HOPES MAY BE REALISED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 June 1927, Page 6

HOPES MAY BE REALISED

ATTEMPTS MADE TO SECURE FIRSTCLASS PERFORMER Since the days of Westcourt and Wolaroi, the well-known Australian owner, Mr. D. U. Seaton, has made attempts to get hold of a really firstclass performer. So far he has failed, but he again has hopes, and if they are realised, then it will be merely a matter of luck that the centre of those hopes, Snowfire, was ever put into training after his purchase. Snowfire made his first serious appearance on the track at Randwick a fortnight ago, since his arrival from Melbourne, and, in company with an untried three-year-old, Pat Homan, ran three furlongs on the grass in 39.. WEAK IN THE LEGS Probably but for the fact that his former connections believed that lie would fail to stand another preparation, he would still be racing in Melbourne. A beautifully-bred English horse by Pommern, and built in proportion to his breeding, Snowfire was imported from England by Mr. J. Corteen shortly after his visit abroad consequent on the Heroic trouble. * Mr. Corteen had great confidence, and when Snowfire put up a really good performance in running third in his first race in Australia, at Flemington over seven furlongs, that confidence did not appear misplaced. THE ONLY TIME But Snowfire, like many another imported horse, did not act up to his promise. His stamina came to the fore only once, when he won a distance handicap at Flemington last season, but, in the majority of his races, he would not do his best. Then came a time when he was believed to have gone in the legs to such an extent that further racing would be impossible. Having no further use for him, Mr. Corteen sold Snowfire to a Queensland owner, but before he could be taken north, Mr. Seaton came on the scene. On the look-out for a new stallion, Mr. Seaton’s attention was turned to Snowfire, probably on account of his breeding, and he secured him at a price which was not high, considering the popularity of English stallions. PACE AND STAMINA Snowfire has both pace and stamina, if* he will use them, and may follow in the footsteps of scores of other imported horses by showing his best after having been allowed to settle down to new conditions. Incidentally the queerly-named horse that galloped with Snowfire is another hope of Mr. Seaton. Pat Hogan is a brother to Baldwin, a horse-thought likely to develop into a champion miler, but who, two or three times, went wrong just before big events. MUCH ADO COMMENDATION’S FUTURE HOME PERMISSION FOR MODERN STABLES (.Special to THE SUN.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday. A case which has become a “cause celebre” in Palmerston North is that in which Mr. W. H. Gaisford, the owner of Commendation and others, encountered unexpected difficulty from the City Fathers when he sought a permit to erect racing stables on a property he had purchased in Ferguson Street, and in comparatively close proximity to the Awapuni racecourse, which the well-known owner proposes making the future training ground of his team. Largely as the result of a petition from residents in the region of the proposed site, who raised various objections to the presence of a stable in a residential locality, some of which were founded on good grounds and others of a trivial nature, and which could not be really sustained, the borough council declined to grant the permit. The discussion was reopened at Monday night’s meeting of the council when Mr. Gaisford and his solicitor, Mr. H. R. Cooper, awaited on the meeting to present his side of the case. HOUSING VALUABLE HOftSE Mr. Cooper mentioned that the plans provided for the erection of the building 200 feet back from the roadway, but as the section was 10 to 11 chains deep, the stable, if it was thought desirable, could be put still further back. The stable was to be built on modern lines, and there would be most complete sanitation and an elimination of anything offensive. Possessing a horse like Commendation, valued at several thousands of pounds, it was not reasonable to think that Mr. Gaisford would take any risks in the way of insanitary arrangements. If a nuisance were committed by reason of the stable being erected, then neighbouring owners had their remedy in the Supreme Court by way of injunction. "My trainer,” stated Mr. Gaisford, ‘‘lias three children of school age, and better behaved or better brought-up children one could not wish to meet. As I am a member of the Hawke’s Bay District Committee and of the Racing Conference, I am particular about the men who are employed in my stables, and it is important that they should be of the highest type.” In reply to the Mayor, Mr. Gaisford stated that he purposed erecting six boxes and that a trainer, head lad and three stable boys would be employed. Following the deputation retiring, Cr. Eliott gave notice of motion to rescind the previous resolution and to grant the permit. Accordingly, a decision will no doubt be arrived at at the next meeting of the council.