WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1514, 1 May 1919, Page 11

WANGANUI.

Zola a Probable Starter at Wanganui —Austin in Work Again—Wanganui J.C.’s Excellent Nominations —F. Tilley Has Strong Team Engaged —Egmont R.C.’s Winter Meeting— Rilde's Thompson Handicap Engagement. WANGANUI, Monday. It is probable that Zola will be able to race at the Wanganui meeting, that is provided there is not a further recurrence of the bleeding which stopped him the second day at Feilding. He has been nominated for the Connolly Handicap and the Empire Handicap, which are the two big flat events at the meeting, also the May Hurdles, 1% miles, on the second day, but does not figure in the Century Hurdles, the distance of which, about 2% miles —is considered too far for him. Austin has been in work at Hawera under J. Fryer’s care for some time. The son of Advance is looking well after his long spell, and he will probably be seen out in the Rata Hack Hurdles at Wanganui. The Wanganui Jockey Club has received excellent nominations for its winter meeting, and there is every prospect of some splendid racing being witnessed on the 22nd and 24th May. This meeting is always looked forward to with much interest because it is the first of the season’s big jumping fixtures. There are nineteen engaged in the Wanganui Steeplechase, including such good performers as Coalition, Master Strowan, Yellow and Black, and others. Sir Fisher figures amongst the entrants, and the Maniapoto gelding is expected to make good across country, as he is such a splendid jumper and can stay. Tirau is another which may distinguish himself this season, as his form last year was promising, while his showing at Avondale was proof of his forward condition. There is plenty of material to provide a remarkably fine race.

There are 22 in the Century Hurdles, and there is every prospect of one of the best fields numerically and from a quality point of view going to the post. Those whose names figure in the list include such well-known jumpers as Sleight of Hand, Whiro, Sir Fisher, Kauri King, and Waipunoa, while such promising hurdlers as Papanui, Paraoa, Yankee Jack and Golden Grafton also figure amongst those entered. There are 27 in the Hack Hurdles and 16 in the Hack Steeplechase, while the jumping events on the second day have also filled well. Equally good nominations have been received for the flat events, so that there is every reason to anticipate that the gathering will be a big success and thoroughly enjoyable. F. Tilley has Client, Rude, Bayberry, Endure, Arrowfield, Tame Fox and Oratress engaged at the Wanganui meeting. Bayberry has been added to the list since he was last seen on the race track, and the son of Bayardo is expected to show to better advantage now. Starengo’s leg filled just prior to the Feilding meeting, and he was not taken down there. The gelding is now practically all right again, and it is believed he will be ready to race at the winter meeting here. Zela has been nominated for the open sprint events as well as the hack races at the Wanganui meeting. The lameness which prevented her racing at Feilding has disappeared, and she is galloping in good, free style on the tracks. An effort is to be made to get another race or two out of Aurake. That gelding has been nominated for the hack steeplechase events at the Wanganui meeting. It is a long time since he raced, but if he stands a

preparation he should be hard to beat amongst the hacks over big country, as he was always a very fine jumper and had a lot of pace. The Egmont Racing Club appear to be in for a most successful meeting on the 14th and 15th May, judging by the nominations received. There are good entries for all of the events, and the cross-country and hurdling races promise to be we’l contested. There are only nine in the big flat event, but all of the other races have filled well.

The Fordell stable will be represented at the Egmont meeting, all going well, by Tame Fox, Bayberry and Arrowfield. H. Johnston has Tirairaka and Vance in steady work in view of the Egmont and Wanganui meetings. The first-named appears to be improving, and it would not be surprising to see him amongst the winners shortly. On his running at Feilding Yankee Jack gives promise of being hard to beat in some of the hurdle races to come. He looks well in at Trentham.'

Acre has been allowed to drop out of the Thompson Handicap, in which the Fordell stable will rely on Rude. The son of Cyrus is in splendid fettle, and with 8.0 is not badly treated.

Acre was probably never so well as at present, and he reads nicely in the Railway Handicap at Trentham with 8.12. He won like a racehorse the second day at Feilding, carrying 9.1. If he gets going with the others in the early part on Thursday he will keep them busy at the end, as he is finishing remarkably well in his races now.

A Christchurch owner wired to a well-known judge of horseflesh in Feilding, asking him to bid up to what he considered Whiro’s value. He went as far as 250gns.