WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1457, 28 March 1918, Page 12

WELLINGTON.

H. Telford’s Pair for Ellerslie —Seadown’s Easter Handicap Engagement- —Prospects of the Feilding Meeting—Notes on the Rangitikei Gathering. WELLINGTON, Monday. H. Telford loft for Auckland on Wednesday last, taking with him Philomela and 80-peep, who claim engagements at the approaching A.R.C. meeting. Both youngsters are very 'fit, and should run well in their contests. Seadown has been sent to Auckland to compete in the Easter Handicap. The gelding has come through a capital preparation at the, hands of J. W. Lowe,, and should give a creditable showing in that event. Bonnie Maid (Boniform — Happy Maid), owned by a local sportsman, has been sent through to Auckland to compete in the Great Northern Oaks and Great Northern St Leger Stakes. The three-year-old filly is very well just now, and should run forward in her engagements. Moutoa Queen and Gang Awa’ ran well enough last week to suggest that the pair are rapidly coming back to form. They should fare well at Feilding.

Sir Fisher is fast coming back to his form of last season, and should with ordinary luck take a hand in the finish of the hurdling events at

Feilding. After her forward running at the Wairarapa, Miss Deval is fancied in well-informed circles for the Fei’ding Cup. Owner-trainer Eb. Simpson has the chestnut mare in rare buckle just now.

After many failures, and when well fancied by his connections, Gold Soult succeeded in getting amongst the winners at the Rangitikei meeting, winning the big event on the second day. Nobody would begrudge Mr. J. H. Prosser a win with the son of Gold Crest, who, on appearances, is a fine stamp of the thoroughbred, but who is not over-generous. Gold Problem (Gold Crest —Probability) won the Trial Plate at Bulls very easily last week from a field of twenty competitors. The chestnut, who is being trained by F. J. Carmont at Levin, is one of the useful galloping division in training in those parts.

Lady Louisa, looking fit and well, is a daily attendant on the Levin tracks. The mare will be heard of at some of the future fixtures.

Mr. J. Bull’s gelding All Over, by All Red, continued his victorious career by getting amongst the winners at the Rangitikei meeting last week. The four-year-old should act as an excellent medium for his sire, who will be at the service of breeders in the Rangitikei district this season.

Haumakaka, owned by a couple of po’pular Marlborough sportsmen, added to his winning total at Bulls last week. The son of Achilles —Punawai is far from a spent number, and some more successes should come his way when the tracks are holding, for the six-year-old is no good whatever on hard ground. Amongst those of the returned soldiers who landed in Wellington last week was Private W. H. Knox, a keen sporting enthusiast, who prior to going to the war was president of the Tramways Union. Private Knox saw considerable fighting on the western front, and is much benefitted as a result of his long sea trip. He describes the, trip through the Panama Canal as one of the greatest sights he has experienced since his absence from New Zealand.

A feature of the welcome home to the three drafts of returning New Zealand soldiers that landed in Wellington last week and were welcomed by close on ten thousand people, was the stirring and enthusiastic speech delivered by Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald, a keen and popular sporting enthusiast, of Wellington, who in the absence of the Mayor welcomed them on behalf of the city.