SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP. Nominations for the Southland Meeting close to-morrow. Acceptances for the Manawatu Meeting close to-morrow. Acceptances for the Auckland Cup, Eailway Handicap, Eobinson Handicap, Grafton Hurdle Eace, Nursery Handicap, and Christmas Handicap at the A.E.C. Summer Meeting close at 5 p.m. to-morrow. Final payments for the Queen's Plate, Foal Stakes, Derby, and Koyal Stakes arc due at the samo time. Owners are reminded that acceptances for the Huiunui Turf Club's Meeting on Boxing Day close with the secretary on Saturday, at 8 p.m. The improvements to tho ford across the Waitohi river at Hurunui aro nearly completed, and all classes of traffic will bo able to cross in safety. Koauau (A. G. Peart) was schooled over four fences at Riccarton yesterday, giving a satisfactory display. He is to compete at tho southern holiday Meetings and will be in chargo of W. McDonald. It is probable that Martarma will be ridden in the Great Northern Derby by F. E. Jones. The Eiccarton horses engaged at the Auckland Summer Meeting will leave by to-night's steamer, and will join the special horse train leaving Wellington to-morrow afternoon. Several owners of two-year-olds in the Great Northern Foal Stakes have an idea that they can beat Childsplay, says "The Watcher." This is what makes racing, but all going well with Childsplay, it is improbable that it will make a dividend for their owners. Not having seen Ridgemount perform, no opinion can be expressed on his chances, but on public form to date the most likely youngster to bring about the defeat of the Eiccarton filly is Prince Humphrey. His race against her in the Wellesloy Stakes was a high-class effort, for he gave her five or six lengths' start up the straight, and lost only by one length. With an extra furlong on to tho journey, Prince Humphrey promises to make matters very interesting. There is no doubt, all the same, that Childsplay is extra good. Palmares, a grey gelding attachedto J. Williamson's stable, is a recent importation from Australia. As a two-year-old he started on eight occasions, and his best performance was in running third to Calmest and Minjerookah in the Nursery Handicap (5} furlongs) at the AJ.C. January, Meeting. Last Beason, as a three-year-old, he contested four races, and a third in a maiden handicap of seven furlongs at Eosehill in July last was the only placed performance to his credit. Palmares is entered for minor events to be run at Ellerslie at the forthcoming Meeting. It is reported that Mr P. A. Duncan, who formerly raced, the Australianbred gelding, Ayrovski, on North and South Island tracks, has returned from tho Commonwealth, bringing with him three well-bred youngsters, two being credited to the New Zealand Humbug, ■who was at tho stud in New South Wales for somo time. Something good is always looked for when Lysander and Civility step out for a sprint, and those who clocked the pair on Saturday morning were not disappointed (says the "Wanganui Chronicle"). Both had light-weights *n the saddle, and Lysander had the inside running from the jump out. The first furlong of their six-furlong task was left behind in 12 1-5, and the quarter took 23 8-5, with the three furlongs occupying 35 3-5. The half-mile took them 48 2-5, and the pair got to the end of the journey in 1.15, with Lysander about a neck to tho good when the post was reached. It was a very pleasing display on the part of Lysander, who showed that he has retained his great speed, thus making him- still a dangerous candidate in the Eailway Handicap at Ellerslie with his luxurious impost. Whether Civility will take her place in the field for the big sprint on Boxing Day still remains to be seen, but in all probability she will make the trip to Awapuni and Stratford, at both of which Meetings she is engaged. Some well-backed failuros in the Woodville Handicap have gone on to Auckland and have run prominently in the Cup. In 1922 Scion ran unplaced at Woodville, and won at Ellerslie. In 1925 Te Monanui was beaten at Woodville, and ran third in the Auckland Cup. Last year Tanadees, out of a place at Woodville, won the Cup. They were all solid favourites at Woodville. History has a chance of repeating itself this ■ month with Grand Knight and Bennanee. Piastoon is again to be trained in Sydney. When seen in Melbourne in the spring, he looked well, but could not strike the form that enabled him to win in Sydney. In consequence, Mr R. H. Edkins has decided to race© him again in Sydney, and is giving him to R. O'Donnell to train. In Czechoslovakia women riders aro not barred in jumping races. The Grand Steeplochase, which is the biggest race of its class in the country mentioned, was run at Pardubitz, near Prague, on October 9th. There were thirteen starters, and only fivo finished. Tho fifth and laßt horse, Novesta, was ridden by a woman jockey, who came off at several jumps, but remounted each timo. She was loudly choored when sho passed the winning post, and, for hor pluck, she deserved it. Tho three-year-old Fiterari (Sardarmple—Miss Bachelor, by Bachelor's Double) was sold in France in October for £41,000, which is the greatest price ever paid by a French owner or breeder for a racehorse or stallion. The previous highest was the £39,375 the late Mr E. Blanc gave for Flying Fox. Fiterari won the French Guineas, Grand Prix, and St. Legor, but was easily beaten by Mon Talisman in the Prix du Jockoy Club. Fiterari has been bought for the stud, and, though a Normandy breeder, Mr Charles dc Cathou, is his purchaser, thore is understood to be a syndicate of 40 behind him. Fitorari'a feo will be about £3OO, bo, if he is limited to 35 mares a season, the return in four years will be over £50,000. Farhad (Phalaris—St. Amour), who cost tho Aga Khan 7000gns as a yearling, and had not previously won, came . out of his shell at tho Newmarket Meeting on October 25th. He started favourite for the Criterion Stakes, six furlongs, and won easily from Norwest. His stable companion, Falko (Phalaris —Cry Help), a OlOOgns purchase, did even better the following day. Falko hdd 8-3 in the Moulton Stakes, five furlongs, for which Tho Hermit IT. was supposed to be a certainty. Tho Hormit 11. led a furlong from home, but was fairly outstayed by Falko, who beat nim a halMongth in 1.2. Prior to this race the winner was a maiden.