STABLE IN BOOM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 136, 6 December 1938, Page 15

STABLE IN BOOM

M. MCTIGUE'S FINE RECORD

The Methven trainer M. C. McTigue is experiencing a splendid run with his team at present, and since the opening of the season in August the stable has collected just on £5000 in stakes. In four months seven horses have won fifteen races. They are Fine Art, Morello, Precious Metal, King's Play, Dark Hazard, Perula, and Glenholme.

Morello is the star of the stable by reason of his success in the New Zealand Trotting Cup and Clarkson Memorial at the recent Addington Meeting, and his outings this season have resulted in two firsts, three seconds, and a third for £1770 in stakes. He is a rare stayer who should continue to pay his way. Fine Art, one of the best horses in his class in the Dominion, has captured five races and been second since August. The character of his achievements has impressed critics so greatly that he is already being sorted out as the winner of the 1939 New Zealand Trotting Cup. In the meantime he is regarded as a potential winner of some of the rich stakes over the holidays. He can both sprint and stay, while his barrier manners have shown great improvement. Another horse who is likely to add to his list of winnings is Dark Hazard. He was successful at Hutt Park in September, and won a mile and a half race" at Addington last month. He is a double-gaited horse, but so far he has done best as a pacer. King's Play has/shown the ability to win important races. Since joining McTigue's establishment early in the season he has recorded one first, one second, and two thirds. The most pleasing feature of his performances is the improvement in his temperament. Always a brilliant pacer he was inclined to make a mistake at the start and often he pulled so hard that he affected his staying ability. This year he has mended his ways, and his last three performances have been of a high standard.

King's Play and Morello will compete for their stable in the big events to be decided at Ashburton and Addington this month, and should make further substantial contributions to the winnings of their trainer.