HAWKE’S BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1426, 23 August 1917, Page 11

HAWKE’S BAY.

Manhattan and Settler Resume Work —Spain Relegated to Stud —Mr. H. E. Troutbeck’s Formidable Team — Merrie Lad’s Failures at Riccarton Prove Costly to Local Backers —The Grand National Hurdles Victor— Eligible in Great Heart After Lengthy Spell. NAPIER, Monday. Manhattan and Settler, who some time back were turned out for a rest, have again been put into work oy R. Gooseman. Judging by appearances, the holiday has agreed with the pair. P. Smith has Trials once again in commission, and Tribulation’s genuine son looks all the better for the let up from toil that had been his portion for some time. Smith is also giving the full-sister to Ample (Rokeby —Miss Dalrymple) an insight into her future life. This filly, who is owned by Mr. J. W. White, owner of Trials, was purchased last November in Christchurch for 160 guineas. She certainly looks a cheap purchase, for she shows power, quality and size, and ought to be more than useful in her future attempts. The last has been seen of Spain on the running path, for she has been sent to Longlands for the purpose of being mated with one of the stallions stationed on Mr. E. J. Watt’s, property. J. Webster, who for a lengthened period has well and truly filled the position of head lad at R. Gooseman’s training establishment, has severed his connection with that educator. Form Up was responsible for a good gallop at Hastings last week, and there is every indication that his coming attempts will be productive of the best of results. His stable comrades, Simonides, Thebes, Demigod, Piraeus, Elocution and Silver Tongue, are all acquitting themselves in the best possible manner in their track efforts. The two last-named have been nominated for Marton, and should the weights prove acceptable they will make the trip to Marton next month. The C.J.C. Grand National meet ng did not prove any good to local stay-at-home backers, the failures of Merrie Lad to get into the money meaning disaster to them, for the son of Merriwee was looked on as possessing great chances of success in his essays at Riccarton. Mayhap the fact that he had no lepping work since the Wellington meeting until a few days before the date of the Grand National Steeplechase in a measure brought about his downfall, for to complete a trying trip over big fences like those erected at Riccarton requ'res a good rehearsal, and on that point Merrie Lad was wanting. Sleight of Hand, who made good in the Grand National Hurdles, was bred by Mr. G‘. Hunter, of Porangahau, and is a son of Mystification and Rouble —not the Stud Book mare of that name, but a daughter of Wonderland. He made his first appearance at the annual meeting of the Porangahau Racing Club on Boxing Day, 1914, and scored an easy victory in the Ladies’ Race in the interests of Mrs. F. Armstrong, whose husband then owned him. Sleight of Hand won the National Hurdles in the nomination of his trainer, A. J. Shearsby, who had quite recently leased him from Mr. Armstrong. Shearsby’s many friends here were pleased at his success, for the way of late has not been of a too remunerative nature for him. Lord Astolat (Advance —Maid of Astolat), who a short time back was unsexed, is making slow progress from the effects of the operation. He is a massive-constructed youngster on the gross side, and equines of that class take time to ge over an infliction such as he has gone through. The other day Mr. T. E. Whelch sent Eligible to his old trainer, T. Quinlivan. The well-performed gelding looks in great heart, and there

is every apparent reason to anticipate that he will come through the tryingout ordeal in good fashion. The rest that has been his portion for nearly a year has evidently benefited his dicky leg, and though it is somewhat unsightly to look at it is quite cool and callous. Waterform is going along the right way in his exercises at Hastings. The bowed tendon that previously used to affect him is at present not interfering with his efforts.