VETERAN N.Z. TRAINER’S VISITS TO AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1530, 21 August 1919, Page 9

VETERAN N.Z. TRAINER’S VISITS TO AUSTRALIA.

SUCCESSES GAINED BY R. J. MASON. The well-known New Zealand trainer, R. J. Mason, who left Wellington the other day for Melbourne, taking with him four of Mr. G. D. Greenwood’s representatives, in Gloaming, Afterglow, Rossini and Karo, intends making the trip overland from Melbourne to Sydney, and during his sojourn in New South Wales will be quartered at the Royal Hotel, Randwick. Interviewed prior to his departure by “Sir Lancelot” of the Wellington “Post” Mr. Mason said that altogether he had probably made about thirty trips to Australia. His first visit to Australia was in 1874, when Lurline, Calumny, and Papapa were taken across. He had previously won the first Dunedin Cup on Lurline, and at Flemington the following autumn she won the Australian Cup. She was then owned by Mr. S. Gardiner, of Bundoora Park, from whom Bundoora (The Peer—Argosy) was purchased, and won some good races in the Dominion. Mason won the Derby at Riccarton in Mr. Henry Redwood’s colours on Papapa. In 1878, Mr. Mason took a holiday trip to the other side with Trump Card and Le Loup. At Deliniquin, the New Zealander purchased Camballo, who was brought back and proved a good performer in the Dominion, winning among other races the Great Autumn Handicap. . Mata

(the sensational Dead Shot gelding) was sent across in 1880, in company with Camballo. They went over in charge of Bob Ray, and raced in the joint interest of the late R. H. (Robert) Vallance (who was drowned in the wreck of the Taiaroa on the way from Wellington to Lyttelton) and R. J. Mason. The next trip the well-known trainer made across —they mostly went to Melbourne in those days—was with a team belonging to the late Hon. W. (Ready Money) Robinson. They included Vanguard (who had previously won the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton), Liverpool, Winchester, and Oudeis (unbeaten as a two and three-year-old). On returning, Mason was associated with Alfred Drake, and they did the smalls successfully with the grey hurdler Peter Osbeck, Spade Guinea (who picked up the New Zealand Cup), Vinaigrette, and Pasha, who was taken to the other side and won the Wagga Cup, then a £lOOO stake. The first time Lochiel went to (Victoria, in 1887, and won the Newmarket Handicap, he was accompanied by Maxim and Nelson, and was in charge of the late Mr. Edward Cutts. It was after that that Mr. Mason joined forces with the late Mr. G'eorge Stead. When the Prince Charlie horse went across two years later and won the Australian Cup, his travelling companions were Rose Argent and Russley. Walter Clifford

rode Lochiel in the Newmarket Handicap. Abercorn beat Maxim by half a head in the Sires’ Produce Stakes, and Nelson won both weight-for-age races. Two years later Rose Argent was beaten by Spice in the Ascot Vale Stakes; Sedition beat Lochiel by half a length in the Newmarket. Lochiel beat Carbine in the Australian Cup, and the latter came out and won the Champion Plate and two other weight-for-age races at the meeting. Scots Grey and Medallion made the trip across in the autumn of 1890. Medallion was beaten in the Ascot Vale Stakes by Titan, but won the Maiden Stakes, and five weeks later scored in the Champagne Stakes at Riccarton. Scots Grey (who had previously won the Derby at Riccarton) won the Autumn Handicap. After this the A.J.C. grew in importance, and later trips were made to Sydney. One of the earliest teams for Randwick was made up of Lebel (a Derby colt) and Palliser, a year older. Both ran well, but failed to win. Two years later Stepniak was taken across for the weight-for-age races, but was beaten twice by Loyalty (New Zea-land-bred), carrying Dan. O’Brien’s colours. Jeweller beat Ich Dien in the Trial Stakes, but the latter came out and won the Spring Maiden Stakes. The other member of the team (Melinite) ran unplaced in handicap events. The Maxim colts Mannlicher, Mauser and Musketry made up the next lot, the latter being successful in a handicap. Then followed Cruciform, who went across as a five-year-old and Avon the Spring Stakes,

but was beaten in the Craven Plate by Ibex. The following year Nightfall, Martian, Cruciform and Grand Rapids went across, all being successful except Cruciform. A year later the Yaldhurst team, consisting of Noctuiform, Sun God, Isolt, and Nightfall, won seven races between them. ViceAdmiral failed at Randwick, but did well at Riccarton on his return. The successful trips of Biplane and Gloaming are of recent date. Mr. Mason speaks in terms of praise of the kindness received from trainers on the other side since he has been going across.