TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 87, 11 April 1906, Page 7

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday.

The weather here has taken a much appreciated tarn for the better. In nearly a fortnight we have been favoured with a succession of bright warm days, Interspersed with an occasional frosty eight. Everybody is hoping that the fine spell will extend over the Easter holidays, nobody more so than trainers with candidates for the C.J.C. autumn meeting. For some . years past this meeting has continued to j attract few visitors, and this year's gather- I ing promises to be no exception to this ' rule. Both on the matter of people and j horses the proportion of visitors on Easter i Monday will be small; still the racing Is certain to be Interesting, and large fields in most of the events are assured. I shall have on opportunity on Saturday of making my final selections. In the meantime 1 shall not start. In the Great Easter Handicap, it may he taken for granted that Signalman, in spite of his aversion to the barrier, will be the trusted of Sir George Clifford's three. What Prosser will rely on remains to be seen, but I should be In- j clined to think that It would be either j Exmoor or Boris, or perhaps both. Mnnjeet is still favourite, but Master AIIx has gone out of favour, his appearance at Rlcearton having disclosed the fact that he is unsound. Boomerang and Starshoot, who arrived on Sunday, are both looking very ' well, the latter especially so. Cross Battery continues to do good work, and is rapidly gaining in favour, but there Is a feeling that Convoy will not like being bnstled in the early stages of the race, end a similar apprenhension applies to Martian. Eden, it is thought would be very dangerous If she reproduced her private form. Bed Gauntlet has not arrived yet, and therefore 1 am unable to say whether or not he has come on since the run at Timaru. If he has, he should be worth a modest investment, for, dressed in his best, he would find 7.13 a rare luxury. Zetland Is meeting with some support, and undoubtedly he is leniently handicapped. Martian is improving, and although he is lacking in dash for a seven furlong race, he should be quite at home over a mile and a half, or the Great Autumn Handicap. Boomerang, as a proved stayer, should be dangerous in what is generally admitted to be a weak field. Delaware Is generally preferred to Savoury, bnt while admitting that we have probably not seen the best of him, I cannot help thinking that he will not beat his stable companion, if the latter Is quite himself. Convoy will take no end of beating, and so will Stepdancer, who is very well. Some of the Riccarton critics like Starshoot better than Boomerang, but I cannot say that I am willing to trust to the erratic son of- Hotchkiss. I have, however, a sneaking fancy for both Apollodoris and Beau Seaton. Kirriemuir still keeps on her feet, and on Monday she dressed down Cannie Chiel over five furlongs without trouble. Cannie Chiel, however, is such an accomplished loafer that to beat him In a private gallop does not necessarily mean much; sail, it shows that the daughter of Clanranald has not forgotten how to gallop, yet there fs no gainsaying the fact that she is unsound, and this being the case she will jjrobabry have more difiiculry In beating H'nasear than she had tft Auckland. Ivanoft does not realy stay six furlongs. ' but Lady Landon is looking well, and I quite expect that she will run a good race in the Champagne Stakes next Monday. There Is quite a large contingent of unsound horses at Riccarton just now. It Includes Narcissus, The Mohican, Kirrie- ' mulr, Kingstork, Bonnlebrae, Magnificent, Spinning Thrift, and' Muster Alix. Narcis- , sns is Improving, and may after all fulfil his engagements' in the .hiiidle" races C.J.C.'s autumn meeting; Mr Hobos has had two additions to his I team In the shape of Bulvrwayo and his I half brother Gaucho. Both are on the lusty side, and Buluwayo Is unsound. i Fairboy, the hero of a. "treble" at the I recent Oxford meeting, has joined McCracken's team, and Mr O. R. Wise has sent np Allside, by Stepniak—Broadside, I to he trained by Taggart. Chrysels, Stronghold, and Lady Wayward returned on Sunday from their unsuccessful visit to Palmerston North. Glenowlet remained behind to fufii her engagements it Feilding. Mr W. Mac Donald, in charge of the Hon. J. McLean's team, Apollodoris, Sychem, Notus, and arrived from Dunedin yesterday (Tuesday). Prosser is expected to-morrow with Achilles and others of his team. Munjeet and Delaware 5s still the favourite double for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicap. The two-year-old Fire Iron.jjy BenzoinFireside, is coming on rapidly at Riccarton. The Souit colt is also doing good work. Among the competitors at the North Canterbury meeting last week were Whakaranpo, a full brother to Inchcape, and Korea, a full brother to De Witte. Sir Denis, after an absence of two years from the course, will be a competitor at the Taieri Turf Club's meeting on Easter Monday.

Red Start, Red Morning, and a yearling colt by Blackstone—Red Riding Hood, changed hands under the hammer at Dunedin on Saturday. Jenkins will probably ride Boomerang In the Great Autumn Handicap.