WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1313, 24 June 1915, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Trotting Club’s Recent Fixture —“Highden” Team in Great Heart —Some Promising Juveniles — S. Brereton’s Team at Awapuni.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Monday. The two Achilles —Prelude mares, Peroneal and Peronilla, belonging to Mr. W. Nidd, of this city, are again in preparation by F. Higgott at Otaki. Both gallopers are showing that they are still possessed of some speed, and are to compete at Trentham next month. In conversation with a leading trotting enthusiast at Palmerston North last week I was informed that an effort was to be made to obtain the services of Mr. Edwards to do the future handicapping for the Manawatu Trotting Club. The fields at the recent meeting were somewhat on the small side in several events, and the need of an efficient trotting handicapper made itself very apparent. The fault will no doubt be remedied long before the club’s next gathering comes up for decision. The light harness sport promises to become very popu lar in Palmerston, and the M.T.C. officials intend doing their utmost with a view to bringing the trotting business up to a high state of perfection as far as their club is concerned. Two inmates of Frank Higgott’s stable at Otaki that are sure to gain some prominence in the near future are Squadron (Gold Crest —Flotilla) and Martial Air, both of whom are hitting out in quite an attractive style on the local tracks. Both horses are developing into ideal types of the thoroughbred. Huia Higgott, a budding son of the well-known Otaki trainer of that name, is early developing a love of the horse which the lad no doubt inherited from his parents, who are both keen sporting enthusiasts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Higgott are looking forward to the day when their boy will take his place in a New Zealand Cup field. J. Mitchell, who is superintending the training of the “Highden” team at Awapuni during G. Price’s absence in England, has all the horses in great heart, and judging by their track work they should occupy a prominent position in racing affairs next season. Expect, Pariform, Bertrada, and a rising three-year-old gelding by Vasco from a St. Ambrose mare, who gives evidence of turning out useful, are all getting through some capital training exercises.

In addition to the four horses mentioned, Mitchell is handling half a dozen rising two-year-old§, all of whom demonstrate daily on the Awapuni tracks that they will have to be reckoned with in racing events next season. The juveniles, with their breeding given in parenthesis, are as follows: —Nystead, br colt (Finland — Pas Seul); Sunny Climes, br filly (Field Battery —Perolina); Cease Fire, ch filly (Field Battery—Truce); unnamed br gelding (Field Battery— Innamorata), unnamed b gelding (Advance —Betsy), and a chestnut gelding (Field Battery—Salama) completes the list. .With the horses’ condition the writer could find no fault when looking them over recently, and it was quite apparent that Mitchell had been bestowing considerable care and attention upon them during Price’s absence in the Old Country. Pariform, who was recently saved from dying by Veterinary Surgeon F. Crossley, has made a splendid recovery from his previous ailment, and is now in active work. With this splendid type of a galloper the “Highden” livery should be carried to the fore on many occasions during the 191516 racing year. S. Brereton, who was formerly domiciled at Waverley, has taken up his quarters at Awapuni, where he has seven horses in training, the best probably being Tiora and Joey, both of whom can gallop fast. With the class of horse he has in work Brereton should fare well in the future. S. Watson, at Awapuni, has Sir Donald and a four-year-old gelding by Sir Laddo —Innamorata well forward in view of approaching events. Both horses are faring well, and their future prospects are held in high esteem by those closely interested. Two horses that are showing some good form at Awapuni are Imarose, belonging to Mr. H. L. Jackson, of Blenheim, and Distinction, who formerly carried Mr. W. E. Bidwill’s

colours. They are both in J. Hathaway’s hands, and from their track work one would expect them to show up prominently before the present season draws to a close.

D. Buick, Jun., at Awapuni, has Portraiture and Papuira in rare buckle, and it would occas.on no surprise if these two “Cloverlea” owned gallopers added something to their oats account during the next few weeks.

Black Lupin, who was added to the list some few weeks back, is again in training under E. Watson’s guidance at Awapuni. The same trainer also has Pohui and Martlet in active preparation for future events. Mr. W. Baker has running out on his place at, Te Horo a nice cut of a galloper in a rising two-year-old full-brother to Ally (Achilles —Hiko mare), who gives promise of turning out useful. Later on the youngster will be put into training in view of next season’s racing. Mr. J. Telford, of Palmerston North, the patentee and inventor of the patent bridle bearing his name, has received many letters, of recommendation from gainers all over New Zealand, speakng in high terms of the excellent qualities of the bridle for pullers and uorses otherwise hard mou.hed. The patent has supplied $ long-felt want, and will in the course of time be round _n practically every training stable in the Dominion. Mr. Telford has appointed Messrs. Triggs and Denton, of Christchurch and Timaru, and Messrs. Twist and Small, of Chrxs.church, distributing agents for the South Island, while any orders sent to him at Palmerston North will be promptly attended to. Mr. J. Hurley, of Hastie’s Hotel, Feilding, has handed over to R. Edwards, to be prepared for racing, a nice sort of a galloper in a two-year-cld fil.y by Advance —Excess, which is built on very agreeable galloping lines. A nice-actioned mover, with ample bone and substance, this beginner .o he rac.ng business appears assured of a prosperous career. Melodist, owned by Mr. H. McManaway, of Bulls, and trained by “Dick” Edwards, at Feilding, is fast getting up to concert pitch, and provided nothing untoward occurs in the interim will be a starter at the Wellington meeting next month. Mr. E. Short’s galloper Mahzoltov (Formative —Awapuhi) is furnishing out into an ideal type of a racer under “Dick” Edwards’ tuition, and judging by her exploits on the local tracks she should keep her opponents busy on the next occasion that she lines up at the starting post. G. Price, the well-known trainer, who has been on a pleasure and business trip to the Old Country, is due to arrive in Wellington from London on July 16th. “Stump” is coming out to the Dominion by the New Zealand Shipping Company’s s.s. Ruahine. Mr. Paierson, a steward of the Wanganui Jockey Club, who has on several occasions acted in the capacity of a deputy stipendiary steward at the Nelson and West Coast meetings, is the latest sporting enthusiast to enlist in the Reinforcements. Mr. Paterson went into camp at Trentham last week, and there is every prospect of him reaching the firing line. Mr. H. McManaway, the .well-known sportsman and owner of Melodist and other horses, has entered into possession of the Rangitikei Hotel at Bulls. “Harry” is a genial and popular personality, and he is assured of plenty of support in his new quarters. Chatting at Palmerston North last week with Mr. D. Buick, M.P., he informed me that he was going to have a smack at this year’s New Zealand C.J.C. Derby with Rangitero (Papakura —Elusion). This rising three-year-old colt is a splendid type of the thoroughbred, an.d all going well in the meantime he can be depended upon to represent “Cloverlea” with some distinction at Riccarton in November next.

Arthur Oliver, the well-known and successful rider, is a daily attendant on the Awapuni tracks, where his capital horsemanship is availed of to a considerable extent. In addition to exercising the “Highden” team, there are many other calls on his services, all of which are cheerfully responded to.

Mr. Jaspar Tuck, a veterinary surgeon with some excellent credentials, has taken up his residence at Palmerston North, where he intends to carry on the business of his profession.

The well-known Wanganui sports-

man Mr. H. M. Speed has gone into camp at Trentham with a view to getting prepared for the war. “Hughie’s” many friends, and they are legion, are extending to him many felicita-t-ons for his future welfare and prosperity. Multoe (Multifid —Natoe) has been purchased outright by one of her coowners (Mr. A. Burgess), who will continue to train the black mare at Trentham. This four-year-old is a useful sort, and her prospects for the future? are very promising to her owner-trainer.