WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1504, 20 February 1919, Page 11

WAIRARAPA.

Masterton R.C.’s Autumn Meeting— Comment’s Pleasing Track Form — J. J. Gravestock’s Team at Opaki— Local Horses Claiming Engagements at Dannevirke.

MASTERTON, Friday

The well-known horseman R. Hatch has taken up his residence in Masterton, and rides work regularly on the local track.

Black Lake is still spelling on his owner’s place at Gladstone, but an effort is to be made shortly to train the son of All Black.

After the recent dry weather the course at Opaki is on the hard side at present, and some good gallops have been done lately by local candidates engaged at Wanganui. Lady General and Murihiku have been responsible' for one or two pleasing efforts.

Mr. W. E. Bidwill, the well-known Wairarapa sportsman, has donated £lOO towards the cost of a soldiers’ memorial, which it is proposed to erect at Featherston.

Harry Pritchard, who recently returned from the front, expects to be following his calling as a trainer shortly. This painstaking mentor has already been offered several horses, but at present is unable to secure suitable training quarters. The Racing Conference has advised the local club that March 22 is available for the autumn meeting, and it has been decided to race on that date.

The well-known hurdle horseman R. Hunt is at present residing at Masterton, and is under engagement to Mr. C. F. Vallance.

Comment is going along nicely in her work at Featherston, and has built up a lot since her win at Trentham. The daughter of Provocation and Wai Lethe will be a competitor at the Dannevirke meeting.

Lady Black is a regular attendant on the local track, and appears to be sound again. The knee trouble from which she was suffering is improving under T. Pritchard’s care, and it should not be long before this useful sprinter is seen with the colours up. Idyllic (Hymettus—ldea), a member of T. Pritchard’s team, is still on the easy list. She may shortly go to the stud.

Private advice received in Masterton states that W. Hawthorne has landed with his horses at Sydney, after being held up in quarantine for ten days.

P. J. Daly has Bayswater looking well just now, and hopes to pick up a race at the district meetings next month. Bayswater' has not done much racing lately, but hits out well on the training track. After the first forfeit the following Wairarapa-trained horses remain in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes: Torfreda, Affectation, Rose Wreath, Murihiku, and Cyresian. The first four are all in the nomination of Mr. A. McDonald, and trained by J. T. Jamieson. J. J. Gravestock’s team at Opaki now consists of Chimera, Otara, Torchy and Sturdy. Torchy has just been taken up after a lengthy spell, caused by an accident at the Hawke’s Bay winter meeting. The following Wairarapa-trained horses have been nominated for the Dannevirke meeting: Galore, Damien, Tuticorn, Comment, Penury • Rose, Multaine, Missgold, Rebuff, Multicipal, Rose Wreath, Hyades and Zabism.

It is probable that the Blairlogie stud of thoroughbreds, which was founded about twelve months ago by the late Mr. Rupert Morrison, will be dispersed shortly, and the animals are likely to be taken to Auckland for disposal. Included among the stock are the sire Hymettus and brood mare Straga, and a large number of youngsters. Should the stud be disposed of it will be a distinct loss to this district, and an effort will probably be made to retain at least a portion of it. When the late Mr. Morrison purchased the stud it was his intention to breed extensively for his own use, and when the animals got to racing age he intended taking an active part on the turf. .