INTERPROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13048, 13 December 1905, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

[BT TELEGRAM. correspondents.] WELLINGTON. , t ' Tuesday.Achilles is training on satisfactorily at Porirua, but will not be seen out at any of the. holiday meetings. Ho is not the strong ost constitutioned horse in the world, but all going well in the meantime he will probably bo found trying to win the first Wellington Cup run on the now course next month. Gold Crown got bumped on the rails at Feilding and ran a splinter into his stifle. The injury, although not serious, will prevent him from fulfilling his engagement at the Ashurst meeting. It is hoped that he will be able to compete at New Year. Ghoorka has nearly quite recovered from the injuries ro received through being kicked at- the post for the New Zealand Cup. He has been engaged in the Manawatu Cup, and about New Year time will probably be found trying to win the Wairarapa Cup, in which raco he was successful two years ago. Douche was not engaged at Woodville, but is in the Manawatu Cup. She was regarded as well in the St. Andrew's Handicap at Feilding with 7st 91b, but was unable to start on account of receiving some injuries on the boat returning from Christchurch. Last season she won at Woodville and also pulled off the Wairarapa Cup. She is an improved mare and your correspondent will not be surprised if she wins a decent handicap during the holidays. Moscow, the high-priced yearling who ran in the Hastings Stakes recently, contracted a- cold. This may prevent him fulfilling his engagements at the Manawatu meeting. Waitarere, who has not been seen out since the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting, is to bo given a chance to distinguish himself in hack hurdle company at Manawatu. Ailsa will probably make her first appearance since taking up her quarters at Porirua at the Manawatu meeting. An effort to get a race out of Nonette has not yet been abandoned. His name appears among entries for the Manawatu meeting. On paper the Ashurst Guineas looks a fair thing for Aorangi.

/' CANTERBURY. Tuesday, Machine Gun registered a fine performance in winning the Hying Handicap at the Ohristchureh Racing "Club's meeting on Saturday. Though burdened with list 31b lie was prominent all the way, and when Hewitt moved on him turning for home he ran up to Canticle without an apparent effort. There was only a neck between the pair at the finish, but it could have been a lot more had Hewitt chosen. Machine Gun looks better than ho did at the Cup meeting, and it is evident that he is still as good as over. Tirole is fast getting back to his best form, and I expect to see him pick up some more good races before long. In the Windsor Handicap he was always in a good position, but he had very little to spare at the finish from Bagpipes. The latter was a trifle unlucky. She was interfered with at the home turn and was overhauling Tirole fast in the straight. A win for Bagpipes would have been very popular, as Mr. Palmer has had more than his sharo of bad luck since ho commenced racing. Last autumn an opinion prevailed that Euclid was likely to prove a useful colt, but so far he has failed to act up to expectations. He met a very moderate lot in the Maiden Plato at the Christchurch Racing Oiub's meeting, but though ho got well away he was one of the first beaten. It does not look at present as if he would ever emulate the deeds of his brilliant relative Solution.

The Christchurch Racing Club's meeting will bo concluded next Saturday. I fancy The Mohican will be very hard to beat in the principal event, the Anniversary Handicap. In the Electric Handicap, five furlongs, Machine Gun has 12st 51b, but I do not think it will stop him after his display last Saturday, most of tho others having also gone up in the weights. Farley Grove, v.'ho won the Maiden Plate, is a three-year-old filly by Bon Farley, who did good service for Mr. T. Sheenan a few years ago. Mr. Sheenan bred Farley Grove as well as Ben Farley, who was having his first winning turn as a, sire. Mythical, who won. the Nursery Handicap at the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting, is only a handful, but she can muster up a lot of pace, and is likely to be Worth following. Her sire, Bundook, is by Carbine from Seahorse's dam.

Calibre ran well in tho Windsor Handi- ; cap, but after passing tho post he broke his j off fore pastern. An effort is to be made to save him for stud purposes. When in the humour Calibre was a useful sort, but latterly I fancy it was not every day lie would try. There was a narrow escape from a bad accident in tho Windsor Handicap at the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting. Hilarity fell when entering the straight, and it looked as if her rider had been injured, but fortunately ho got off with Evidence given at an inquiry held by the stewards showed that the mare was not interfered with, but that she crossed her legs and tell. The two-year-old Golden Cairn, by Clanranald—Golden Crest, has been thrown out of training till next season. But for showing signs of unsoundness he would have formed one of Sir Georgo Clifford's team for Auckland. D. Roberts has taken Natalie in hand again after a spell. Knastikoff, the two-year-old by Stepniak —Ambush, is suffering from soreness and may have to be spelled. M. Hobbs has decided not to persevere at present with the two-year-old by Stepniak— Gitanella. G. Oarruthers, the light-weight horseman associated with tho Yaldhurst stable, has had his license cancelled owing to bad behaviour away from the racecourse. WANGANUI. After accounting for the two principal events at the recent Feilding meeting it has been decided to. send Armistice to Auckland to fulfil her Cup and other engagements. In view of this the Mahaki marc is being trained on a right-handed course. Last weok Mr. Moor© offered a cheque for £10 to Mr. E. O'Neill, the well-known buck-jumping rider, if ho could remain without being unseated for ten minutes on a twelve-year-old full-brother to the hurdler Dante. The challenge was accepted, and the test took place on tho racecourse under the auspices of the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association. O'Neill had no difficulty in fulfilling the contract and winning the money.