SPORT OF RACING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20292, 28 December 1927, Page 6

SPORT OF RACING.

HOLIDAY MEETINGS. IDEAL CONDITIONS AT WINGATUI.

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB,

SUMMER MEETING CONCLUDED QUEEN BALBOA WINS ST. ANDREW’S HANDICAP. THE SPRINT TO SOLROSE. The Dunedin Jockey Club’s summer meeting concluded in dull and at times somewhat cold weather, but the tinge in the atmosphere was never severe enough to dull the interest in some good racing provided by the card for the day. There was a fairly large attendance, but it showed a decided shrinkage on that of the previous day, although the betting showed an increase on last year, and suggested the fact that extra zest , had been added to the sport. The fields did not run to any great numerical strength, but winners had to be kept busy to catch the judge’s -eye. Wharncliffe was struck out of the Milburn Hurdles, in whioh Dubious started favourite in a good betting race. Tholomon. Beauty Light, and Jack o’ Lantern set a strong pace from the outset, whilst Koauau was slow on his lege. The pace set seemed to disorganise the bulk of the field, and the leaders had opened up a good gap by the time they reached the back stretch. The racing pace set also caused Beauty Light and Jack o’ Lantern to put in faulty jumps, and the latter struck so heavily at the six-furlong post that Ellis had to show good horsemanship to get back into the saddle. Tholomon kept Beauty Light jjpsy all the way, and finally came on to win easily from Dubious, who drew up and beat Coastguard for second place. Beauty Light struggled on, but some of the others appeared to be carried off their legs in a race in which the winner scored comfortably in track record time for the distance. Schottische was made a good favourite for the Fernhill Handicap,, and she justified the confidence by practically winning from end to end. Luminant made a run at the finish, but 'did not disturb Voight, who had already got safely near the post. Happy Queen went fairly well for about nine furlongs, but then commenced to stop, and gave way to Luminant and Eyed Ova. Money Peer could not give a,way three years to the winner, and Piton shaped very moderately, while Eyed Ova ran a slow stayer’s race. Assemble went do.wn«very sore in her preliminary for the Juvenile Handicap, in which Dumblane was again accorded strong support, no doubt under the • impreseion that the pace would not be strong enough to him. Red Jazz, on the rails, began well, and was soon joined by Battle Maid, and they set a strong pace from Night March and Some Signal, whilst Dumblane seemed to get squeezed back before going three furlongs. Red Jazz and Battle Maid led into the straight, and at the distance the latter seemed to have the Solferino filly beaten, but she answered well, and was in front again when Night March raced to the front, and won going away at the finish with a good margin in his favour. Red Jazz stayed on and heat Battle Maid. Merivale was a fair fourth, and Some Signal next. Dumblane had to cover a lot of ground coming round the home turn, but if appears as if he will have to change his action and keep nearer the ground before making good. .’he winner is the first of Night Raid’s stock to win, and julging by the way he strode home, j he promises to prove a good advertisement for his sire. Night March is a hajfbrother to Full Swing and Brightling, and their dam, Marsa, was got by Martian from Nantes, by Stepniak. Nincompoop was withdrawn from the St. Andrew’s Handicap, in which Booster was made less than an even money chance. John Bradbriry, Ark Royal, and Wingatui were also well supported, but it remained for one of the rank outsiders in Queen Balboa to supply the winner. Queen Balboa set a strong pace from the rise of the barrier, and led along the back with John Bradbury in close attendance, whilst Ark Royal at once tailed off. Queen Balboa continued to show the way up the rise, and at the home turn the field commenced to close up John Bradbury collapsed at the distance, where Queen Balboa commenced to draw away and finally win by about two lengths from Booster, who drew up and beat Taboo by one and a-half lengths. Wingatui was fourth and John Bradbury next. The time put up was 1 15sec outside the track record of Imin 38 4-ssec registered by Maurihaupo when he won the Hazlett Memorial. ... , Martis was practically the only runner neglected in the Grand Stand Handicap. In the early betting Dismantle showed a short price, but towards the close money commenced to come for Solrose. Solrose was first to show out at the rise of Liie barrier, but soon gave way to Martis, who carried on the running with the other!, in fairly close attendance, except Overhaul who did not seem to be able to pace t with the opposition over the first three furlongs. Martis and Rob showed the way into the straight with Solrose and Dmmantle going we 1 right m their w-ake. Rob appeared to be beating Martis at .he distance where Solrose failed to get an opening ’on the rails and Dismantle came up on the outside. Solrose changed her line and at the same time Overhaul flashej on the scene. A great race home saw Sob rose squeezed through and got up m tunei to beat Rob by a nose. Martis was a head away third, a similar distance in front of Overhaul whilst Dismantle was practically in line with the front lot, and in fact ho proverbial sheet could have covered the whole fleet. It was a great finish but if Solrose had obtained an opening at the distance the margin in her favour must have teen greaterT as she won under diffi-s-ira ■siw & ST race 6 seemed birdcage, although I- i-t'lfoTuffetd^a sss rhkfisff £ a” ftv.elsX grounds which created Us utterance to B how out in the Real Glad was n - lasted a couple Taihoa Handicap, but onl ' -t h of strides, when Monc> Mine sic from Coomassie ami ht from showed the wa> int ° p a | Gi a d, and Money a winner • '“VAr SAAki &eii nearij two len rP ground from the third after makir- up M« unu p ff Ep;i l as - sjs bo °™ ’but has been shaping badly, probably tiirough a » n B.S Ind on" thi" P occasion, and may continue out of the Allanton Handicap. O'eidrawn went out favourite in a tiucr race Gav Sonnet soon took charge, t! P?, I II; Pov and King Sol lost several straHitencd’ for home, and Heather Lad Locket by the narrowest of dns for the almost barren honours or oWe Sir Roy was making up tbu 1P ‘ •, bad to give fur too much ground, but he ha Gny Sonnet "rayed on f better than was generally oxStajeu oi due to Emerson p . e . c . Awaiting race in front without £Lowm» his mount to pull herself about.

The meeting concluded with all on the card going to the post' for the Farewell Handicap. Nincompoop, who had been held in reserve, started a strong favourite, but he was lucky to beat Dismantle, whose young pilot became unbalanced when about 50yds from the post, and this cost him the race. Circulation was under pressure at the home turn, and Miss Winkie did not run on after disputing leadership with Dismantle and Circulation up to the straight. Nincompoop was generally regarded as the best of good things, but Emerson had to use good horsemanship to get his mount home in a fast-run race, and finally had the good luck to get an opening on the rails. The totalisator handled £22,320 10s for the day, as compared with £20,362 for the second day last year. The turnover for the meeting was £46,319 10s, as against £45,188 10s for the summer meeting last year. MILBURN HURDLE HANDICAP, Of 170sovs; second 25sovs and third lOsov. One mile and a-half. 6 Mr R. Acton-Adams’s b g Tholomon, by Solferino —Lisp, 6yrs, 9.0 (H. A. Anderton) 1 1— Mr F. Nelligan’s Dubious, 10.11 (E. Mackie) 2 7 Mr G. A. Fielding’s Coastguard, 10.8 (W. Cooper) 3 5 Mr P. Delargy’s Kaikahu, 11.6 (J. T. Humphris) 0 2 Mr J. B. Gaisford’s Koauau, 10.13 (A. J. Peart) 0 3 Mr F. Shaw’s Beauty Light, 10.6 (A. H. Ruthven) 0 4 Messrs Grieve Bros.’ Jack o’ Lantern, 9.0 (A. S. Ellis) 0 9 Mr C. Christie’s Olympia, car. 9.2 J (C. Daw r son) 0 10— Mr G. J. Barton’s Royal Head, car. 9.1 J (A. Gordon) 0 8 — Mr A. M’Rae’s Whitirangi, car. 9.2 J (W. Dixon) 0 Tholomon and Beauty Light led the way over the first hurdle, and the order at the second obstacle, in front of the grand stand, was Beauty Light, Jack o’ Lantern, Tholomon, and Olympia. Tholomon and Beauty Light were in front of Jack o’ Lantern running past the mile post, and the trio had opened up a big gap from Coastguard. Koauau was jumping badly at the tail of the field. Both Beauty Light and Jack o’ Lantern struck the hurdle at the six-furlong mark, Ellis making a great recovery. Tholomon and Beauty Light w»ere half a dozen lengths ahead of Jack o’ Lantern and Coastguard rounding the far turn, then coming Whitirangi, Dubious, and Kaifaaku, Beauty Light lost ground at the second last fence, and Tholomon came away to win nicely by four lengths from Dubious, who was a length in front of Coastguard. Then came Beauty Light, Jack o’ Lantern, and Kaikahu. Time, 2min 48sec. FERNHILL HANDICAP, ~ Of 210sovs; second SOsovs and third ISsovs. One mile and a-quarter. 1 — Mr L. Smith’s b m Schottische, by Greyspear—Chantress, 6yrs, 8.10 (F. Voight) 1 2 Mr George Gould’s Luminant, 7.13 (B. Brodie) 2 6 Mr J. Ruttledge’s Eyed Ova, 7.7 (L. J. Ellis) 3 4 Mr J. M. Samson’s Money Peer, 8.10 (J. T. Humphris) 0 3 Mr E. B. Newton’s Happy Queen, car. 7.13 (E. Bushbridge) .... 0 5 Mr A. C. Mills’s Piton, car. 7.4 „ „ , (D. Kerr) 0 B—Mr J. A. Ainge’s El Nido, 7.7 (A. Messervey) 0 7 Mr A. S. Ehvorthy’s Fairness, car. 7.2 (W. Hogan) o The favourite and Piton were the first to show out from the barrier, whilst Fairness was slow to move. Schottische and Piton led Eyed Ova out of the straight, then coming Happy Queen, Money Peer, and El Nido. There was little change in the order running past the six-furlong post, and at the far turn Schottische, Piton, Eyed Ova, and Happy Queen were four lengths in front of Luminant. who was making a forward move. Happy Queen closed on the favourite at the entrance to the straight, but could not hold to it, and the favourite came on to win easily by a short length from the fastfiniahing Luminant, who beat Eyed Ova by four lengths. Happy Queen was half father back fourth, and Piton ntth. Time, 2min lOsec. lnc JUVENILE HANDICAP. Of laosovs, second 30sovs and third 15sovs. Five furlongs. 5 Mr G. A. Kain’s br c Night March, Night Raid—Marsa, 7.4 , .. , „ (C. Eastwood) 1 4 Mr J. M. Samson’s Red Jazz, 7.10 (P- Powell) 2 3—Mr W. Baird’s Battlemaid 8.8 . (C. Emmerson) 3 1 — Mr C. A. Shiel’s Dumblane, 7.12 „ k n (B. Brodie) 0 2 Mr J. F. Studholme’s Merivale, 7.11 (A. Messervey) 0 6 Mr A. C. Mills’s Some Signal, 7.4 (L. J. Ellis) 0 8— Mr D. Ruthven’s Rozacre, car. 7.11* (J. Andrews) 0 7 Mr F. Shaw’s Assemble, 7.4 (D. Kerr) 0 Red Jazz was first to break away from the barrier, and Assemble was slow to move. Going round the far turn Red Jazz was joined by Battle Maid, the pair being followed by Some. Signal and Merivale, and Dumblane had dropped back a bit. Red Jazz and Battle Maid by two lengths clear of Some Signal and Night March entering the straight, but at the distance Night March came through on the outside to win comfortably by three lengths from Red Jazz, who was a neck in front of Battle Maid. Merivale mas another length away fourth, and Some Signal next. Time, Imin 3 l-ssec. ST. ANDREW’S HANDICAP. Of 340sovs, second SOsovs and third 25sovs. One mile. 5 Mr J. Graham’s ch m Queen Balboa, hy Balboa—Golden Queen, aged, 7.0 (L. J. Ellis) ... 1 1— Messrs E. and M. M’Padden’s Booster, 8.10 (A. Didham) 2 6 Mr L. Kclcher’s Taboo, 8.6 (J. M’Chesney) 3 2 Mr J. Lindsay’s John Bradbury, 8.4 (W. Cooper) 0 3 Mr G. J. Barton’s Ark Royal, 8.0 (C. Eastwood) 0 4 Mr R. Green’s Wingatui, 7.5 (A. Messervey) 0 Booster was the first to come out from the barrier, but Queen Balfcoa then took up the running from John Bradbury and Taboo. Queen Balboa led John Bradbury past the seven-furlongs post, the pair being a couple of lengths in front of Taboo, and two lengths further back came Booster arid Wingatui, with Ark Royal last. Queen Balboa held her place round the fa turn from John Bradbury and Taboo, and she was still in charge as the field turned into the straight, John Bradbury next. In the run home Queen Balboa drew away to win bv nearly two lengths from Booster who came with a good run on the outside and beat Taboo for second place by a length and a-half. Wingatui was fourth and John Bradbury fifth. Time, Imin 4Cscc. GRAND STAND HANDICAP. Of 235sovs, second 35;ovs and third ISsovs. Six furlongs. 2 Mr J. Lindsay’s eh m Solrose, by Solferino —All Red —Winter Rose mare, syrs. 8.3 (B. Brodiol 1 4 Mr A. J. Hill’s Rob, 7.5 (1- J. Ellis) 2 5 Messrs Aitchison and Armour's Martis. car. 7.2 (L. J. Cotton! ... 3 3 Messrs Richardson and Wilson’s Overhaul, 8.4 (A. Didham) 0 I—Mr Cecil Hazlett's Dismantle, car. 7.13 (C. Emerson) 0

RACING NEWS.

Polro«o broke out from the barrier first, with Martis next, and the other three in line close up. Martis then took charge, and Dismantle joined Solrose in second place. Overhaul losing some ground. Martis led along the bottom stretch from Rob with Solrose and Dismantle handy, and Overhaul about three lengths further back last. Martis anil Rob were together entering the straight, and Rob had got to the front at the distance where Soliose vracoming fast, and Dismantle and Overhaul were also moving up. In a great finish Solrose just got up to win by a nose from Rob, who boat Marti s by a head. Over-

haul another head off fourth and Dismantle a similar distance away fifth. Time, Imin 15 TSsec. TAIHOA HANDICAP, Of ITOaovs. second 25sovs and third lOsovs. Six furlongs. • 3Mr H. Halligan’a br g Brightling, by Tractor—Marsa, syrs, 8.9 (F. Voight.) 1 8 — Mr J. M. Samson’s Money Mine, car. 8.4 (J. L. Cotton) 2 2 ,Mr H. J. Riddle’s Spearrnaid, 9.2 (J. Andrews) 3 1— Mr T. W. Eady’s Coomassie, 8.5 (C. Emerson) 0 7—Mr J. A. White’s Real Glad, car. 7.13 (T. L. Smith) 0 5 Messrs Hudson and Murdoch's Felony, 8.0 (L. J. Ellis) 0 9Mr S. G. Ware’s Appian Way. 8.0 (W. Cooper) 0 4Mr A. B. Armour’s Puff, 8.0 (A, E. Didhani) 0 6Mr J. Butler’s Lady Winter) 8.0 (B. Brodio) 3 Real Glad was the first to show out but pave way at once to Money _Mine anti Felony, this pair going on from Coomassie with Real Glad next. Money Mine led Coomassie along the bottom stretch, then Felony, Rea'. Glad, Puff, and Spearrnaid. Coomassie had taken charge -it the entrance to the straight with Money Mine. Felony and Real Glad handy, Spearrnaid and Brightling some distance oack. Coomassie faded out in the run home, and Monov Mino was in charge at the distance. Brightling then came with a strong ran on the outside and got up to win well by a length and a-half from Money Mine, who was a length ahead of Spearrnaid. Then came Puff, Rea! Glad, and Felony. Time, Imm 15 2-ssec. ALLANTON HANDICAP, Of 215sovs; second 30soys, and third 15sovs. One mile. 4Mr F. T. Buchanan’s br m Gay Sonnet, by Gay Lad —E oc.ution. 4yrs, 8.0 (C. Emerson) ... 1 5Mr L. Smith’s Schottische, ". r (L. J. Ellis) 2 3Mr J. Lindsay’s Heather La<i 8.3 (B. Brodie) 3 1— Mr L. C. Hazlctt’s Overdrawn. 9.0 (E Mackie) 0 2Mr A. M'Aulay’s rfir Hoj, 8.2 /.J, Eastwood) 0 6Mr T. P. Wilson’s Kng Sol, car. ■ 7.2 i (D. Kerr) 0 7 Mr R, Miller’s Lucy Locket, car. 7.10* (P. Powell) ••• 0 Lucy Locket led out from Gay Sonnet and Overdrawn, both King Sol and Sir Roy losing a lot of ground at the start. Gay Sonnet had taken charge running mist the six furlong post from Overdrawn then coming Lucy Locket and Schottische. Sir Roy and King So! were right out of it. Gay Sonnet held hi s place along the bottom stretch from Overdrawn and Lucy Locket, and at the entrance to the straight Scbot- | tische ran into second place She could make no impression, however, on Gay Sun- , net who won by throe lengths. Heather Lad was another length away third, and then came Lucy Locket, Overdrawn, and Sir Roy. Time, Imin 40 i-osrc. FAREWELL HANDICAP, Of 195sovs; second 30sovs, and third iSsovs. Seven furlongs. 1— Mr J. M'Cormack’s b g Nincompoop, by Absurd—Choloma, oyrs, 9.1 (C. Emerson) 1 4Mr C. Hazlett’s Lumant'o. car. 7.7 (D Kerr) 2 5Mr G. J. Barton’s Arpent. 7.0 (C. Eastwood) 5 2Mr L. C Hazlett’g Circulation. 8.11 (E Mackie) 9 3Mr R. Mee's Miss Winkle. 7.6 (L. J. Ellisl 0 6Mr J. Todd’s Mime, at. 7.2 (J Dooley) 0 From a good start Mime and Dismantle headed a close running field, Arpent lying m last place. Mime dropped back before they reached the five-furlong post, Cuculation Dismantle, and Miss V\ inkie the i running in line fust in front of Nincompoop and Mime. Circulation was n tront rounding the far turn from Dismantle and Miss Winkle wa s moving up aga i after losing ground. Arpent and Nincompoop were also handy Dismantle led into * the straight from Circulation and Miss W : nkit. and was still in charge at the distance where Nincompoop was coming stongly on the rails. In a groat finish Nincompoop got. through to win by a long neck from . Dismantle who was a couple of lengths in frent of Arpent. Then came Circulafon and Miss Winkio. Time, Imin 28sec, TAXES. The totalisator tax paid lor the first dav was £IOBO ss, and for the second day £IOO4 12s. WINNING OWNERS. The following is the list of winning ° MW.*!. Ainge £370, Mr J. M’Cormack £320, Mr C. Hazlett £265, Mr J. Graham £265, Mr J. Lindsay £215, Mr L. Smith £195, Mr J. M. Samson £l9O, Mr E. M. Raines £lB5, Mr F. T. Buchanan £l/0, Mr E. B. Newton £165, Mr H. Halhgan £l6O, Mr P. Delargey £l5O, Mr G. A. Kain £l5O, Mr T Baird £135, Mr R. Acton Adams £135, Dr J. E. Rogers £65, Mr F. Nelligan £55, Mr A. G. Hill £55. Messrs E. and M. MTadden £SO, Mr L. C. Hazlett £45, Mr G. J. Barton £45, Mr George Gould £45, Mr C. A. Shiel £35, Mr J. A. White £3O, Mr D. P. Wilson, jun., £3O, Mr L. Kelcher £25, Mr T. W Eady £25, Mr J. B. Gaisford £ls, Mr J. F. Studholme £ls, Mr J. Ruttledge £ls, Mr W. Baird £ls, Messrs Aitchison and Armour £ls, Messrs Murdoch and Hudson £lO, Mr R. M. Greenslade £lO, Mr G. H. Fielding £lO, Mr H. J. Riddle £10; —total £3690. TAXES. Totalisator duty £llsß 0 0 Dividend duty 2084 13 0 Stakes tax 184 10 0 Amusement tax 108 7 4 Total £3535 10 4

FIXTURES. Dec. 29. —Manawatu R.C. Deo. 28, Jan. 2, 3. —Auckland J.C. Dec. 30. 31, Jan 2 —Greymouth J.C. De« 31. Jan 2. Wairarapa R.C. January 2.—Wyndham R.G. January 2.— Waikouaiti R.C. January 2, 3.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. January 2, 3.—Stratford R.C. January 2, 3. —Marten J.C. January 3, 4. —Southland R.C. January 6,7, Reefton J.C. January 7. 9. —Vincent J.C. Jan. 12, 14—Dargaville R.C. Summer Jan. 14—Ashburton County R.C. Summei. Jan. 21. 23—Foxton R.C. Annual. Feb. I.—Tapanui R.C. Annual. Fob. 23. 25— Nelson J.C. Annual. Nominations close to-day for the Vincent Jookov Club’s meeting. Beauty Light seemed to be livened up by his race on the first day of the Wingatui summer meeting, and shaped much better in the Milburn Hurdles than wiic.i running in the Summer Hurdles. Jack o’ Lantern jumped the stand hurdle in his preliminary for the Milburn Hurdle Handicap. A. S. Ellis managed to get his mount round the full course, but the Fleetham gelding seems far from an easy ride. There is no reason why a horse should not jump a preliminary hurdle, but not so very long ago a rider in the North Island was fined for infringing an imaginary rule based on the ignorance of the stewards of the club. Tholomon gave a good exhibition of hurdling when he won the Milburn Hurdles, in which he set a strong pace and gave the opposition the smallest chance in the world to loiter on the way or be slow to measure the sticks. Tholomon may develop into a quite useful hurdler, as he is still a novice at the business. At this time of the year hurdlers are usually scarce in numbers, bu nine went to the post for the Milburn Hurdles. The hurdle fields promise to be numerically strong for the Southland holiday meetings. A member of the Beaumont Jockey Club supplies the information that since last year their track has been top-dressed and worked into pood order. There has also been a general renovation of the buildings on the course, and the tracks have been repaired where necessary. Nominations arc due to-day for the Wairio meeting, to which a handsome gold cup promises to lend an unusual sporting interest. The Greyspear marc Schottische won over a mile and a-auartcr and gave F. Voight a comfortable ride. With nothing to carry she might score over the same distance in better company. Dumblane's displays at Wingatui have lost him a lot of admirers. When striding along on the bit he shapes like one that could give trouble in a hip field, lint when under pressure is apt to climb. He is also rather corky in his walking action, hut should make good when he settles his stride to keep nearer the ground. I Night March was „ much better two-year-old in the Juvenile Handicap than in

his previous races. He won by staying on and that was the most pleasing part of his success. Red Jazz is smart and nippy, and stayed on well under pressure. Like most of her sire’s stock she will no doubt improve with age. Acceptances for the Southland Racing Club’s meeting are due on Friday next at 5 p.m. There did not seem to be many ISorth Otago sportsmen at Wingatui this week. Booster tackled his first race over a mile when saddled up for the St. Andrew’s Handicap, He was staying on at the end and will probably win over more ground when he has been steadied down from a sprinting pace to one necessary to carry him oyer a middle course. The Grand Stand Handicap provided one of the best finishes ever seen at Vuigatui. The field of five flashed past the post with little or nothing between winner and losers, but Solroso would probably have won by a couple of lengths if she had got through instead of getting blocked on the rails at the distance. Overhaul ran his best race up to late in the Grand Stand Handicap, and should soon start to pay some of tho cost of owning him. Taken all round Mr A. D. MTvor did good work at the barrier during the Dunedin summer meeting. Mr J. Biggins made his debut as a handicapper in connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club’s summer meeting, and although one may not altogether agree with his adjustments, still the fact remains that each card provided some very good betting races, brought to a climax by close and exciting finishes. Mr R. H. Adworth had some close finishes to judge during the two days at Wingatui, but he gave prompt and acceptable decisions. Visitors to Wingatui commented on the ■ prompt adjustment of tho totalisator investments. Wo locals have become so accustomed to tho smart work of the totalisator staff, under Mr W. F. James, that it has become quite an ordinary matter instead of a novelty in comparison with that experienced elsewhere. Overdrawn is a small horse and appeared to be anchored under 9.0 in tho Allaqton Handicap. Ho runs much better under a lighter scale of weights. Nincompoop stays on much better than most of Absurd's stock, and it was in response to hard pressure that ho got up to win tho Farewell Handicap. Dismantle lost far more by 'a 51b allowance in the Farewell Handicap than the judge was able to decide against her at the finish. The allowance will not put old heads on young shoulders. , Circulation went down in her preliminary for the Farewell Handicap as if sharpened up by her race on tho previous day. A hot pace and 8.11 had her in trouble shortly after reaching tho straight.

TROTTING.

FIXTURES. December 29. Winton T.C. December 29, 31. —Auckland T.C. January 2, Waikouaiti (two events). January 2.—Wyndham R.C. (two events). January 2, 3.— Canterbury Park T.C. Summer. January 3. —Westland T.C. Annual. January 3, 4.—S. R. Meeting (four events). Liberal is a fine pacer once he gets on tho way, but he is very wayward at the barrier. If A. M’Lellan gets him away in tho big race at Winton to-morrow the others will have to step inside their handicaps to beat him. Lingtield has been very consistent since going into H. Booth’s stable at Invercargill, and her win in the big race at Gore was consequently a popular onb. She is a sweet pacer under saddle and in harness, and over any distance. She is a five-year-old, by Author Dillon from Granella, and so' has breeding enough to win any race. , , Lee Bingen had been doing good work before being taken to tho Gore meeting, and gave every promise of winning a race on the southern circuit. It was bad luck for his owner that he had to bo destroyed just svhon ha looked like being a prontobic proposition. . ~ Jolly Pet paced two fine races at Gore and lias only to keep right to win again. There is not a great deal of him, but ho can stop a smart gait in harness Lady Matchlight was accorded the honour of favouritism in the big race at Gore, but left her chance at the stait by failing to go away right. She is a smart, pacer, however, and looks sure -o gathei a stake or two during the season. Storm Bell has made a good recovery from her accident, and as she looked short of a race when produced at Gore, she may gather a stake before the holiday meetings are over. Backers at the Gore meeting shot \eiy wide of the mark, and most of the winners were allowed to go out pa} mg long pr j. eS Perriam has a very likely-looking four-year-old in Jolly Maid, who is by Cathedral Chimes from that good mare Jolly Girl. With the experience of a race or two she should be found pacing prominently. , . ~ . , c Denver’s Doll, who is on the front 01 the big race at Winton to-morrow, is a full sister to Pinto, the winner of the Ashburton Cup. She won the Invercargill Trotting Club Handicap last season, and as she has improved since then she looks like being one of the hardest to beat. , . „ J Bryce has a great record in the New Zealand and Auckland Cups, horses from his stable having won the former on five occasions and the latter on four occasions. Ahuriri has now two New Zealand and an Auckland Cup to his credit. Jean M'Elwyn, who has been a very consistent but unlucky performer throughout her racing career, was responsible for two excellent races at Ashburton. Her bad luck was again in evidence when she finished second to Kulnine in the M’Lean Handicap, but later in the day she made amends by capturing the Final Handicap. She is a brilliant pacer, but her winning effort has landed her on a mark from which further successes will be rather difficult. Theckla Boy paced a very solid race wfien he won the Midsummer Handicap at Ashburton. He soon worked his way to the front, and for the remainder of tho journey the result never-looked in doubt. He cut a lump off his time, and though he will now-,,have to race in much better company he may not be at the end of his winning record. Kulnine showed himself up as a brilliant saddle horse when he won.the M’Lean Handicap at Ashburton. He was always in a good position, and be gave the impression that he came away from _ his opponents just as soon as his rider thought it necessary. Pan Yan, who demonstrated his brilliancy over a mile at New Brighton, wasresponsible for a great two-mile performance when he filled second place in the Ashburton Trotting Cup. He has now qualified for Cup class, and he must be considered very unlucky in being beaten after covering two miles in 4min 27 2-ssec, time w-hich represented an improvement of more than 6sec on his handicap. Daphie dc Oro, who earlier in the season ha demonstrated her superidrity to the other three-year-olds by her two Derby successes, enhanced her reputation by filling third place in the Ashburton Trotting Cup. She did not quite see the journey out, but it looks certain that with a little more age she is going to develop into a high-class performer over two miles. That she was stopping a little at the finish was no matter for surprise, considering the speed at which the race was run. It was an exceptional performance for a three-year-old to cover two miles in 4rain 30 4-ssee. and she may reach Cup company before tho end of the season. Pluto, tho -winner of the Ashburton Trotting Cup, has been improving steadily during the" past six months, but probably few of those who -witnessed his success at Ashburton were prepared to find him equal to such a brilliant performance. Starting from the limit of a 4min 38sec class, he registered Imin 30 3-ssec and won easily, after being in front throughout the whole of tho journey, lie will have to do his future racing among the cracks, but lie requires only to repeat this form to earn more money. Now that Mr H. F. Nieholl, president of the Trotting Association, has returned from a trip abroad, in all probability steps will be taken to fill the position rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr II- Davoy as a stipendiary steward.