Good Horses Preparing at Te Awamutu

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1055, 20 August 1930, Page 12

Good Horses Preparing at Te Awamutu

Visit to A. Cook’s Stable

Special to THE SUN

TK AWAMUTU, Today. The Te Awamutu trainer, Alex Cook, topped the list among South Auckland trainers for the season just ended. Judging by the material in his stable at the present time there is every prospect of him again securing a prominent place among the winning trainers for the present season. His stables are located on the Ham-ilton-T© Awamutu main highway, just outside Te Awamutu Borough and close to the Waipa Racing Club’s course. Additional stalls have lately been erected and at present there are 13 boxes in occupation. Speedy Ruling Chief «• The first of the string inspected by your correspondent was the four-year-okl gelding Ruling Chief, by Chief Ruler from Boynette. This horse has not fulfilled expectations, but he is now freshening up and should make amends this season. Though not a top-notcher, he should be good enough to get some of the stake money offering. He possesses speed to burn, conformation and breeding, and his trainer knows how to place him to best advantage. The next on the list was the Night Raid—Petal Bust gelding Bust Up. He does not measure up to the others, being small but compact. The patient policy has been pursued, however, and he may turn out a galloper. Special interest attaches to this equine, for two other Night Raids, Phar Lap and Nightmarcli, are the boom horses at the present time. Being only a three-year-old, there is time for Bust Up to improve. A very different type was Hoihoma, the two-year-old dark bay filly by Legionnaire from White Bird, owned by the well-known Auckland sportsman, Mr. J. N. Heslop. This youngster will be easily identified by the big white blaze. She is a nice stamp of thoroughbred. “The Daddy of Them All” The next one inspected was that rare good handicapper, Pegaway, the “daddy” of the stable. The gelded son of Lucullus and Peggy Pryde has had an easy time of it lately, and he looks well. He won over £2,000 in stakes last season, and he looks likely to account for a like amount this season, even should he be at the top of the handicaps. The fifth horse paraded was Karapoti, now three years old, by General Latour (sire of To Kara), from Kilbeggan. This fellow raced only twice last season and registered a win. Then he contracted a cold and was put aside. He is to have his first race of the season at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, and should give a good account of himself. He has already shown he can gallop to some purpose. Golden Sceptre A light chestnut two-year-old gelding, by imported Rosenor from Moiselle. that will race as Golden Sceptre, bears a very racy appearance, but has not the robust appearance of some of the others. Being able to go fast in short sprints, he should give a good account of himself in early two-year-old events. A good type of galloper is Tenakoc, the bay gelding by Marble Arch from

Queen Elizabeth. He showed last season that he has speed and courage, and being in nice condition for racing, should get a fair share of stake money. A gelding by Quin Abbey from Glenopal is Te Homai, a maiden galloper that should be heard of later. Should he not prove fast enough to win on the flat, he may be a good proposition over the hurdles. Leitrim Is Burly The Valkyrian-Ihapuna chestnut gelding Leitrim was # next inspected. This fellow was a good stake winner last season, and he has come in from a short spell looking right for another career of prominence. He looks a bit burly, but that condition will soon come off. He should be ready to race in a few weeks' time. A recent addition to the stable is Sea Cob, a big bay gelding, which proved last season that he can gallop- He is in racing fettle, being destined to try for some stake money at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. Another recent addition to the string is the Hunting Song—Flying Nell filly owned and bred by Mr. A. H. Storey. This two-year-old will be known as Musical Item, but it will probably be Christmas time at least before she races, as she is backward. Being built on nice lines, Musical Item may be just as good as the best of the Hunting Songs.

In the adjoining box was Perennis, the five-year-old chestnut mare by Chief Ruler from Gladioli. She won over £2OO in six placings (including ono win) last season, and should improve this term. She can gallop fast, and comes from a smart family. The last of the string in training was Silver Bivision, Leitrim’s chestnut brother. This fellow, smaller than his well-performed brother, gave promise earlier, but did not get a win. Silver Division Schooled With a view to making him more solid, his trainer has been schooling Silver Bivision over the hurdles, and the displays so far have been promisglvo him further opportunities to win on the flat, and leave the illegitimate game until later on. A temporary occupant of a box at present is a mare by Bay Comet from Kilbeggan, that was never raced. Three others that may join Cook’s active string later on are Te Hoia, Te Waitai, and Te Taone, of which the

first-mentioned gave distinct promise of developing into a good stakeearner. The fact that he is Te Kara’s half-brother, and a fine big equine, assures him attention in whatever company he appears. Altogether the Cook stable possesses a useful string of gallopers for the coming season, and the trainer and his staff (which includes the successful hurdle horseman, F. Foster) should have a busy and profitable time of it throughout the present racing term.