HAWKES BAY

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1020, 23 September 1909, Page 8

HAWKES BAY

(From Our Own Correspondent). NAPIER, Sept. 20. California carved out a fast run of five furlongs at Hastings on Saturday morning. The big fellow pulled up sound, and his outlook of being delivered ripe and ready at Riccarton in November wears a very rosy hue. Should he prevail in the Cup, a lot of the bookies’ bullion will find its way to Tomoana, as a great number of the employees at the works there have gone nap on the chestnut’s prospects; indeed, I understand that if the award comes his way it is intended to change the name of Tomoana to California to mark the epoch. Loiret, one of California’s stable comrades, had the bad luck the other day to knock one of her fore legs. However, the matter is not serious, and Lagor expects to have her sound and serene in a short space of time. The chestnut mare otherwise looks the personification of good health. Comedian, who has been leased by his trainer, W. Stone, is rapidly getting into shape, and by his good performances on the try-out it seems only fair to argue that Stone will have a lucrative period with him in the near future. He wants it badly, too, for of late the dispenser of good luck has been very chary of her attentions to Stone.

Although J. Hall has not yet quite made up his mind what his future avocation will be, he has definitely decided not to do anything more with the gee-gees as regards riding them in their displays.

Full Cry, who looks as if he would be able to put his best foot foremost in a month’s time, is a regular attender on the preparing circuits at Napier Park.

Tawhaki, the high priced brother to Armlet —for he cost the Hawke’s Bay owner, Mr. H. Gaisford, 825 guineas as a yearling—was well supported locally for the maiden race which he won at Rangitikei last Wednesday. There was also a power of bullion here for him on Thursday, when he missed, so stay-at-home backers did not have much the best of the argument with the pencillers. Waikaraka deplenished the wad of punters’ in sunny Napier by his failure to annex at Rangitikei on Thursday, as they were in receipt of information regarding his prospects from the seat of war. The advice, as it proved, was not of the yard-wide variety. Multiple, Kohinoor, and Warsong, three of Mr. Lowry’s three-year-olds, have been striding out in a meritorious style during the last week, Kohinoor proving a bit better than his associates. A good colt this; in fact, I should say, from personal observation, one of the very best that has been educated here for some years past. Bobrikoff, Downfall, and Merriwa have been swallow catching the last few mornings on the preparing circuits of Napier Park, the black horse more especially putting up very attractive displays. An elder half-sister by The Officer to Trumpery is showing a good turn of speed. She is quick out of the barrier, and gallops very determinedly. Another of the local trained equines in Useful, a half-sister by Wehikore to Mundic, is also striking out in a pleasing style. Maiora, who has been in lavender for some time, owing to his having been blistered, is again one of the active brigade under the control of Paddy McLaughlin. Dazzle, dam of California, who is expected to shortly foal to San Fran, will again visit that stallion at Te Mahanga. Ahuapai, a younger half-sister by San Fran to Ataahua, has been leased by her breeder, Mr. W. J. Douglas, to J. S. O’Neill, who at one time had as his scholars Highden and Loiret. J. Delaney schooled Martyrium over the hurdles at Hastings on Saturday morning. For a new chum the mare acquitted herself in a gratifying manner.

Water o’ Milk, who is now getting into the sere and yellow leaf, is being got ready by his owner, Mr. L. Te Trupu, of Mohaka. According to the general verdict of track watchers, there are no sensational two-year-olds in work at Hastings. One of the best of the bunch is said to be Bunkum, Palaver’s son by Merriwee. This juvenile is the property of Mr. H. H. Pharazyn, and is one of W. Stone’s students.

Ruby, the well-performed daughter of Denbigh, has produced a filly to Royal Fusilier. A. Wood the other day sent back the five-year-old son of The Officer and Fawn,..that has been under his care for months past, to' Karamu, and in

return has received a brace of new additions to his scholars in a couple of two-year-olds by Birkenhead.