TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 6

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHBISTCHTKCH. this day. The local jumping division are busy preparing for the illegitimate season. Prominent among them are Slow Tom. Phaetonitls. and Eurus. all of whom are doing good work. Orloff's sister, who was purchased by Mr. G. Palmer out of one of the Elderslie drafts, has been presented to W. Clarke, who is using her for a hack at present. The Guesser. who has been treated to a i lengthy spell at his owner's station, has returned to Biccarton. and is again an Inmate of Aynsley's stable. The brother to Spider in Mr Hobb's stable is still showing signs of lameness. Taggart's new stables are completed. They comprise eight roomy boxes with the customary adjuncts. F. Holmes is breaking in the yearling half-brother by Phoebus Apollo to Ropa, which he purchased at the Wellington Park sale. The youngster is taking kindly to the operation. So far I have heard few complaints about the handicaps for the Great Easter and ■ Great Autumn Handicaps. Machine <iun and Vladimir are at once excluded from the j calculations regarding the former race, and ■ Nightfall and Vladimir from the latter. Personally. I think Achilles might have had a pound or two less in the Great Kaster j Handicap, though I admit that if he is | coming on as he usually does at this time jof the year he will be dangerous In spite of his weight. Cuneiform is not overI weighted, but has caught it hot. though | not uudeservedlly. for his performaaice in j the Jackson Stakes. 1 have no fancy Tor Signalman, but Ensoor has a fair chance. ! and Solution a very good one Indeed, while i I have a strong regard for Petrovna and ! Master Alls. King Billy should beat Muij tifid on the Wanganui running, but not on j the Auckland Summer form, and Boris at j his best might beat the pair. Martian 1 will probably find the distance too short. ' and in any case his running at Waimate jon Thursday did not suggest that he had i recovered his best form. Stronghold, if ln the humour, might win, and if Munjeet could be induced to reproduce her last autumn form she would take no end of beating. Perhaps the best handicapped horse ln the race is Red Gauntlet, who would make a terrible example of his opponents if be could be coaxed back into form. Of those I further down 1 like Auratus. Convoy. Sa--1 voury. Balls rat. Starshoot. Cross Battery. I Crichton. Zetland. Pa- Seul. and Makr.roff. J the last-named of whom would be dange- '. rous indeed if he would consent to try. On i tbe whole 1 am convinced That it is a very j open race.

Martian, if at bis best, would have no difficulty in beating The moderate opposition iv The .;rej;t __ufumn Handicap, but his runnina in th- Waimate Cup was clearly That of a backward horse, and it may tie doubted if hi< Trainer will drire him along hard enou:.b to get him ready by Easter Tuesday. Boomerang must have a chance, and so must Multifid if he is as weil as when be ran i"unciform to a head in The Royal Stakes. Savoury has been a lona time without winnina a race, bur if be is worth the time and perseverance expended on him by Mason he should surely be capable at winning under Sst. Auratus may be worth watching, and next to him 1 like Convoy and Stepdancer.

The weather for the Waimate Racing Club's annual race meeting on Thursday was dull though mild, the attendance was the largest ever seen on the course, and the racim: was interesting. Nine horses went to the post . for the principal event, the Waimate ''up. and Convoy was made favourite. For once the uncertain son of Vang-aard consented to reproduce his private form in public, witb the result that he won easily. Probably he liked Mc-Combe's method better than I.errett's, and it is unUkely that the veteran horseman will ever ride him again. Convoy's victory was very popular, and Mr. Buckley received quite an ovation when he was presented with the Cup. which forms part of the prize. Hilarity ran a good fiily. and Somaroff showed" that he » still on the improve, hut Martian's display was disappointing, and 1 fear we have seen The best of him for the present season, which means for the rest of his turf career. Toney beat the better backed Grandstand and Count Gordon in the Studholme Stakes, and Sahara put down a hot favourite in Don Bell ln the District Welter Handicap. Backers Were nearer the mark in the Stewards' Handicap, in which the Stepniak filly Tsitsihar easily landed the odds laid on her. Balsam easily beat a strong favourite in Etaree in the Publicans' Purse after Toney and First. by colliding at the start, had destroyed whatever chance they may otherwise have possessed. In the Harvest Handicap Koputai won comfortably from Count Gorton and Hilarity. . , Mr. .T. B. Reid has sold Canticle to an Australian racing man. and the daughter of Seaton Delaval left for Sydney yesterday. i learn from Dunedin that The Hon. G. McLean's two-year-olds. Afer Hamattan and Amethyst. have been sent to their owner's stud farm for a spell. The firstnamed, who is a full-sister to Vladimir, is suffering from shin soreness.

Mention of Vladimir reminds mc that the son of Stepniak has himself been blistered and turned out for a lengthy rest. His trainer. Butledge. was recently offered an engagement by a prominent North Island racing man. which he has declined. The stallion Blackstone. by Grafton— Consistence. Bayonet, by Musketry—Psyche, and Juniper, by Occident —Bay Belle, were shipped front Duuedin for Melbourne to-day.

The ex-Canterbury gelding, Speculate, has changed hands in Dunedin. His new owner is Mr N. Greei..

News from Invercargill is to the effect thai the ex-Canterbury horse. Glenogle, by Clanrauald—Retina, who has been at the stud for three -or four years, is to be trained again.