TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 203, 1 October 1914, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

Climatic conditions were again favourable for training operations at Ric- . carton this morning. Operations commenced at an earlier hour, as admission to the course from now oh until after the autumn meeting is granted at 5 o'clock. The plough and tan tracks were again in commission, the former, being in good order, was responsible for some attractive performances. Many of the candidates for Dunedin were given their final gallops before departing for the south. The barrier at the half mile mark on the" course proper was in use for two-year-olds only, and several of the juveniles engaged at Dunedin were practised at it. , Soirte interesting sprints were witnessed, and many of the young- : sters acquitted themselves in a eonvin- . eihg manner. Judging by the track form exhibited by some of the local two-year-olds claiming engagement in the Dunedin Stakes, that race should be an interesting one. Bold Stroke and Wise Bird galloped a mile in company. Both fillies moved freely throughout, and finished up, their task? in reassuring style. ,/ First Flight and Quarantine traversed a mile on the plough. The former, who had the outside running, held his rival, in safe keeping .thi'oughout, the pace being solid from the start. The'pair finished up by registering an attractive performance. The imported English mare, Lady Veles, and Hops sprinted half a -'mile. The former, who is making rapid improvement and galloping with freedom, defeated her rival by about a couple of lengths. Marsa and Skene Dhu galloped a mile on the plough in.company. The former experienced little difficulty in holding her' companion safe throughout. The gallop was. not a fast one, but tlie manner in which Marsa finished up her task left little to be desired. Don Francisco and Wharfinger sprinted six furlongs, there being, little to choose between the pair at the finish. Neither appeared to be doing his best. They both look forward and well. Flower of the West galloped attractively over seven furlongs; The daughter of Arizona looks fresh and muscular. Kilmeny, Gleneannich, and Sunbeam were given a gallop over six furlongs on the plough, the result resting in favour of the first-named, who defeated Glencannich by a couple of lengths. -, Sunbeam, who appeared to be going a trifle short, brought up the rear. Kilmeny galv loped with more freedom than has been the case with him of late, and, should he continue on in the same way, may be

expected to play a prominent part in the hurdle events at the November gathering. First Glance sprinted six furlongs alone. She did not appear to finish with her usual dash. - Encore galloped attractively over six furlongs, finishing up his task well. He is looking in capital buckle, and should not be long before crediting his owner with "another win. Warstep and Chrysotis galloped a mile and a quarter on the plough. The former, who was conceding her stable companion a good deal of weight, was not extended at any part of the gallop, the full distance being cast behind in 2.12. Warstep" finished full of running, and her performance was in every re.spect a satisfactory one. Cortes- defeated Carolus in a sprint over six furlongs. The latter is an ungenerous galloper, and did not appear to exert himself. Cortes is fast coming into form. Atheldana and Prince Delaware spriuted half a mile, the former showing to the most adyanta'ge. Prince Delaware is fast coming into shape, and is one that should win races when the company is not too select. Rencontre, with a light-weight up, dashed over three furlongs, moving freely. Fabrikoff and Silver Shield ran seven furlongs. The former drew out half-way down the running, and finished up by defeating his companion by a couple of lengths. Fabrikoff appeared to be tiring at the finish, and will require a race or two before being seen at his best. Twelfth Night registered an attractive performance over seven furlongs on the plough, his effort being the best registered, lie finished full of running, and his showing left little to be desired. > Autumnus and Snapdragon galloped seven furlongs. The former, who appears to be in.great heart, experienced little difficulty in disposing of his rival. Snapdragon is one that will require time. Rihaldo,\ Corrie, <and Angelina vwent a mile and a-half at a strong threequarter pace, moving freely throughout. The first-named, who is coming to hand rapidly, appeared anxious to improve the ijaee. Rejection and Irish Rose galloped six furlongs, the former showing to the most advantage. The latter is very backward, and some time will yet be required before she can be got ready to do herself justice. .-.■-■ ■•.••' During the after-breakfast interval a large number of two-year-olds were dispatched from the barrier and allowed to run down half a mile. With few exceptions, the youngsters left the mark promptly. The first three to try conclusions were Nones, Downsteepie, and Spangle. The first-named pair got slightly the best of the start and raced three furlongs, Nones defeating Downsteepie by a narrow margin. Spangle, who followed the pair closely, was allowed to run the full half-ihile, and her showing gained her many friends. Battle Eve, Holiday, and Deltonio sprinted ''three furlongs from the barrier, the former pair, who began smartlj'-, showing to most advantage. The Birkenhead—Guitar filly and the Treadmill—lnglencuk gelding also sprinted from the barrier. The former, who is a racy-looking filly, began quickly, and finished in front of her stable companion. Flying Start, Flowerette, Adjutant, and Harlequin were the next batch to leave the barrier. The youngsters began

well, but Flowerette and Harlequin were eased up after running two and a-half furlongs. The other pair ran the full half-mile, Adjutant defeating his rival by about four lengths. Lady Minerva, Inglehine, and Red Knight also sprinted down from the tapes. The trio begah well, and bowled along together throughout. The withdrawal of Bonny Helen from the New Zealand Cup, which was recorded at 9.5 a.m. to-day, will occasion more regret than surprise. About a month ago, when doing a gallop, the Oaks winner picked up a nail, as the result of which her foot festered, and she had to be thrown out of work. Hopes were entertained by her trainer that the injury would disappear in time to enable Bonif orm 's daughter to continue her Cup preparation, but these have evidently been dispelled. Bonny Helen's absence from the Cup field will rob that event of much interest, for last season 'she proved her right to be cjassed as one ox the best fillies in the Dominion oA'er a distance by winning the Wanganui Guineas and A..J.C. Oaks Stakes, in the latter of which she. defeated Warstep by a neck. The meeting of the pair of fillies in next month's big handicap was being looked forward to with great interest by the partisans of both, each side being confident of success. According to a northern authority, the black colt Columbus, who showed plenty of pace in his races at Otaki, may now be given a brief spell. He is (it is understood) not likely to fulfil his engagement in the New Zealand Cup. '.'■..'.. Wovri i<* +o hand from Wellington that Mr J. H. Pollock is now on a fair way to recovery from the illness that laid him aside since last autumn. With the departure of the troops from Awapuni, trainer George Price has shifted back there from Wanganui with the Highden horses. At the present time 1000 men and horses of the Expeditionary Force are quartered at the Wellington Racing Club's property at Trentham; The Jockey Club Stakes, worth £IO,OOO, is amongst the events to be decided at the Newmarket First Spring Meeting, which starts to-day. One,of the most successful startingprice coups ever effected in\New South Wales wajs worked in connection with the Ascot Thousand, run in Melbourne. The winner, Carenot, was backed practically to the limit with all the New South Wales bookmakers who operate on that class of race, and the horse's connections are reported to have thrown in for a mammoth win. The Wellington- Racing Club receives entries for its Spring Meeting up to to-morrow evening. • It is understood that W. H. McLachlan will have the mount on Mr E. J. Watt's colt Mountain Knight in the A.J.C. Derby on Saturday. In his address to members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, the president, Mr J. B. Harcourt, stated that it was intended to carry on this year very much on the lines of the.year just closed. They were in a large measure working in the dark, as it was difficult to forecast what the effect of the war would be so far as New Zealand was concerned. Of one thing/ lfowever, they were positive, and that was that it behoved them to continue their race meetings as usual, and to do what they could to afford the best sport possible for the public, despite the seriousness of the times. They must 'keep things going—time enough to despair when they had to..

As the result of his dual win at the Otaki Maori Meeting, Our King has incurred a 101b penalty in the Railway Handicap at Napier Park. This brings his impost \ip to 8.13, which is 31b less than he carried to victory in his second success at.Otaki. After fulfilling her engagements at the Dunedin Meeting, Warstep will probably be taken to Wellington to contest the Champion Plate. A meeting between her, Rinaldo, Kilrain, Reputation, Expect, and Merry Roe in that event would be worth going a long way to see. J The Vi|ellington Racing Club is negotiating with the proprietors of the Julius totalisator, with the object of having one of those machines installed at Trentham. After a well-earned respite, Kilts has been recommissioned. It is to be hoped that the spell will improve the gelding's behaviour at the starting barrier. Gossip, the dam of Bobrikoff, has foaled a full brother to that great sprinter at Mr T. H. Lowry's 3tud farm. Mr Brinkman is bound to be well pleased with the manner .in which his adjustments for the New Zealand Trotting Cup were received by owners. Of the 19 horses handicapped all but one were accepted for last evening, and that one, Redchild, was probably the most leniently treated horse in the race. The Ashburton-trained Win Soon retains her position .as favourite, despite the rumours that her trainer is having difficulty with her feet. Don Caesar has quite recovered from the mishap that necessitated his being spelled. At present he is being indulged in a-lot of jogging work, but is soon to be hurried along again. As he was well forward in condition at the time, the short let-up should do him little harm.