WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1568, 13 May 1920, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

Notes on the Marlborough R.C.’s Meeting — Parky Being Schooled Over Steeplechase Course at Trentham —North Island-owned Horses Well Represented at C.J.C. Royal Meeting—Tirana Changes Hands— P. E. Hazleman’s Promising Candidates—lntending Contestants at the Wanganui J.C.’s Winter Fixture— Amythas to be Nominated for Melbourne Cup. WELLINGTON, Monday. Returned visitors from the Marlborough Racing Club’s meeting, which took place at Blenheim on Tuesday and Wednesday, are enthusiastic regarding the interesting character of the sport provided. Quite a number of the events were captured by horses owned on this side of Cook Strait,

the principal race on the opening day being won by the Trentham-trained and Wellington-owned Matty (Martian —Nantes), who scored in fine style. Gold Problem, owned by Mr. H. Simmonds, of Rangiotu, won a double, while Utuwai, the property of a popular Shannon sportsman in Mr. W. McKegg, won one race and ran second in another. Several other events fell to North Islanders, and taken right through the trip was a remunerative one to owners on this side who patronised the fixture. A popular win at Blenheim on the second day was that of Imaribbon, owned by Mr. J. J. Corry, the Mayor of Blenheim. The mare fared badly at the start of the principal handicap on the opening day, but she made amends on Wednesday by winning in fine style. Torfreda, who was practically given the race when she was asked to carry 7.4 at Hastings on the 28th ult., followed up her success at Ashburton on Thursday by annexing the Grove Farm Handicap. In the event in question she carried 8.10 and cut out

the six furlongs in lmin. 14 2-ssec. Trainer “Sam” Jamieson and his patron, “Ngakonui” McDonald, will assuredly be gratified at the return to form of the three-year-old daughPorirua trainer, J. H. Prosser, is quite sanguine that the chestnut will make an acquisition to the jumping ranks. Parky clears the obstacles in fine style, and there is every prospect of him proving very useful between the flags. Quite a number of local sporting enthusiasts are planning a trip to Christchurch for the C.J.C. Royal meeting at Riccarton on Saturday next. Several North Island horses are engaged, and the opportunity of witnessing a meeting of the champion three-year-old Amythas with his older rival, Arrowsmith, in the Marlborough Stakes should in itself be ter of Hymettus—Straga.

Parky, who carried Mr. J. H. Prosser’s colours to victory in the 1913 C.J.C. Winter Cup, is being schooled over the steeplechase course at Trentham with H. McSweeney in the saddle. The gelding’s displays are very satisfactory, and the ’ veteran well worth a visit to the Cathedral City. The club’s prospects for a very successful afternoon’s sport are very bright indeed.

Several North Island hurdlers are down to compete in the Welcome Hurdles at Riccarton on Saturday. Those figuring in the lists are Seadown, Gang Awa’, and Sweet Tipperary. The two latter hail from F. J. Carmont’s Foxton stable, and it will occasion no surprise to find them taking a prominent part in the settlement of the race.

Coalition promises to strip a good horse for the Renown Steplechase on Saturday. The gelding shaped so well in a couple of flat races at Tauherenikau as to suggest that he would soon be hailed a winner. The writer looks to this horse to keep his opponents busy during the running of the

two miles and a-half cross-country event.

Imaribbon has demonstrated by her recent victories at Feilding, where she won the two principal events at Easter time, and her win in the leading handicap at Blenheim on Wednesday, that she is at present at the top of her form. If produced at Riccarton on Saturday, and with her usual pilot, W. Bell, in the saddle, the six-year-old should certainly carry Mr. Corry’s colours in a creditable manner in the Royal Handicap. In addition to Coalition, the local sportsmen Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford will have Chaeronia to represent them at the C.J.C. Royal meeting. Eoth horses have come through a capital preparation at the hands of Trainer J. W. Lowe, and they should make a bold bid for victory on Saturday next.

Gold Problem put up a fine performance by winning a double at Blenheim. The chestnut was favourite when he won on the first day, but in his second start on the concluding day he was neglected on the machine, with the result that he returned the largest dividend at the meeting, which, however, did not run into double figures.

Mr. W. R. Kemball, who, by the way, is at present on a visit to Australia, will have a big team in action at the Egmont meeting this week, and his representatives should show up prominently during the two days’ racing at Hawera.

C. Millen has Swanee River fast coming up to concert pitch. This well-bred performer should be on hand to carry her owner’s confidence at Wanganui next week.

Peneton, who shaped so well in steeplechasing events last winter, figures in the lists for Hawera. If produced this accomplished jumper should show up well in his engagements.

C. Millen has sold Tirana to W. H. Johnston, and the gelding will .make his first appearance in his new owner’s colours at the Egmont meeting this week.

Goldstream is doing well in his training at Porirua under his owner’s (Mr.. J. H. Prosser) guidance. Provided the weights suit the Gold Crest gelding will be a competitor at Wanganui next week. P. E. Hazleman is busy at Tauherenikau with the Martian —Nerve colt who will race as Zerohour, and also the Boniform—Vicella gelding, who will be known as Zenith. Both of these rising two-year-olds come from a galloping strain, and their future prospects are held in high esteem. In addition to the pair mentioned, Hazleman also has a shapely sort in Bitters, a three-year-old gelding by Advance from Endeavour. Hazleman possesses the happy knack of turning his charges out in splendid fettle, and with the patronage he is receiving from prominent owners his boxes should soon be filled.

Mr. C. W. Merrylees, of Dannevirke, has leased his racer Mannikin (Mania noto—-Black Bess) to Mr. R. Olive, the Gisborne trainer, and for the future the brown gelding will be confined to racing in the Poverty Bay district.

With more time Ethiopian, the big upstanding four-year*-old gelding by All Black—Esmeh, should develop into something above the ordinary. The gelding would make a fine hurdler, and no doubt this will be his forte in the near future.

The many friends of the wellknown Wairarapa sportsman Mr. H. E. Card will welcome the intimation that he has settled down at Hawera as mine host of the Central Hotel. It is Mr. Card’s intention to have a few horses in training in his home town.

In Wirokino and Luke, the Otaki stable of F. Higgott will have a couple of useful hurdlers to do battle for the establishment during the jumping season. Both horses, who are shaping well on the local tracks, are down to compete at Wanganui, while the pair also claim engagements at the Dunedin J.C.’s winter meeting. E. Penman, the Otaki tra’ner, anticipates taking Student and Detroit to the Wanganui fixture. Provided both horses continue to train on the right way they should be heard of as winners in the near future.

Amythas is to be accorded a nomination for the Melbourne Cup and other principal w.f.a. events to be decided at the V.R.C. meeting at Flemington in November next. There is every prospect of the three-yeai’-old making the trip, in which event he will probably be accompanied by his owner, Mr. F. S. Easton, who up to the present has never been out of New Zealand.