WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1135, 11 January 1912, Page 11

WANGANUI.

(From Our Own Correspondent).

WANGANUI, January 8.

Midian was galloped on while contesting uie Marton Cup. The same thing happened to Miscal in the Manawacu Cup, so that Tilley has been rather unlucky during the holidays. Hoises trained by him ran second in no newer than uve events at the Marton meeting. He has got a big string in nand just now, and no doubt will be scoring wins again shortly.

Mon Ami railed to run up to expectations at Marton, and Had to be content with second place behind Projecile on each day, and on eacn occasion there was but one other starter. She has shown brilliant track form repeateuly, but apparently seldom reproduces it in public. On both days she was well backed by her connections.

In the light of his running at Ellerslie Coromandel appears to be nicely treated in the Wellington Cup, in which he has been given 7.7 If Jackson can land the son of MenschiJgqff/at the post as fit as he .was at Auckland, those who support him should get a big run for their money. Thomas Rowe, who died at the Hawera Hospital last Wednesday, was at one time one of the best-known figures in racing circles in this district. In 1875 a horse he owned, named True Blue (a son of Peter Flat) won the Wanganui Cup, and the following year Opawa scored in the same race for the same owner. Both these horses and Blue Gown won a number of other races for Rowe, whose successes were always very popular with the public, for the reason that he was one of the best class of owners. He left Wanganui some fifteen years ago. Since which time he had resided at Hawera. For a number of years the deceased sportsman had been an Invalid, and at the time of his death he was 72 years of age.

Handsome Maid, who won the last race at Marton, paid a big price, and the “bookies” were hit up badly over her victory. Very little money was invested on her on the machine. She is a nice cut of a mare and possesses a lot of pace, so that she may be looked upon as likely to do her owner good service.

Alex. Hall was the most successful Wanganui trainer during the Christmas holidays, horses under his charge winning no fewer than five races.and running second twice. Altogether this owner-trainer must have landed some £4OO in stake money. The Malatua Welding Muleteer placed two wins to his credit, Brilliancy captured a race, and so also did Handsome Maid. Albert Jackson took Coromandel to Auckland, but had to be content with a second and a third. Fred Tilley sent Equitas to Auckland, where she won one race, and then returned to compete unsuccessfully at the Marton meeting. The programme for the annual meeting of the Wanganui Trotting Club will shortly be issued. It will be much similar to last year’s gathering. A number of horses are already being got ready here for the meeting. Attention is no longer an inmate of Tilley’s stable, having gone into A. Wood’s stable after the Marton meeting in order to be trained for hurdling, at which the daughter of Advance has given fair promse. It is more than likely that Equitas will be a .starter in the Wellington Cup, in which the champion mare has 8.12. She is already being backed, and, if she continues her engagement, ..will no doubt carry a lot of money. However, it remains to be seen whether she can stay out a fast run mile and a half, though there appears no reason why she should not do so. In addition to Equitas, Tilley will also take Mon Ami, Miscal, and Sanguinary down to Trentham. Miscal is in the Cup at 6.7, while Mon Ami is in the Telegraph at 6.11, and Sanguinary is engaged in the hack events. Though Mon Ami failed badly at Marton, there are not wanting those who expect her to show to much better advantage at Trentham, where the going will probably suit her much better.

The starting of Alf. Morse at the Marton Jockey Club’s meeting was very favourably commented up n n by the officials and visitors generally. It is more than likely that other clubs will endeavour to secure Morse’s services, as the starting at some meetings on this coast has not been up to the mark recently.

The attention of owners and trainers is drawn to the fact that it is provided that in the juvenile Handicap to be run at the autumn meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club, the horses are to be ridden by apprentices who have not won six races, and that an allowance of 51bs is to be made to apprentices who have not won a race. The. conditions attached to the next Wanganui Cup provide that in the event of any entrant winning a handicap of the value of 10 0 sovs after the declaration of weights, the handicapper will raise it or allow it to stand as he thinks fit. It is only winners that will be rehandicapped. The majority of the horses which visited the various holiday meetings have been having an easy time since returning, but will be sent along again shortly in view of the Foxton and Wellington meetings. Though Coromandel has not been asked to do any fast work since his return from Ellerslie he is looking well and moving very freely. His recent form has caused many to look to him to run a big race in the Cup at Trentham.