zealand spring race meetings, where in all probability they will meet with more lenient treatment at the hands of weight adjusters.