WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1508, 20 March 1919, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

Old Gold’s Popular Double Win at Tauherenikau—Notes on the Wairarapa Meeting—A Trio of Successful Horsemen—Account for Whole of First Day’s Events — Prospects of the Woodville Meeting. WELLINGTON, Monday. Old Gold, who won a double at Tauherenikau on Thursday last, is a fine cut of a galloper, and will assuredly win further races in the near future. The three-year-old is owned by “Rod” McKenzie, of Palmerston North, and is trained by T. Lloyd, who turned out another winner during the afternoon in Sacramento. To win three races with two horses out of eight events on the day’s programme is certainly something of a record.

Dainty Step, who filled the position of runner-up to Old Gold in the Trial Hack Handicap on the opening day at Tauherenikau. is a shapely filly who will assuredly be heard of again at no distant date. In this three-year-old daughter of Lucullus — Adoption, Mr. W. Fenwick has a decidedly useful representative to carry his colours. Mr. J. G. Duncan, of the Waikanae Stud, was represented at the Wairarapa meeting by a shapely Englishbred filly in Violetta, a three-year-old by Marajak, who later on will grace the paddocks at the well-known breeding establishment. Mr. A. McDonald, of “Ngakonui” fame, won a couple of races on the opening day of the Wairarapa meeting with Torfreda and Affectation, who registered their respective victories in an attractive style. Mr. McDonald is a liberal supporter of racing, and the successes were very popularly received. Red Signal was regarded by backers as a “racecourse certainty” for the Wardell Handicap on the opening day at Tauherenikau, but the brown filly was not equal to the occasion, fourth being the best that

she could accomplish. She looked well to the eye, however, and should soon be in the winning form which marked her displays in the early part of the year. The riding of H. Gray, L. C. Morris and B. Deeley was a feature of the first day of the Wairarapa meeting last week, the three horsemen named riding between them all the winners on the programme. The two first-named rode three winners each, while the remaining two events were won by Deeley. Sacramento continues his victori- ‘ ous career by winning at Tauherenikau. The half brother to Vi, by California, gives every promise of developing into a top notcher.

Momac ran a fine race in the Mokai Welter on Thursday. The Achilles gelding should be adding to his winning account at the Masterton meeting.

Mascot ran a splendid race in the Wairarapa Cup, and but for running out in the straight when in a line for the winning post she may have reversed positions with the winner, who had to be shaken up to stall off a challenge thrown out by Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford’s representative, who was conceding the victor (Bonnie Maid) 151 b. in weight. Mascot’s performance was certainly very creditable.

Rose Pink appeared to be feeling the effects of her excessive travelling and racing at the Wairarapa meeting, and it was noticeable that she moved a trifle short in her preliminary. The public, however, stuck to her, making her a good second favourite. She was in front for a short distance in the early stages, but soon drifted to the rear, eventually finishing in the ruck. The Kilbroney mare certainly deserves a holiday, for it is questionable if ever New Zealand has seen a galloper that has been continually raced and travelled as has been the case with Rose Pink, who is known on most of the racecourses in the Dominion.

Sweet Tipperary ran a fine race in the Wangaimoana Welter at Tauherenikau, and in defeating Comment, who was allowing the black mare 91b., she was responsible for an excellent performance. Messrs. Dwan Bros.’ representative will make her next appearance at Woodville, where she appears to have every prospect of adding to her winning total.

Mr. R. Chisholm, at Featherston, has a fine yearling colt by Provocation from a Somerled mare, bred by Sir George Clifford, running out on his property. On looking the youngster over last week the writer was much impressed with his massive appearance and well set up quarters. The youngster has all the characteristics necessary to make him a capital addition to the racing ranks. H. S. Crawford, the well-known Wairarapa trainer, who went away with the 29th Reinforcements and was subsequently invalided back to New Zealand, has again decided to take up his calling at Featherston. Previous to going to the front, Crawford always gained many admirers for the splendid condition in which he landed Consultation and Haumakaka at the post, and with his wide knowledge of the many peculiarities of the thoroughbred Crawford should soon have his boxes fully tenanted. Moutoa Ivanova is developing into a capital stamp of a galloper. This bearer of Mr. F. S. Easton’s colours should give a good account of herself at Woodville.

Sonnino is one likely to run well at Woodville, and there are quite a number of critics who do not put the Cup beyond this promising galloper’s powers.

In Bonny Briar and Star Lady, the Kairanga sportsman, Mr. A. J. Toxward, will have a formidable pair to carry his colours at Woodville. The two horses named should certainly give a good account of themselves at the meeting. F. J. Carmont, the Levin trainer, is taking a useful quartette to Woodville, the team being composed of Sweet Tipperary, Gold Problem, Utuwai and Ahika. The four horses named have all been running prominently of late. After her forward running at Tauherenikau, Dainty Step will have many admirers in any events that

she may contest at Woodville. The three-year-old black filly is certainly destined to improve on her second at Tauherenikau. H. Eva, who has been acting as private trainer to Mr. Harold W. Brown for some time past, is severing his connection with the Wellington owner with the idea of again setting up as a public trainer. During the seven months that Eva has been associated with Mr. Brown he has been singularly successful with his horses, Form Up, Loyal Arch and Cyrisian, having won races at Wellington, Masterton, Avondale, Auckland and New Plymouth. Eva’s record is an excellent one, and the future should find him with another useful team of racehorses.