TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. THE C.J.O. MEETING. The groyning attractions of other meetings held throughout New Zealand on the samo

date as that occupied on the Racing Calendar by the Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting does not cause any notable shrinkage in the popularity of the Riceartoix nxture. On Uie- contrary, the Riccarton meetings have for many years past been as so many rungs in a ladder of success, and looking back to bast week's gathering, it can be safely claimed that it is not by any means a weak step in the series of successes which form the foundation for others. No doubt the counter attraction for horse-owners split up the list of available horses, but the iinancial attraction -of good stakes will always result in Riccarton holding its own. Riccarton races invariably require winning, but when an owner has the right sort of goods it is the place to patronise, as there is ample room to give every one a clear run, and the long run in affords opportunity to retrieve a puce of bad luck that might completely kill a horse's chance on a smaller course. Some of last week's holds were a bit weak from a numerical point of view. This was particularly notable in connection with the .hurdle, events, but they were none the iess interesting on that account. In fact, tno trio that contested the Kihlare Hurdles furnished a very lino race, and went to show that a small field does not necessarily mean iKior sport .Speculation was also fairly good, as the trio carried over lCOOsovs on the. totalizator. The Champagne Stakes was regarded as a. duel between Autumnus and ErmenKarde, but "the brilliant filly failed to stay on, and the colt really made a oncliorse race of it in the last couple of furlongs. Autumnus, however, did not loiter on the way, and his gallop of 1.14 set up a. new record for the race, and as he appeared to finish 'up with a trifle in hand it would have required something of a particular high class to lower his colours. The Great Easter attracted a field of good quality, but some of the runners must have been doubly handicapped by the straggling manner in which the horses got away from tho barrier. This was not altogether Mr Piper's fault, but rather to the fact that some of the riders, despite the big issue at stake, were not expecting such prompt despatch. The race was climaxed by a fine finish, and another good battle happened in the Sockburn, when The Cornet and True Knight fought out an exciting bout for supremacy. The writer thought the latter just got there by a short head, but the judge said otherwise. In any case, they wero both lucky to beat Rose Noble, who, minus a block, would have beaten the pair in front of him. The Great Autumn was principally notable for two things, and that was the commanding lead which Waipaku occupied in the first mile and the convincing manner in which Los Angelos strode away from his field in the last quarter of a mile. The San Francisco gelding has demonstrated that ho is one of the best horses New Zealand has discovered for many a day, and if Australia can find others to give him weight and a beating our stock must be considerably below the standard held by that of the Commonwealth. Autumnus added another laurel to his crown by the manner in which he annexed the Challenge Stakes. Looking back, however, at the two-year-olds seen out at the meeting, it must bo said that, taken all round, they hardly call for enthusiasm. Ermengarde is a very speedy filly, but anart from her and a couple of others, one would not require to wade very far into the realms of arithmetic in order to total up not only the good ones, but also the likely sorts that may train up into something in the future. The meeting, despite the bad weather, which put in a damp and unwclcomo apj>earance, was full of interest. THE TROTTING STUD BOOK. Stud Books are the means of giving valuable assistance towards building up success in the racing world, as without them we would find it very difficult, if not impossible, at times to distinguish the ieal merits of horses and the source from which they derive their prowess. A horse may have a great merit for breeding purposes, but unless it was indicated by Stud Books its value would be partially lost. Conse- : quently those with the best interests at heart will welcome the appearance of the third volume of the N.Z. Trotting Stud Book. The volume contakis far move information than its predecessors. It is a more ample list of the imported stallions and mares and the growing in:porLai.ce of light harness breeding is indica'.ed by the fact that coloiual-b.xt: mares in the book total well over 300. This largo figure does not represent tho full extent of light harness mares that produce winners, as seme breeders are still blindly ignorant of the great value placed on their stoek when th>j Stud Books unmistakably show its merit. The volume gives an interesting list of trotters and pacers entitled to come into the standard class. This list is compile dfrom August, 1909, up to December, 1911. Tho colonial trotting and pacing records are given up to December of last year, and the book is got up in an attractive manner, which makes it a pleasing as well as a valuable adjunct of a sportsman'? library. THE RIVERTON MEETING. Once again has the Riverton Racing Club recorded a highly successful meeting, and although there may bo one or two drawbacks in evidence in connection with the fixture, there is no gainsaying the fact that it has a great and growing hold on sporting folk. The <lub not only draws it patrons from Southland, but attracts them from Dunedin and other districts whose sports wero formerly found at Riccarton. The Riverton Cup, of 2Cosovs, attracted a field of six, but from all accounts nothing had a chance at the finish with Sombrero, who strode homo an easy winner. The Australian has always been capable of showing a good turn of foot, and seems to havo developed .staying powers. He also annexed the chief event on the second day, so that thero was evidently no fluke about his win in the chief event. Diroctoiro and Routine were the place-getters on each occasion, but Parable failed to run into the money. The fact that Truo Blue was short of work found him starting third favourite in tho Great Western Steeplechase. Tho grey was well handled by W. Ledingham. and won with something in hand. Unfortunately, he went amiss when holding a winning chance in the Riverton Steeplechase, which went to Tho Gunner. Good fields were seen out in both 'cha.ses, and falls were frequent, but fortunately no one received a serious toss. Rod Earl, who won the Hurdles on the second day of the meeting, is 6aid to be a promising hurdler, and he seems to have put up a fair performance in running 3.29 after losing ground through striking a fence. Palisade was tho hero of the'sprinters, as he won both the Flying Handicap and Aparima Handicap with good margins in his favour. There is not much doubt Palisade is a cut above the

ordinary, and it is a matter of regret that his sire 1-eft this island. The meeting was a big financial success, as well as pleasing from a sporting point of view, as tho £24,479 pat through the totalisator was £5521 in excess of last year. The gate was also a big increase on last year, and the club has every reason to congratulate itself on having won the sinews ol war to bring off an even bigger success when they next throw open their gates. THE NORTH OTAGO MEETING. The North Otago Jockey Club have issued a programme for their winter meeting, which should command a liberal patronage from horse-owners, as not only have substantial stakes been included in the list, but the cost of starting a horse- has been reduced to 2\ per cent, basis—in fact, it becomes less in some cases. The chief event will be the Oamaru Cup, of 200sovs, one mile and a-quarter, and it is backed by tho Victoria Handicap, of 15teovs, one mile. On the first day the sprinters get a stako of 150sovs attached to the Stewards' Handicap, six furlongs, and on the second day the Members' Handicap, of 115sovs, five furlong.-, goes to balance it on the programme. Other events are as follow: Trial Plate, of 50sovs, four furlongs (open to two-year-olds and horses that have not won a race exceeding 30sovs in value at time of entry); Laiidon Handicap, of 80sovs, rive furlongs; Railway Handicap, of 75sovs, five furlongs (hack class); Tokarahi Welter, of SOsovs, seven furlongs; The Shorts, of SQsovs, five furlongs (for two-year-olds and horses that have not won a race exceeding 30sovs in value at time of starting); Electric Handicap, of 80sovs, four furlongs; Pukeuri Handicap, of 75sovs, five furlongs (hack class) ; and Te Puke Welter, of 70sovs, six furlongs. In addition to the above, there are two stakes of lOOsovs for hurdlers. Nominations are due on Thursday, May 2. THE SOUTH CANTERBURY MEETING. The excellent entries received 1 for the South Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting has resulted in an unusual interest becoming aroused in the fixture. Tho nomination list is very good indeed, and denotes that the racing public is t.iking a growing interest in racing at the Washdyke course. A further reason why the meeting has attracted attention is due to the fact that it happens along whilst the form at the recent Easter meetings is still fresh in the mind. Consequently the public is closer in touch with it than is sometimes the case Outlander occupies the pride of place in the Timaru Cup, and has to concede lib to True Knight, who beat him over a similar distance when in receipt of 61b in the Sockbum Handicap. At Waimme Outlander finished fourth to True Knight, when giving 181 b, and with the fugures a bit more in his favour the Finland gelding is given a chance to turn the tables on his former victor. The WTashdyke truck should also suit Outlander much better than Waimate, and so also should the scale of weights at whjch they are asked to run next week. True Knight has it in his favour that he is the more relab'o horse of the two. but the scale of weights will naturally tend to accentuate the distance, and in view of the Great Autumn running where Outlander finished fourth one may be pardoned for leaning to his chance. Waiju finished behind Outlander in the D.J.CHandicap, when giving away 21b, and now meets him on 3lb better terms. Bellah ran two very fair races in getting a third in the Autumn Plate and second to Mint in the Final Handicap at Riecarton. In the latter race he was beat a head, and Tine Knight, giving- 71b, was unplaced. Now Bellah meets him at 41b over an additional ouarter of a mile. Gold Coin met True Knight at even weights in the Sockbum, and is now let away 61b. At Waimate she met him when giving away 131 b, and is now in on 191 b better terms. Oratava practically dead-heated with Bellah when in receipt of lib, and now runs at a difference of 21b. Obolus finished in front of Waiju in. the Southland Cup, when allowed 111 b, and now is asked to come in at 41b less for his form in that race. The handicapper cannot bring the others down to the minimum, and this points to the field being by no means a strong one.