WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1501, 30 January 1919, Page 11

WAIRARAPA.

Death of Yearling Filly by Field Battery—Local Horses Engaged at Egmont Meeting — Opaki - trained Horses Secure First Day’s Big Double at Trentham — Vascovia Joins W. Garrett's Team — Sir Solo Amiss —Manna at Top of Her Form —Mr. Fred. Dorset’s Unique - Record in Wellington Cup—Wins Big Event on Three Occasions. MASTERTON, Saturday. T. Pritchard had the bad luck to lose a yearling filly by Field Battery on Monday last through the youngster being gored by a bull. Several extra loose - boxes and scraping sheds are being erected on the Opaki course. The timber for same was purchased when the dismantling of the old show grounds was put in hand. There are a good number of Wai-rarapa-trained horses nominated for the Egmont meeting, including the following: Hymestra, Nanna, Snub, Torfreda, Wishful, Hydrus, Form Up, Multicipal, Cyrisian, and Scornful. Among the team at present being worked at Opaki by W. Garrett is a gelding by Canada —Lochiela, owned by Mr. Hume, of Lansdowne. Mr. A. McDonald has entered Rose Wreath, Hydrus and Murihiku for the Christchurch summer meeting. The Masterton sportsman sent a team to the corresponding fixture last year. The full sister to Comment is going along nicely under W. Galbraith’s care at Featherston, and greatly resembles her sire (Provocation). Mr. Fred. Dorset had the unfortunate luck to lose a foal by Autumnus — Blue Ribbon. The youngster was only a few weeks old. Black Hill has not been on the track at Opaki since being gelded, and it will be the winter before Mr. S. Pinkerton’s gelding will face the starter. Although complaints have been made as to the state of the local tracks, horses from Masterton continue to win races, Red Ribbon deadheating with Rewi Poto in the Wellington Cup, while Nanna accounted for the Telegraph Handicap, the pair thus securing the big double. Vascovia, owned by Mr. W. McKenzie, of Masterton, has been placed in W. Garrett’s hands to be prepared for future events. Vascovia is not too sound, and will not be hurried. The only locally-owned horse to get into the money at Foxton was Otara, third place in the Welter being the best Mr. Vallence’s gelding could do. The majority of those near the winning post were of opinion that Otara was second. Mr. Dorset has for some time had in view a trip to Australia, and there is a likelihood of Red Ribbon, who has been entered for the Sydney Cup, going across in the autumn. The Masterton owner sent Sir Solo across some years ago to contest the Melbourne Cup. Blue Hall (Hallowmas —Blue Ribbon) has not been persevered with lately, and it is likely that he will be given a lengthy spell. W. Hawthorne hoped to leave for Australia on Saturday last with Mr. Kemball’s team, and the fact that the second day’s engagements at Trentham were cancelled also those at Pahiatua, would appear as though the Masterton trainer had been successful in procuring accommodation, but at the moment of writing I have no definite inforamtion on the matter. Wishful and Gladful are still at Masterton, and will not be sent across at present. Sir Solo has been in rather a bad way since his return from the Auckland meeting. He was suffering from what appeared to be muscle soreness, but on Wednesday last a lump formed high up on the inside of the hip, and had to be lanced. It will be a long time before the old fellow will be able to visit the track again. Nanna is at the top of her form just now, and by her wins at Auckland and Wellington can be classed as one of the foremost sprinters at present in training. Mr. Kemball’s mare has shown consistent form, and is always sent to the post in good condition by her trainer, W. Hawthorne. Mr. Fred. Dorset, of Masterton, owner of Red Ribbon, must be considered to have a unique record in connection with the Wellington Cup. To have won the event three times in ten years is a notable performance for an owner who does not race on a large scale. Mr. Dorset won the event in 1909 with Blue Ribbon, in 1913 with Sir Solo, and this year Red Ribbon dead-heated for first place. The forward running of his colours at Trentham on Wednesday last would be very gratifying to the

local owner, as he bred Red Ribbon himself from a mare he also won the event with. W. Garret turned the mare out in splendid condition, and had it not been that she got into a lot of trouble rounding the home turn she might have had her number hoisted on top of that of Rewi Poto.