TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 53, 2 March 1907, Page 7

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHBISTCHTJRCH, Friday. A conple of hours' rain which fel on Monday evening, coming after the bounUful- down pour of the previous week, am a great deal of good to the tracks ana enclosures at Eiccarton. The course as a whole is vow looking at ite best. Quite a number of local horses retnrnea from Dunedin hors de combat. In addition to Glenculloch and Pon Orslno, Uolden Cairn and Tremulous are suffering from The cross-country horseman, Clarence O'Neil, who has been on a sick bed in Melbourne for many months past, is expected to-arrive' In Christehurcb ehortly. •Many Christchurch people who were present at the Dnnedin Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting declare that the Judge made .fl.inistake in placing Zetland in front of Fireiron in the Flying Handicap. Before the Dunedin meeting Mr. Dalgety had decided that at the close of the gathering Stepdancer should retire from tie turfit Is possiDle. now, that the little mare's retirement will be postponed until the end of the season. She has started in 55 races, of which she has won 7, and been placed second in 15, and third in 5. The Wellington trainer (Lowe) passed through Christchurch recently from Oamam. where he has purchased a 3-year-old: gelding by Euroelydon. I learn from Ashburton that Mr. J. t-- N•Grigg. whose horees are at present beiDg trained at Riccartoh.• Is about to start an establishment there. He has secured a lease of tlic stables tenanted by Mr. Hoiibs, when that trainer was located at Ashburton. The gentleman who races the assumed named of "Mr. J. Case" is building a range of stabling near the Ashbarton racecourse. The Strowan horse Plnk'-Cn uas been pai-ehased by A. Palon, of D. J. Price's stable, and will be trainee at Eictairton until he is shipped to Australia. Isolf and Seal Kock lßft for (lie North on Wednesday to fulfil their respective engagements at the Wanganui Jockey Clob's Autumn Meeting. . . ;~; ' Lapland may be sent North to fulfil Sis engagements in.the Wanganui Cup. " The Dmip.dra. Jockey Club made a proflt of £640 over its" autumn meeting/ Royal Shell, which won the Hurdle Race on the second day of the Dunedin meeting, Is an Auckland-bred horse, which was purchased in your city for about £20. He was formally troubled by a knee, but is now sound. When-the news came from England that the engagement which Jones was at that time fulfilling with the stable controlled by Major Edwards had been abruptly terminated, it came as a mild surprise to those who recognised the New Zealand horseman's merit as a horseman. The general Impression (says the "Otago Witness") was that Jones had become too heavy to fulfil liis' contract, and that it had been relinquished by the mutual consent of all concerned. It appears, however, that such was not The case, and that Jones was really stond down because he wa6 oeaten on a favourite. '.lhe ; race was run in a rainstorm, and Joaes vias beaten half-a-length. The well-known English horseman, W. Higgs, was badly buaten on the same horse during the following week, so- that~K was apparently the horse,and not the horseman, who was to blame £or defeat. After Jones had missed on the horse in question, there" was nothing said; to him concerning the matter, but at tne next meeting the horses in the stable were ridden by other riders. J6nes at once brolte his contract, and a couple' of days later "left England on a trip through the Continent. The treatment he had received did not surprise Jones, as several of the principal horsemen with whom he had naturally, made acquaintance in England :•" Irad r.ad similar experiences, and posted tlie- New Zealander as to what was likely to har>pen if a well-backed horse from the t>tab'e was beaten with him in the eaddle. XUa f-U-'t that a del eat is badly received by the eon- • trollers of- the stable has become' wellknown with. the. riders at Home, and one in -the front rauk refused £1500 a year tor a third call on his services; whilst others have commenced but failed to finish a season with the colours for the. same reason as that which terminated Jones' contract.