TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 3 January 1903, Page 6

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHTIRCH, this day.

Racing affairs in Canterbury and Otago have been very quiet since the Dunedin Jockey Club's Summer Meeting. At headquarters matters have been quieter than ever, and sporting folk have been compelled either to stay at home and read about the Auckland meeting in. the newspapers or to accept the alternative and patronise country sports meetings, the programmes for which usually Include a few horses. Such a gathering was held at liakaia on Boxing Day. It was patronised by two Riccarton trainers in the persons of Sheenan and Aynsley. Both found the Journey profitable. S.hcenan winning the Farmers' Plate with Antigone, and Aynsley the Ftiblieaii3' Handicap with Nopu, a half-brother o£ Huku, whose first appearance in public it was. Mention of Huku reminds me that the son of Vanguard has been sent into the country for a much-needed rest.

Another country gathering was held at Timaru on New Tear's Day. Few Christj church people patronised it, but the attendance from the surrounding districts was large. One of the features of the meeting was the victory of Sandhurst in the Grove Farm Handicap. The son of Bendigo and Engagement has been a sad failure, and has never repaid a tittle of the money it cost to breed and imirort him. Lately he has been running in harness. As evidence of his utter worthlessness, it may be mentioned that Ms victory on Thursday was due to the fact that an opponent who finished first was disqualified. Fairy was the winn&r of the Tinwald Cup, and the Thompson Handicap. She is a six-year-old mare by Gorton, and Bendor, who appropriated the Farmers' Plate, is also by that sire, while Helious, by Phaeton, accounted for the Domain Handicap.

The Riccarton horses which journeyed to the West Coast ior the Christmas holidays' meetings were fairly successful, although they hardly did as well as their owners had expected. At the Greymouth Meeting, on Wednesday and Thursday,' they achieved quite a long list of failures, their principal obstacle to victory being the local mare Artillery Maid, who, as her name Implies, is a daughter of Artillery, and the Auckland-bred Regulation, by Regal—May.

Most of the stay-at-homes are still confined to easy work. Cannie Chiel is looking really well, and if appearances is any criterion is destined this autumn to compensate his connections for his failures of the spring. Cutts'. two-year-olds are all progressing satisfactorily, especially Tomorrow and .Treadmill. The unlucky Djln-DJin, from the same stable, is being spelled. '

Local racing; folk have been amused at the treatment your handicapper has accorded Ayrdale. He has handicapped the

son of Ayr Laddie as a high-class horse instead of a moderate animal, which he is.

Though most of us were sorry to learn that Mr Dowses connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club had been severed, there is a consensus ot opinion here that the step will prove ot benefit to the club.

At the Wyndham (Otago) meeting on "Wednesday ArdnaiE walked over for the principal event. Donna Rosa won the Flying Handicap. Ticket, a son of Vanguard, appropriated the District "Welter Handicap, and Phaetonitis, by Phaeton, the District Hack Race. ■ p,