MANAWATU JOTTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 7

MANAWATU JOTTINGS

HORSES PREPARING FOR THE SPRING CAMPAIGN (Special to THE SUN.')

PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday. A typical spring morning, a bright warm sun following a heavy frost with a breathless air, greeted trainers at Awapuni on Tuesday morning. The conditions were, however, in direct contrast to those under which they have laboured. Despite the copious rain which has been experienced of late, the tracks were in surprisingly good order, the plough and sand being in tip-top order, while a track on the course proper was also available to exercisers. Owing to the fact that there are but two candidates from Awapuni entered at the National meeting, there was not a great deal of fast work attempted. TO STAY AT HOME Merry Damon, who still stands his ground in the Winter Cup, may not r,iake the trip, for, despite the flattering reports which have emanated from "Wellington, the Polydamon gelding is not himself. Yesterday morning he was sent over seven furlongs, being partnered by Royal Land from the six furlong post. Merry Damon (Green) v.as very slow to get into his stride, tie first furlong taking 16sec, but alongside Royal Land (Mackie) he vent more freely. The full distance took 1.39, which does not indicate that the trip, which had already been doubtful, will be undertaken. Buoyant, the Solferino gelding from F. If. Doyle’s stable, will leave for Christchurch on Friday to fulfil his engagements on the second and third days. He will be ridden by R. J. Mackie, who will also be found aboard Bronstel, Joy Bird and the other members of W. Higgins’s team. TO RIDE VAWARD In the event of T. Green’s services not being required for Merry Damon, the champion apprentice will probably be found on top of Vaward in the Winter Cup. Local mentors are directing their attentions toward preparing their charges for nearer at home fixtures, and the Marton meeting will in all probability find a big team from Awapuni in attendance. George New has made arrangements for the stabling of a team of eight, but even this number may be increased. Present intentions are for Maidos, Wanderlust, John Nod, Blimp, Fee Simple, Le Champ, Royal Land, Shining Star and possibly Sottana to make the trip. Little River, from L. Knapp’s string of jumpers, was one of the early workers, but the Marton gelding was restricted to a solid round on the track proper. He is looking very well and might capture another steeples ei'ent in the near future. John Nod, Wanderlust and Blimp were partnered in a scamper of five furlongs on the course proper, the trestles being well out, John Nod and wanderlust being a shade in front of Blimp at the end of the journey in 1.10. ONE BY POLYDAMON The Polydamon youngster, Hannibal, who promises to be a very fair sort when he fills out, was galloped with an unnamed hunter R. E. Hatch has taken in hand for Air. G. Shannon, the newcomer being by Crown Imperial 11. out of Miss Renown. Hannibal (R. < • Stratton) had the measure of the hunter, who had the services of Green, at the end of live furlongs. In addition to J. Coyle’s team is the Arrowsmith—Taiparu gelding Keddar, who has been purchased from Air. A. B. Knight by Mr. E. Trevor. The purchase price is stated to have been a good figure, and it is to be hoped that his new owner will enjoy better success than he has done with Catcall and , Santonio. both of whom have displayed an unhappy knack of going wrong at the critical moment. newc omer is the Signor—civilisation gelding Wilderness, who nas had somewhat of a chequered career since he closed his hack account so auspiciously by winning four events in succession. F. Gilchrist has taken out a permit for three months, so presumably he purposes making AwaPmi his headquarters for at least a time. Del Sarto (Sarto —Waiopahi) has Deen qualified with the Alanawatu

Hunt and he promises to prove a better proposition in the role of jumper than on the flat. When sent over the double )rush and battens along from the straight seven furlong post yesterday morning, he ran off at the second brush, but was taken back and jumped faultlessly at his next attempt. THE JUMPERS Maidos and Alillie Abbey were reto strong work on the plough. W hile Maidos has previously displaved his jumping abilities, Alillie Abbey was making her appearance for the first time in her new role, when she was a runner in the Kiwitea Lightweight t oint-to-Point Steeplechase at the - lanawatu Hunt fixture. The chestnut jumped rather extravagantly, while she shows a tendency to pull, and her rider did not have an enviable task. w hile her constitution does not promise too well for her future in this branch of the game, the Quin Abbev mare might prove capable of winning a short-distance hurdle race. Alaidos proved to be the winner of the Newduiv Open Point-to-Point Steeplechase, the Birkenhead gelding Birkenose, who won the Hunt Cup event at the Rational meeting of 12 months ago, rilling the role of runner-up. Sottano, who has been treated to a | spell, looks very well, but still boasts ,-an enlarged hind leg which does not, ■ however, appear to affect him. The ! Nassau gelding is a very fair sort j when well, but he has had an interrupted career. ACRE REPRESENTATIVES ! Two very promising sorts, both bemg by Acre, in Fee Simple and Le ! Champ, were sent along over five fur- ; longs on the grass, their task taking ! 1.11, but neither was pressed. Both j are built on very promising lines and j their futures should be bright ones. : Kilmiss has now been in work some | little time, and the Killboy mare apj pears to be relishing her work. Trainer H. Watson has a youngster by Acre j under his care who attained his second birthday on Alonday. He was recently gelded and has made an excellent recovery. Built on robust lines and very tractable, the youngster should make a name for himself in a year or two. He is owned by Air. C. Louisson, president of the Alanawatu Racing Club, who also owns Kilmiss. The Sarto—Blackada gelding, Novar, in J. Coyle’s stable, is being gradually brought into shape in preparation for the spring and summer racing. Yesterday morning he was sent a solid round on the grass by R. J. Alackie, the halfbrother to Piuthair, Clarinda, etc., moving very attractively, Novar races | best when the tracks are reasonably dry. The Crown Imperial 11. representative Imperial Spark, who recently returned from Australia, is also being kept in steady work. His trainerowner was most unfortunate on more than one occasion, on the other side of the Tasman, but unless appearances belie, he should pick up an early stake in the Dominion. GOOD SPRINTER Crown Area is back in the active ranks, and the big raking Acre— Morefield gelding appears to have built up considerably. Capitulation, the Panmure mare from J. Kelly’s stable, is due to return any day, her activities having been confined to road work of late. The Some Boy 11. gelding Some Dad, who has been wintering at Woodville, is also due to re-enter the ranks at the end of the month. While he does not appear to have grown to any extent, it is stated that he has filled out and is in great order to commence his activities. The owner of Some Lad has an Acre colt called Desert Lad, who will be found carrying l is colours in the distant future. While it would appear from the nomenclature that the owner had selected names embodying “Lad,” both his horses were named before he made the purchase, and as they were secured in widely separated districts, the similarity in nomenclature is merely coincidence. WARNED OFF COURSING SENSATION DOGS AT £SOO EACH A sensation has been caused in the English coursing world by the action of the Greyhound Racing Association ing Alanchester trainer, H. A. Wilson, for undefined malpractices. The association’s spokesman states: “We have sufficient grip of the game to fulfil our determination to stamp out anything wrong.” Dog prices have boomed as the result of the announcement that the Empire Championship, for £I,OOO, will be held in September. The “Sporting Life” states that two White City owners have refused £SOO for dogs. in warning off from all tracks a lead-