TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 47

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel.

THE FORBURY PARK MEETING

The JForbury Park Trotting Club will hold its summer meeting on Thursday and Saturday of next week, and such an unusually fine entry only requires the assistance of good weather to make the fixture the beet ever held on the course. The principal events attracted many of the best horse 3 in training, and record entries amongst the rank and file of trotters and pacers. Acceptances are not due at the time of writing, and nothing definite is known as to the actual strength of the fields likely to be seen out; but it may bo token for granted that an average run of acceptors will be on hand, and that should mean a supply of tho largest field that has over mustered at Forbury Park. Tho meeting will carry a far more widespread interest than usual owing to entries from Auckland and tho West Coast, in addition to tho large amount of patronage bestowed by the usual patrons of the Forbury meetings. Tho first race will start at 12.30 each day. THE NEW ZEALAND TROTTING STAKES. Some attractively-bred youngsters figure in the Forbury Park Trotting Club's New Zealand Trotting Stakes, and if there is anything lacking in quantity it is counterbalanced by a considerable amount of quality. Included in the list aro several with good winning blood in their pedigrees, and somo of them making their debut at For-bui-y Park may bo found amogst tho cracks of a future day. Rose Peters is a chestnut filly by Pctereta from Rose Elect, by Electioneer from Wild Rose, by Childa Harold. Lady Esma, a bay filly by Driftwood from Esma, a mare probably" identical with one_ of tho same name brought from Australia sorao years ago by D. J. Price. Bon Lou is a bay filly bv Bon Hommo froni Beach Yaw, by" Wildwood from Sing Sing, tho dam of Wild Lou, Goldie, and Olive Wood. St. Anthony is a chestnut gelding got by Lord Derby from Gianclla, by Quincey froru Queen V by Kentucky from Harold's Rest, by King

Harold. Daphno Dawson is a chestnut gelding- got by King Dapimo from a Del Paso marc; and a better pedigreed one is Peter Zimmerman, by Petereta from Mary Lincoln, by Lincoln Yet from Mary, by Redwind —White Hose. Peter Zimmerman is a half-brother to a fair performer in Willio Lincoln, who won a couple of races a't tho Addington spring meeting. Royal Lady was got by Royal Rothschild from Lady Wood ; and tho last on the list is Tho Abbot, a bay colt by Gratten Abbey from Elsio Downs, an imported mare by Boodle- (2.12) from Lynda Oak (2.18 j). Elsio Downs is also the dam of First Voyage, and was imported by tho Allandale Stock Company. There should bo a good deal of interest in tho NewZealand Trotting Stakes if the well-bred youngsters at present engaged go to tho post; but thero seems to bo something lacking in tho encouragement of such an event when nothing by Marvin Wilkes. the sire of Hardy Wilkes, one of the besi trotters oyer seen in New Zealand, has not a solitary representative in the race. The early development of trotters and pacers is now receiving far more attention than _ formerly, and of the above-named lot a trio in Peter Zimmerman; Tho Abbot, and St. Anthony read as likely to earn distinction as free-gaitcd trotters. THE DUNEDIN CUP MEETING. The entries received in connection with the programme for tho Dunedin Cup meeting contain ample material for a successful gathering at Wingatui next month. The nominations for the principal events show an increase oyer last year's figures, the Cup entry being 26. or seven more than last season, whilst the Publicans' Handicap and Hazlett Memorial also show improvement. A pleasing feature of the Dunedin Cup entry is the inclusion of several North Islanders, whose presence in the field would lend additional interest to tho race, and mako it carry a more -widespread attention than if contested solely by South Island horses. Tho list includes Nobleman, tho winner of tho Wellington and Manawatu Cups, and other North Islanders of good class, such as Chortle, Miss De Val (winner of the last Publicans' Handicap), Municipal, Devotion, and Rose Pink. Southland is represented by Rorke's Drift, Kauwhero, Aycliffe, Redowa, and Canterbury stables represented by Rorke's Drife, Kauwhero, Aycliffe, Redowa. and Canterbury stables are well represented by Wishful, Margcrine, Winter Cherry, Adjutant, Wardancer, and others. Altogether it is a .very satisfactory entry; but it is a matter of regret that Fiery Cross was not accorded an entry in the Cup as well as in the Hazlett Memorial. The stable has, however, a representative in Glendower. A good entry of sprinters has been engaged in the Publicans' Handicap, and the Jockey Club Handicap, which forms the chief event on the second day's card, has won a liberal patronage from owners. The Champagne Stakes, of 350sovs, contains some winners, such as Long Rango and Punka, and a few attractively-bred youngsters that should help to make an interesting field. Handicaps are due on February 4 and acceptances on February 8. AN OTA GO SPORTSMAN. Tho late Mr Ronald M'Master, whose death occurred in Sydney last week, was at one time a prominent "figure in local circles. _ Ono of the best horse 3 he owned was Ixion, whom he sold before the Lo Loup gelding won the first Grand National Hurdles in the colours of <;he late Mr Duncan Rutherford. Mr M'Master also owned Daydream, one of tho smartest two-year-olds of her time., She was one of the quick and early sort, and is the only two-year-old that the . writer ever remembei-s winning four races in two days. At British Lion's New Zealand Cup meeting she won the Spring Nursery Handicap and Electric Plate on 'the same afternoon, and at tho Dunedin spring meeting won tho Criterion Stakes and Musselburgh Plate on the second day after previously capturing the Dunedin Stakes on the first day of tho fixture. Prior to her win in the D.J.C Champagne Stakes she was sold to Captain Guthrie at either 12C0gs or 1500 gs, and subsequently taken to England. Daydream was very probably the first thoroughbred ever shipped from New Zealand to England. In fact, she went Homo before Paris, who was the first, or one of tho first, racehorses ever sent from Australia to England. In those days it looked more like taking coals to Newcastle than it did in subsequent years. Galteo was another good horse that carried Mr M'Master's colours, and he also ran a few others of lesser note. He has been credited with breeding Daydream; but, as a matter of fact, she was bred by Dr Prins, and purchased as a yearling at lOOgs. The late Mr A. A. M'Master, who raced Petrovna and Tsaritza, was a brother to the late Mr R. M'Master. THE TIMARU TROTTING MEETING. The Timaru Trotting Club's programme for March 7 has for its principal features tho Timaru Handicap, of 250sovs (4.44 or better class); Seadown Handicap, of UOsovs (3.45 or better class); Temuka Handicap, of 120sovs (for unhoppled trotters of 5.5, or better, class); Washdyko Handicap, of loOsovk (2.20, or better); Fairlie Handicap, of 130sovs (4.52, or better); and Farewell Handicap, of 130sovs (2.22, or better). The total amount of stakes to be competed for Is 1050s/ovs, and nominations are due on February 19.