WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1504, 20 February 1919, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

Menelaus in Good Fettle—Karo Fancied for Wanganui Cup—G. Price Back Again With Mr. J. Goring Johnson — D. Webster’s Team Strikes Form.

WELLINGTON, Monday.

Quite a number of local sporting enthusiasts are planning a trip to the Wanganui Jockey Club’s meeting, which takes place on Thursday and Saturday next. With the prospect of witnessing some capital racing, the gathering should prove very successful.

The nominations received for the Dannevirke Racing Club’s two-day meeting are very satisfactory, and are a tribute to the popularity of the club. The fixture gives every indication of proving very enjoyable. The appointment of Mr. Walter Armstrong, of Grej town, to the position of judge to the Masterton Racing Club has been well received in sporting circles. Mr. Armstrong has had a life-long experience with racing, extending well over 50 years, first as a rider and then as an- owner, and at the present moment he is secretary to the South Wairarapa Trotting Club. Mr. Armstrong is a popular identity, and there are many enthusiasts who are prepared to see him making a distinct success when it comes to hoisting the numbers of the placed horses. Bonnie Maid and Battle Array are an improving pair that are doing well under “Joe” Ayres’ guidance at Trentham. Both horses, which are owned by a popular local medico, are down to compete at Wanganui this week, and there are a number of shrewd critics who are prepared to see the gallopers named getting amongst the winners in the near future.

Menelaus, who has been responsible for some pleasing gallops at headquarters, is to fulfil his Wanganui Cup engagement. The son of Martian

is in perfect fettle, and should soon be adding to his winning account. Followers of the game will not hear of Karo losing the Wanganui Cup. In giving this splendid filly 7.5, Mr. Coyle cannot be accused of overharshness.

Afterglow, who won the Taranaki and Egmont Cups, was exceptionally well treated in the matter of poundage, there being only 21b. difference in both races. Critics were heard commenting on the light weights allotted the three-year-old, who won both races in a very convincing style. Trainer G. Price, who has £wice journeyed to England as a Red Cross bearer on the hospital ships, and who received his discharge from the military authorites at Palmerston North last week, has again taken up his old position as. trainer to Mr. J. Goring Johnston at Awapuni. With several promising thoroughbreds coming on, the popular George should soon have some of the bearers of the blue and buff livery among the winners. Master Moutoa ran a couple of clinking races at the Poverty Bay meetings. The Sarto gelding should be picking up a decent handicap shortly.

To take four horses to two meetings and for none of them to finish out of a place is surely something of a record. The incident related is attributed to the Otaki trainer “Dug” Webster, who took Want, Beloved Wonder and Master Moutoa to the Gisborne and Poverty Bay meetings. Certainly the dividends were not very large, but the trip was very remunerative from a financial point of view. The horses named ran five firsts, two seconds and one third, which is highly creditable. Mr. W. G‘. Emeny, an erstwhile resident of Wellington and now resiing at New Plymouth, secured a long overdue win with his galloper Paddington Green at Hawera last week. The chestnut was heavily supported by Mr. Enieny at the Taranaki and Stratford meetings, where he ran very

badly, and his success on Wednesday last was due. Followers of Paddington Green deserted him last week when he won, and the dividend returned ran into a substantial twofigure one. It was only the other day that Hector Gray said he would never ride the horse again, and by the irony of fate Paddington Green (who was ridden by F. Johnson) just got up in time to defeat Active, on whom Gray had the mount, by a head. Sweet Tipperary ran extremely well at Hawera last week, and there is every prospect of the black mare proving a payable proposition at the hurdle business.

At Palmerston North A. Shearsby is busy with Reformation and a couple of young horses who later on will be found carrying Mr. Frank Armstrong's colours. Sleight of Hand will shortly be joining the team to be got in readiness for steeplechasing events in the winter. As a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. W. H. Hartgill, whose loss is severely felt by sportsmen all over the country, the Dannevirke Racing Club have perpetuated his name by calling the principal race at their approaching meeting the Hartgill Memorial Handicap. If for no other purpose the event should 'fill well, for Mr. Hartgill was deservedly popular with everybody.