THE DUNEDIN SUMMER MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17502, 19 December 1918, Page 6

THE DUNEDIN SUMMER MEETING.

By Sentinel. The Dunedin Jockey Club's summer meeting, which is to bo once again confined to a one-day card, will bo held on Thursday of next week. Horko's Drift has boen granted the post of honour in the Otago Handicap, and, with a. 7st minimum., reads nicely treated at 9.0. The Calibre gelding has always been a good and consistent performer, and acts well under a high tscalo of weights. He was ono of tho leaders in the last New Zealand Cup as the field entered tho straight, and u well-fancied ehanco in the Metropolitan Handicap, in which his chance was, however, wrecked at the post through being hopelessly left, in tho Metropolitan Rorko's Drift was handicapped to receive 21b froni Adjutant and Margorine, and as Adjutant ran a good second to Kilboyne, whilst the others were amongst tho "also started" in their race, Sir George Cliffords representative has something in his favour in receiving 41b from Rorke's Drift and 31b from Margerino in the Otago Handicap. Adjutant lias not won a race for some considerable time. His most meritorious performance last season was a second to Menelaus over 11 furlongs, when in receipt of 61b, and beat two lengths in 2.19 3-5. Both Rorke's Drift and Margerine have achieved some of their best performances at Wingatui, but if at his best Adjutant should be keeping them busy if tho trio meet next week. Kilboyne has not been doing a great deal of fast work since returning from Riecartorysana. hence is not likely to. start over the distance. He is not harshly treated in being asked' to give Adjutant 21b after beating tho latter decisively at 31b in the Fcndalton. Kilboyne is handicapped as a non-stayer. He attempted a 10-furlong course last season, and failed, but ho has since improved a great deal. At the Ashburton autumn meeting he was unplaced with 7.11 behind Majestikoff 6.12 and Adjutant 8.13. On this run and his other credentials over a distance Adjutant reads preferable to Majestikoff. Glendower is booked for Auckland, and Punka is set to carry 8.1. In the Riccarton Welter she carried 8.12, and was in receipt of 121b from Sedd-el-Bahr when beating him two lengths in 1.40 4-5 under welter weights. Now she has to concede 61b. Punka afterwards won the Oaks, and ran a very creditable third in tho Stead Memorial, and her performances stamp her as a rather better class than most of her opponents, but, nevertheless, she has been kept up fairly close to the more seasoned horses in the same race. Rojjal Star may prove the best of the light-weight division, but, of course, the declaration of acceptances may cause one to view the field with a different opinion to that held at present. The adoption of the 7st minimum has been responsible for Kilboyne and: Michaeia receiving formidable-looking burdens in the .Federal Handicap, but their wins in highclass company at the recent Cup meeting has entitled them to a fair load amongst the present company. In the Stewards' Kilboyne- was giving Michaeia 2lb, and in the Criterion the former was in receipt of 131b. In the Fendalton Michaeia was handicapped to give Kilboyno 31b, so that they have been marked off as about a match.. At the present time Michaeia looks more likely to run to form than the other. Kiljoy is galloping well, and is booked for Auckland. It is doubtful if Mohawk will be quite at his best, and Buller's form is at times hard to follow as far as mere figures stand. Punka would probably be better suited by the Federal Handicap than tho mile and a-half journey in the Otago Handicap. She seems to be doing better than Winter Cherry on the track, but the latter is a very_ useful sort when right. Kilbroney ran Michaeia to a neck when in receipt of 241b at the Bunedin spring meeting, but was lucky to finish in front of Kilboyne on the second day, when the latter was conceding 301b. Both should beat him; and so should Pyjama, who meets him on the same terms as in the Shorts Handicap. Palamon is bearing an improved appearance; but Braid should prove the pick of the light-weights, and also one that should be found running a good race. — Kilmoon is a warm favourite in 'Auckland for the Auckland Cup. — Daytime hae been sold, and is at present in E. Scoullar's stable. —P. Chrietmas has left for the north with Glendower, Kiljoy, and Cynic. —A. J. irFlinn will have tho mount on. Bonnie Maid in tbo Auckland Cup. —A. M'Auley, the trainer of Kilrush, has secured a lease of tho Kilbroney gelding. — Kilrush has been shipped north to fulfil engagements at the Auckland Cup meeting. — The Otago Handicap candidate , Takedown was bred to Triumphator a few days ago. — Punka was showing better than "Winter Cherry in a working gallop over a mile last week. — Sodd-el-Bahr and Royal Star have been striding along nicely in their work during the past week. —It ie regarded as very probable that Mr Cγ. I/. Stead will run. both Kilmoon and Jlelee in the Auckland Cup. — Braid ia one of tho early favowrites for the Federal Handicap, and reads to have a good chance on paper. — Kilboyno was trotted and cantered a circuit on Saturday rooming, and then went another round at half-pace. — Take Down, assisted by Helicon, was worked over a solid mil© and a-cpiarter at Wingatui on Saturday morning. — Hector <3-ray baa mad© excellent progress from the effects of his accident, and will ride Sasanof in the Auckland Cup. — The first " thousand-pounder" to be decided in- Southland ie attracting a considerable amount of interest in sporting circles. — When Punka won the Oaks Stake she ran the distance hi 2.37. She has beeni allotted 91b less to carry ia the Otago Handicap.

— Miehaela was galloped half a mile on Saturday morning in company with Money Must. S-he is moving along nicely in her work.

— : The S<rath Canterbury Joefeey Club is applying for January 16 ae the' date for the postoned meeting, originally fixed for November 21.

— The liberal increase of prize money in connection with tho Dunedin Cnp programme ■has won very fa-rourabl© comment in sporting , circles.

— Since Leopold won the Auckland Cup of ISB9 ae a four-y-ear-old, horeee of that age have been particularly successful in the race. Since the year named 14 four-year-old horses have scored. —Mr G. D. Greenwood has sold Biplane to an Australian buyer. In the meantime the "eon of Comedy King joins Murray Hobbs'e stable. —If Torireda has trained on since ranning at the New Zealand Cup meeting eho ehorald keep the opposition busy at the Manawatu meeting. — Battle Song, who ran fifth in the New Zealand Cup and the Metropolitan Handicap, does not look over-burdened with 7.0 in the Manawatu Cup. — The splendid nominations received in connection with the Southland Racing Club's meeting form a well-deserved response to a plucky programme. — Considering that J Salzburg has not sported silk for a eofple of years, he has boon kept up fairly well in the weights for the Dimedin summer meeting. Reports from the south state that it has been discovered that Achfllotie was ineligible to run in tbe Tradesmen's Hack Handicap, and the stakes go to Kilmeedy.

— There is a danger th-at the Invercargill track will not be wide enough iin some of the fields likely to be eeen the post during the Southland Racing Club's meeting. — The plough gallop at Wingatui was ont of action on Saturday morning, and all the work took place on the middle grass track. A fairly large number of horses got through useful work.

— Adjutant, Punka, Winter Cherry, Braid, Maigerine, and other Riec&rfcon horees engaged at the Dunedin eunrroer meeting were all responsible for serviceable -work on. Saturday morning. — Last autumn Majeetikoff beat Adjutant in the Ashburton dip by the narrow margin of a short head when the latter was giving away 291b. In the Otago Handicap there U 231b batween them.

— J. Oleen was not long out of the saddle after returning from Trentham, and rode work at Wingatui last week. H« intends being on the soeno at Wingatui, Cromwell, Wyndham, and Invercargill. — Borke's Xhift is regarded as just about as good a favourite as anything engaged in the Otago Handicap. Margerine, Adjutant, and Punka are- also occupants of the shortpriced, corner of the charts. ' — The "Wingatui trainer J. Rae had to undergo another operation last week, and at latest reports was showing eigne of a slow recovery. His case, howeveT, is a matter of anxiety to his family and friends. — According to reportß from Sydney, Desert Gold loolra none the wore© for her racing at either Randwick or. Fleminpton. Owing to the hold up of boats, ehe will be unable to race at the Auckland Cup meeting. — Kilboyne reads to have a fair load in the Federal with 10.3 opposite his name; but Oβ a matter of fact he is meeting Pyjama on only 41b worse terms than when the latter won at tho Dunedin sprin<» meeting. °

— When more than half the field engaged in the Otaffo Handicap are engaged in other events during the day, it makes one doubtful as to the strength of the field likely to gather at the post for the principal race on Boxing; Day. — Swale, a " poor relation" to the many good performers belonging to the Onida family, is in at the minimum amongst the huTdlors engaged at, Wingatui, and as far as his form is concerned is not entitled to one ounce more. — Mohawk and Linden sprinted five furlongs on the middle graee track at Wingatui on Saturday morning, and although tho

latter was, ae usual, a bit slow in jumping away, he was going better than the Ameri-can-bred horao at the finish.

— llisinghom, who ie ono of the minimum division in the Otago Handicap, was & quiol fancy for Uio Metropolitan run. at the liiet Cup meeting, bat lie, with liorko'a Drift and Cynic, was badly loft -when, the rest of tho field broke away. — Several northern horses not engaged at Wingatui have been entered for the Invor-e-aTgiri meeting. ' Such a state of affairs is regrettable, but it is better that they should do so inetead of making Wingatui an airinggiound whilst on tho journey south. — The Kilbronoy gelding Kilwa was amongst the winers at a recent meeting held at Rosebery Park. Kilwa is a three-year-old, and was bred by Mr J. B.- Reid. His dam, Divinia, wae got by Sylvia Park from M)ongonui, by Carbine from Moonga, by Goldsbrough. — There will bo u financially magnetio attraction attached to tho Dunedin Cup programme that will mark a new era of progress in connection with Wingatui meetings. It should achieve a eucceas justifying a bolder policy in connection with our meetings in the future.

— Margerine won tho last Otago Handicap with 8.5 in 2.38 3-5, beating Rorko's Drift 0.6 by a length. She also won the Dunedin Cup with 8.5 in 2.33 4-5, beating Wardancor by a head, with Glondower third. Tho unplaced lot included Adjutant 9.1, Rorke'a Drift 8.13 and Kilbrogan 7.3. —It does not eeem to be generally known that stewards of a club havo power to call upon any person to give evidence in connection with anything coming under their jurisdiction. There is a rule- which states that " any person refusing to supply information may be disqualified." — Snub is one of the outside brigade in the ante-post considerations in connection with the Auckland Cup; bxit in a so\iud-run race such a proved stayer, despite his flattering burden, might be found going on at the finish, when more-fancied goods are starting to stagger instead of striding on. — There soems to be a fairly general opinion abroad that the North Otago Jockey Club made a mistake in deciding to postpone their summer meeting. Horee-ownors are, however, pleased in ono way, as it gives them an extra couplo of days' racing, which were formerly lost through clashing with Invercargill. — Since going amies in the eaily part of the season, the Martian horso Triumphator has been mated with a few mares. Amongst those bred to him were Take Down and Growanbrae (a, sister to Heathorbrae, the dam of Heathercoto). Triumphator was got by Martian from Clymene, by Phaeton (son of Trenton) from Burlesque, by Cado<*an— ■Nonsense, by Albany—No Name, by Traducer. — Wbxm Crenidce short-headed Warplane in the Spring Nursery Handicap he was in. receipt of 121b. In the Nursery Handicap to be run at Auckland , Warplane is set to meet his victor on 61b better terms, and with such a liboml maTgin for a narrow defeat should be able to turn the tables if they both go to the post for the race. Warplane and Uremdes are, however, both engaged in th© Orreat Northern Foal Stakes, which is also on the first day's card for the Auckland Cun meeting.

— Rorke's Drift, who figures as top weight m the Otago Handicap, has put up some of his best performances at Wingatui. ile won the D.J.C. Handicap with 8.11 in 2.8 3-5, the Dunedin Cup with 7.9 in 2.34 4-5, the Birthday Handicap with 10.0 in 212 and again with 9.6 in 2.8 2-5. Some of his placed performances are also very creditable for the same course. For instance, third in the last Provincial Handicap with 10.9, when heads divided the placed lot, Thaddeus and Don Pacrfico being in front of tho Calibre aiding; and a second to Margerine in the "last Otago Handicap, carrying 9.6, when beaten by a neck, giving 151b to the winner. On nis run in the same lace 12 months ago Korkes Drift should beat Margerine this year.