TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 28 February 1923, Page 10

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

CANTERBUBY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CURISTCIIURCH. Tuesday. The ue_t meeting to engage the attention of local sportsmen is the Banks l'eninsula fixture, at Motukaraku, next Saturday. The course is a good one, with a long straight, and provides much better galloping than the average country course. Its proximity to Christchurch makes the meeting a popular one, for the course may be reached in less than an hour by rood and In little more time by rail. The quality of the horses engaged is really good. Of the Cup acceptors, Vespucci has been kept to sprinting in his work, and, with his rather doubtful breathing apparatus, he does not appeal over a middle distance, borne Kid does not really stay ten furlongs, but Castellan has won over the distance and is coming down in the weights! Boadleea has a good handy weight, and she wiU be ridden by C. Emerson. Petunia has a recent victory to his credit, but the opposition is stronger on Saturday, and at even weights Red Hind at her best is to be preferred. Pilliewinkie, with 7.7. Is likely to start favourite, but it might be against him that he is making his first attempt in open company. The fields in the minor events are good. Mr. W Hobbs, on hi 3 way back from Wanganui with Palestrina, will pick up the l-ilbroney—Bebe colt, purchased by Mr E E. Luttrell at the Waikanae sales. This owner has not experienced a great deal of success ln his short ventures on the turf • but „r n , nis latest purchase he has great possibilities. The colt certainly looks the part, and in Mr. Hobbs' care he is certain of every attention and patient handling. Bed Gown has been schooled twice lately over the pony hurdles, with old Vascular to give her a lead. The All Bed mare is lust the right sort for a jumper, for she is of good size and up to. any reasonable weigh Cupidon made his reappearance on the track this morning. He was not asked to do anything strenuous, and is to be got ready for Easter racing.

Apparently Winning Hit is to be kept to short distances, judging by the work that is being allotted him. The Gseat Easter Handicap and the Challenge Stakes suggest themselves as likely races, and such a free goer is more likely to be seen to advantage over seven furlongs and a mile than over any other distance, although as a three-year-old he did register record time for ten furlongs. Winning Hit was then in the best form of his career, a condition he ha never approached since.

Caverock, Cerebus, and Mazama aU look likely to hold their own ln hurdle races in the near future. It is unusual to find Riccarton stables with such a promising array of jumping talent.

Seventeen trotters left Lyttelton lasc night en route for Nelson, and Messrs. D. Withers, G. S. Smith, and G. Fox left this morning to go overland to assist at the Nelson-Marlborough circuit.

The authorities have decided to allow horses to be worked at .Addington the reverse way on two mornings a week. Harry Audubon is now a regular attendant with Mr. G. W. Watkins' horses at Addington. Native King, that owner's high-priced trotter, has been kept to light tasks.

Countryman, which is still under the charge of his owner, Mr. W. J. Morland, Is pacing well, and this morning was seen to advantage in a brush-up over 12 furlongs with Waipero. Nobody hereabouts appears to be particularly interested in the bitter discussion in Auckland concerning handicapping methods. Local traiuers have long held the opinion , that the Auckland official makes a flattering handicap for his opening days, in order to get the horses to the meeting, while on the second day all and sundry are putl •evercly in their places. " I