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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1129, 30 November 1911, Page 9

Sir G. Clifford’s team for the Auckland meeting will number half a dozen (says the “New Zealand Times”), including Winning Way, Autumnus, Counterfeit and Masterpiece. They will come north in charge of H. Cutts this week, when he goes to Feilding. At the conclusion of the latter meeting Cutts will spend some time at Awapuni prior to going on to Auckland.

Breeders of trotting horses should be able to find food for thought in the following short article from the pen of an expert American stockraiser:—“Observation has taught me, that in breeding live stock of different kinds, the first crop of two distinct animals of the same breed follows the male in its chief characteristics, and the stronger the male is in the characteristics you wish to produce, the more liable you fare to succeed. I think the way to improve the conformation is to inbreed, but to produce speed and staying powers, it is safe to keep as far from relations as you can, and obtain the ability to transmit speed in the sire. I think it best to have all the best blood you can in the dam, but don’t be discouraged if you have a mare with the trotting action along with the endurance- Breed her to a stallion that produces speed, 'and he will give the colt all the necessary speed qualities, and then after that !the handling of the colt is the main point. Whatever you do, don’t work it to death ]>ut by; '’.judicious treatment bring it along to its speed gradually, >and don’t forget long jogging dulls the speed, but sharp brushes tend to improve the youngsters every time.”

Visitors to Flemington during the three previous spring race meetings witnessed the three greatest races ever seen over the course for the C. B. Fisher Plate, between Alawa and Trafalgar. On each occasion Alawa won. Those races were worth the whole journey to Melbourne, to witness. Chatting with the owner of Alawa one day last week, I was pleased to hear that the great son of Maister — Crossfire is doing well. What a magnificent horse he will, be when he gets into stallion condition, 'and with such substance; and! not overdone on the race track and training ground, he should make a great horse at the stud.