WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1553, 29 January 1920, Page 12

WELLINGTON.

The Taranaki and Egmont Meetings —Falstaff and Rossini Purchased by Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford — Notes on the Foxton Racing Club’s Gathering — R. Brough’s Useful Team at Hawera —Intending Contestants at Pahiatua. WELLINGTON, Monday. Quite a number of local sporting enthusiasts are planning a trip to the Egmont and Taranaki meetings, which take place early next month at Hawera and New Plymouth respectively. Race gatherings at the centres named are invariably a powerful magnet of attraction with turf followers, and the fact of the approaching fixtures taking place within an interval of but a week separating them is greatly appreciated by visitors, who thus have an ideal opportunity of witnessing four days’ racing and also making the sight-seeing trip to Mt. Egmont, which, at this season of the year, presents a very picturesque appearance. Excellent nominations have been received for each meeting, and racegoers are assured of some capital sport. The Taranaki Jockey Club’s meeting is to be held on February 4 and 5, and the' Egmont Racing Club’s fixture on February 11 and 12. Imaribbon, trained at Spring Creek by A. Rore for Mr. J. J. Corry, the Mayor of Blenheim, won the Foxton Cup on Thursday last from Moutoa Ivanova, who was a firm favourite. The winner returned a nice price, and there is much jubilation amongst Marlboroughites in consequence of the mare’s success.

Friends of trainer J. J. Thacker were pleased to see Self Alliance doing him a useful turn at Foxton. The St. Paul gelding is very well just now, and some more successes should come his way in the near future. The Wellington sportsmen, Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford, have purchased Falstaff and Rossini from Mr. G. D. Greenwood. The former ran in his new owner’s colours in the Douro Cup, and although well fancied failed to get amongst the place division. Import (by Birkenhead —Suratura), from whom big things are expected, got amongst the winners at Foxton, the Birkenhead filly winning very easily from a useful sort in Marble Bar.

Luke, who is trained at Otaki for Mr. C. F. Vallance, ran a creditable race in the Hurdles at Foxton. The gelding returned the largest dividend of the afternoon when he ran second to Goldstream on the opening day. On the concluding day he accounted for the Hack Hurdles in a manner which augurs well for his future engagements over the sticks. R. Brough, at Hawera, has a useful team in work, the list including Halcyon, a two-year-old full brother to Seasprite (Hallowmas — Sea Spray), the full sister to Rossini (Martian — Grand Opera), and Catalini, by Catmint —Symbolism, which a patron of Brough’s purchased for 825 gns., and which so far has proved untrainable. With the horses named, “Dick” Brough should bring off a few surprises before the season is much further advanced.

A. Crawford, the well-known trainer, who. relinquished possession of his horses in order to proceed on active service with the Thirteenth Reinforcements, has returned to the Dominion, and has taken up his residence at Featherston, where he hopes to soon get a useful team together. During the time he was training and racing, Crawford was always known for his thorough and painstaking methods in handling the horses under his charge, and this fact should weigh with owners when in quest of a reliable trainer. Crawford, who has acquired a suitable property, should find no difficulty in filling his boxes with some useful gallopers. F. D. Jones, the Riccarton trainer, was deservedly complimented upon the splendid condition that he landed Amythas at the post for his engagements at Trentham. Since going south the Demosthenes—Gold Treasure gelding has improved out of all knowledge. Some time back Mr. F. S. Easton decided that what Amythas required was a change of climate, and his judgment has been rewarded in no uncertain manner by the recent achievements of the three-year-old,

who will be well up amongst the winners when the present season’s statistics come to be compiled. At Trentham, H. Telford is handling a useful sort in Vindictive (Martian —Miss Birkenhead). This three-year-old is a very speedy galloper, and should soon be breaking his maiden status.

Brackenfield again got his name on the winner’s list on the second day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting last week. The Boniform gelding is in the front rank of sprinters in the Dominion, and but for contracting influenza prior to the Christmas meetings the four-year-old would assuredly have credited his owners with one or more stakes during the holiday racing campaign. The horse has made a complete recovery, and should prove a thorn in the side of his opponents during the next few months. Mosthenes (Demosthenes — Dry Wood) is down to compete at Pahiatua. This juvenile is credited with possessing considerable pace. F. J. Carmont is taking Lepanto. Gold Problem, American Beauty and Moutoa Camp to Pahiatua. The quartette should pay expenses on the trip. Asterina is assured of many admirers at Pahiatua. This three-year-old filly is fast coming up to concert pitch. Matty, who is to compete at Pahiatua, is doing quite all right in her training at Trentham. Hallowvonia, who is overdue for a win, will be seen out at Pahiatua.

This Hallowmas — Merrivonia mare has been considered unlucky on several occasions, but her turn may come in the near future.

During the progress of the local meeting last week, Mr. W. Richmond disposed of Dribble (All Black — Float) to Mr. F.- S. Rutherford, of Canterbury. The Gisborne trainer, C. Morse, took charge of her at Hastings, and she has been transferred to Gisborne, where she will be trained for the future. Dribble has been very successful, and should. return a portion of her purchase money at the approaching meetings at Gisborne. Amythas, who has proved a rare bargain, cost Mr. F. S. Easton 400 guineas as a yearling. Tropical and Sunny Smile, a pair of the Douglas Estate’s two-year-olds, have been turned out for a spell.

Returned visitors from the Foxton meeting speak of the gathering as being very successful and enjoyable, the racing being first class on both days. The starting of Mr. Angus Keith was of a high standard, the send-offs being timed to a nicety, and in this respect Mr. Keith gained many admirers by his excellent work. After some consideration, L. Wilson has decided to put Reparoa (Sylvia Park —Ustane) to the jumping business. The gelding has been a disappointment on the flat, and may pay his way over the hurdles.

Word from the south states that Mr. Martin, M.R.C.V.S., has removed the splint that was causing that good galloper Fiery Cross to go lame.