WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1540, 30 October 1919, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

Ashhurst - Pohangina Annual! Race Meeting—Local Fancies for New Zealand Cup — Warstar Galloping Attractively—Some Girl Doing Particularly Well at Otaki—F. J. Garment’s Trio of Promising Maiden Performers — Occasion Responsible for Pleasing Track Work. WELLINGTON, Monday. The executive of the Ashhurst Racing Club are sparing no effort with a view of making their annual meeting, which takes place on November 19, a great success. The course and apointments have all been improved, and at the present time the training tracks are in perfect condition. The club, with the energetic secretary, Mr. A. W. Trass, at their head, have the preliminary arrangements well in hand, and the fixture should prove highly enjoyable to all concerned. Nominations close on this Wednesday night, while the adjustments are due on Tuesday, of next week. At the time of writing, there is nothing of moment doing locally with regard to the New Zealand Cup. Gay Lad is still a very hot favourite, and there is every likelihood of the imported horse holding his position up to the day of the race. There is every probability of Prince Delaware developing into an ideal hurdler. The gelding’s displays so far have been very satisfactory. Mascot still continues to do well at Trentham, and a like remark applies to Battle Song and Bonnie Maid. These three local New Zealand Cup candidates should be cherry ripe by the time the big November Riccarton event comes up for decision. The steamers leaving Wellington this week for the south will be crowded with horses on their way to the C.J.C. metropolitan meeting, that takes place next month. As in former years, North Island trainers anticipate securing a fair share of the stake money during the carnival at Riccarton. Warstar (Maniapoto — Lady Lucy) is coming on with every gallop, and there are - some shrewd critics who are prepared to see this capital actioned galloper give a good account of herself ,in tb,e New Zealand Cup. Trainer .A. Atwood is using his best endeavours with a view to landing his charge at the post in fine racing trim. . , . . Pervolo is now being trained by A. M. Wright, who hopes to get-a race out of the black mare. Wright has been singularly successful with jumpers, and he may effect some improvement in Pervolo, who is a full sister to First Line, with whom the Foxton trainer won a number of races last season. G. Carmont, a nephew of the wellknown Weraroa trainer of that name, is to have the mount on Sweet Tipperary in the New Zealand Cup. The Messrs. Dwan Bros, make no secret of/ the fact that they quite expect their mare to run well in the big twomile event. The local sportsman, “Mr. Lance Wood,” was very disappointed with the showing of . Sonnino and Risingham at Masterton. The latter was purchased on the eve of the recent Masterton meeting by an Auckland owner, who has adopted the racing nom de course of C. Grierson, and although the gelding ran second on the concluding day at Opaki his form was nothing to enthuse over. A change of climate may improve the Rokeby — Rose Red gelding, who is credited with putting up phenomenal gallops on the training tracks. Unfortunately, the horse does not reproduce this form when the colours are up. Trainer G. West is busy at Awapuni with Glentour, who continues to show improving track work. The Gienapp gelding should be getting amongst the winners in the near fiiture. In Some Girl (Gazeley —Lady Reay) trainer E. Penman, at Otaki, has a galloper that should assuredly fare well during the present spason. The chestnut can gallop to some purpose. Trainer F. J. Carmont, at Weraroa. has three promising maidens in his stable. The trio consists if Maungarango (Demosthenes— Formona), Rongopai (Sir Frisco — Louie) and Lepanto (Campfire—Apres). All three horses have shown that they are possessed of some galloping ability, and their future prospects are held in some esteem by those concerned

in. their welfare. Occasion is doing well under Percy E. Hazleman’s guidance at Tauherenikau, and with ordinary luck the brown mare should be doing owner L. T. Cobcroft, a popular sportsman of Featherston, some useful service during the Christmas racing campaign. Haeremoana (Antagonist — Tangimoana) is hitting out in right good style on the Awanuni tracks. Ownertrainer T. R. (“Tommy”) George is quite sanguine that his well-bred galloper will yet prove that his displays up to the present have been all wrong.