WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1420, 12 July 1917, Page 11

WANGANUI.

First Consul and Reparation Taken to Trentham — Trial Plate Candidates — Fordell Representatives at Wellington Meeting—Death of Alex. Gordon, the Well-known Crosscountry Horseman. WANGANUI, Monday. J. Peachey left for Wellington on Friday with First Consul and Reparation. The former gelding is not engaged on the first day, but will be seen out in the steeplechase on the second day. He has been jumping well recently, and should get round all right, but it is doubtful whether he is as fast as he used to be. Reparation has been moving very freely on the tracks, and might pick up one of the minor events at Trentham.

Zela, the two-year-old filly by Patronus —Zaida in W. Rayner’s stable, will be a starter in the Trial Plate at Trentham. She is a splendid looking filly and has shown the possession of a lot of pace. It would be no surprise to find her distinguishing herself on the track next season, whatever she may do this week. Another two-year-old which will be a starter in the Trial Plate is Arrowfield,' an inmate of Tilley’s stable. The Australian-bred youngster is a nice cut of a gelding, and is likely to prove that he has a fair amount of pace. Old Marton was very stiff and sore after his racing at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, and it was consequently decided not to send him to Trentham, but to give him a short spell. His stable mate, Leonta, has been taken to Wellington for the Winter Hurdles, in which he has 10.6, havingcome down in the weights recently. He was in good nick when he left here, and may prove that he has not yet lost all his dash.

Turehau, the Multifid gelding which paid the big dividend at Napier, will be a starter in the Vittoria Handicap Hurdles on Wednesday, H. Rayner having taken him south. Pohehe, Cello and Arrowfield will represent the Fordell stable at Trentham. The first-named figures in the Stewards’ Handicap, of six furlongs, at 9.0. He will be meeting some better performers than he has so far been up against, but if he is in galloping humour on the day he will not be far away at the finish, as he can travel very fast. Cello was looking very fit, though he might need a race or two to get back to his best form. Alex. Hall sent Moulu to Trentham last week, and the son of Boni-

form will fulfil his engagement in the Winter Hurdles, in which he is in at the minimum. He is fit enough to pick up a race at the meeting, though the company might prove a little too warm for him. Union Jack, which gelding is now trained here, is expected to run a good race in the Hack Steeplechase at Trentham. The death of Alex. Gordon, the well-known cross - country horseman, which occurred last Wednesday morning, caused quite a shock amongst his many friends. The deceased had a fall off Royal Patron at the Hawke’s Bay meeting and had a couple of ribs broken, but it was not thought that any serious complications would follow, and he returned to Wanganui on Monday. On Tuesday afternoon he took very ill suddenly and was removed to the hospital, where he passed away on Wednesday morning from hemorrhage, brought on by the broken ribs. Alex, was one of the best known riders on this coast, and was very popular with all sections of the community. He first came out as an amateur rider and proved himself a first-class horseman. Later on he took to riding as a profession, and was very successful. He was one of the gamest riders ever seen in the saddle, and rode many fine races over the sticks. He was a. brother of Charlie Gordon, the trainer of Record, Grey Guard, Rio Grande, Stone Beldon and several other horses. Alex, was 32 years of age, and leaves a wife and two children, who will have the sympathy of all sportsmen in her sad trouble. The funeral, which took place on Friday, was largely attended, all classes of the community being represented.

HAWKE’S BAY.

Mr. W. G. Stead’s Quartette for Sydney—Rising Two-year-olds at Greenmeadows—Sir Alba Changes Hands —Trials Benefiting by Spell.

NAPIER, Monday.

G. Jones has left here for Sydney, accompanied by Shrill, Sasanof, Sweet Corn and Eurasin. The last-named is a coming two-year-old daughter of All Black and Lily White, and on looks and breeding should make a name for herself.

Gold Painting, Otara, Grand Idea, Pao and Merry Lad were entrained from here on Friday for Trentham. The latter is looking in great buckle, and he will be a difficult candidate to silence in the Wellington Steeplechase.

Raumanuwhiri left on Saturday morning for Trentham. She is not engaged on the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting, but will probably be stripped for battle on Thursday, and her prospects appear to be of the favourable nature, for she is in great trim.

F. Lind has now got Gold Painting and Lord Laddo under his care. The pair are the property of Mr. Keith White, of Porangahau, who in times gone by has had a fair share of success at the racing business. Mr. W. G. Stead has claimed the following names for a trio of his rising two-year-olds that are located at Greenmeadows: —Chestnut filly by All Black — Class, First Class; bay gelding by Demosthenes — Drought, Dry Up; brown gelding by Demosthenes — Los Vegas, Athens. First Class is a half sister to Elite, Bon Ton, Steinhall, Eligible and The Toff.

Dry Up is a half brother to Sunburnt, Chin Chin, Ladiform, Dew and Wishful, and Athens’ dam is a full sister to Los Angelos, so it can be observed that the bunch are highly connected. One of the nicest movers that h&s been seen out in the juvenile class for a considerable period at Napier Park is the coming two-year-old full sister to Impediment (Demosthenes — Kautuku). She is the property of Mr. J. Hart, who owns Teka, and is one of J. Oldfield’s pupils. ,

J. S. O’Neill, of Hastings, is imparting knowledge to Tai-Ki, a five-year-old gelding by Formative —Melba. He is a lot in the rough at present, but gives promise of turning out well. Neither Diavolo or Kooya will be seen out in action at Trentham this week, as the pair are on the hospital list.

Messrs. H. Coyle and A. G. Wood have been reappointed handicapper and starter respectively to the Poverty Bay Turf Club. When several of Mr. W. K. Karaitiana’s thoroughbreds were offered for sale last week at Hastings the best bid that could be got for Sea Lord was 200 guineas, but as that was not any way near the reserve the chestnut gelding was sent back to his old quarters. Judging by his running at Hastings, the son of San Fran and Waikoura wants freshening up, for he was dying to a walk at the end of his efforts. No excuse can be made for his failure, other than that he is getting stale, for in both of his essays at Hastings he had matters all his own way in the early portion of his respective contests. Sir Alba has been purchased by a client of V. H. Collelo’s establishment, and after being treated to a rest is to be schooled over the obstacles.

Naupata, who was recently acquired by Mr. T. E. Whelch, of Wanstead, will not be a contestant at the ! Wellington meeting this week. It is probable that he will shortly be sent south and there run in the interests of Captain Barrett, who has Kirkby doing service for him. The report that J. Scott, of Trentham, would have control of the team at present under the education of J. M. Cameron, at Hastings, through that trainer having been drawn in the ballot, is not correct, for Cameron assured me the other day that no arrangement had yet been made as to who would be in charge of the string when he goes into camp. Lord Astolat, the coming three-year-old son of Advance and Maid of Astolat, has been operated upon, and when next he toes the mark will race as a gelding.

Trials, who is resting, is doing well as a result of his ease up, and the son of Tribulation will come back to business a much improved horse.

On Thursday evening the Hastings trainers were entertained at dinner at the Pacific Hotel by Messrs. H. M. Campbell and J. S. McLeod, the chair being occupied by Mr. H. M. Campbell, Mr. J. S. McLeod filling the vice chair. The object of the function was to bring the trainers into closer touch with the stewards of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, and a pleasant evening was spent by all. The health of Mr. James Munn, one of the oldest trainers in the district, was specially honoured, he being unable to be present. It is said that this is the first reunion of its nature that has taken place in New Zealand.

The success met with by Copestake at Hawke’s Bay on Turehau would, in a measure, compensate that horseman for his several previous disappointments, especially if he had the luck to share in the dividend. The win placed him on level terms with Traill for the leading position amongst cross-country horsemen. Traill’s accident has kept him out of the saddle since the Ellerslie meeting.

Icon is thought likely to win the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday.