RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 139, 18 July 1914, Page 11

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. August 11, 13, 15—C.J.C. Grand National. August 29—Amberley Steeplechase Annual. ACCEPTANCES. July 24 —C.J.C. Grand National. August 24—Amberley Steeplechase Annual. TROTTING FIXTURES. August 10, 12, and 14— N.Z. Metropolitan T.G. Winter. ACCEPTANCES; August S—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Winter. TURF JTOPICS. *riie heavy frost experienced last night had the effect of delaying training operations at Riccarton this morning" until a late hour. Horses accomplishing their tasks on the sand and tan tracks were more fortunate than the jumping brigade, as the schooling ground was very hard and glassy. Many trainers refrained from jumping their charges at all, but despite the adverse conditions a fair 'amount of interesting work was accomplished in the presence of a few spectators. Stevedore, Slogan, arid Carolus, in company, ran seven furlongs. The former pair, striding along nicely, experienced little difficulty in defeating Carolus by about four lengths. Chrysotes registered an attractive performance over six which she east behind in convincing style. This mare has come on wonderfully during the past few weeks, and should be ready to give a good account of herself by National time. 'Tannhauser and Thrax galloped together over six furlongs, both horses moving freely. The latter is looking exceptionally well, and is getting through his tasks in a business-like manner. Should the Winter Cup be his mission, he will take all sorts of beating in that, event.

Kilmeny and Mescal strode over a mile on the sand this morning. The former, who appeared to be going the better of the pair throughout, finished up by defeating his rival by a couple of lengths. , Gnome, looking big and well , just now, galloped a mile on the sand this morning, being assisted by Star Gazer over the last half. The former was showing clear of, his companion when the winning post was reached.

: Troon strode over a short course alone on the sand this movning. The Glenapp mare did not move with her usual freedom. She appeared to be a trifle stiff behind.

Ovar (Emerson), Rejected (Levi), and Martial (O'Connor) were companions. in a schooling task over four flights of hurdles this morning. The trio raced together until the hurdle at the top -of the straight was reached, where Martial and Rejected lost ground through a faulty jump. At the last obstacle Ovar, who had been fencing well throughout, held a slight advantage, and finished up by giving a more finished display than his rivals, whose exhibitions were not up to the standard of previous occasions. The hunter Avon, with Mcßandel in the saddle, gave a capital display of jumping over a round of the steeplechase fences this morning. Taking each fence in great style, he never made a filse s|;ep, his display being highly satisfactory. Combination (ChapmsLn) did. a round over th£ schooling jhiii-dies; this morning, liis fjumping beingstraight and clean. Altogether his effort was a satisfactory one.

Obligate, with Chapman in the saddle, failed to negotiate a round of the steeplechase fences this morning. Cornstands, he just - managed to scramble mencing at the brush in front of the over, but fell at the first fence of the double. His jumping of late has been of a very unsatisfactory nature, as he either baulks or runs off whenever possible.

True Blue and Prairie Fire each did steady to half-pace work on the tan track" at headquarters this morning.

Daylight Bill (Coker) and Silver Blaze (Emerson) gave a capital display of jumping in a round over the big fences this morning. - Commencing at the brush in front of the stand, the pair raced over the double and sodwall together, after which Daylight Bill gradually drew away from his companion, and clearing the post' and rail arid brush in good style, finished up by giving one of his best displays. Silver Blaze, going on, jumped the double and sod-wall a second time, his fencing throughout being highly satisfactory.

The Treadmill gelding, Taskmaster, •was sent back to his owner's station at Stonyhurst yesterday, where he will do duty as a hack. The St. Simou-Isabella horse, Sau Francisco, arrived from Sir G. Clifford J s Stonyhurst stud yesterday, and will, during the season, be at the disposal of breeders at Upper Riccarton. His many friends will be pleased to hear that starter Harry Piper has so far recovered from his recent illness as to be able to leave the private hospital in which he was operated on for his own home.

B. Deeley will ride next season as a free lance. He heads the list of winning jockeys again this year, and is said to have ridden about six hundred winners in eleven years, and has several times ridden more winners than he has had this year. He has been a hard worker all the time, and deserves his successes.

It was stated in Englaud that M. Aumont refrained from sending liis crack Nimbus over from Prance for the Ascot Gold Cup because of the fear that he might meet with interference from the suffragettes. England's Amazons are certainly creating fear, if they are not gaining respect, in foreign countries as well as their own. .Jack Delaval's trainer-owner, F. Stenl>ing, has never taken that gelding a sea trip, and it is not thought by any of his friends that he will go to Melbourne with the son of Seaton Delaval, tout on this point he has not made up his mind. Jack Delaval, says an Auckland writer, is a useful horse of his inches, but would not strike many on his appearance as a likely Melbourne Cup winner, but he is better than he looks, a beautiful goer, and is bred to stay all day. At the same time, he is not a horse that can be trained as topnotchers usually are, and might easily be given a gallop too many. A correspondent, "T.N.T.," enquires as to the name of the horse that won the Australian Cup after running two dead heats for that event. The incident referred to was one of the most memorable in the history of Australian lacing, and happened so far back as 1872. In the first contest Saladin, owned by Mr .1. 1?. Crook, carried 7st Sib, and after making most of the running was just caught on the post by Flying Dutchman, 7st 51b. Neither of the owners would agree to divide, and on running it off the horses again finished on terms. It was only on the third attempt that Saladin prevailed, and as fai-as can be ascertained, neither horses did much good in any of their subsequent essays. The New Zealand Metfopolita* £nt-

ting Club received entries for its August meeting up to Wednesday next. A splendid programme has been provided for tlie fixture, which should meet with the approval of owners. In the list of handicaps published for the Grand National Hurdles the name of Cloudy Dawn (9st 181b) appeared in error, as the Aucklander was not engaged in the race. The sale of trotting horses and gear in the estate of the late J. R. Charlton, advertised to take place to-day, will rot be held till Saturday next.

At the sitting of the Racing Conference on Thursday last a petition signed bv a large number of owners was presented, asking for relief for the mother of a jockey named Macintosh, who was killed in a race at Bleuheim. The president (Sir George Clifford) explained that the owner of the horse had not paid his accident fee, and was not entitled to relief. He was really the person who should give relief, which,. through his negligence, was cut out of the proper fund. Mrs Macintosh had taken legal action against the owner, but judgment had gone to the defendant. One had, of course, great sympathy with one who was unable to get compensation through the negligence of the owner, but the petition raised a dangerous precedent, and it rested with the conference to consider what to do with it. After a brief discussion, the petition was referred (with a recommendation to favourable consideration) to a committee consisting of Messrs E. W. Alison, Hugo Friedlarider, and P. Miller. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES. WEIGHTS REVIEWED. Few horses, after, racing over steeplechase country, retain their former ability as hurdlers, and for that reason Peary will hardly be fancied as a likely winner of the Grand National Hurdles under such a substantial impost as 12st 31b. On his form at Riccarton last spring the Birkenhead gelding is not badly treated, for there he romped over a weak field on the second day of the cup meeting under list I.llb and was awarded 18st Sib for the third day's contest, but did not compete. Player is probably the best hurdler at present in the Dominion, and as such is entitled to respect even under list 71b. When Kilmeny put up his two brilliant performances at Riccarton last Easter he had a very poor lot of opponents, and on being weighted at list 51b for the W.R.C. Winter Hurdles his owner took exception to the treatment. Now he is in at list 21b, a weight that he should be quite master of. Neither Morning nor Te Onga are badly treated, but on actual performances Grey King seems to have caught it rather hot in being placed within a few pounds of several much better performers. Still, he is bound to show a lot of improvement in his jumping with practise, and there is no question as to his pace on the flat. Ever since the entries were published lie has been one of the most fancied candidates foi the race, and the fact of his getting a few pounds more than his form warranted will hardly deter his many keen partisans. Forest Prince will not start, and Admiral Soult will have to do a lot better than in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham to have much chance. On that occasion he quite failed to reproduce the form associated with his Ellerslie racing, yet he has gone up two pound is for his defeat. Even so, such a brilliant galloper must always be treated respect. I' have little fancy for Julian or Beacon, but. if Leonta and Ngatiruanui are at all proficient over the obstacles their pace on entitles them to respect. A lift ol* 91b for his second in the Winter Hurdles does not by any means put Royal Arms out ox court, for he should improve quite that amount in the interim. There is just a doubt if Jervey George's representative will stand . the necessary amount of work to fit him for such a severe contest, but if he does he is sure to take all sorts of beating. Sam Pan is leniently treated at 9st 181b, and on Napier Park form seems to have none the worst of it with Player. Flingot, Darby Paul, Leapuki, and Kurnalpi, all performed so poorly at Trentham as to leave them with little chance, while the recent displays of Idealism, Morecambe, and Mescal have not been sufficiently attractive to favour their prospects. Amongst the light-weight brigade are several novices, any of whom may be good enough to win should they show aptitude at the business. Amongst them may be mentioned Cheddar, Huia, Aisuake, Glenorchy, Golden Water, Chatmos, and Corrie, who form a division that should not be left out of calculations. Altogether the handicap show some of Mr. Henrys's best, and should produce both liberal acceptances and a big field. TEMPLAR.