THE TURF

Evening Star, Issue 16847, 24 September 1918, Page 8

THE TURF

[Gossip by Old Identity.}

The nominations for the New Zealand Cup number 36, or 12 fewer than last v©ar, and there are not many horses in the list that have so far shown Cup form. A peculiar feature about the entry is that it includes only two three-year-olds. Fiery Cross is a notable absentee. He is having b spell. The weights are to appear on of the 12 horses entered for the Mosgiel Handicap at the Dunedin spring meeting are nominated for the New Zealand Chip. ~ Xo fewer than 14 two-year-olds remain in the M'Lean Stakes, and as 12 of these are nominated for the Dominion Handicap on the second day it is evident that their keeping in the M'Lean Stakes is not an oversight. ~ . . ~ The total number on the list for the Dunedin meeting is 225, or 19 fewer than last season, but this years lot are such as are likely to race if all goes well with them. I cannot pick out many that are in on the off chance. . _ , „ Client is doing steady work at Fordell b view of the Masterton meeting, Maioha, the three-year-old son of Hallowmas — Fairv Gold, is highly ■valued. “ Glencoe ” savs that the late Mr Douglas s executors asked l_,2oogs for him when a Wellington buyer inquired. An Auckland man was also after the colt, this voungstcr has so far won only a maiden hack race at Hawke’s Bay. The M'Lean Stakes candidate Anton, ton of St. Anton — was last week bought by an Invercargill owner, ind will bo trained by Hogan. Fleetham was slightly lame _ earlv last veek, ns the result of having picked up a lail. but “ Sir Modred ” reports that the sorse is again galloping freely on the {Southland R.C.’s tracks.

Bunting has evidently recovered from his breakdown in Brisbane last month, as his name appears among the entries for the weight-for-age events at Sydney. It is stated that Mr T. H. Lowry intends sending Aurarius, the dam of Desert Gold, to Demosthenes. Vascular’s win over the hurdles on the first day at Ashburton, and his gaining second place with a 151b rise on the second day, are facts worth remembering, for they show this horse to be well, and some folk think that if really in top form he may do something good. Kimbolton shaped well for a novice in the first day’s hurdles at Ashburton, and maybe some of the shrewd judges backed him for the race he won on the second day. He is described as a coming horse. Warform got boxed in the Braemar Welter at Ashburton and nevertheless ran a good second to Scornful in fast time. Heathercote’s running in the Ashburton County Handicap suggests that he is not vet fit.

English-bred Saxby was backed as a moral for the Hack Race on the first day at Ashburton, but lost his chance by dwelling at the post. Backers went for Royal Star in the Hack Welter at Ashburton, but he was slow to got going, and even with half the journey gone looked to be in hopeless difficulties. Sir Fanciful led Fabisco into the straight, and so freely was the former bowling along in front that his defeat looked highly improbable. At the distance Arihia and Royal Star put up strong challenges, and in a punishing finish the latter got the verdict by a few inches. “Templar” writes: It was a remarkable performance on the part of the winner, and with ordinary luck he would have made no race of it.

Long Range, one of Sir G. Clifford's representatives in the Dunedin Guineas, won the Spring Handicap at Ashburton in brilliant stylo after waiting on the others

till within a furlong of home. Glendower did not finish welL On the second day at Ashburton the Wingatul trainer Gieseler added two wins to his one of the first day. Plastic began smartly in the Maiden Hack Race and held his place to the end. In the Coldstream Welter the field was bunched 100 yds from home, when Sedd-el-Ruhr drew out for a win by half a length from All Heady. Another Dunedin horse won the nest event, the Second Hack Welter, Black Mountain, trained by J. Eae, boating Zepliland by a neck in an escitxng finish. F. Anderton, of Wingatui, had three winning mounts at Ashburton. ' ‘Lyttelton Times’ says that F. H. Gray, who was formerly associated with W. M'Donald’s stable at Riccarton, was a promising rider until increasing weight limited hxs opportunities. He then turned his attention to the riding of jumpers, but a couple of accidents each resulting m a broken bone, interfered with his prospects in that department. He made his appearance in a new role at Ashburton last week, when he rode the pacer Look Out to victory in the Winchmore Trot Handicap. _____