WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1576, 8 July 1920, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

Moutoa Ivanova Rejoins Active Brigade—Fisher Return From Australia —Old Mungindi’s Cross-country Engagements During Season Now Closing — Notes on Intending Contestants at Trentham —Aucklanders Strongly Represented at Wellington Meeting — Death of a Respected Levin Trainer.

WELLINGTON, Monday

The reported sale of Amythas is very far from being correct, for there is no likelihood of Mr. F. S. Easton parting with the three-year-old son of Demosthenes —Gold Treasure.

Looking big and bright after a three months’ spell, Moutoa Ivanova rejoined the active brigade in F. J. Carmont’s Foxton stable on Tuesday last. The full sister to Sasanof looks bright and well, and promises to carry Mr. Easton’s colours in a creditable manner during the ensuingseason.

F. J. Garment went south last week to attend to the training of Master Strowan, who is held up at Riccarton through the - jockeys’ dispute, whde he is also looking after Gang

Awa’, who was operated upon for breathing troubles at the week-end. Provided transit arrangements are favourable, the former will be a competitor in the Wellington Steeplechase, on the 14th inst. The secret ballot of jockeys, taken throughout New Zealand last week, resulted in an overwhelming defeat of the proposal to strike, only nine of the voters favouring that means of action. The main trouble facing owners at present is the attitude of the Seamen’s Union, and until some satisfactory arrangements are completed with the governing officials of this ’ body there seems very • little prospect of horses that are at present held up at Riccarton being brought north for the Wellington meeting.

Fisher, who saved the situation for Trainer A. D." Webster by winning the Royal Hurdle Race on the second day of the Prince of Wales meeting at Randwick, was brought back to Wellington by the Sydney boat last week. The gelding was later taken out to Trentham, where he will be a competitor at the local fixture next week.

Looking none, the worse for their exertions at the Hawke’s Bay meetings, Gold Kip and Sanacre have reached Trentham. The pair will have many admirers in their contests next week. Mr. W. R. Kemball will have a big team in commission at Wellington, the list including Old Mungindi, Lord Nagar, Gladful, Rekanui, Mill o’ Gowrie, Scornful, and Negambo. The first-named will be making his first appearance since the mishap which befel him when he fell while

contesting the Great Northern Hurdle Race at Ellerslie. Old Mungindi, who showed promise of placing one of the big cross-country events to his credit when in his first two starts in the Dominion, at Egmont and Wanganui winter fixtures, he filled third position in each instance in the principal cross-country event. The ex-Australian ’chaser later finished third in the Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie, but when taken to the Napier Park Racing Club’s meeting fell in the big steeplechase on the opening day, while he finished fourth in the Park Steeplechase on the second day. The following week Old Mungindi raced at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, competing unsuccessfully in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, while on the concluding day of the Hastings fixture he finished fourth in the June Steeplechase. Mr. Kemball’s ’chaser has thus raced at Hawera, Wanganui, Ellerslie, Napier Park and Hastings during the jumping season, which ends at Trentham next week, and the experience should prove of value to him in his cross-country engagements at the Wellington winter gathering. Gladful is also expected to make a bold showing, while it would cause no surprise to see Mill o’ Gowrie taking a prominent part in the settlement of the leading’ hurdle events at Trentham next week.

With the racing he has had lately Marshal’ Neil should be an improved horses for Trentham. The Gravitation gelding gave critics at Hastings the impression of turning out a use-, ful hurdler, and in Percy Johnson’s hands the six-year-old will get every chance of doing well.

Two horses that are destined to fare well in hurdling events are Spangle (Martian —Nantes) and Falstaff (Comedy King—Petruvia), wlio are doing quite all right in their training work at Trentham. A successful career for both jumpers appears well assured, provided, of course, that no harm comes their way during their progress over the obstacles. There are a number of critics who are quite positive that we did not see the best of Graftella at Hastings recently. The bay gelding stripped well, but failed to show up at the business end. He may do better at Trentham next week.

Mr. H. Coyle’s handicaps for the first day’s events at the approaching meeting of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, which takes place at Trentham on the 14th and 17th inst., were the all-absorbing topic in sporting circles at the week-end. The consensus of opinion was to the effect that the handicapper had gauged the respective merits of those engaged in the various events in a manner which should ensure a highly satisfactory acceptance on Friday next, at 9 p.m., at the club’s offices, Woodward Street, Wellington. Mr. J. H. Prosser is bringing Master Webster, Chummy, Goldstream, and Stream of Gold to the Wellington meeting. A win for any of these bearers of the cardinal and amber hoops and carmine cap would be very popularly received in sporting circles.

Mannish, fresh from his victory at Hastings, is one of the most admired hurdle candidates at Trentham. This bearer of Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford’s colours ’ should make his presence .felt. at. the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. Two of the locally-trained contingent, in Matatua and Astinome, continue to show out nicely in their sprinting exertions at Trentham. Both horses should be suited by the going, and should, with ordinary luck, make a bold showing in their respective contests next week. The Wanganui candidate, Tame Fox, is well fancied for the Parliamentary Handicap, and provided he sees the post, Mr. Wiri Tokena’s capital galloper will assuredly finish ujs favourite.

A big Auckland contingent is engaged in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham, the. list comprising Gluetanus, Deviation, Thrace, Kauri King, and Slowcoach. It would occasion no surprise to find the winner coming from one of the horses named.

No less than four local horses, in Mannish. Spangle, Falstaff, and Cyra,

figure in the lists for the Vittoria Hurdles at Trentham. The stake should come to one of the horses named.

Fisher, who has been nominated for both open and hack hurdling events at the Wellington meeting, did not fare too well in Australia. The son of Maniapoto was heavily backed in flat races at Canterbury Park and Menangle, but failed to gain a place in either start. Fisher had rare luck in winning the Renown Hurdle Race at Randwick, for had not Breastwork fallen at the last jump when holding a commanding lead, it appeared as fairly certain that the Maniapoto gelding would have suffered defeat.

The death took place at Levin a few days back of a well-known and popular trainer, in Mr. Albert E. Watson, a son of the late Mr. W. Watson, of Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, who, by the way, enjoyed the distinction of having built the first steeplechase course ■at Riccarton. The late Mr. Albert Watson had been identified with racing from boyhood, and for some time he was training respectively for Mr. F. S. Easton and Mr. G. Seifert. An internal complaint developed 12 months ago, and despite the best medical skill available the sufferer gradually sank and passed away. Mr. Watson 'is survived by a widow and seven children, who have the sympathy of a wide circle of sporting enthusiasts in their sad loss. Messrs. E. Watson and F. T. Watson, the well-known trainers, of Palmerston North, are brothers of the deceased.