A Ramble Round Mangere Stables

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 252, 14 January 1928, Page 9

A Ramble Round Mangere Stables

GOOD TEAMS PREPARING FOR ACTION Tracks in Splendid Order BREEDING PROGRESSING ON SOUND LINES

J \ j -THOUGH the tracks at mangere bo not present A VERY animated scene at this juncture, owners AND TRAINERS IN THAT LOCALITY ARE KEEPING THEIR NUMEROUS CHARGES GOING ALONG SMOOTHLY IN VIEW OP THE REVIVAL IN LIGHT HARNESS FIXTURES NEXT MONTH. THE HALL WILL BE SET ROLLING WITH THE OTAHUHU FIXTURE ON FEBRUARY 18 AND 22, FOLLOWED AT BRIEF INTERVALS BY FUNCTIONS AT HAMILTON AND THAMES.

During the week “Abaydos” paid one of his periodical visits to Otahuhu and Mangere and after spending some time at the tracks, where nothing in the way of fast work was being attempted, a tour of inspection, of some of the stables in the suburban area was made. Wherever the writer put in an appearance he was hospitably received and owners and trainers readily rendered assistance by producing their charges for inspection and giving any details sought. MORE STALLS ERECTED Caretaker Jack Somers, who knows the business of attending to the requirements of the clay and grass tracks and the other appointments in connection with the Otahuhu Club’s fine property, has everything in apple-pie order at the course. Both tracks are in fine condition and after the entries for the forthcoming fixture close on February 3 any horses nominated will have the privilege of finishing their preparation on the grass. The roadway leading to the training circuit has been repaired and improved and in future, even in wet weather, no inconvenience should be occasioned those who use the right-of-way. The club’s stalls and stables bear a wellkept appearance, while the enterprising caretaker has, on his own initiative, erected half a , dozen spacious and up-to-date boxes on his property adjoining the course. This move was undertaken, said Mr. Somers, through a suggestion made by a number of Canterbury trainers, who had previously expressed a desire to make Mangere their headquarters when visiting the North. The club had considered the question of erecting 20 boxes, but decided to adopt a “taihoa” policy, with the result the caretaker, after receiving permission from the authorities, put up the new stables. But although the Southerners were notified to this effect, there was no demand for accommodation during the recent carnival. In view of the apathy of the Southerners in this respect, the caretaker is feeling rather pleased that the club did not go on with the scheme for building 20 stalls. HORSES AT WORK

W. Rae, whose horses are always a credit to him and speak volumes for his painstaking ability, was the first to come under notice with Silver Link, who recently won a saddle heat at

Whangarei. The son of Logan Pointer is nice and robust and is doing a good deal of work in harness, and shows a relish for the work. Owner J. McGregor contemplated sending the gelding to Hawke’s Bay for the meeting this month, but there was little on the schedule to suit Silver Link, or to warrant taking him so far afield for one day’s racing. Rae is taking up a handsome youngster by Worthy Bond from Logan Queen and if looks count for anything this juvenile will reach a high circle. In such capable hands, too, it will receive every attention and its education will be undertaken on sound systematic lines. HARD MARK AND HARD TRACK T. Brady and his energetic son are regular attendants at the Mangere track, where that good and popular trotter Betty Moko and the 1928 Derby candidate, Trustworthy, are daily exercised. Betty looks none the worse for her exertions at the Auckland fixture, where she ran a surprisingly good race in the Rowe Cup, an event in which she has now twice acted as run-ner-up. The hard tracks are all against the Peter Moko mare, who is one of the most honest and garaest trotters that ever gazed through a bridle. A hard mark is affecting Betty Moko just now as much as the hard track, and she was not by any means liberally treated during the carnival. Although defeated by Waikaha off the

same mark in the Rowe Cup, the Pen-rose-owned mare was penalised for her honest run into second berth on the middle day by being placed on the same mark again as the winner of the Fisken Gold Cup. When the sting is

out of both the handicap and the ground, Betty Moko should get some more stakq money. A full sister to Betty Moko, which has not yet raced, has been leased by Mr. Brady to W. J. Morgan, of Chessey fame, who will give her plenty of time and encourage her to emulate the deeds of her elder sister. The Worthy Bond —Connie filly, which is the property of Mrs. Brady, who like her good man, takes a keen interest in the sport for its own sake, is still showing promise, although she is of late showing a boring tendency. W. Orange, who knows all the tricks of the trade, is gearing the filly in a manner that he anticipates will tend to make th© youngster go square, and hopes are entertained that she will go along the right way and carry the navy, brown and gold livery conspicuously in the 1928 classic. THE VETERAN BUSY Everyone in the Auckland district who takes any interest in the light harness sport, either great or small, is acquainted with, or knows of, the

genial veteran, W. (Billy) Orange, whose lengthy connection with the pastime has been an honourable and remarkably successful one. Billy informed “Abaydos” that it is just about 40 years since he piloted his first winner. Prior to taking up his abode in the North, William conquered th© game in Hawke’s Bay, having for many years a successful association at Hastings with the light harness business. He came to this locality about a score of years ago and soon worked up a fine connection with the pastime. In the days when saddle races were as plentiful as harness heats are now, Orange was One of the great horsemen of the period and few, if any of later-day pilots, have achieved the same distinction in the saddle. The genial Bill has at present under his supervision five dirges, which include the trotters King Capitalist, Ria Alto and Lochade. The trio are certainly nothing to write home about, but they are in good spirits and as it is a long lane that has no turning, the veteran may pick up a stake with one of th© party. Lochade should do all right at some of the country fixtures. A full brother to Gold Cast, named Gold Treasure, is a pacer of more than average promise that is sheltering under the Orange roof, and one of these fine days will no doubt bring gold to the mill. Then there is a three-year-old by Peter Moko from Billy’s old favourite, Nora Creina, that has been given every- chance to make good. He has been Well done for in every respect, while his education in mannerisms has teeen most thorough and exacting. The juvenile gives promise of realising the hopes and dreams of his owner-trainer, and the day the veteran can lead him in a winner at Alexandra Park th© countryside will reverberate , with the cheers of the assemblage, as it did when he drove the dam to victory in the Auckland Cup. of 1919. THE FATES AGAINST HIM For some time past Dame Fortune has not smiled encouragingly on the Mangere mentor, Sid Groat, who since joining the ranks of light harness enthusiasts has demonstrated the same ability and fir:st-class characteristics which made him a successful and respected trainer of gallopers in his earlier days. For some time, after engaging in the trotting game Sid met with a good measure of success, but the bad run that sooner or later is the lot of all sportsmen, set in and not satisfied with keeping its gloomy shadow hovering over th© stable, misfortune laid its unpleasant hand heavier upon the energetic and able trainer. The blow fell with great severity recently, when the Groat family suffered a severe loss through the visitation of that “sometimes cheerful friend, but deadly enemy, fire.” “Abaydos” viewed the wreckage on Tuesday and the wonder of it is that the stables, which were at no great distance from the dwelling place, were not included in the sad toll of the flames. Despite the drawback, Sid Groat is cheerfully attending to the requirements of a big string at the old rendezvous, but he may in the near future transfer his team to Mangere and occupy the boxes erected by the caretaker. When the writer arrived Sid and his son wer© busily engaged in “feeding-up” operations, and after seeing the high-grade liberal mixture of health-giving and muscle-raising ingredients allotted to each inmate of the establishment it was not surpris-

gest the animals are treated too kindly. Those receiving every attention at this trainer’s hands just now are Manna, Lady Joan, Cute Lad, Black Ballin, Profiteer, Realty, Araroa, a Gold Bell—Woodnymph colt, and a youngster by Peterwah from the dam of Realty. This is a handsome juvenile and is early showing unmistakable signs of being a good one. Some of the members of the string are causing their trainer much concern owing to the hard track giving trouble to the legs, but Profiteer and Araroa are being prepared in view of a trip to Hawke’s Bay, providing the handicaps are suitable. The three-year-old Realty, who made a fine impression when raced in the Great Northern Derby, is still growing, and his trainer is wisely giving him plenty of time. When properly tuned up the Real Guy colt should be capable of big efforts. It is to be hoped that the year just entered on will hold a better run of luck in store for the hardworking Groat family. A USEFUL PRIVATE TRACK Trotting trainers, with a fair number of horses under their care, do not get much spare time, but leisure hours that come to Percy Rogers are spent in renovating and improving his Mangere headquarters. He has something to show for his energy as the stables, bins and paddocks all bear an excellent appearance, and cleanliness is a big factor in the Rogers’s establishment. This young trainer, who has had a good deal of success at the game, is fortunate in the possession of a useful private track, of the clay order, and the education of his various charges is undertaken here. When occasion demands, Percy takes the team to the Mangere course. The private track is a half-mile one and in fine weather suits all requirements, but when the conditions are unfavourable the circuit is absolutely unworkable. Of the quintette now in hand under Rogers’ssupervision, WalLroon is perhaps the' best known. Of late the Wallace L. gelding has shown a disinclination to do things right, but when on his best behaviour he can give th© opposition an anxious time. Wallroon proved this when he recently defeated the field in the December Handicap at Alexandra- Park. Mr. Ward’s gelding is on th© sale list, and he may change hands in the immediate future. Others owned by Mr. Ward

Three-year-old with good future prospects. ing to see the whole team looking in great condition. No trainer of horses in the Dominion has anything on Groat when it comes to having charges a picture of health and contentment, and, in fact, after doing the rounds one would almost be tempted to sug-

Useful performer and recent winner. are Bonanza, Queen Betty and Satinbird, and while they have not been much engaged in racing activities this season, the trio are in excellent heart to tackle serious work. Another member of this establishment is Peter Grattan, a promising pacer, who is being prepared for Hawke's Bay, where last year he annexed a double. His only start in hopples this season was at Claudelands, where he finished a head behind the placed horses, Andover, Uramic and Joy Bird. The quartette are making a big improvement on their handicap time. With a bit more racing in the straps the Peter Moko gelding should prove a solid proposition and recompense his painstaking owner-trainer for his zeal and attentiveness. BREEDING ON SOUND LINES Practically no light harness enthusiast in the Southern Hemisphere pays more attention to the rudiments of the sport than Tom Roe, the wellknown energetic trainer and breeder of Mountain Road, Mangere. Tom has had considerable experience of the game and knows its requirements, intricacies and peculiarities from A to Z. Some high-class horses have received their tuition at the Roe establishment, and the popular brown and purple jacket has repeatedly been cheered to victory in days gone by. A general favourite with the public was the grey mare Steel Bell, a daughr ter of that wonderful sire, Gold Bell. The grey mar e won the Auckland Cup

in 1914, repeating the performance in 1917, being driven on each occasion by Jimmy Lynch, now owner-trainer of Uncle Bert. Steel Bell is visiting the Gisborne crack trotting sire Peterwah and owner Roe has high hopes that the result of such a union will be something exceptionally good. Gold Boy and Gold Girl were other high-

grade performers of the Roe stable, but at the present juncture there is nothing in work that can claim such distinction as that won by those mentioned. Goldman is still plodding along finding it harder, with so manv improving maidens, to get on the winning list. The trotters Roez and Gold Sovereign are in steady work, and may in the not too distant future reward their patient mentor for his untiring attention. Bluewood and Peterson, two solid trotters of medium class, are on the easy list, as the classes on local programmes do not suit them. Tom Roe, as already stated, is keen on breeding, and makes a special study of this important phase of the subject. Two well-bred youngsters are now being handled by the Mountain Road trainer, one being by the Mardella Farm sire, Worthy Bond, from Gold Girl, and the other by Nelson Derby from Galindo Bell. Both juveniles are well-mannered and beautifully proportioned and look like being able to deliver the goods when the time duly arrives. Gold Girl has been sent to Hawera to be mated with Worthy Bingen, th© elder brother to Great Bingen, Peter Bingen and Great Peter. T. Roe is certainly breeding on sound lins and deserves to succeed in his mission of finding a champion. TROTTING FIXTURES Porbury Park T.C.—Jan. 27, 28. Hawke’s Bay T.C.—Jan. 28. Nelson T.C.—Jan. 31, Feb. 1 Takaka T.C.—Feb. 2. Cheviot T.C. —Feb. 4. N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.—Feb. 11 Otahuhu T.C.—Feb. 8, 22. Kaikoura T.C. —Feb. 25. Greyrqouth Jubilee—Feb. 25. Inangahua Jubilee—Feb. 27. Marlborough T.C.—March 2. Invercargill T.C. —March 2, 3. Waikato T.C.—March 3. Manawatu T.C.—March 7. Timaru T.C. —March 8, 10. Wyndham T.C. —March 14. New Brighton T.C.—March 15, 17. Thames T.C. —March 24. Wellington T.Cu—March 24. Wanganui T.C.—March 29, 31. N.Z. Metropolitan T;C.—April 7, 11.