Visit to Stables in the Waikato

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 6

Visit to Stables in the Waikato

POURI AND THE NATIONAL SMART CHIEF RULER YOUNGSTER (Special to THE SUN) TE AROHA, Friday. There is no more popular sportsman in this district than the Cambridge owner-trainer of Kingfield, Mr. H. Harris, who wields the auctioneer’s hammer in everyday life. Although. in the spring and summer Kingfield failed to strike form, the son of King Lupin made amends later on and his successes at Te Aroha, Te Rapa and Auckland recompensed, in some measure, the disappointments and failures of the preceding period. Kingfield had more than his share of mishaps in the opening half of the present season, but, with a reasonable run of fortune, he should be found extending his record during the coming spring campaign. Mosaic and Another Test One of the consistent stake-earners of A. E. Cox’s local team until he went wrong midway through the season was Mosaic. The Some Boy ll—Marble Star galloper was a winner at distances up to 10 furlongs, but he went wrong in one of his forelegs after racing at the Thames meeting at Ellerslie. It is doubtful as yet whether Mosaic will stand another period of training, but there are hopes that the long spell he has been given will cause the limb to get sufficiently sound to see out some further racing in an effective manner. Making Good as a ’Chaser The win secured by Pouri in the Wellington Steeplechase was a per-

formance of more than passing notice, when the comparatively brief period he has been at the cross-country game is realised. If memory serves me correct, that was the fifth appearance of the Spalpeen gelding in a steeplechase, and, with the exception of Glendowie, he dsposed of the best in the land at the game. Pouri’s success brought back to the writer memories of the days when Frank Tutchen (Pouri’s trainer) and St. Elmn were associated in cross-country outings with a good measure of success. From what I can gather, Pouri is to go on with his big job over the country at Riccarton next month. While he is only a small horse and the country South is formidable, Pouri is so well bred for the business that it would not surprise to find him “in at the death.” E. Warner, who will again have the ride, knows Rifccarton country from A to Z. He steered Sturdee when Mr. C. F. Vallance’s old gelding (now defunct) won a few years back and paid a big price. Left Many Lamenting Orchus had been giving a good account of himself in training on the local tracks prior to being sent to Trentham to race in the Kia Ora Handicap on Saturday. The five furlongs of the race referred to was thought to suit Orchus admirably. The local galloper was a solid favourite, but in the race he was never moving like a winner. The “sticky” going at Trentham may have anchored him, but whatever the reason, Orchus left many this way lamenting when he failed to “deliver the goods.” Flying Juliet’s New Mentor R. A. Edwards, who is to train Flying Juliet at Te Rapa in future, was located at Te Aroha eajrlier in the season. It is a coincidence that Flying Juliet was trained here during her two-year-old a.nd part of her three-year-old career. Wliile she has won races this season, it is doubtful if the daughter of Romeo has ever shown the speed she did enuring her first season on the turf, when she would literally “set the tracks alight” by her gallops here at distances up to five furlongs. Flying Juliet has failed to reach the standard expected of her more than once this term, but sh© is undoubtedly a useful sort.

Better Expected Better results were expected of King Smock during his winter engagements than what the Thames located galloper proved capable of. The son of Snow King and Lady Smock had been working sufficiently well at his home centre to justify financial attention at the closing meeting of the season, but his performances at provincial headquarters were anything but the impressive displays so many hoped for. King Smock is now having an easy time of it. and the spring may be the period at which he shall make recompense for recent failures. One by Chief Ruler A recent addition to the small but select team in Alec Cook’s stables at Te Awamutu is a rising two-year-old by Chief Fuler from the Martian mare Gipsy Martian, the dam of Stormy, Breezy and Becalmed, the last-named of which is also in the stable referred to. The writer has seen several of the juvenile stock about here to bo prepared for racing next season in their division, but the palm, on looks at anyrate, goes out to this youngster. In tha.t conclusion I am backed by several good judges. While he gives the im-

pression that he will require a lot of time this should be a top-notch galloper if all goes well with him. Nancy Lee’s Progress While all his team have looked well when required to race, there is no member of A. Cox’s local team that has made greater progress physically than Nancy Lee. The Lucullus-Flagship mare has proportioned in splendid style, and is really a very attractive specimen of a racing thoroughbred. From the aspect of £ s. d. she has been a very payable proposition since Cox took charge of her. Next season Nancy Lee is likely to again be prominent on the turf, and a good handicap or two at a middle distance is not too much to anticipate.