TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 67, 18 March 1908, Page 7

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. Training operations at Riccarton axe be- : coming more Interesting each working morning in view of the near approach of the autumn meeting. Cutts' large team, which Includes Glenculloch, Millionaire, Husbandman Fleetfoot, Discipline, Flitaway, De Witte, Stiatagem, and 6everal two-ye_r-o__3_ are all

: progressing favourably, and tlie veteran i trainer wid. have the strongest team ever I under his charge, for the autumn fixtures. All Guns has been responsible for a couple of attractive gallops during the week, . and the change of stables has already i worked improvement in this really smart . coit. The meeting of the Akaroa County Racing Club was one of the most successrid, from i all points of view, ever held at Little River, Though feu bookmakers were doing business, there was only a few pounds falling off in the totalisator receipts, and the metallicians were hit pretty heavily in several of the races. Casbianca, one of the oldest of St. Leger's sous now racing, demonstrated his versatility by romping home in the Hurdle Race, the ex-Aucklander Crispinot. which has been a sad disappointment, following him home. The Peninsular Cup brought out a leally good field, and, contrary to expectations, Amboise. which has always been regarded as only a sprinter, made a run i away race of it. scoring decisively from ' | Tremulous and The Libyan. This was the ; most popular win of the day, for Mr. BuI ehanan has done a lot for the club in its 1 periods of depiession. and the public were not slow to recognise the fact. The Australian bred filly Mythical by Bnndook, t which at one time was trained by Murray ! Aynsley. put dowu a serviceable field in the ; j Hack Race, and if she could be kept sound, : there is no doubt she would win in much better company than that usually selected ; for her. Her victory was a bad one for the ; | bookmakers, with whom she was supported • tight royally. Iv a poor field Crispinot. managed to appropriate the Open Hack ; Race, and his performance had a fair ; amount of merit attached to it, for on a • slow course he cut out 6 furlongs with S.S up ': in Im. 17 1-os., and was going very strongly at the finish. The well-bred gelding Port- ' | land, by Finland—Quiver, put down several ; | heavily-backed ones in the District Welter Keep and the Australian-bred mare, Mary |of Argyle following him home. The latter is really a nice mare, but her excitable temperament always prejudices her prospects at the start. Several Riccarton-trained horses left on Monday for Greymouth meeting, and in view of poor oppsition, they should be worth following. The meeting of the Waimate R.C. on I Thursday next gives every prospect of being . the most successful ever held In the district, I the competitors including many Riccartou 1 and Wlngatui horses, besides others from . Ashburton, Tlmatu and Oamaru. 1 ! ™ T ?. e racln S at 'be New Brighton Trotting I Club s meeting on Thursday was of a very _ I poor character, there being only one interesting finish throughout the afternoon . I Exchequer, which is owned by Mr. H. F . | Nicoil, captured the big three mile Handi- , | cap, and though made a staunch favourite, r i his win took a lot of money from the bookI | makers. Robert Emmett had an easy task >j iv the Autumn Handicap, and his victory | was one of the most popular ever witnessed ; on the seaside course, for he is owned by - ; Canteibury's foremost sportswoman, Miss > : Button, who at one time used to drive and - ride her own horse-. Spider, who claims the honour of being a Winter Cup winner, started i;i three races at the Clutha meet- ' | ing. and was unlucky to lose ln one of his - i starts. He was foaled in 1806. so that he ! l has had a fairly busy time since he first 1 i carried silk. ■ ' ——