WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1574, 24 June 1920, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

Wellington Racing Club’s Winter Meeting — Amythas Nominated for Melbourne Cup—Elevate Being Kept in Training—Notes on the Napier Park Meeting—Khartoum’s Surprise Victory in Steeplechase—lntending Starters at Hawke’s Bay Fixture This Week.

WELLINGTON, Monday

The winter meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, which takes place on July 14 and 17, is engaging considerable attention in sporting circles, and the gathering promises to be very successful. The steeplechasing events are liberally endowed with stake money, while the other races are all well worth winning. Nominations close on Friday next (June 25), while the weights for the first day’s events are due on July 2.

Arch Lassie, who was formerly in C. Pritchard’s stable, is now being trained by A. Oxenham, at Levin. The latter also has Parewanui under his care.

The writer wonders what the wiseacres will say now that they find Amythas’ name appearing amongst the entrants io the Melbourne Cup. All going well in v e interim, this year’s champion may visit Australia.

In view of the forthcoming meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, Mr. McGlashan, the caretaker of the

Trentham racecourse, is getting the grounds in readiness, and also having the steeplechasing fences prepared. The obstacles are similar to last year, and present no formidable features, thus ensuring a safe conveyance for the average jumper. W. Pine, the Hawera trainer, will have Risingham, Army Service, and Income in commission at the Hawke’s Bay meeting this week. All three horses are very well just now, and should give a good account of themselves.

A. Goodman has in training at Trentham a decent sort of a galloper in Gold Coast (Field Battery—Herculene), who is expected to make a decided acquisition to the racing ranks. The gelding is being got ready for early spring racing. Royal Gift (King Rufus — Keepsake) is doing nicely under F. Watson’s care. The four-year-old is expected to come to hand early. In Marveille, the Shannon sportsman who races as “P. Rossmead” has a galloper that should soon be getting amongst the winners. The Sir Frisco —San Lass four-year-old is in D. McCauley’s stable, at Foxton. Ladify is being hacked about by her owner (Mr. J. Regan), prior to going into active training. The mare is to race at the West Coast meetings in the South Island during the Christmas holidays.

R. Brough is busy at Hawera with Country Air (Guianforte — Country Picnic). This four-year-old mare, who is endowed with some galloping ability, is fast coming up to concert pitch.

Mr. A. H. Parish, who is now engaged in farming pursuits at Paraparaumu, still thinks that Elevate (Elevation — Julie) is susceptible of winning another race, and for. this purpose the chestnut is still being, kept in training. A win for Mr. Parish would be extremely well received in sporting circles. Tirana, who was recently purchased by H. W. Johnston, is enjoying a spell just now. Later on, this gelding and the chestnut Florist will be taken in hand, with a view to being got ready for the Christmas racing campaign on the West Coast of the South Island.

Cyra succeeded in getting . around safely in th©, Moteo Hack Hurdles at Greenmeadows on Friday last. With some additional schooling, the gelding should prove useful over the obstacles.

When holding an excellent position last Friday, Birkenvale came to grief while jumping the last fence in the Moteo Hurdles. But for the mishap, the gelding would assuredly have finished second.

Oakleigh was in a class by himself in the Petane Hack Steeplechase, but the gelding had to put his best effort forward to win by a narrow

margin from Slumix, who, by the way, returned a substantial dividend for second. Rose Pink whs/tailed off the whole way during the running of the Stewards’ Stakes at- Greenmeadows on Friday. Her effort was in marked contrast to her showing in the Raukawa Cup, at Otaki, where she piloted the field right up to the home turn, and finished fourth. The many friends of Mr. B. T. Bennett, the well-known Wanganui and Patea sportsman, were pleased to see Khartoum winning the Napier Steeplechase for him last week. The gelding was only entrusted with £B9 opposite his number on the totalisator, and supporters of the King Rufus gelding received a substantial dividend. Since being purchased by (Mr. Bennett, Khartoum has been a good stake earner, and now that he has struck form it would occasion no surprise to find him again figuring amongst the winners before the present season closes. Mr. Bennett has been under the doctor’s care lately, and was not well enough to travel to Napier to see his horse ’ win. Both “Ben,” as he is familiarly called, and his trainer (Percy Coffey) received many congratulations on Khartoum’s success.

When holding a good position in the Napier Steeplechase, Polthogue came to grief, and the horse’s rider (N. McDonnell) suffered concussion a severe bruising. It was found necessary to remove the lad to the hospital, but nothing serious is antici-

pated, and it is hoped that McDonnell -will soon be well enough to resume riding.

Powder King (King’s Guest — Gold Powder), who was purchased cheaply for £29 at the disposal of the late Mr. H. J. Holder’s horses, ran a very creditable race when he finished second to Ruddy in the Ladies’ Necklace at the Napier Park meeting on Friday, and returned his admirers a very substantial dividend. The gelding, who joins J. Sullivan’s team, at Woodville, is to be tried at hurdle racing.

Paddington Green, fresh from his victories in hurdling events at the recent Wanganui meeting, again add-, ed to his winning score by accounting for the Ahuriri Hurdles at the Napier Park fixture on Friday. The gelding has improved out of all knowledge since being put to the jumping business, and should do Owner W. G. Emeny, of New Plymouth, many more good turns during the next few months. Nefische shaped well enough at Napier Park last Friday as to suggest that the black gelding will make a bold showing at the Hawke’s Bay jockey Club and Hunt Club meeting, which takes place at Hastings this week.

With Sail Home and Revocation, the Woodville stable of “Bronk” Atwood will be well represented in hurdling and steeplechasing events at the Hawke’s Bay reunion this week. Both horses can gallop to some purpose.