WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1573, 17 June 1920, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

Mattock Recommissioned—Birkenvale Being Schooled — Intending Contestants at the Napier Park and Hawke’s Bay Meetings.

WELLINGTON, Monday. A visitor to Wellington at the week end was Mr. J. B. Gaisford, of Bulls, who mentioned the fact that he was just breaking in a full-brother to the consistent Marqueteur (King Mark —By By). The youngster, who is a coming two-year-old, has all the characteristics that go to make a successful galloper, being of the solid order and covering a lot of ground. Already Mr. Gaisford has received a tempting offer to dispose of his equine, who promises to prove a decided acquisition to the racing ranks. Mattock (Martello —Itepo mare) is just going into training with a view to competing in steeplechasing events in the spring. The brown gelding only started on four occasions last season, and finished in the money twice. There is every prospect of Mattock earning distinction between the flags next season. Quite a number of local sporting enthusiasts are planning a trip to the Napier Park winter meeting, which takes place on Friday and Saturday next. The fields promise to be large, and a very successful gathering appears well assured.

To settle the argument as to which is the better horse. Amythas or Arrowsmith, Mr. F. S. Easton, owner of the former, has thrown out a challenge to the owner of Arrowsmith to race Amythas against the English-bred horse over any distance from half a mile upwards, even weights, on any racecourse in New Zealand. Mr. Easton specifies that the conditions of the race be horse for horse —that is to say, the owner of the winner would take the loser. Mr. Easton’s challenge is causing some discussion in sporting circles, and it remains to be seen whether it will be accepted. By the way, Amythas has been nominated for the Melbourne Cup. A keen sporting enthusiast in Mr. Walter Smith, who is well-known in Palmerston North through his connection with the management of the Working Men’s Club in that town, has thrown in his lot with Mr. H. E. Card at the Central Hotel, where his wellknown personality and kindly qualities should gain for the Central a wide share of public patronage. By the way, Mr. Card has a promising galloper under O. Cox’s care, who is expected to play an important part in racing in Taranaki. At Foxton A. M. Wright is schooling Birkenvale, and up to the present the gelding’s displays have been very satisfactory. There appears every likelihood of the descendant of Birkenhead developing into a real good jumper.

Mr. B. T. Bennett is taking Khartoum through to the Hawke’s Bay meetings. The gelding is very well just now, and it would occasion no surprise to find the son of King Rufus getting amongst the winners during the next few weeks. In Luke and Wirokino the Otaki stable of F. Higgott will be well represented in steeplechasing events at the Napier Park and Hawke’s Bay meetings during the coming fortnight. Both horses are at the top of theii* form just now, and some further successes should come their way in the near future.

T. George, the Awapuni trainer, who took several horses that had been disposed of by Mr. J. Goring Johnston to a Perth (Western Australia) sportsman, returned home to Palmerston North last week. “Tommy,” as he is familiarly called, benefited considerably by the trip, and he comes back quite ready to resume his duties as a trainer.

Risingham is doing so well at Hawera as to suggest that the gelding will fare well in his early exploits. The son of Rokeby is down to compete at the JsTapier Park meeting. J. Sullivan the Woodville trainer, is taking Zeus, Ethiopian and Mosthenes to the Napier Park meeting. The trio have come through a capital preparation, and their essays this week are being awaited with considerable interest in sporting circles.

A. Oxenham, who was formerly associated with C. Pritchard at Trentham, has settled down on the training property of the Horowhenua Racing Club at Levin, where he has Idleness, who was recently sold out of H. Telford’s stable, and a couple o f other horses under his charge. With his wide experience with racehorses and the capital training facilities that are available, Oxenham, who has always been recognised as a steady and painstaking man with the thoroughbred, should soon get together a large team. A number of owners have already decided to send horses to him to be prepared for their racing careers. Coldstream,' looking fit and ’ well, and his stablemate Master Webster were entrained to-day for Napier, where the pair will be seen in commission this week. The former has been doing well in his training at Porirua, and should run prominently in his engagements at Napier Park and. Hastings.