TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

Two Grand National lmrdle candidates, Morning and Player, are not likely to race over the battens at Wellington, but both may be seen out in flat events. Canute, who it is understood has been acquired by Mr Dougald Thompson, now resident in New South Wales, was shipped for Sydiiey yesterday. Glenfinnan, recently purchased by the Melbourne sportsman, Mr S. A. Rawdon, takes his departure next week. The V.R.C. Grand National meeting will be brought to a conclusion tomorrow, when the Grand National Steeplechase, worth 1750 sovs, will be decided. There is sure to be a big field, and recent form paints to Cooradjill, on whom L. Hagerty will have the mount, being prominent at the finish. Though a large number of Riccarton trained horses were nominated for, the Wellington Racing Club's meeting, their ranks were greatly reduced when acceptances came to be declared. As far as can be ascertained, the local contingent will comprise—Veritas, Merry Yalet, Silver Shield, Tim Doolan, Terry Flynn, and Ohakea. Bluestone's chance of annexing the Parliamentary Handicap is very highly assessed by those who have witnessed his track work at Ellerslie. He is quite at home in heavy going, and is one of the few horses worked regularly on the tan gallop at his headquarters. Bluestone will be ridden in his Wellington engagements by J. Buchanan, wlio' fs coming down from Auckland for that purpose. The Wellington owned Taione has been leased by a. West Coast sportsman, and is to be shipped to his new quarters to-morrow. , On his return from Sydney, J. Hennah informed a Wellington writer that he made a preseat of Captain Jingle, the Grand National Steeplechase winner, to Charlie Brown, well-known to New Zealand visitors to Sydney as the caretaker of the Randwick racecourse. The turnstile system, which has proved such a success at Randwick and other places, is shortly to be tried at Flemington. A start will be made with the gates leading to the Hill. Mr William Brown has lost the brood mare Otterdeii (imp.), who died a day or two ago at the Segenhoe Stud (says the "Daily Telegraph"). Otter den was by Sheen from Spring Morn, by Springfield from Sunshine, by Thormanby from Sunbeam, by Chanticleer, and was brought to this , country by Mr Brown in I9UB. She was the dam of Boniform, Sungod, Martian, Foremost, True Form, and others. It is understood that Otterden broke Her neck. At.Trentham last winter, says a Wellington writer, hurdles similar to those in use at Ellerslie were adopted. The idea of the committee, to get a uniform hurdle throughout the Dominion, was a good one. The innovation met with a good deal of opposition, and a petition was presented asking for the old kind of obstacle to be reverted to. At the coming meeting it lias been decided that the hurdles with feet will be done away with and the old kind of obstacles again used. It does not ofteu occur that the trainer of a horse finds it necessary to consult liia principal at a distance of i about' 15,000 miles with regard to the withdrawal of the animal from a hurdle race. Such a-novelty, was recorded recently. Mr P. Phillips, owner of Widden, is in England, and , Widden's trainer, ft. Harrison, cabled him advising that gelding's withdrawal from the V.R.C." Grand National Hurdle Race. -What the reply was, says an exchange,, may be guessed from the absence of Widden *s name from the final acceptors. The programme provided for the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club's meeting on Saturday, containing as it does, jumping, flat, and trotting events, is one that is .sure to appeal to racegoers. Seeing that the fixture has to be run without the benefit of the totalisator, the stakes are naturally small, but the chief attraction of the gathering lj.es in the fact that it provides the Opportunity for a number of beginners at the jumping business to make their first efforts in public. Several of these figure in the Maiden Hack Hurdles, the most promising of whom is Oorrie. Should Tim Doolan be started in the ViVw Hill Steeplechase his efforts will be .watched with interest by those who fancy his chance in the Wellington Steeplechase or Grand National, and his impost of 12.7 is not a prohibitive one in such poor company as he will meet to-morrow. Several of those that figure in the Maiden Hurdles also claim engagement in the Hack Hurdles, while there is sure to be a, big field seen out in the Welter Handicap. A special train has been arranged to leave town at 10.5 a.m., and racing will commence at 12.30 p.m. A North Island trotting enthusiast is at present in-Southland purchasing light harness horses. He has already secured several, and is in treaty for others.

Judging by present indications, it is not unlikely that three Auckland horses, Bluestone, Admiral Soult, and Captain Jack, will start favourites in the three principal events on the first day of the Wellington Racing Club 's meeting. It is expected that H. M'Cabe, who journeyed to Melbourne to ride Obi in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, will be back in the Dominion in time to ride Peary in the Wellington Steeplechase. The Auckland-owned Ruffy is said to have done well since last sporting silk, and his party make no secret of the fact that the son of Seaton Delaval will run a great race in the Wellington Steeplechase. Midnight Sun is at present located at Brisbane, where, it is understood, Mr E. J. Wat* intends leaving the New Zealand Cup winner for the present. Prior to a schooling task over hurdles at Ellerslie a few mornings ago, Ngatiruanui administered a severe kick to Admiral Soult, which landed just above the knee on one of the forelegs. It is not anticipated that the mishap will interfere to any extent with Admiral Soult's prospects in the W.R.C. Winter Hurdles, for which he is likely to go out favourite. The much-boomed Merrimax will probably sport silk for the first time in Australia to-morrow, as he claims an engagement at a Sydney suburban meeting. . It is rumoured in Melbourne that the Y.R.C. Derby winner Wolawa, will shortly go to South America to take up stud duties. % . The Auckland 'chaser Chris had to forfeit his engagements at Wellington in consequence of having gone wrong. At present the chestnut hunter is enjoying a spell. The English polo team which wrested the cup from the Americans, sent 36 ponies to New York. The ponies are valued at over £12,000, and most of them belong to Lord Wimborne. Of the large team of 17 which Mr J. H. Prosser has under his care at Porirua, Gold Soult, a two-year-old colt by Gold Crest from a Soult mare, comes in for most attention. He is said to be an ideal racehorse, and will belie his looks and promise if he fails to make good when put to the test. Mr J. B. Joel is one of the. few owners who can claim to have won the whole of the English classic races, and he has done it all in the space of six years. Your Majesty led off by winning the St. Leger in 1908, Sunstar following suit by winning the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby in 1911, Jest the One Thousand and The Oaks in 1913, and Princess Dorrie the last-mentioned two races again this year. TEMPLAR. THE RACING CONFERENCE. PROPOSAL TO ALTER CONSTITUTION. ■ Pre** Association. . PALMERSTON NORTH, July 9. A representative conference of delegates from Wellington,' Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Wanganui districts, convened by the Manawatu . Racing Club, was held in Palmerston to-night, to consider mattefs connected with . the government of racing in New Zealand.' Of eighteen clubs invited to attend, fifteen were represented. Mr H. P. Strang, president of the Manawatu Racing Club, presided. An able piaper was read. by Mr J. Goring Johnston, dealing with the advisability of altering the constitution of the Racing Conference. After discussion, the following resolution, proposed by-Mr A. E. Whyte (Wellington) arid seconded by Mr E. ; Gleadow (Napier Park), was passed: "That this meeting approve the proposal to alter the present constitution of the New Zealand Racing Conference with the object of giving proportionate and direct representation to all totalisator clubs, and that the New Zealand" Racing Conference be requested-to nominate a committee to draft the necessary consequential amendments to the rules of raicing and report to a meeting of - the conference to be held during January, 1915, in Wellington." General appreciation was expressed at Mr Goring Johnston's paper;, which will be forwarded in .detail to all racing clubs. - ' . '