WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 965, 3 September 1908, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, September 2. The local stables, presided over by Messrs W. Davies and F. Higgott, are represented at the Marton Racing Club’s meeting this week. Mr Davies has taken Seaman, Landwern and Llanwern, whilst Wailethe was Higgott’s sole representative. The horses mentioned have been in sound work all the winter and should play a prominent part during the racing. The nominations for the A.J.C. Spring events included a large number of New Zealand-owned horses. The Sydney weight adjuster did not, however, offer the owners of the Maoriland racers much encouragement to show their paces at Randwick with the result that only Soul-

tine, Cross Battery and Sea King will be seen under colours at the meeting. The last two mentioned were none too favourably handicapped for Epsom and Metropolitan handicaps, but under more favourable conditions may win a race or two ere they return to New Zealand. W. J. Taggart, their trainer, will be remembered at Randwick as having charge of Gladsome when that fine mare made her first appearance at the A.J.C meeting.

Gold Crest, Frisco, Apa, Sir Frisco, King Billy, Rose Noble, Nobel and Shimose have all discontinued their A.J.C. engagements. Most of their owners would have made the trip had circumstances been more favourable. However, the A.J.C. loss will be New Zealand’s gain as the horses enumerated will be available to assist at the various spring race meetings held in New Zealand during the next couple of months. Private information from a reliable source has reached Wellington re the favourable prospects of the New Zealand bred Maranui. D. O’Brien’s colt had a high reputation when he left New Zealand 12 months ago, and there are a solid few who quietly expect him to uphold his reputation when the settlement of the principal handicaps in the A.J.C. programme comes round. Several backers have supported Maranui for the Metropolitan at what would not appear to be very liberal odds; whilst another local sport has, on information received, accepted a big bet for the double —Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan, Arlington and Maranui being the animals chosen.

The number of locally owned horses trained in the neighbourhood of Wellington has increased at least fourfold during the last couple of years. There are at present quite a number of men of means identified with the ownership of race horses, and trainers owning establishments near Trentham have their boxes full to overflowing. C. Pritchard, who trains at the old Hutt Park course, has no less than a dozen horses under his care. His patrons include Mr Barclay (owner of Penates), Mr R. W. Paterson (Mon Ami and Snip), Mr Whitney (Saga); Naumia, Glentui, Lady Paul (St. Paul —Lady Chester); Burns, by Euroclydon—Loo, a colt by Soult—Dodono, a filly by Stepniak— Coroune and an untried Birkenhead gelding. Pritchard is assisted by a couple of brothers, one of whom Tom, is a fairly good horseman, either on the flat or over obstacles. J. Lowe also has upwards of a dozen horses under his care. He quite recently had to increase the number of his loose boxes with the view of accommodating his numerous racing patrons who keep on adding to their studs. The Hon. Jas. Carroll is one of Lowe’s staunchest supporters, the latest additions being the Royal Artillery—Culroy colt and a filly by St. Ambrose —Sequin. Both are regularly exercised on the Trentham tracks. Frank Higgott and W. Davies have each their boxes full and in all, over forty horses are in work either at the Hutt Park or Trentham. If there is added to this number some twenty horses trained by J. Prosser at Porirua, a fair idea of the interest local folks take in the sport of kings may be gained. Mr H. Nettlefold, well known and associated with D. Price, now of Melbourne, was in Wellington during last week. He had instructions to spend upwards of £5OOO in useful racing stock and made a bid of 1000 guineas for the Conqueror gelding Motoa. The owner of the latter brought the gelding down from Foxton, but as Motoa would not pass the vet., the sale fell through. Motoa, it appears, contracted a cold returning from the C.J.C. winter meeting and as Nettlefold could only purchase subject to a vets, certificate he had most reluctantly to leave Mofoa behind. He, however, secured Little Mary by Merriwee —Moira and Ngatrapa by Tupuhi—Kalma, and left for Sydney by the Maheno on Friday last.