WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1484, 3 October 1918, Page 12

WAIRARAPA.

Affectation Shows Promise —Interesting Gallop at Opaki—Red Ribbon’s New Zealand Cup Engagement— Cyrisian Runs Well at Otaki—Preparations for Masterton Meeting— Juvenile Event Attracts Much Attention —W. Garrett’s Team at Opaki.

MASTERTON, Saturday. Five Masterton-trained horses were taken to Otaki, but Hydrus was the only one to get into the money, he being third in the Welter, his second appearance during the day. W. Hawthorne’s charges are all going along well in their work. The majority of the team were given a dose of physic this week. The two Bezonian fillies have been ridden, but will not be asked to do much until the autumn.

Affectation is showing great promise in his track work at Opaki, and it is quite on the cards that J. T. Jamieson has got hold of a two-year-old of more than average galloping ability. Master Boris has been on the easy list since the National meeting. E. Watson, the Palmerston North trainer, came to Masterton during the week and took Mr. Brightwell’s gelding back with him, and will prepare him for future engagements. An interesting gallop took place over three furlongs at Opaki this week, when the two-year-olds, Rose Wreath, Hytinas and Hyades, were given an outing. Rose Wreath finished just in front of Hytinas. with Hyades close up. All three shaped pleasingly. The local mare. Red Ribbon, appears to be nicely treated in the New Zealand Cup with 7.4. Last season the daughter of Elevation and Blue Ribbon ran second in the Auckland Cup with 7.2. and a month later was second in the Wellington Cup with 7.11. She afterwards won the Wairarapa Cup, carrying 8.5. Multaine, Gladful and Wishful are going along steadily at Opaki. Gladful is being kept up to the collar in view of the Avondale meeting, while the other two will probably race at the local meeting. T. Pritchard has his team looking well just now, and Damien was seen to advantage. one morning this week in a try-out with one of the Hymettus geldings in T. Higgins’ stable. The locally-owned and trained Snub has been given 7.11 in the New Zealand Cup, which is 51b less than the son of Martian and Lady Disdain carried into third place behind Menelaus and Johnny Walker last year.

Cyrisian (Elysian—Cyirma) ran his best race since coming to the Wairarapa in the Flying Handicap at Otaki, when he beat all but Demos. Mr. Brown’s gelding can be depended upon to improve. His stable mate, Form Up, was made favourite in the big handicap, and 21b. overweight were put up to secure Sid. Reid’s services, but the Formative gelding did not flatter his many supporters and seemed to find the distance too far.

Caretaker McConkey has the course and surroundings at Opaki looking at their best just now, the lawns and flower beds presenting a very attractive appearance. The alterations to the tea rooms are now complete, and a marked improvement should be noticed in this department at the spring meeting. Mr. Fred. Dorset’s gelding, Blue Hall (Hallowmas —Blue Ribbon) was left in the A.J.C. Derby after the first payment through the letter scratching the gelding not having reached its destination. Another 4 sovs is now due, and the Masterton sportsman has cabled withdrawing the horse, as another payment of 20 sovs is due early in October. As was expected, owners have responded liberally to the juvenile event at the Masterton Racing Club’s meeting. This will be the first opportunity of giving the youngsters an outing in public this season, and owners having a representative in the Wellesley Stakes at Wellington will no doubt avail themselves of the opportunity to give their horses a race. Last year the event was won by 80-Peep, which filly afterwards won the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton.

There are only two nominations from this district for the New Zealand Cup, and Masterton stables pro-

vide them both. The horses are Red Ribbon and Snub, trained by W. Garrett and W. Hawthorne respectively. Although the entry is a light one, in point of quality both have proved themselves over a distance, Snub having ran third in last year’s New Zealand Cup, while Red Ribbon was second in the Auckland Cup. W. Hawthorne has worked a considerable improvement in Snub, and it is expected that he will strip a better horse this season than at any part of his career. Red Ribbon is also looking really well, though a little on the big side, but W. Garrett can be depended upon to have the daughter of Elevation and Blue Ribbon right on the day. W. Garrett’s team at Opaki now consists of Sir Solo, Red Ribbon, Blue,Hall and Vitella (HallowmasVite). Vite was raced in this district by Mr. Frank Dorset a few years ago, and is by Merriwee from Bluewater. Although on the small side, Vitella shows a good deal of pace in the gallops at Opaki and promises well. Sir Solo is being kept going in view of the Auckland summer meeting, and Red Ribbon is in nice condition after his spell. Blue Hall has yet to make his appearance with the colours up, but is going along nicely in his work. All going well in the meantime, W. Garrett will again pay a visit to Auckland at Christmas. Red Ribbon will again contest the Cup, and Sir Solo the hurdle events. The following Wairarapa - trained horses have been nominated for the Wellington meeting:—Brown Joe, Blue Hall, Railand, Black Hill, Missgold, Vitella, Rose Wreath, Hyades, Murihiku, Quotation, Wolthea, Snub, Tuticorn, Occasion, Belle Noir, Sir Agnes, Galore, For.m Up, Chimera, Torfreda, Damien, Hymestra, Nanna, Cyrisian, Hytinas and Affectation. Included in the nominations for the Masterton Racing Club’s meeting are the folloiwng Cup winners:—Sasanof (Melbourne Cup), Menelaus (N.Z. Cup), Depredation (Auckland Cup), Client (Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Cups), and Nobleman (Manawatu and Wellington Cups).