LATER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1500, 23 January 1919, Page 11

LATER.

Riccarton-trained Contingent at Trentham —Punka’s Wellington Gup Engagement—Fiery Cross Improving Fast —Glendower to Contest Dunedin Cup—Notes on South Canterbury Meeting—Trainer T. H. Gillett Returns From Successful West Coast Campaign.

(Telegraph—Christchurch Correspondent)

All the Riccarton horses for the Wellington meeting are now at Trentham, and they are a really strong contingent. Locally, Punka finds much favour for the Wellington Cup, in which she will probably be ridden by R. S. Bagby. Though a great galloper when in th e humour, the filly does not always race up to form in big fields and wants matters much ■her own way.

M. Hobbs’ pair of two-year-olds, Tortrix and Favourita, are a smart pair of maidens, either of which is likely to pick up a race at Wellington. R. Emerson will be represented at Trentham by Moorable and Te Sapper, both of whom ran seconds at Timaru last week. They are by no

means high-class, and will be lucky to score. Fiery Cross is improving fast, and on Saturday showed brilliancy in a sprint over three furlongs. Evidently Christmas hopes to have his charge ready for the Dunedin meeting, as he has engaged him in the weight-for-age Hazlett Memorial Plate. Koesian was responsible for several useful gallops before leaving for Wellington, but he can hardly be at his best on such a light preparation. He will be ridden in the Telegraph Handicap by C. Emerson.

Glendower is going on the right way, and on Saturday gave a nice showing over 'five furlongs. His mission is supposed to be the Dunedin Cup. Since his return from Auckland Kilrush has done little work. On Saturday he was given a light task, but did npt shape well, being sore on pulling up. John Barleycorn showed something like his true form in winning the chief event at the South Canterbury meeting last week. This marked his first success since going into F. E. Jones’ stable, and was very popular. If John Barleycorn can be kept sound there seems every prospect of him picking up a good stake during the autumn.

On their return from the South Canterbury meeting Subterfuge and Pyjama were turned out for a few days’ spell. Both will probably be racing again at the Dunedin meeting. In the meantime McComb is putting plenty of work into Bon Spec, who is galloping in improved style. Mr. G. L. Stead appears to hold a very strong hand in the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap with Kilmoon, Almoner, and Melee. The last-named did not race up to form at Ellerslie, but should he return to the form he displayed when h e won the Amberley Cup there is little doubt he may yet prove useful as a three-year-old. T. H. Gillett returned home on Saturday night with Tip Up, Achilledes, Recorder, Red Pool, Mimic, Merton and Rosevear, after a successful campaign at the West Coast meetings. Altogether he won thirteen races, as well as much place money.