WEST COAST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1151, 2 May 1912, Page 11

WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.} WANGANUI, April 29. Mr. Geo. M. Currie, of the Koatanui stud, d.d not realise such good prices as anticipated for the youngsters-he sent across to the Sydney yearling sales. Five fillies sold as under:Filly by Field Battery—Grandeur, 140gns.; filly by Field Battery—Hoira Machree, 170gns.; filly by Harrow —Vexation, 50 gns.; filly by Soult —Keepsake, 320 gns.; filly by Soult —Alannah, 180gns., a total of 860 guineas for the five lots. The Soult —Keepsake filly, which realised top price, goes into W. Hickenbotham’s stable. Mr. R. Narelle disposed of Grandee last week to a Wairarapa sportsman for 100 guineas. Perhaps the change of ownership will bring better luck. So far the gelding has been very disappointing. The weights for the lour principal events at the winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club, which are due to make their appearance at the end of the week, are being awaited with much interest. Mr. G. Morse has some good material to work upon so far as the top division in each event is concerned, but, as usual, there are a number of horses to be dealt with which even at the minimum can have little chance. Euroco was taken down to Awapuni for the hurdles on the first day, but was not started owing to the bad state of the going. Aviatrix was also a non-starter in the hack flat race for a similar reason. Euroco is exceedingly well at present, and is being mentioned as a probable winner of the Century Hurdles. Alex. Hall is giving St. Bill a spell, but St. Gate and Denise Orme are being kept in steady, work. St. Gate is engaged at the Egmont. meeting in the Telegraph Hack Handicap of five furlongs. He is galloping very freely, and though he has top weight in the race in question, he should keep the opposition very busy. Ineuru’s form at Awapuni showed no improvement on that which she displayed at Trentham, but the conditions at both places were bad, and it may be that the daughter of Maniapoto will be better suited here. R. Brough, the trainer of Manawaka, winner of the Longburn Handicap, has charge of a fine looking coming two-year-old colt by Coronet —Rau Rau, and therefore full brother to Coronetted. Clemoes, another of Brough’s team, has not yet fully recovered from the accident she met with at Feilding, but is progressing satisfactorily. Pleiades is likely to be one of the early favourites for the Wanganui Steeplechase. His victory at Avondale on Saturday shows that he is in good form, and with the experience he has had he should oe hard to beat here, though he will be meeting some top notchers. Reports from Napier show that Corazon is fairly well forward, and if Verne Colello can land last year’s winner at the post in his best form then it is quite on the cards that the son of Coeur de Lion will again score. M. Coleman has Moose looking very well again, and the gelding gave a good display over the schooling fences on Thursday. His wind does not seem to trouble him since the operation to his throat, and he may win another race or two for his owner. A sad accident occurred at Waverley on Friday night, when Mr. Barnard O’Reilly, a member of the Waverleynßacing Club and also of the Eg-mont-Wanganui Hunt Club, was thrown from his horse, sustaining injuries from which he died on Saturday morning. The deceased, who was 39 years of age, was a keen sport, and deservedly popular with all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His well-known figure will be greatly missed at the Hunt Club meets, as he was always an enthusiastic follo-wer of the hounds, and was always thereabouts at the kill. Another very prominent member of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club passed away yesterday in the person of Mr. William Brewer, who was well-known in racing circles. The squire of Waihou, Waverley, and his good wife, dispensed most generous and open handed hospitality, and those who followed the hounds always spent an enjoyable day when they assembled at Mr. Brewer’s place. Keen regret will be felt by all members of the club and the community generally at the loss of such a fine stamp of gentleman and thorough sport. For many years he filled the office of vice-president of the Waver-ley-Waitotara Racing Club.