Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 866, 9 February 1917, Page 25

Turf Topics

By' Torpedo,

TTTDGIiSfG by evidence given by Mr. E. J. Watt at the enquiry regarding liis not having registered in connection with the Military Regulations, it is a" fair inference that it won't be long ere his whole string, together with Quinlivan, his trainer, will take up their permanent abode in Australia, where there is no conscription, and the" wealthy Hawke's* Bay squatter will not be asked to do his little bit in helping his poorer countrymen in the trenches —his countrymen who.are fighting" for him "and. defending his wealth. Mr. Watt is a bachelor, 43 years of age. . "Mr. Whitney's" Pall Mall, recently purchased by him for stud purposes, is included in the team visiting the South. She managed to score a second at the South Canterbury Meeting. Rose Pink made all the running in the Midsummer Handicap (one mile and a-half) at South Canterbury at one stage, being several, lengths in the lead, but she came back to them in the straight, and finished out of a place. A mile and a-quarter makes the Kilbroney filly very tired. Sir George Clifford's Adjutant, who is galloping very generously this season, won the Midsummer Handicap, Snub being second. Trentham Rose, as usual, hopped out from the barrier in her engagement down south and made the pace a cracker.

The- South Canterbury Meeting proved- disastrous for Jockey- Emerson, who was sent into retirement for two months for crossing, which act brought down a couple of horses. Emerson was heading the list winning jockeys this season, and now O' Shea will have a chance to catch up. He put in a good run at the Egmont Meeting with five wins. : ;•■' . Twenty-six racehorses were shipped by the Pateena bn Monday for the Marlborough meeting, and, judging by the crude manner of shipping ; them, and the accommodation on board, there" would be doubtless a few sick and sorry neddies when landed at the trysting place. - It doesn't seem many years since the completion of the Main Trunk line, yet towns along its route have sprung up with mushroom-like growth, and the inevitable race meeting must, ,of necessity, form part of the pastimes of the pioneers. Te Kuiti and Tauniaranui—two of the most progressive towns on the line—already give bigger stakes - than clubs in the South island that r have been racing for half a century. They have a lady trainer at Gisborne who is np with the lark in the morning and has her' charges worked ere others arrive. Expect we'll have our lady jocks if the war ; goes on. Just imagine the delight it. would afford some of our old buck owners to whisper instructions into a pretty pink. ear. Keep Brunswick in mind, over hurdles in the near future. , '■ The early birds are awaiting the* pearanee of the Wanganui double charts. Client is nominated for the Webbville Cup. — ; ->,'; Punters have decided ,oh the"go slow" method so far as doubles are concerned until the odds have been subjected to a nice growing shower. At present they have shrivelled up to such an extent that, you can hardly see them, and "skinners" are coming the 'way of the layers with a regularity that is amazing. The Egypt-Tete-a-tete-double is about the shortest-priced one to get home this season. '..,' ; "■„'■•" Bee, who is nominated for the Dunedin Cup_, is moving along nicely in her work-at Riecarton, and appears to have got rid of her muscle soreness. The Martian mare was expected to win at Cliristchurch last Saturday. There was a ton of money in town for her, but the best she could do was to run second to Comely. Coropett has been expected for some time, a well-known city punter havingdropped a big wad in following him, but got a bit of it back when he ran a dead heat at Foxton. Dunedin Cup Meeting. The weights are out for the Dunedin Meeting. At the time of writing the acceotances were not in hand. In the Autumn Hurdles,, one mile and three-quarters, Bore 11.7, and Kil--meny li.ll have not been over-weight-ed. ' : . '-.'-''•' ' ' ',' ■ '•■ "-.:■ " ' C ' >. : The Gladbrobk Handicap/ a 7 mile event, includes Master Hamilton 7.13, and Pall Mall 7.9. . : • The Dunedin Cup. of. 1000 sovs., is run over a mile and a-half. Bee is top-, weight with 9.2, which,' if she. goes to the post, should hot : hamper her. Wishful with'B.o is, perhaps, the most leniently treated of the whole bunch. Adjutant has been showing-good, form of late, and 8.10 should not stop him on the journey. If the going at Wingatui be soft what price Rose Pink with 6.7? " -. ' :■; . The Publicans" Handicap, of 500 sovs., is the second leg of the double, and has',filled up well. . Oxenhope and, Sweet Corn are top weights with 9.9 each. Good Hope, 7.11, can gallop, whilst Kilboyne,- 7.2, should also assist in setting a merry pace. The North Island mare, Miss De; Val. has 7.1-1. If she goes south she will carry a. lot of North'lsland money.- •. In the Stewards' Welter, one mile, Comely, 9.8, and Briar Patch, 9.13, and San Sebastian, 9.0. have recent form to recommend them. Of the field in the Berwick Handicap, seven furlongs, Sir Tarka and Volshiel have got in with handy weights.