SOUTHERN SPORT.

NZ Truth, Issue 602, 30 December 1916, Page 10

SOUTHERN SPORT.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND JOTTINGS. (By "Al Primero.")" The Gore Trotting: Club has decided that where two or more horses trained In the same stable start m any event I they should be coupled on the tote. Gore should certainly feel proud of its track and the achievements thereon, but, assuredly it is carrying: the feeling too far to say that the track has the reputation of being the fastest m the Dominion. Except m the minds of the local big wigs it has anything but such a reputation. Something is expected of Pollant down Win ton way it he can stay even a short trip, which, by the way, is not saying too much. pommander Bell to more than his old Southland admirers proved a sorry mistake at New Brighton. i ■ ■ Jockey King secured his license after some seasonable comment m "Truth's" columns. How many little injustices would go undetected were it not for "bad" newspapers after all. The D.J.C. Committee and another jockey are having some interesting exchanges, but of this more anon. Wyndharn and Waikouaitl races on New Year's Day. Oamaru and Invercargill on January 2 and 3. Kilmeny is looking and galloping well at present, and, with the sting out of tho ground, will be hard to beat at Dunedin. Pnlamon, the Pallas colt m Tom SUven's stable, i» m great heart ut present, and will set some of the hackH something to do at the holiday meetings. It is a pity that Parkwater is such an I unruly customer, as he has been schooling- m a vt'ry ; prottclent manner for a novice and there is no doubt about his ; pace. Sedd-el-Bahr has shown consistently good form on the tracks since coming to Wingatui, and should not be long m picking- up a stake. Balboa is being set very light tasks at present as the big chestnut horse is pretty dicky, but give him a soft track and any of. the New Year handicaps In the south would be easy for him. Charlie Giesler has a very, nice fllly named Qun Shy, by Calibre — Dabchlck. I She is five years old, and m her track ! essays has made a lot of friends. R. Longley's pair of English fillies are nice. Particularly so is Winter Cherry. They are both a little backward, but with a race or two will be letting some of our hacks know that they have been to the races. People who usually seem to keep their eyes open, say that when the "com." goes on Linden it will take out. Volaplel is gtilloplng: well at present, and a win for his sporting owner and painstaking trainer would not be out of their turn. Deviation does not look as if he will make good as a hurdler. Canrobur's pilot (JkfeChesney) has been called up m the ballot. Track watchers say that the war is no more risky than schooling this gentleman over hurdles. Sales and re-sales of racehorses are getting quite common this way of late, and it is about time that the D.J.C. had a few questions to ask m connection therewith. Wireless agents werVi busy operating against the "Tommies'* over the New Brighton trots. Falsified starting times were circulated. Like most of those schemes, the connections got too clever, with {he result that the whole business was bowled out. More is likely to be heard of the matter. Fine weather characterised the opening day at Wingatui, though a dust* laden seinl-gale consistently assaulted the field and the enclosures. Tho attendance was good, and the racing of tho usual steady standard. The Summer Hurdle event opened the day's sport by featuring a bud start. There was mixed going for a considerable time. Bore, Cast iron and Peerless assumed the leadership. They mixed it for a while, and on arriving «v the six furlongs pout, Kilmeny gol dear, but as lie passed the last fence Cuatiron let himself go, winning by three lengths from Kilmeny. Mr, Roberts'g gelding juh« got second place from Peerless ut tho foot of the straight. Bore fell away badly. Palamon was backed down to under evens m the Salisbury Handicap and it looked as if he was out to collect the goods. IK 1 got up on his toe« and •was left when the barrier rose. Golden Rupee was out m from nil the way till well inside tho distance from Night Alarm, when the Callbro gelding came on to win by a length. Volstul and Palamon had .1 Rood spin for a third place, the favorite getting: up and collaring the £U for this place. H. Low. rider of the favorite, wa« lined a fivt>r for interference with Consign on which Tod Hewitt had tho mount. Tho two-year-old race lured only three starters and two of those m Kllrea and Kitfllnn ware bracketed,; the remaining one being Full Bloom. •, filly by Reantor from Mountain Flower, The latter failed to leave the mark and Kllroa just strolled alonp with Jack OtBeii up and collected the "dough," Kllfllrm, under pressure by Hewitt, reducing ihtj big K^P established by tho wlniut tt» they neared tho post. It wtuj a blood k»stt victory.

I Rorke's Drift fairly strolled m m the Otago Handicap. . He ran to the front on going out of the straight and going on was never headed. He carried more money than Wardancer and Snub who were coupled on the machine. Sister Regio ran a very good race over this distance, and Rlngform also came well at the finish, but nothing had a chance with the winner . and "Wardancer. The latter "was last entering the back stretch but he ran gamely and finished well under pressure. Ogier was m the van for a mile m the Otago Handicap, and then dropped back last. He does not seem to tie much good, though his owner believes m him and supports him consistently. Kigby made a one-horse race of the Trial Stakes and ; being supported from the right quarter duly returned a fair profit to bis supporters . I Len King signalled his return to the I saddle by steering Matty into second I place from her stable mate, Sir Tarka. Glen Helen was up with Sir Tarka at the home tujhi, but wnen pressure was applied she Tailed to run out the seven furlongs. ■ Considerable time was squandered at the start of the, Federal, Clynelish getting left. Golden King went out a hot favorite. He was well placed and took full advantage of it and won with comparative ease. This win made the treble from P." T. Hogan's stables. Bomb and Kllbrogan provided an exciting finish m the Bumside Handicap. The event was strenuously run all through, concluding with a dead heat by Kilbrogan and Bomb, Benefit being third. y A good start characterised the Otokia Welter. All Ready rapped away m the initial going Of the Welter, but he came i.n again and mixed it with Marabout and Bellahlre. Marabout easily got out, and retaining her position, won easily. Bellshire second, and All Ready third. On Saturday morning last, Rorke'3 Drift did so well over his work that there were no fears for him. He was well supported on Tuesday and fully vindicated matters. C. G. Dalgety sold the Martian filly. Mathy, to H. G. Taylor. Mathy won the Trial Handicap m Dalgety's name.