WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 983, 7 January 1909, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, January 3. The majority of local trainers have been from home during the holidays, assisting at one oi’ other of the numerous race meetings held about New Year’s time, and all have met Wxth more or less luck- Mr. J. Prosser has effected the biggest scoop. He only raced four horses during the holidays —viz., Gold Crest, All Red, Diabolo, and Faux-pas. The former was taken to ’the Manawatu Meeting, and, with Jenkins’ assistance, no mistake was made in annexing the richly endowed Palmerston North Stakes. Gold Crest was then railed home, and Jenkins went on to Auckland and piloted All Red to victory in the Cup and A.R.C. Handicap- This, by the way, is a fairiy good week’s work. Diabolo was somewhat of a disappointment. His party expected him to make a good showing in the Auckland Cup and Derby, and although hlg rider, L. Wilson, had orders to take him to the front in the Cup, he never once got into that position. His effort was much below his track form, and it may be that Diabolo was not just himself whilst at Ellerslie. Faux-pas, a daughter of Stepniak and Belle Clair, captured a couple of races at the Wakanae New Year’s Day Meeting. The Porirua stable thu s won five races, including the Palmerston North Stakes, Auckland Cup, and A.R.C. Handicap, and only sent four horses away from the stable. W. Davies received many hand-

shakes during the Manawatu Meeting, where Ballarat and Yosami, two of his charges, captured three events. The veteran has not had much luck for some time, and hag quite a number of horses in the hospital. His wins at Awapuni Races will, therefore, be all the more welcome. J. W. Lowe laid in wailing for the Wairarapa Meeting, where he took Iranhi, Wharekura, and Royal Guard. Th© two latter caught the judge’s eye, but Iranui had the bad luck to run a couple of seconds. The Soult — Tawh.e mare is a very nice galloper, and, all going well, her next appearance will be in the Wellington Cup. Lowe, her trainer, wdl be well represented in the big Wellington handicap, as he has Sir Frisco and Arcillerie a.so in the Cup. The trio are owned separately, and it is just possible at least two will be saddled up. Frank Higgott, another local trainer, made for his old hunting-ground, Lower Valley, for the Boxing Day iMeeting. The ever smiling Frank managed to lead in three winners at the back-blocks meeting—viz-, Tupono, Prism, and Sweet Lethe. Wailethe was given a run, but does not seem in her best form at present. That unfortunate trip to Avondale upset her. She is, however, picking up, and may score before many moons are past. C. Pr.tchard and A. Peters, whose horses are trained on the Old Hutt Park race track, did not score too well. Aema, a two-year-old in Pritchard’s stable, captured a race at Wairarapa, but “ Dad ” Peters and Vinco drew a blank. The latter horse has been racing in unimportant events for nearly two years, and his owner must have a fairly large debit against Vinco’s name by this time. The horse, however, is sound, and may yet win a race. Mr. W. E. Bidwell reports that his pair of two-year-olds, Provocation and Expansion, are doing nicely, and all going well will race at the Trentham Meeting- Mr. Bidwell had only his mare Conso at.on racing at the Wairarapa gathering. Mr. McGlashan, caretaker of the Trentham racing and training tracks, reports that there never was such a capital covering of turf on the various tracks as at present. Judicious top-dressing and the favourable springweather have worked wonders, and the course should stand any amount of ga.loping on ere it shows signs of wear. Mr. McGlashan reports that already most of the club’s loose boxes have been engaged, and ere the end of the week only outside accommodation will be available. Visitors to the Auckland races speak in flat'er.ng terms of the form displayed by All Red and Bobrikoff. The pair are said to be a class by themselves- They can gallop fast over sprint courses and stay any distance. The battle between the pair for the Auckland Cup was, in the opinion of those Wellingtonians who witnessed it, the finest contest ever witnessed for the race. The opinion is freely expressed that AU Red had the advantage both in condition and horsemanship.