WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1522, 26 June 1919, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

Wellington Racing Club’s Splendid Entries —Master Moutoa’s Promising Hurdle Prospects—Horowhenua Racing Club to Improve Their Stand Accommodation — Birkenetta in Training — Death of One-time Successful Cross-country rider.

WELLINGTON, Monday. Capital nominations have been received for the winter meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, which takes place on July 8, 10 and 12. All the principal jumpers in commission figure in the lists, while the flat events have filled remarkably well. The hack events contain the names of quite a number of horses who promise to turn out well on the turf. Taken all round, the response of owners and trainers is very liberal, and provided their opinions agree with those of the handicanper (Mr. H. Coyle) the Wellington Racing Club should experience the most successful three days’ gathering yet held at Trentham. Kyoto, the three-year-old black gelding by Maniapoto from Brilliant Step, is doing quite all right in his training under H. Batten at Feilding. This nice stamp of a galloper will be a competitor at Trentham. Master Moutoa, judging by his past exploits in private over the small sticks, has all the characteristics that go to make a fine hurdler. With the ability and pace he possesses the Sarto gelding bids fair to earn considerable success between the flags. D. Webster’s team at Otaki is being kept busy in view of the Wellington meeting. Beloved and Wonder are a pair that are showing excellent form on the tracks. Mr. W. M. Fenwick, of Featherston, has refused several tempting offers for Dainty Step. One ardent enthusiast offered £3OO, but was turned down. J. Ayers is busy at Trentham with Astinome, Battle Array, Battle Song and several others, all of whom are doing well in their training exertions. . Some success should come Joe’s way at the local meeting next month. Mr. H. E. Card, the well-known Featherston sportsman, has left for America on a health recruiting trip. Mr. Card was unfortunate enough to meet with a motor accident a couple of months back and has not yet recovered from the effects of the mishap. The officials of the Horowhenua Racing Club have under consideration the carrying out of some very necessary improvements in the way of stand accommodation on their property at Wereroa, With the progressive policy that has been adopted the club should later on become a very live country racing body. E. Penman, at Otaki, has Detroit and Some Girl both getting through some satisfactory track work. The former is a veritable mud lark, and a decent handicap may be picked up by the son of Frisco during the next few weeks. The well-bred Probity, by Bezonian from Tortulla, who has been a disappointment so far, is still being kept busy by her owner-trainer, W. H. Bowden, at Otaki. The four-year-old is a typical galloper, and hopes are entertained that she will yet make amends on the turf. The Shannon owner who races as “P. Rossmead” is again thinking of entering upon racing on an extensive scale. “Will,” as he is familiarly known to his many friends, has Birkenetta in training at present, and the bay mare should with ordinary luck pick up a race before the present season closes. Mr. Rossmead will be known as the owner of Motoa and Waiouru, both of whom ran with some success. The death took place at New Plymouth on Saturday week of an oldtime member of the racing brigade in W. H. Frewen, who was familiarly known in those days as “Dick” Frewen. The deceased was a fearless horseman over the country, and many a hard won race was accredited to him. The writer well remembers the day of the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting on the old Hutt racecourse in 1891, when Frewen, who was up on Oeo, and P. Johnson, who had the mount on Whalebone, ran a dead heat in the Wellington Steeplechase. Both riders were in their prime, and the contest they put up will long be re-

membered by those who witnessed the set-to over the final stages. In later years Frewen had been assisting Messrs. Jervy George ana his son Ernest, while latterly he had been associated with Percy Johnson’s training stable. It is a peculiar coincidence that Frewen should end his days with Johnson, with whom he rode many a stirring race. The deceased, who was 57 years of age, is survived by a son, who resides at Little River (Canterbury). The funeral, which took place on Monday last, was largely attended by owners and trainers of the district, which testified.to the high esteem in which he was held. Steps are already being taken to erect a headstone to his memory.