INTER-PROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 10

INTER-PROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

BY TELEGRAPH.OWN COKRESrOKDEXTS.]

WANGANUI. Tuesday. Mr. J. Bull's horses, which are engaged at the Wanganui Jockey Club winter meeting, arrived hero the other day in charge of J. Coyle. The team consists of Awahou. Addnought, Now York, and a two-year-old by Provocation njit of The Native's dam. The three former are looking very well indeed. Awahou lias not done much jumping yet, but Inshaped well for a beginner in some schooling work over the hurdles on Thursday. Addnought is also in capital fettle, and i judging by the way he is shaping lie may 'have to be reckoned with in the big I steeplechas3 here.

The Egmont Having Club* meeting. which opens ou Wednesday, will not at--1 tract, quito .is many Wanganui horses as usual, hut the racing will be witnessed by a fairly large number of sportsmen' from this district. There are several engaged in the hurdle event at Hawera which will be racing here, and it will he interesting to see how they shape. Those looked upon as likely to distinguish themselves shortly are El Gallo, Patronymic, and Nita.

M. Gardner has Calais in good trim, but it is doubtful if the Wavcrleytrained gelding can defeat Glacier and Foeman at the difference in weights. Princess Moutoa is doing capital work at Fordell. but whether she will show her best form at Hawera remains to be seen. If so, she ought to mako the best of the others gallop. Grattan is going along in something like his very best form, and as the held is not likely to be particularly strong he should bo one of the best backed.

Sunbird has gone on the right way since the Awapuni meeting, and it is fully expected that she will make a bold bid for victory at the Egmont meeting on Wcdnecday, where she has top weight, 9st, in the Mcßae Handicap. The field will be a weak one, so that Martian's daughter will not require to be a champion to win.

The appearance of the weights for the chief_ events on the first day of the Wanganui Steeplechase meeting draws pointed attention to the fact that the meeting is very close at hand. Mr. Geo. Morse ap pears to have done his work well, and there should be a good acceptance.

Sir Donald heads the list in the Century Hurdles with lis 81b. but even with that weight he will have a strong following. Hereford, list 51b, cannot complain, while Black Northern, list lib, has shown a return to something like his old form, and will not want for support. Leonta, list, is well treated, and if he starts will probably be made favourite. Corrie, lOst 9lb. is reported to be in great fettle, and his connections aro very sanguine. Birkful, lOst 21b. and Aruake, on the same mark, are a promising pair. Moutoa Girl. 9st 31b, Monologue, 9st 21b, and Queen's Post, 9st, are three light-weights with chances.

Jackman, list 121b. ran away with tho Wanganui Steeplechase last year, and if ho can reproduce the form lie then displayed, he must be dangerous again this year. Dorando has list lib, a weight under which ho ought to run a good race. He is very well and apparently sound enough just now, but he has not done much jumping so far. and this may be against him, though he is a fine i jumper. Addnought, 10st.61b. is a splendid jumper and very fit. Sportsman, 9st 91b, is a good jumper and can stay, but there are two or three others which should beat him if they get round the course, which is not a particularly difficult one.

Moutoa Girl is improving in her jumping, and as she undoubtedly has plenty of pace and staying power, she is regarded as one of the most likely of the light-weight division to distinguish herself over the small sticks this season.

Dorando and Addnought were given two rounds over the big fences on Saturday, both jumping splendidly. '

Aruake and St. Gate went Aver the schooling hurdles, both jumping in fine style, but Awahou shaped disappointingly.

WELLINGTON.

Tuesday,

Mr. 1' Armstrong, of Akitio, was in the city last week. He informed your correspondent that he had received a cable from G. Price stating ihat he had purchased a two-year-old filly for the Danuevirke sportsman.

The local owner-trainer, A. Goodman, took three horses to the Marlborough fixture, viz., Bene. Multoe, and Hap Dlia. The trio each acted as runner-up on the first day and the two former won at thoir next attempt. Rene was rogarded as unlucky to miss the Cup, in which she got a bad run over the first part. The Multifid maro has been very successful on this course, and in the spring she won the big handicap on each day. Multoe is also by Multifid, and was secured by Goodman for a mere song last July.

If the weights suit, C. Pritchard will take Cyra, Immer. and Mount Victoria to tlio Oamaru meeting, which opens on the 20th of this month. W. Bell is going down to ride Sir George Clifford's and Mr. John Buckley's horses.

Whilst working at Trentham recently Mowbray got away with his rider and tried to jump the iron picket fence into the saddling paddock. As a result he was badly cut about, and it will be a long time before ho is heard of again. Local followers of racing -who attended the Blenheim meeting complain that the course was over-run with spielers and guessers owing to there being no racecourse detective present. It is the duty of clubs to keep these pests off the course, and the Racing Conference should issue a notice insisting on this being done in future.

Mr. J. Harlo did not intend to take Byron to Blenheim, but at the last moment he altered his mind. The trip was unsuccessful, but the old fellow finished third in the Cup, which would about pay expenses for the trip. A private letter received by your correspondent states that the owner of Sauci considers the gelding will be of little use in this country in future, and the amateur horseman, Paterson, has been schooling him over small fences at Yaldhurst. Ho will probably do the Wanganui and Ellerslie trip, but may not bo raced over fences, and if he schools well in company ho will be sent over to join Eric Connolly's team at Caulfield.

CANTERBURY. Tuesday. Macdala, who won the Ash-burton Cup on Thursday, has had a somewhat chequered career since he captured the Winter Cup in 1912. Some of his form lias been good and some decidedly poor, I doubt, however, if he has ever been in such good trim as he is at present, and I am prepared to find him further adding to his winning record Before long. In the Ashburton Cup he clearly demonstrated that he can run out a solid mile and a-quarter

First Glance ran two fair races at Ashburton, though on neither day did she ever look like a winner. I do not think she is quite so well just now as she was at Fatter, but she had a big weight to cfarry at Ashburton, which may have accounted for her failure.

Fiibrikoff won the Fairfield Welter Handicap at Ashburton on Thursday in good style, giving weight to all Mia opponents and outclassing them all, with the exception of Encore, who ran one of his best races. It was not a strong field, however, and it may not be wise to rate the form too highly. Scotch Melody had a good field behind her when she won the Autumn Handicap at Ashburton en Friday. She finished up her task well, and it was the best performance sho has yet been responsible for. Ago appears to be doing a lot for this mare, and she may be even better next season. Scotch Melody is bred well enough tor anything. Her sire Scottish King (by Wallace—Bonnie Rosette), a brother to Mountain King, the sire of Mountain Knight ; while her dam Busy Girl is by Trussing Cup (son of Orme)

from Industrious (a sister to the Melbourne Cup winner Gaulus and The Grafter), by Gozo—lndustry, by Musket Pearl Ash).

After Pride of f'lutha won the Moreton Hack Handicap at Ashburton on Friday, the Judicial Committee met to consider her running on the two days. There was a short inquiry, and the explanation was accepted. On the first day the mare was badly interfered with, and that would have been a reasonable explanation hut for the fact that she carried more than tour times as much money on the second day than nil her first engagement, when she won ; in fact, she was the hottest favourite of the meeting, and it was hard for anyone to see any reason why the public should have rushed her as they did. There must have been an explanation, but it is a pity it was not fully disclosed.

Thaddeus, who won the T.aghmor Plate at tho Ashburton meeting is a good rut of a two-year-old gelding by Vasco—Jessie Lewars. by Stepniiik—Mcriselte. He is a solid I,'allniior unci i>ivcs promise ol developing into a useful three-year-old. Jessie Levari was «'i erratic mare, who was very unreliable at lie post harrier, , but in the meantime Thaddeus is blessed with good manners.

A promising two-year-old carried ■ Mr. 0. L. Stead's colours at Ashbtirton. This was Ha Una, bv Varco, front the imported li.are Tcmbn, by Sainfoin—lsalian Beauty, bv Desmond. Though she may never ho first-class, Halir.a should win races next season

Fiery Cross, who finished second in the Juvenile Handicap at Ashburton on Friday, is a two-year-old by Glonnapp—P.ed Cross, by Son' of a Gun. He was running on in great stvle at the finish, and as no is not nearly wound up yet he may prove above the average later on.

The two-year-old Down, by Downshire —Gyre, registered a decent performance when he won tho Juvenile Handicap at Ashburton. He has more than once shown attractive form, and it is greatly in his favour that he is a bold finisher. Bellshir<\ another oar-old by Downshire, finished third. Ho is also a smart galhrpper, hut speed rather than stamina seems his strong card.

Daytime further enhanced his reputation ar. a sprinter at Ashburton when he won the chief sprint event on the first day. He has done well since he came to the South Island, with a second, followed by three consecutive wins. Ho is not a big one. but can muster up a lot of pace, and can be relied on to take much higher honours next season.

The Ashburton course more than upheld its reputation for fast times at the recent meeting. One six furlongs rare was won in lni 13s. and two more in lm 13 2-ss, while lin 26 4-5s was recorded for seven furlongs, and lm 39 4-5s for a mile. This last, time equalled Bobrikoff's effort in the Jockey Club Handicap at Riccarton, and I cannot recall any occasion on which a faster mile has been run in the South Island.

Sir Geo. Clifford has sold Stevedore to the Otago sportsman, Mr. G. Mason, and the son of Treadmill— Fairhaven, was sent to Dunedin last week. His now owner made a very successful deal some years ago when be purchased Flying Spark from the same quarter, the horse winning a lot of races in Australia.

Moddite and Snowrakc wore schooled twice over the two pony hurdles on Saturday. They gave a fair display, but Moddite stopped at each of the obstacles. no looks a likely sort for the jumping game, and he may shape better with a school master who takes the hurdles faster.

Slogan, though still showing signs of soreness, has been sprinting in good style lately, and ho may not bo long before he shows* up prominently in a race.

F. Christmas is not doing much with Kilmeny at present. This good hurdler has been rather unlucky during the current season, and some time will probably elapse yet before he is ready to show his best form again.

R. J. Mason will take Kmperador, Banksia, and Bimeter North for the winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club this month, and lie may afterwards go on to Ellerslie for the Auckland Racing Club's fixture. Uanksia docs not appear to be so well as she was a few weeks ago, hut the other pair are going on well in their track work.

Two of Mr. H. Fiiedlander's horses, Patroclus and Miss Kolmar, returned last week from Sydney, where they failed to find buyers. Flora McDonald was also retained, but she was left behind, and will be mated with Mountain King in the spring.

Much sympathy is felt among the local trainers for D. Moraghan, who bad the misfortune to lose his ljou.so by tire last week. Moraghan. who has only two horses under his charge at present, has experienced a long run of bad luck, which makes his latest experience all the harder to bear.

R. J. Mason has broken in the yearling filly Ardour, by Danube— Perlo d'Or. He is also handling an English-bred youngster by Marcovil—Addrn, by Goldfinch, a son of Ormonde.

Sandstorm, tho two-year-old by San Francisco— Windwhistle, has also been disposed of hy Sir Geo. Clifford, and his purchaser, Mr. J, McKendry, will take him to Dunedin this week.

TOTALISATOR PERMITS. [BY TELEGlUrn—ovtk coiuiestokdent.] CirniSTcrruHcn, Tuesday. The report of the Totalisator Commission, which was published a few days ago, doos not appear to have aroused a great deal ot discussion here, whatever may be the case in other parts of the Dominion. Possibly this is due to the fact that Christchurch had no interests of tTieir own in the result of the commission deliberations. Messrs. 0. Hunter, MP., and T B. Davey had a very difficult task before them in allocating the extra permits, and after studying their report I am disposed to give them credit for getting through it in a highly satisfactory manner. I do not suggest that I agree with all the findings in giving so many extra permits to clubs in the neighbourhood of Manawatu, for example. I think they made a mistake, but it is not hard to seo that the commission had many diverse points to consider. So far as Canterbury is concerned the result must be considered v.cry satisfactory; on the whole, the racing permits given to Cheviot and Mothven wore well earned and they will cater for good sporting districts right off the beaten track, a remark which also applies to the trotting permit allocated to Kaikoura. There are several small clubs in quarters that will be served by Cheviot and Methven, and in each case it is hoped that strong clubs will bo formed by amalgamation. There are soino keen trotting enthusiasts round Kaikoura, and I have little doubt they will be able to run a decent meeting in the North Canterbury district. There were two claimants for the permit, and in passing over Ohoka in favour of the amalgamated North Canterbury and Oxford Clubs, the commission was doubtless guided by the view that Rangiora was the more suitable centre. In this most people will agree. That Timaru would secure a trotting permit was always considered fairly certain, as the district is strong in the right kind of horses, while the public take a keen interest in the sport, so I expect to seo the club force it.i way into prominence before long. While on tho subject of trotting, it is a pity there were not more permits available for trotting clubs, as thoy could have been allocated with advantago to Hawke's Bay and lnvcrcargill. Comine back home, however, the limiting arrangement appeals to mo as a good one. Only six hunt clubs in the South Island applied for permits, and with a meeting, each in alternate years, their funds should be ' kept in a healthy state. The trotters will fare much better in Canterbury than in anv other parts, leaving out the two new clubs. It can be taken as practically certain that the three new racing clubs will all include trotting events on their : programmes. Such an arrangement will probably suit the clubs, while it will be more than warranted by the support that will be forthcoming from owners of trotters and pacers, so many of them are being held hero now that the trouble is to find events in which they can bo placed with advantage.