WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1313, 24 June 1915, Page 12

WANGANUI.

Local Horses Engaged at Approaching Trentham Meeting—Leonta’s Grand National Hurdles Engagement—Master Lupin Shaping Well Over the Small Sticks—-Client’s Bright Prospects.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. W. Rayner took Aruake to Hastings, but the gelding did not pay a dividend either day, the best he could do being to run third on the opening day. He had to be eased in his work for some time after the Wanganui winter meeting, owing to a cold, but looked well prior to leaving here, and Rayner had hopes of winning a race with him. He may do better at the Napier Park meeting at the end of the week. The son of Chasseur has been nominated for the steeplechase events at the Wellington meeting, and if he shapes at all well over the big fences in his schooling lessons he will be sent to

Trentham for the cross-country events.

Draft, another c< Rayner’s team, has been entered for the hack hurdle events at Wellington. The son of Maniapoto refused to jump the low hurdles when first tried over the obstacles, but has now taken to the game in a promising way.

F. Tilley has both Kew and Leonta engaged in the hurdle events at Trentham. The distance the first day is two miles, which is generally supposed to be too far for Kew, but he may prove that he can stay better than expected. By the way, his owner, Mr. H. M. Speed, is now in camp at Trentham, having enlisted, and a win for the Sylvia Park gelding would, therefore, be very popular.

There are many who contend that Leonta would have won the Grand National Hurdles last year, but for the fact that he had not had a race over the hurdles prior to taking part in the big event. It is understood

that the Conqueror gelding will be a starter at Trentham in the Winter Hurdles on his way to Riccarton, and the race ought to do him good for the National.

If Leonta, El Gallo, Awahou, Sir Donald, Admiral Soult, Harbour Light and some of the others go to the post in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham a great race should be witnessed.

Ardent does not appear in the list of nominations for the Wellington meeting, but his stable mate, Miacara, also owned by Mr. Wire Tokena, is to accompany. Kew and Leonta to Wellington. The Wanganui Cup winner, Master Lupin, is said to be shaping well over the small sticks, and if this is correct he might trouble the best of them in the big hurdles at Trentham, as there is no doubt about his pace and his staying ability. He is in the same stable as Awahou, a gelding which is expected to win a big hurdle race before the season ends. The Diver is putting up a great record for seconds, as the gelding has now filled that position four times on end in steeplechase events —twice at Wanganui and twice at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. It is to be hoped that his owner, Mr. W) J. Phillips, will have better luck with the grey in the near future.

Mr. Wire Tokena, owner of Ardent, Miacara and other horses, visited Hastings to see the two named run at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Ardent won one race and ran second in his other start, while Miacara finished in third place on Saturday. Mr. Tokena competed at the Hawke s Bay Gun Club’s meeting on Thursday, and did very well, getting into the prize list, as did also Mr. A. H. Coe, another Wanganui sportsman.

It has been stated that Client recently changed hands, but Mr. Wire Tokena knows a good horse when he sees one, and it would take something very big to induce him to part with the son of Elevation. There are not wanting those who maintain that Client will prove the best horse Mr. Tokena ever owned. He takes more after his sire in build than any of Elevation’s other stock, while he has splendid action when galloping, and there seems to be good reason to expect him to stay well. He has already demonstrated that he is a brilliant customer, so that some good races should go to him next season if he keeps sound.