WANGANUI WHISPERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1202, 13 December 1928, Page 14

WANGANUI WHISPERS

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wangamii Rep.)

VjJ RAYNER will leave for Auckland W * at the end of next week. He will take with him Mask, Ceremony, Lysander and Alloy. #. # * F. Tilley will also go north with If is team — Laughing Prince, Consent, Cashier and Glenartney. •' * * Mask has never been m better form than he is at present. He has been credited with some brilliant track work over distances up to a mile, equal to what Civility and Lysander used to do at their best. *# * ' It is generally believed that two miles is too far for Mask, but if he strips as well on the day as he is now there will be no fitter or better horse In the race up to a mile and threequarters at least. He is a cleanwinded horse, and there is good prospect of him seeing out the extra distance. Indications are that it will take a good one to beat Mask if he has any luck m the running. *.* * * Ceremony is rather mean behind, and somewhat delicate, calling for careful handling by his . trainer. He is a tall customer, however, and a bold galloper. If he does no harm on the trip north the brother of Lysander will make things interesting for Honour, Supremacy and Speed Light m the .Foal Stakes if the going is firm at Ellerslie. . , # . # • ' ■ Lysander does not begin with his old-time dash, but he promises to be m great fettle for the Railway Handicap. The racing he had at Feilding did him good, and with another solid gallop or two Lysander should be capable of running a very fast six furlongs at Ellerslie. • • ,;'*. Hawera sports are ,very sweet on Silvermine's prospects m the Railway at Ellerslie. The' Catmint gelding is even better now than at Riccarton. #** ' ' -Bright Glow hag, however, made more improvement than . Silvermine, and she might prove the better of the pair on . the day. What beats her at Ellerslie will just about win. # ■ # • ■ There is some idea of bringing Bright Glow back from Auckland after' the first day's racing to contest the Stratford Cup, which event she won laat year.

After winning at Trentham, Consent went a bit off color, and did not show to advantage at Riccarton. He will do better at Ellerslie. • • • P. Tilley thinks Laughing Prince will run out two miles, and the Fordell mentor is not often astray m his judgment m such matters. • Can the Ausr tralian-bred horse give Mask 71b. and a beating? « * ' # •■ "Snowy" Morris will be on Laughing Prince and Bert on Mask, and the brothers may have a lot to say m the finish. * • * M. Gardner has taken Star Area to Woodville. If he does not pick up some of the stake-money it will" be surprising. « « • The Chief Ruler — Crown Lady filly which W. Dwyer has racing at Woodyille is going to be above the average. She has better legs than some others of her breed. T • * » The Wanganui Jockey Club will give away £ 600 more m prize-money at the Cup meeting m February than last season. The value qt the Cup has been raised from £600 to £800, and m addition' there will be the £100 gold cup given l>y W. Kellick to the owner of the winner. # . • # .•■. • By the 'way, the proposal to reduce the distance of the Wanganui Cup from one and three-quarter miles to one and a-half miles was turned down. This decision meets with the approval of many who oppose the tendency to reduce the distances of such races. * * • * ' '/ "Tommy" Long, who was formerly well-known as the trainer of Admyra, Interlude, and other good ones, but retired from the game, has applied for a license again, and the Wanganui District Committee has recommended favorable consideration. a. ' ' " # ' # * Long has the English-bred gelding Cobham m work, and expects to win som'e races with him later on. # # # The Warden is engaged at Ellerslie, Awapuni, and New Plymouth during Christmas week. On performances he cannot have any chance m the G.N. Derby, but might pick up a race if taken to the Taranaki meetings. # *.* Acred will probably be taken to New Plymouth for the Christmas meeting.