TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 56

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bt Sentinel.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Warstep wis ridden bv J. O'Shea in the D.J.C. Electric Handicap, New Zealand Cup, Canterbury Cup, and Stead Memorial Gold Cup. C. Emnrmrson had the mount in the Auckland Cup, Islington Plate, and Auckland Plate. F. B. Jones rode her in the Dunedi i Cup, Hazlett Memorial, and Great Autumn Handicap. Emmerson then got up again to ride her in the Trentham Gold Gup and Awapuni Gold Cup WING A TUI NOTES. The arrival of visiting horses lent additional interest to yesterday morning’s work at Wingatui. The outside of the course proper was thrown open, but the bulk of the business was confined to the plough gallop. About 6 o’clock G. Murray-Aynsley and H. Outts appeared with their teams, and worked on the course proper. Warstep, Snub, Wardancer, Disdainful, Adjutant, Battle Eve, Good Hope, Winterbourne, Don Pacifico, and Snapdragon were all trotted and cantered. Warstep looks in fine order, and Snub bears an improved appearance since he won at the Ashburton spring meeting. Wardanccr, the brother to Warstop, is a nice colt, showing plenty of size and quality, and will be much bigger than bis well-performed relative. Disdainful is a racy chestnut, built on lighter lines than the colt. Sir George Clifford’s team were not inspected at close range, but they all look in good shape. A long interval elapsed before anything else appeared on the track, and then Redshire drew out from Rcdowa when finishing up six furlongs on the plough in Imin l9seo. Red Charm and Golden Rupee were finishing comfortably when theyran Imin 21 l-ssec over the same ground. The Martian—Lady Lillian colt Thcstius and Malvolin ran over a half-mile on, the grass in 56500. HoPcon finished in front of Firmhold at the end of five furlongs in Imin 6sec. Pride o’ Clutha and an All Rfd—Kea filly were finishing well at the end of half a mile on the plough in 53sec. Fondrotte strode over the same task in 54 3-ssec. The Robber led homo Wingform over two lengths, whilst Yolspiel, who got the worse of the start, was another three lengths off in Imin fisec at the end of five furlongs. Robert Bell finished up useful work by covering three furlongs in 42soc. Cortes led home Jason at the end of six furlongs in Imin 20sec. Lady Superior and Madam Butterfly (sister to Soldiers’ Chorus) ran half a mile on the grass in 56seo. Rorke’s Drift was beating Master Jim at the _ end of six furlongs in Imin 22scc. United Service finished up stronger than Stevedore at the end of six furlongs in Imin 24scc. Afton Loch and Loading Lady did threequarter pace work singly. Micky Free went once round, and sprinted down the straight. Golden King, looking a much-improved horse as far as appearance goes, trotted and cantered a couple of circuits. Slogan, who also hears an improved appearance, was allotted an easy task. John Barleycorn broke awav at the seven-furlong post on the grass, and. picking up Arthur George ah the half-mile post, ran out his task in Imin 37 l-ssee. Thnddens ran over half a, mile on the plough in 56see. Kilbnyne (Kilhronev—ArM-te-Uru) trotted and ennt'Tcd. Modd’te. Fierv Cross, Han- Dhn. Multoe. Cervnlus. Ga.retta. Far God. Quiz, and one or two others got through unimportant work. Pe lla dins outpaced and outinmped the Heroism gelding Cnpphoal Moh in -a round over the schooling hurdles. THE KTTOW MEETING. The Kurow meeting is always regarded by North Otago sports as furnishing the chanoo of a pleasant outing, and has been growing in popularity every year since the writer first reported it, when a bullock waggon acted as a stewards’ and press “room.” This was on the old course, situated a couplo of miles beyond the town,

but in recent years the club has bscn able to provide its patrons with a more convenient and up-to-date track nearer the town. improvement in the track and a growing patronage lias been followed by a growth of stakes, and this year the quality of the nominations promised well, but the sport provided by the fields did not cause one to enthuse a great deal. The chief drawback was due to the starting, winch saw one or two races won at the rise of the barrier; but the starting was not solely responsible for the poor effort made by some of the runners. The track was more like a plough gallop than anything else, and donee clouds of dust were raised by the horses. It was also rathe? unpleasant in the paddock, where the dust was, as it always has been at Kurow meetings, unpleasantly loading the atmosphere and the good folk attending the meeting. On the lawn a green growth had been coaxed up by some means or other, and if its growth could bo extended to the full extent of the enclosure and around the track the Kurow meetings would be a great deal more enjoyable than they are. It is a dry country, and it seems fairly obvious that the club will have to Resort to some form of irrigation if they ate desirous of coating their track and enclosures with a desirable sward of grass. Trusting to the luck of a season seems hopeless as far as the Kurow is concerned, and if the club could make their course as an oasis in the desert they would earn and deserve the hearty appreciation of all who patronise their meetings. Financially the meeting was very successful, although there was an occasional growl at the absence of a 10s totalisator. There is st'll the vexatious wait until after 7 o’clock before the return train leaves for Oamaru, and there is no reason why the Oamaru train should give that going to Timaru an hour’s start. Despite this and other drawbacks the meeting was very enjoyable in many respects, and as the profits go to a good cause the pleasure of the day’s racing under the circumstances should always overshadow any faults that crop up. THE DUNEDIN GUINEAS. The Dunedin Guineas, which forms one of the lew classic w.i.a. or special we.gut events decided at Wingatui, promises to to an interesting race. There is no chance of the load beiug a large one, but a meeting between a couple of representatives from the Uhokbore stable against Stoub, Wishful, and Kedsiiire will probably provide something well worth looking at. Sir George Clifford may rely upon Battle Eve, and allow Adjutant to take his chance in the Mosgiel Handicap. Battle Eve ran second to Nones in the Wanganui Guineas, and, according to one account, was somewhat hampered by the turns on the track. It is, however, doubtful if he would have been able to defeat Nones under any circumstances, as she appears to have retained tier speed whilst at the same time training on to stay fairly well. Later advices state that Nones won in a stylo suggesting that it would take something out of the ordinary to down her. The report of the race_ states that Nones led from a straggling start, but a published photo flatly contradicts that opinion, as the picture shows each of the field breaking into their first stride whilst the barrier is still in view. Nones would no doubt begin quickly, and thus gain an advantage round the first turn. Battle Eve was apparently well back in the early stages, and was coming fast from the distance. It thus seems as if he would get a better mile at Wingatui than he did at Wanganui, as on the former track a horse holds a good chance to assert merit by the opportunity of a straight three furlongs along the back, a wide sweeping turn, and a run in of nearly two fuilongs. Adjutant won the Middle Park Plate and Dunedin Champagne Stakes, but made no show in a couple of later engagements. In the Champagne Stakes Adjutant conceded 13lb and a neck beating to Snub. Flying Start appealed to the writer as the most likely colt in the Chokebore stable, but unfortunately he is amiss in the respiratory organs, and was not brought south. It is a matter of much regret that Flying Start did not continue sound and well, as he filled the eye as a first-class youngster likely to develop into a good three-year-old. The manner in which he won the Champagne Stakes, catching and beating Nones and afterwards downing Emporador in the Challenge Stakes, left no doubt as to the racing merit held by the Fleetfoot colt.. He, however, continues in training, and there may be some consolation in the fact that he may win again as Prince Charlie (sjro of Lochiel), the most brilliant miler of her day, won the Two Thousand Guineas despite the fact of his joining the musical brigade. Mr G. L. Stead has continued the engagement of Wishful, who, although not a winner last year, nevertheless has some very creditable placed performances. After getting placed at the last Wingatui spring meeting Wishful ran a good third at Wellington, where ho was beaten half a head by Desert Gold in 49 l-ssoc, whilst the pair finished a neck from Rangitero. At Auckland Wishful, less than a length away, ran a good third to Desert Gold and Sutala in the Foal Sitakes, whilst Adjutant was unplaced. The same two boat him by a similar margin in the Royal Stakes, and this year Wishful “ broke his duck” by strolling away from a moderate lot opposing him in the Trial Plate. The gallop, however, was useful, as he won very easily with 8.0 in linin' 14 l-ssec. Wishful is a half-brother to Sunburnt, and is bred as one likely to stay. Snub is another that did not win in his first season, but he , has thickened out and furnished during the past few months. He won at Ashburton with his oars pricked in Imin 27soc, and came along in a generous manner when challenged by Jeannot in the last few strides. Still another winner at Ashburton is supplied by a Guineas candidate in Rodshire, who now presents a much improved appearance, and is growing into a rather attractive three-year-old. Rodshiro, however, does not appear to be doing a solid enough preparation to sec out a mile with the best of the northern lot. Still he shows more range and liberty than his halfbrother, Palisade, and will at least help to make matters interesting. It seems, then, that there is reason to hope for a good contest supplied by four or five runners, and so provide some reward to the club for the inclusion of the classic in their spring programme.

THE DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING. The Dunedin Jockey Club will start their season of 1915-16 at Wingatui on Friday and Saturday, and although the acceptances are somewhat disappointing on the first day’s card there_ is still plenty of material engaged to provide a good meeting. Warstep has probably frightened one or two out of the Mosgiel Handicap, and she must tako a power of beating, despite her weight. The pros and cona of the handi-

cap were discussed on the appearance of the weights, and there! is no necessity to again wade through a detail of form. Palisade should find 8.2 a fairly luxurious burden to some that he has carried during his career; but he is trained privately, and there is no idea as to what is his mission. Golden King has arrived from the south, and looks a much improved horse in appearance; but it has yet to be seen whether a build up in condition also means better work on the track. No great notice ehould be taken of All Ready’s defeat at the Kurow meeting, as he was kept too far out of his ground in the early part of the race. Ho appears to have benefited by his trip to Ashburton, where he should have about won on the second day. Hence those who are numbered amongst his admirers have no great cause to think they are supporting a forlorn hope. A useful two-year-old such as Adjutant was last season should be able to give Warstep a gallop at 431 b; but, perhaps, the toughest trial horse for the top weight may prove to bo Slogan. There is po chance of a field being sent out jn the Electric Handicap. Palisade and Meltchikoff claim two engagements; but both are likely to be reserved for the sprint. Moon glow Las broken down, and Wingatui has thus lost one good chance of annexing the stake. Palisade will probably start favourite. He meeis- Pride o’ Clutha on 81b better terms than in the August Handicap, run at the National meeting, when the mare carried 9.5, and won in Imin 14 4-sseo. Pride o’ Clutha suffers slightly at times from knee trouble, but she is striding out well in her work on the plough track, although she may not go quite so well on the grass unless a shower or two falls before the races. Meltchikoff ran a bit disappointingly at Geraldine, but be had an apparently lenient task on paper, and may not have been quite keyed up. On the second day at Geraldine Sveaborg giving 31b, made a dead-beat with him, and at Ashburton Recorder made up a lot of ground to get second to Medley. In that race Recorder gave 81b and a handsome beating to , Sveaborg. Meltchikoff is exactly 51b behind Sveaborg, and Recorder is 81b well in front of the Finland gelding. Hence, Recorder should at least account for Meltchikoff. Afton Loch is a speedy beginner, and if she can stay a bit better than last year must have a chance. Robert Bell is apparently coming back to form; but a win from any of those following Recorder would come as a surprise. The two “classics” should prove the most interesting events of the day. The Dunedin Stakes will probably attract seven starters and prove a match between the best of Mr C. G. Dalgety’e nair and the Chokobore Lodge brace. Snub, Adjutant, and Wishful, with Battle Eve thrown in, 'would furnish a race well worth witnessing in the Guineas. Redshire may not bo quite ready to run cut a mile, although ho finished up well and full of running when galloped six furlongs on Tuesday morning. He, however, does not look so seasoned as the visitors, Moddite and Crib arc almost sure to divide honours of favouritism in the Hurdles, and a similar honour may bo granted Hap Dha in the Welter. The first race is timed to start at 1 p.m each day.