WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1528, 7 August 1919, Page 10

WAIRARAPA.

Mr. C. F. Vallance's Horses on Easy L st—Training Activity at Opaki— Rebuff and Missgold to Join Mr. Kemball’s Team in Australia—Preparations for Marton Meeting— Kilbroney—Grey Linnet Filly’s Promising Track Essays—B. Nicol’s Team at Lansdowne Progressing Favourably. MASTERTON, Thursday. Wairarapa owners have responded well to the entries for the Royal Stakes, to be run at the 1919-20 meeting of the Auckland Racing Club. Mr. A. McDonald has eight engaged, Mr. W. R. Kemball seven, and Mr. W. E. Bidwill two. Mr. C. F. Vallance’s horses are at present on the easy list, and will not be seen out at Riccarton. Sturdee, I’orchy and Tuticorn will be taken up again shortly. It is expected that there will be between 40 and 50 horses in training at Opaki from now on, including a large number of youngsters. J. T.

Jamieson has the largest team at present, and T. Pritchard and B. Nicols each have their hands full. W. Garrett has six inmates in the stable. Rebuff and Missgold are to join Mr. Kemball’s team in Australia as scon as favourable transport arrangements can be made. They leave here next week. Although the official figures are not to hand, it will be found that horses trained on the Opaki course have again done well this season, and well over £IO,OOO has been won by locallytrained animals. Mr. A. McDonald is the largest winner, his horses having accounted for over £4OOO. A week’s steady rain has made the local track in a heavy state, and little work of importance has been done. The two-year-olds are all fairly well forward, and when it comes time for them to sport silk they will not take long to show their galloping abilities. The half-brother to Merrie Poto in T. Pritchard’s stable is to be tried over hurdles, and he looks as if the jumping game would suit him. Hydrus is still on the easy list, and the son of Hymettus—Balama will not be taken up again until the tracks get 'firmer. The Marton meeting in September will be well patronised by Opaki trainers should there be suitable train arrangements. J. T. Jamieson, Ben Nicols, R. Knox, W. Garrett, and probably T. Pritchard will have representatives engaged, and Black Hill will be taken up by S. Pinkerton if the local course-dries up in time to put the finishing touches on his preparation. Building operations are well forward at Opaki, and the club will have everything in order for its October meeting. The stewards’- stand, cloak rooms and totalisator house have all been dismantled, and the outside grandstand has been shifted. The Kilbroney—Grey Linnet filly owned by Mr. A. McDonald is showing up well on the local track, and although she has not been asked to do much her efforts point to Trainer Jamieson having a very promising juvenile. This filly has been freely nominated in coming classic events, and all going well in the meantime such a nicely-bred one should be heard of in the weight-for-age events. Members of the team presided over by Ben Nicols at Lansdowne are all looking at their best just now, and evidence the careful attention bestowed on them during the winter months. When the different members are asked to race it will not be long before they show their galloping ability. Nothing is looking better than Missgold, and a successful three-year-old career is confidently predicted for the daughter of Lucullus and Recoup. Another showing plenty of quality is the Martian —Rose Red colt Raceful, and as this well-bred one has been freely entered for the season’s classics it is quite on the cards that Mr. Kemball will add still further to his growing list of weight-for-age wins. Vasilkov is also looking and going well, and the gelded half-brother to Sasanof is well thought of by his trainer. The stable has nothing engaged at the National meeting, but several of the inmates will be seen out early in the spring.