WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1539, 23 October 1919, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

Wellington Racing Club’s Spring Meeting — Splendid Prospects For Some Keen Racing — Risingham Now Under Different Ownership— Masterton Form Reviewed — Mas- ,' cot Doing Well in Her Training— Intending Contestants at Waverley. WELLINGTON, Monday. Quite a number of sportsmen from all parts of New Zealand are arriv- . ing in town with the object of attending the spring meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, which takes place on Saturday and Monday next. The acceptances received are very satisfactory, and there is every prospect of a very successful meeting. Bonnie Maid and Battle Song,* both jf whom figure in the principal races at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, are hitting out in right good style at Trentham. The pair have many admirers for their approaching engagements. J. Ayres has Astinome fast getting up to concert pitch. This fine sprinter should run well at Trentham in the short events. Trentham - trained horses figure largely in the opening event at the W.R.C. meeting on Saturday; nevertheless, the local contingent will be hard put to it to defeat several of the visitors, included among which are Makepeace and Bonnie Heather, both of whom can gallop very fast over a short course. Mr. W. E. Bidwill, the Rototawai sportsman, has a nice upstanding galloper in Proclamation, a two-year-old by Hallowmas from Culmination, who is destined to prove very useful. The youngster figures in the lists for the W.R.C. meeting. The Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford have a couple of smart two-year-olds in . Shamrock (Kilbroney — Symbolism) and Wake (Kilbroney —Somniform), both of whom are showing up nicely under J.. W. Lowe’s care at Trentham.' These budding equines are. bred on stout lines, and there is. every prospect of them carrying their popular owners’ colours with some distinction during their turf career. Risingham, who was purchased by a local sportsman for 600 guineas on the eve of the Masterton meeting, made his first appearance in his new owner’s interest in the Masterton Cup, and although well fancied failed to finish in the first three. The Rokeby—Rose Red gelding, however, showed some dash in the early stages, and should with ordinary luck soon repay a portion of his purchase money. Fred Quinlivan, formerly sporting editor of the “N.Z, Times,” is now engaged in training horses at Taradale, is fast working his way to fame as a successful preparer of racehorses. He turned out his first winner in Lord Astolat, who won at the recent Napier Park meeting and returned his supporters a dividend approaching half a century. At Masterton last week Lord Astolat again accounted for a six-furlong race on the opening day, registering the fast time of Imin. 141 sec. Another of F. Quinlivan’s team in Ennea, by Demosthenes —Kilworth, dead heated for second place at Opaki. These performances go to show that the young trainer is endowed with some ability in' the preparation of racehorses, and the future for him certainly appears very promising. A. Best, at one time a well known and successful gentleman rider, who -recently returned from the war and is now engaged in farming pursuits at Levin, made his reappearance in the pigskin at the Masterton fixture. As Best is a very accomplished horseman, his services should be in some demand during the present season. Sweet Memory (Maniapoto—Sweet Helen), trained by C. Pritchard, at Trentham, got amongst, the winners at the Masterton meeting, accounting for the Trial Plate from a useful field. The brown mare was ridden a nice race, by the Auckland horseman, A. J. McFlinn, whose riding was no small' factor towards the mare’s success. Rieuse (Finland — Landrail), the full sister to Chimera, in “Sam.” Jamieson’s stable, is steadily n aking friends by her showing on the tracks. The two-year-old ~ filly gives every promise of developing into a very useful performer. Hallowvonia, the three-year-old filly by Hallowmas from that good mare

Merrivonia, is doing well under J. Ayres’ care at Trentham. The filly is an improving quantity and should soon be getting amongst the winners. Mr.'. J. O’Meara, who raced Fashion Plate and several other horses and is now living in retirement in Wellington, has a fine stamp of a galloper in a two-year-old colt by Hymettus from Ideala, in A. Goodman’s stable, at Trentham. The youngster, who races as Jackaroo, has some striking galloping characteristics, and being well bred should assuredly develop into a capable stake earner. J. Ayres, the Trentham trainer, took five horses to the Masterton meeting, the list including Hallowvonia, Spangle, Matty, Risingham, and' Sonnino. Followers of Ayres’ fortunes experienced a bad run on the opening day through the failure of the gallopers named to get among the money. A well-known and popular Featherston sporting enthusiast in Mr. G. A. Vincent has taken over Mr. H. E. Card’s leasehold interest in the Empire Hotel, where visitors and racegoers are alwayp assured of a hearty welcome during their visit to Featherston. G. R. Price, at Awapuni, has Ermine, Negligee and Nursing Sister in good fettle. The trio named should fare well during the next few months.

Mascot continues to go on the right way at Trentham, and there are quite a number of critics who are prepared to see Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford’s representative again making a bold bid for victory in this year’s New Zealand Cup. It will be remembered that Mascot ran a good fourth ;in last year’s New Zealand Cup, and later on accounted for the Auckland Cup. Trentham is represented in the C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap with a couple of useful sprinters in Astinome and Motuihi, both of whom can gallop to some purpose. Oratress is thought susceptible of making a bold bid for the WaverleyWaitotara Cup. Brackenfield, whom it will be remembered made a runaway race of the Avonhead Handicap at Riccarton in August, is in regular work at Blenheim. He has been accorded a nomination in the principal sprint events at the C.J.C. Cup meeting.

Arch Salute should be handy at the finish of the Jackson Stakes at Waverley. Trainer J. F. McCracken anticipates taking Croesus, Arch Salute and First Salute to Waverley. The three horses named should certainly prove useful during the afternoon’s racing. Amongst the visitors to the Masterton races last week were two keen sporting enthusiasts in Mr. Jack Oliver, mine host of the Taueru Hotel, and Mr. H. Hansen, manager of “Ngatahuna” sheep station, in the Tenui district, both of whom were renewing old acquaintanceship with their many Wairarapa friends. Mr. A. R. Maltby, who formerly raced First Consul, has a fine upstanding type of a two-year-old colt, by King Mark —Baalama, which he is shortly placing in the hands of a Masterton trainer to prepare for future racing.