Training Operations at Opaki

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1941, Page 3

Training Operations at Opaki

'EY

"THE GRAFTER")

There has been a slight easing off in training operations at Opaki since the Tauherenikau meeting, but various horses will soon be put into - serious training for Wellington. Ashhurst-Pohangina. and Pahiatua. . The course at Opaki is said to be faster than it has been for some years. It has been a common thing for four furlongs to be covered in 48sec on the plough.

Promises to be Good. Vivid Night promises to become a particularly good racer and prior to the Tauherenikau meeting he did some good times, on one occasion covering five furlongs in a minute. A. Jenkins had the Nightly gelding in splendid Loan at Tauherenikau. testifying to his skill as a trainer, and should soon agarw lead in Mr C. A. Cameron’s representative. Some of this trainer’s team are due to run at the AshhurstPohangina meeting. Te Ore. The hard going he has experienced in his recent races has resulted in a certain amount of soreness being developed by Te Ore. who. in Kelleher’s skilful hands should soon recover. Galloping Satisfactorily. Happy Ending has been galloping [ satisfactorily at Opaki and should soon j be at his best. Half Casto has been striding along well in his work. Should be Useful Sort. .A Foxbridgo filly which B. J. Kelleher has in hand at Opaki has been doing splendid work on the track receni- j ly, and gives promise of being a very ' useful sort. A Well Kept Racecourse. Probably no racecourse in New Zealand is kept more “up to form" than that at Opaki where the custodian (Mr Gibbs) has put in excellent work. The fact that T. R. George brought a large | team to Opaki for the winter and j spring period is evidence that the I course is particularly suitable for train- I purposes, and that it is kept up to that standard so necessary for the production of the best that is in a horse. The success which was achieved by T. R. George's charges during their training at Opaki has undoubtedly placed that i course on the training map of New Zealand.

Following a successfully-managed »:uid profitable meeting recently the Masterton Racing Club should not now look back. Indications point to the future prospects of the club being of the brightest, and with the present officials in charge another very successful meeting should be held this year.

Successful Horsemen. An - interesting feature of the holi-, day racing was that on two occasions j a jockey performed the unusual feat of riding the winners of half the pro-; gramme, and on two occasions also a jockey took, the hat-trick with the last three winners. The double feat was. accomplished by the Opaki apprentice; A. Midwood, who. after winning the. first race at Tattherenikau on Blue Border, later collected the last throe in ' a row on Piastre. Siglow, and Vivid; Night. At Stratford on New Year’s Day I the Auckland horseman G. Cameron I piloted Venture. Red Cat. and Scandal; to victory in a line, while earlier in the; holidays the Awapuni apprentice. J. I Williamson, won four races on the final] day of the Manawatu meeting. A Bin Disappointment. One of the biggest disappointments, of the Auckland meeting was Belle; Cano. That she should fail in the Railway Handicap was hardly surprising, as that is a difficult race to win, but her form later at the mooting was distinctly below what her previous efforts had led everybody to expect. To Be Given Spells. The preparation of a horse for the! Now Zealand Cup‘and taking part in; it has often found a weakness, and; there have boon many instances of a I Cup candidate failing to do much good after Cup meeting. Second Innings and i The Raker are two so affected, and , both are to bo given spells following; their disappointing efforts over the I holidays. Freshened Up. Surveyor-General has freshened up nicely since racing at New Plymouth. His trainer R Brough, has been easy on him in the interim owing to a skin; ailment on his hind legs but he will in all probability go tn Trentharn Stir- 1 veynr-Gonoral is a brilliant galloper i who should be seen to advantage on j that Course. His record of four winsj jmd a second to Zest in five stalls is a I of his prowess. Improved Horse. Marlene was an improved horse at ; Stratford On a course like Trentharn t he should bo ••on to advantage. Sir Amy.is. The [Hire paid for Sir Amya- <■; -aid !o be 1.'1.T Kinin ... and h.< should n-.t ’ prove d 0..- ,d llg-.i:-,- T;> ’ ■ reads cheap ;n a purchase for Austro - ; 10. Sir Amya?; has been [ktlit-nily M lowed to mature ..nd 1-., m-.o:- d. - jdayed any n*.ttcoablc :r<>ub’<- or un•oundwM He vra-. got by Paladin from Beulah by Tractor--B< nrin Lake.!; by Sunny Droski. by Stcpnsak ; - — Whir|j>s-d, by S‘- G'*->:g<--XV,I spite, by Traducrr ■■ WaUmwitch. by Camden Mermaid, by King Tom Sn ; Amv.,: picks iip strains of St Sin ti 1 through 'Tractor, Sunt ■ ..nd Pa- ' Lidin. and King Tom, the «. ii e Xp-t-i’ maid also g>t St Angela the dam »f .’ St simon :