WEST COAST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1162, 18 July 1912, Page 11

WEST COAST.

(From Our-i Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. Alex. Hall has North East in work again. The. Euroclydon geldinglooks well after his long spell, and has apparently quite recovered. from the operation he underwent. He is moving very freely, and it should not be long before he is back to something like his best form. The two-year-old colt Postillion, which Fred Tilley has taken down to Trentham for the Trial Plate, is a fine cut of a youngster. He is by Advance, out of Brown Spec, and is a very handsome colt, much after the stamp of his sire. It will be strange indeed if he does not develop into a real good colt. Fred Tilley left with Goodwin Park, Kilrain, and Postillion for Wellington to-day. The three mentioned are all in good trim, and it is quite on the cards that the Fordell trainer will pick up a race at the meeting with one or other of the trio. There is said to be a -likelihood of a former well-known racing man - taking to the game again here, and, if so, very considerable interest 'will be added to the sport on this coast. Several horses are in steady work

in view of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club s Steeplechase Meetingnext month. Those interested should bear in mind that nominations are due on Saturday, the 10th August. St. Bill is going along nicely on the tracks, and by the time the springmeetings come round should be in first-class form. Another of Alex. Hall’s charges, Demise —Orme, is in work again, having thrown off all effects of the very bad cold he had recently. . Though Mr W. R. Tuck thought his recent purchase, Antarctic, would have been let off a little bit lighter in the Grand National Steeples, he is sanguine, if the gelding goes to the post thoroughly sound, that he will run a good race, despite his 12.2. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Antarctic will be free from soreness after the Trentham meeting. It is possible the racing there will bring on a recurrence of his old trouble, but his work recently has been got through without leaving any trace of rheumatism, or whatever it was that previously troubled this fine jumper. Koran (10.13) is generally held to be fairly weir in the Grand National Hurdles. He is reported to be doing good work at Waverley, and on his Hawke’s Bay form must be one of the dangerous division. John (10.13) will also have a lot of friends if he goes on all right, as at his best he

is a brilliant customer over the small sticks. If Darby Paul wins at Wellington he will have extra poundage to carry, but at‘ 9.9 he is well treated. John is engaged in the Winter Cup at 9.12, but he will probably be a ncn\starter in this event. The Marton Jockey Club’s springmeeting will be held on September 4 and 5. Liberal stake money has been allotted for the eight events each day, and capital entries should be received. Instead of having a hunters’ hurdle event on the second day a 2 % -miles steeplechase has been decided upon for hunters only, with gentlemen riders up. The Marton Handicap is worth £175, and the Crofton Handicap on the concluding day carries a stake of £lO5. The two open sprint events are each endowed with 100 so vs, so that owners of all classes of horses are well catered for, and should respond liberally. Nominations close with the secretary , (Mr A. Way) on Friday, August 16 th. The Marton course has received careful attention, and should be in good order for the spring meeting. The new and commodious totalisator house for a 32-horse silent machine is nearing completion. In design, it is quite the latest, and will compare more than favourably with those used at some metropolitan meetings.