WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1473, 18 July 1918, Page 11

WANGANUI.

Zela and Zola in Work Again—Pennon Coming Back to Form-—Steady Preparation Being Made for the Spring Meetings — The Easton Double—Erstwhile Prominent Crosscountry Rider’s Reminiscences. # WANGANUI, Monday. M. Gardner took Hyginas to Web lington. but the gelding was with* drawn from his engagements owing to the death of Mr. H. M. Brewer,* who was a relative of Mr. A. Symes, who owns the gelding. Marton was in capital fettle when he left here for Trentham, where he started on the second, day, but failed to do any good in the July Steeplechase. He does not like soft going, and this might have interfered with his chance to some extent, but the son of Malachi has evidently float much of his dash. He shodldi be able to* win a race or two yet, though ; probably the company wilt not need ; to be; so good as lie met on Saturafly. W. Rayner has put Zela .and Zola . into work again. They are both looking well after their spell, and It should not take long to get them back into racing form. Zola has

built up a lot lately and should be all the better for it. Rayner has hopes that Pennon will stand up to her work all right, as she is moving very freely and.already showing signs of a return to forn. The three coming two-year-olds in this stable are all doing as well as can be expected, and have shown-that they know how to handle themselves by the way that they gallop iff short flutters. The chestnut son of Absurd —Catchfly is a particularly fine-look-ing colt, and if he keeps sound he should make his mark. Vladian was very rough when brought in, but he is gradually fining down. He is in steady work on the track, and is bowling along in nice free style. He will not be* hurried, as he will not be wanted until the November meetings. AV. Higgins is keeping the Sylvanite gelding which he has in work going steadily, and he promises to shape well over the small sticks, though whether he will have much pace remains to be seen. «JThe name of Rose Queen has been bestowed upon the rising two-year-old filly by King Rufus —Roscommon, which W. Rayner has in'his stable, and which is owned by Mr. Geo. Currie. Mr. *P. S. Easton’s pair, Master Strowan ’ and Gang Awa’, are likely to touch a very short price for the Grand National double, though some are inclined to think that Gang Awa s prospects would have been much improved had he been given a race at Trentham. However, the son of Provocation is a very free goer, and if he fails at Riccarton it is not likely to be from want of condition. It remains to be seen r how he will shape over the hurdles in the big event, as they are fairly stiff, but he appears to be an exceptionally fine jumper over the lower hurdles, and his brilliancy will help to make him a very hard horse to beat if he has any luck at all in the race. In the course of a chat the other day with Mr. E. (“Teddy”) McElwain, who was at one time a prominent cross-country rider and later —on owned that fine steeplechaser Oddfellow, amongst other good ones, the writer mentioned having seen King Don win a race or two in 1880. “Teddy” reminded the writer that he rode King Don to victory twice in one day at a meeting held at Aramoho, and also the same afternoon scored on Silver Thread in another steeplechase event. The three races were run in succession, McElwain winning first on King Don, then on Silver Thread, and then again on King Don. There were good fields in all three events, and thus “Teddy’s” performance in doing the “hat trick” was a particularly fine one, especially as the country over which they raced in those days was very much stiffer than is the case to-day. By the way, both King Don and Silver Thread were owned by Mr. J. Higgie. McElwain has not been enjoying the best of health lately, being crippled with rheumatism, but he still takes a keen interest in racing. The work being done on the track just now is not of particular interest. J. Peachey has the half-sister to Impediment and Miss Fisher in steady work, and has just taken Reparation up again. A. Hall is keeping Sonnino going, and this colt should be in excellent trim by the time the new season opens.

The Soult mare Mahinga, who won pony races and open events during several seasons on the turf, died last week owing to internal troubles. She had got out of the paddock where she had been depasturing and was on the way to the pound at the time she succumbed. An enquiry elicited the suggestion that bots had probably caused her death.