HAWKE’S BAY NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1138, 1 February 1912, Page 10

HAWKE’S BAY NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent..) NAPIER, January 29. Merriwai and Wooloomooloo were taken down from Te Mahanga station on Thursday to Hastings by J. Cameron, who will soon be busy in his efforts to get- the pair into trim foi future lepping engagements. Merriwai appears to be well. Wooloomooloo was mated with a few mares during the season, his associate being Waiau, Ballistite, Mother Goose, and a mare by Makaki out of Slumber. His owner, Mr. A, F. Douglas, could have easily increased his consorts had he been so inclined. Many excellent judges of the game who were assisting ac the Wairoa fixture last week, informed me that A. Wood displayed top-notch form in the manner in which he sent the fields on their errands. Dazzle, who has been one of the harem lorded over by San Fran this term, was shipped to Gisborne last night. The mother of California was accompanied by Goldenlyte, the foal full-brother to Sylverlyte. Merrie Lad can fence Quick and cleverly, and it’s an odds on chance that ere long the son of Merriwee will be seen out in the open amongst the hurdling birgade. He has got more than a fair share of pace and is as courageous as a buti. R. (Brusher Gray), who for a lengthened period has ably tilled the berth of head lad under S. Wadded at Karamu, is severing his connection with the all cerise stables a,t the end of the month. He is lettering his position, as he has been engaged by Mr. F. Easton, of Himitangi, to train his team. Knowing “Brusher” well I anticipate that his advent as educator of Mr. Easton’s team will produce good fruit in the way of stake money. Magneto is being hacked about in the vicinity of Hastings. Apparently the weight adjuster of the Gisborne Racing Club has an exalted opinion of the capabilities 01 Wee Rose, for he put him within five pounds of that speedy filly Waiorewa, and in addition he has fo give that fast filly Our Queen and others weight. Though Wee Rose has been accepted for the meeting, it cannot be tai: en as a guide that his trainer-owner is at all satisfied with the impost that has been allotted to his pony, because it was owing to a mistake that his acceptance was sent along the wires. Handicapper H. Coyle and Starter A. Wood, left by the Mokoia for Gisborne last night, the former to see how the finishes are fought out at the gathering of the Gisborne Racing Club, so that he can make his adjustments for the Poverty Bay Turf Club fixture the following week. Wood will be at the lever during the send-offs at the Gisborne Racing Club’s gathering. Happy New Year, who got the award upon three occasions at Wairoa last Tuesday and Wednesday, is one of the string controlled by W. L. Carrick for the native sportsman Mr. Rangi Kerehoma. Happy New Year, by Merrie England out of Lady Field, was not well forward in the “Great White Way” last season, for out of ten attempts she only once ran into a place. This was when she finished third to Undecided and Septimus in the Waiohine Hack Handicap at the autumn meeting of the Wairarapa Racing Club. Mr Rangi Kerehoma is best known as the owner of King’s Favourite, who scored his first win at the New Year gathering of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club.

Th j most striking feature of the Trentham meeting was the success that attended the racing of “Mr. Highden’s” horses, which are trained by George Price at Awapuni. Seven horses from this stable were started at the meeting and seven winning brackets were scored. Bronze and Blakeney each scored double victories while Ermengarde, Nyland, and Mallard each won one race apiece. The two unsuccessful horses of the “Highden” string were Polymorphous and Neirene.

Hector Gray is apparently riding again with all his former dash and judgment, for the “Dominion” says of last season’s premier jockey that his recent serious illness has not interefered with his form in the saddle. . Gray rode a magnificent finish on Styx in the Hopeful Stakes. The Achilles colt, who was a warm favourite, drew No. 1 position at the barrier, but, as the horses moved off, he was not fast enougl to keep his position, and drifted back into the ruck. He also met sirious trouble

at the turn, but half-way up the straight he was seen coming fast on the outside, though his chance of overhauling the leader (Glade) looked remote. Gray rode h m vigorously with hands and heels until about twenty yards off the post, when he gave him a couple of smart cuts with the whip. Styx responded with every stride, and just got up in time to satisfy his numerous backers. Gray’s effort was one of the finest exhibitions of horsemanship seen at the meeting.