WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1480, 5 September 1918, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

Death of Mr. J. H. Pollock —Nev/ Zealand Horses Leave for Austra-lia-Master Strowan and Gang Awa’ to be Given Spell—Matatua in Good Fettle. WELLINGTON, Monday. The death of Mr. J. H. Pollock, which took place at Wellington on Tuesday morning, removes a wellknown sporting identity, one who had been closely identified with racing and amateur athletics in New Zealand for very many years. For a considerable period Mr. Pollock had acted as handicapper for several racing and trotting clubs, and his skill and fair mindedness in this connection was always a theme for admiration amongst sporting enthusiasts. For some time he was handicapper to the Wellington Racing Club, but, owing to a sudden attack of paralyse, he had to relinquish the position four years ago, since when he has been orac-ically an invalid. He funeral, which took place on Thursday, was thoroughly representative of the sporting and athletic bodies, all of which were in evidence, while many beautiful wreaths were sent, amongst them being several from the racing clubs that Mr. Pollock had been associated with. The deceased is survived by a widow, two sons and a daughter, who have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their sad bereavement. By the s.s. Moeraki, which left Wellington for Sydney on Friday last, the New Zealand contingent of racehorses belonging to Messrs. T. H. Lowry, W. Richmond. and G. L. Stead were shipped. Trainers J. M. Cameron, F. Davis and R. D. O’Donnell accompanied the respective teams, and in a conversation with the writer they expressed their in-

tention of endeavouring to uphold the prestige of New Zealand in racing affairs in New South Wales and Victoria during the next few months. All the horses, especially Desert Gold, looked in rare buckle, and their future exploits across the Tasman Sea will be awaited with interest by the sporting fraternity of New Zealand.

Mr. F. S. Easton has decided to give Master Strowan and Gang Awa’ a spell. It is quite probable that the pair will be found racing in Australia next year. All of Mr. T. H. Lowry’s horses, viz., Desert Gold, Finmark, Killowen, Estland and Kilhope, looked well to the eye as they were shipped on board the Moeraki on Thursday last. The team should certainly fare well across the Tasman Sea.

J. Ayres, at Trentham, has “Mr. P. Soames’ ” two horses Battle Array (Signor—Carissima) and Battle Song (Signor — Armistice) looking really well just now. This pair of typical gallopers should soon be getting their names on the winning lists. The bay horse Dick, by Gluten — Zealandia, is coming on nicely under J. Ayres’ guidance at Trentham. The four-year-old, who displays some dash in his work, will in all probability be a competitor at the Dannevirke meeting. Cyresian, who was recently purchased by the local sportsman, Mr. H. W. Brown, will make his first appearance in his new owner’s colours this week at Marton. C. Pritchard has Matatua, the three-year-old filly by Birkenhead from Sunbonnet, very well just now. She is to compete at Marton this week.

Rienzi (Signor—lsmene), who has shown some pace on the track, is to be tried over the hurdles. The brown gelding is a solidly built customer, and, being fairly fast on the flat, there is every reason to believe

that he will prove a payable proposition over the obstacles.

J. McLaughlin, at Trentham, has a couple of useful equines in training, viz., Red Signal (All Red —Ancilla) and Sunburst (Boniform — Rose Petal), both of whom are giving creditable displays on the trainingtracks. The pair are not being unduly bustled and should be cherry ripe by October, when they will be found competing at several of the up-country meetings. Intermezzo, the five-year-old mare by Gay Spark from Prologue, is doing all right in her training under J. Ayres’ guidance at Trentham. The chestnut will accompany her stable mate Dick to the Dannevirke meeting.

In talking over old time reminiscences with the New Plymouth trainer, P. Johnson, recently, the latter recounted to the writer a feat that he performed at Waitara about 20 years ago, when he rode lonic and won four races with the one horse in an afternoon. The races won by lonic, who was top weight in every event_he competed in, were the New Year Handicap, Flying Handicap, Waitara Cup and Welter Handicap. lonic was owned by Mr. F. Watson, who is now a popular steward of the Taranaki Jockey Club and who raced Dummy, St. Laura, Okoari, Muscatel, Battleaxe and many others whose names are very familiar to old-time racing enthusiasts. B. Russell, a son of the late Mr. J. J. Russell (New Plymouth), of Waiuku fame, is now on home service at the Trentham Camp, being in charge of the “clinque,” as this place of detention is familiarly called, has his mare Torero with him in close proximity to the camp. The chestnut, who is a capital jumper, is being trained by Mrs. Russell, who hopes to have her charge ready to carry silk by the time the spring meeting of the Wellington Racing Club comes up for decision.

Coalition, _ who has proved one of the best steeplechasers in the Dominion since the beginning of last season, having won £lBlO in stakes, this amount including his victory at Riccarton last month, is to be given a well-earned spell from activity, and will not be seen in action at the spring meetings.