TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 248, 23 November 1914, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

M. Hobbs has recommissioned four I members of his team in Peg, Charmilla, I Honesty, and Angelina. The first-named I lightened up considerably with her racing during Carnival Week, and is still !on the mean side. The other three appear to have benefited by their short spells. H. Cutts leaves for the north tombrrow in charge of Battle Eve and Boldstfoke, who will fulfil • their engagements at the Feilding Spring Meeting. Quarantine will not be taken north to compete at the Feilding Spring fixture, as the son of Treadmill is still under a cloud, the trouble being in his near fore joint. Quarantine has been causing his trainer some anxiety for some time past, and unless he makes a speedy recovery it is unlikely that he will be seen under silk at any of the Christmas gatherings. Don Francisco is another Ricearton candidate who had engagements at the coming meeting at Feilding, but he will not make the journey, and is to be reserved for the Auckland Meeting. G. Murray-Aynsley has War step looking in fine buckle just now, and should she train on satisfactorily the speedy daughter of Martian will next be seen under silk at the Auckland Cup Meeting. She will probably strip an even better mare at the northern fixture than she did at Ricearton. W. Pine has the Birkenhead gelding Whistlecraft in regular work at Ricearton. He looks lusty and well, but usually falls lame when the necessary winding up process is being brought to bear. It is a great pity that he is not a sound one, as there is no doubt as to his ability to gallop fast, and he is reputed to be no dunce over the sticks. D. Roberts has a couple of fillies at present under his care who look like paying their way when they become a little more seasoned. One is a brown filly by Varco from Shindy, known as Medley, while the other is the four-year-old mare Doon, who claims Glenapp and Clytle as her parents. They are both in possession of a fair turn of speed, and, properly placed, are sure to win before long. Uncle Dan, a three-year-old son of Danube aiid Aunt Sally, in H. Thomson 'a stable, has been gelded, and will be turned out for a twelve spell. Flora McDonald has been having an easy , time since Carnival : Week. - ; The: daughter of Boniforni looks an improved mare after her racing, and should she continue on the right way may be worth bearing in mind in the near future.

Battle Eve and Boldstroke ran a gallop over six furlongs in company at Eiccarton this morning, and the latter proved equal to holding her own with the Welcome Stakes winner over the journey. Boldstroke is an attractive galloper in private, but, so far this season, has failed ,to reproduce her track,"form when the colours are up.'

R. Longley has Twelfth Night looking nice just now. He has already done his owner-trainer good service, and, judging by the way he accomplishes his tasks in private, it will not be long before another win comes his way. Bee, in the same stable as Twelfth Night, appears to have trained off slightly, and is at present doing only steady pace work. Since joining W. McDonald's active brigade, the Menschikoff horse Meltehikolf has made considerable headway in the matter of condition, and is looking really well just now. The full-brother to Mowbray is a useful galloper, and one that may keep the best of them busy over short courses. I "have received from the New Zealand Trotting Association a copy of Volume IV. of the Trotting Stud Book, which is now on sale. The iiew edition shows a big advancement on any of its predecessors, and should prove of the greatest value to those interested in the breeding of light-harness stock. The first portion is devoted to the breeding of the many imported stallions and mares that have had such a great influence on the industry in New Zealand. These trace back to the -very earliest arrivals, such as Berlin and Blackwood Abdallah, and also include the very latest importations. To anyone owning trotting brood mares the study of these pedigrees should prove of both interest and profit. There is no getting away from the fact that the majority of trotting horsebreeders pay far too little attention to the blood strains most desirable for their purpose, and it would pay them well to make a close study of all the pedigrees as found in the publication under notice. The second pai't of the Stud Book gives the breeding, as far as is traceable, of several hundred colonialbred brood mares, with their progeny, j while other particulars included are lists of standard performers, and a table of time records compiled to date. Altogether Volume IV. of the Trotting Stud Book is one that should thoroughly commend itself to all interested in the breeding of light-harness horses. It is reported that the racecourse detective Mr Samuel Kraetzer has issued a writ against a local paper claiming £IOOO damages in connection with an alleged libellous statement. His trainer states that since returning home Reputation has freshened up considerably, and can be looked on as a certain starter in the Great Northern Derby and other weiglit-for-age events at the A.R.C. Summer Meeting. From I this it looks as if there is little chance of the black colt being seen out in the Auckland Cup. The Gisborue trainer F. Loomb has decided to remove his team to Wanganui until after the Christmas and New Year Meetings. Including added money and sweepstake, the value of the Melbourne Cup to the winner this season was £7500. ' After the conclusion of the Marlborough Meeting, Gerberga was returned by R. Barlow to the Highden stable, and she will probably be retired to the stud. Though bearing the same name as the New Zealand hurdler, Master Paul, who won the Grandstand Handicap at Canterbury Park (N.S.W.) on Saturday, must not be confounded with Mr Nurse's old favourite. Probably the only reason for the result of such an insignificant race being cabled through is the fact that the winner is owned by Mr H. J. Pick, who some years ago | raced a few horses in Canterbury.

The New Zealand-bred Valhalla got back part of the money he cost Mr J. Birks by appropriating the Plying Handicap at the Canterbury Park (N.S.W.) meeting on Saturday last. In the company he would be meoting it is quite probable that the New Zealander would be carrying a fair weight, so that his achievement of running six furlongs on a small course in lmin 14£ sec shows that he retains all his old-time brilliancy. The South Canterbury Jockey Club is moving in the direction of introducing steeplechasing at its Autumn Meeting. This is an example that might well be followed by other- r country racing clubs, as 'chasing is a department of the sport greatly neglected in Canterbury. Last week the Forbury Park Trotting Club tried to.induce the owners of Win Soon, Country Belle, and Emmelinc to engage in a triangular match at its meeting, which starts on Friday next. A purse of 250sovs was offered, the chief condition attached being that the track record of 4.30 be broken by the winner. As Emmeline's owner .did not care to take up the gauge of battle the i match was practically declared off. Subj sequently the owners of Win Soon and i Country Belle expressed tlieir willingness to accept the club's offer, with the result that the pair will meet over a two mile course under the conditions originally stipulated. The match is set down for Friday next, and is already attracting a lot of attention in trotting circles. Blackthorn, who won the Innovation' Handicap at Otahuhu ou Saturday, is a five-year-old son of Willowood and Wattle, bred by Mr W. Kerr, of New Brighton. The paucity of the acceptances received for some of the events at the •Forbury Park Trotting Club's Meeting is rather hard to .explain. Only three have been paid up for in the President's Handicap, while the fields in the Spring Handicap and Dash Handicap hardly come up to expectations. No doubt the large amount of facing done j by many of tile competitors at Addington, and the difficulty of railway trans-; port are two of the chief factors in r de- \ ciding many of the local trainers not i to undertake what is always an expensive journey. I Amongst the winners at Otahuhu on Saturday was the Wild wood mare, Stop It, who must be regarded as something quite out of the ordinary.. Apart from a lengthy and successful racing career, she has bred two useful mares in Salix and Yura Dillon, both of whom give promise of their dam's track qualifica-i tions. Sundial, who won a double at Otahuhu on {Saturday, is a Canterbury-bred six-year-old mare by Starchild, from a Young Irvington mare. - Several trotting horses left for the south to-day to fulfil engagements at the For bury Park Trotting Club's Meeting, which starts on Friday next. Others from Christchurch stables will follow to-morrow* also on Wednesday and Thursidav. TEMPLAE.

NEW TOTALISATOR PERMITS. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. D. Bell) publishes tlie following =notice inrtheGaiz^tte':-r-.: It is hereby notified for general information that the Gaming Amendment iAct, 1914 (known as Mr Hunter's Act), having received.his Excellency's assent, there are now available for issue to clubs that do not already hold a license to use the totalisator, thirty-one licenses to be distributed as follow: Fifteen to racing clubs, eight to hunt clubs, and eight to trotting clubs. A license is available for one day only in each racing year. • The Minister of Internal Affairs invites written applications from those clubs not holding totalisator licenses, and every application must be accompanied by— 5 (1) Statement giving dates of first formation of club, whether registered or not, and date of last meeting held. (2) A list of the present members of the club, and a copy of the club 'a latest balance-sheet. (3) Particulars of racecourse, circumference in furlongs, tenure thereof, and accommodation thereon, and also whether course is fenced or not on the inside of the course. (4) .Distance from nearest places at which race meetings are held by (a) clubs using the totalisator; (b) clubs not using the totalisator. (5) Any particulars which club considers give it a special claim for consideration. Applications are to be addressed to the Under-Secretary Internal Affairs Department, and must reach him on or before December 10 next.