SOUTHLAND SCRATCHES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3726, 11 August 1925, Page 52

SOUTHLAND SCRATCHES.

By Locheii-a. The coming Grand National meeting is at present claiming the attention of the whole of Southland's turf followers, and the nearer the fixture comes, the harder it gets to sort the likely winners, and most Southerners will be content to let the “boomed” horses go, and stick their stray shillings on the locally trained horses in their particular engagements, as in the esent of any of the local horses being successful, the return for their investment should prove profitable. Tho Wairio sportsman Mr George Bain appears lo have secured a useful performer in Uncle Bob, and his two recent successes should help to pay expenses on the north trip. According to Riccarton writers Uncle Boh is likely to further distinguish himself before the National meeting concludes. The two wins gained by Uncle Bob recently have been instrumental in bringing our one-time crack horseman W. “Darky Robinson back into the limelight. On a horse which stands a winning chance, he can always be depended upon to keep his mount out of the ruck, and to gain a handy position throughout, providing his mount is capable of holding his place. The Invercargill owner Mr W. 1. Uazlett has had a successful season with his horses, and heads the list of winning owners; the crack handicap mare Gold Light being his biggest stake-earner. All of the horses which Mr Hazlett has in training are his own breeding, which enhances the honour of being the leading owner for the season. F. W. Kllis is making good progress with his team of youngsters, and all should be woll-oducated juveniles by the time actual raoing commences in the South. Soltoo has rejoined J. Piuikhurst’s stable. This speedy galloper may stay on better piis season. Pankhurst Popes to have Mettle Drift back any day now. During the winter tho wlfite-faced gelding has been hacked about up country, with jumping exercise in between, whenever the Birchwood pack have been in the vicinity. A chestnut gelding by Fleetham—Eight Bells, in F. Ellis’s stable, is commencing to shape well in his daily tasks. Although only a three-year-old he looks much older. Ho will be known to the racing publio as Jaok-o’-Lontern. Riverton trainers are commencing to push their charges along at present, beach work boing the order of the dav. The feaeide training tracks are in first-olaas order, caretaker Fahey having been busy daring the last month preparing them for

the commencement of serious training work. J. O. Hymers has not definitely decided to retire from training as was stated some time ago, but will continue with a small team. Blue Dragoon, who showed much promise early last season, has wintered well, and will be well forward for spring racing. San Salvador has been out with the Birchwood hounds, and has been showing a slight improvement in his jumping, but is hardly likely to ever distinguish himself over the big fences. The Riverton Racing Club, although it has not yet received tho sanction of the Minister in charge of racing permits for their October meeting, intends preparing the programme for the spring fixture. U will include two steeplechase*, one trot, the remaining events being for gallopers. Since securing the extra meeting the Riverton Club appears to have taken a new lease of life, and the members of the various committees are all working energetically to make a success of the gathering. A new electric starter, patented by a Riverton blacksmith, will probably be given a trial at the October meeting. According to those who viewed the barrier in action at Riverton last week, the new patent is a big improvement on the barriers now in use in the south. If it proves successful at Riverton, other olu'bs in Southland and elsewhere will probably install one for their own use.

The ancient Wapping has improved wonderfully during the period he has been following the Birchwood pack, and at the recent Flag Steeplechase meeting, held at South Hillend, he ran home an easy winner in the Lightweight Steeplochase. He jumped and stayed well, defeating a fairly useful field of qualified horses. Les. Smith was his pilot, and is very enthusiastic about the jumping ability of the Advance gelding. Another recruit to the brush fences in Calibration contested the Heavyweight event tho same afternoon, and after being carried off by another competitor at one of the fences, finished well in third place. He would have won but for meeting with the above-mentioned mishap. Quite a number of local owners who have fjualified their junipers during the winter intend patronising the Otugo Hunt meeting next month. Among those likely to make the trip are Calibration, Wapping, July Spark, Herbert, and several others. Bugle Note has filled out well during tho winter, and is now being indulged in light work on the local tracks. Should this gelding strike his best form this season, somo good sprint, races should com© his way. The useful Tommy Dodd is also an improved gelding. The best, has not yet been seen of this fellow, and ho should* pay his way in good company before the present season is far advanced. The big disappointment of last season, Bloom, is to be taken in hand for this season’s racing by Bob M‘Kay. Bloom was previously trained by W. M'Kay at Riverton. A change of treatment may entice the

Vice-Admiral gelding to endeavour to finish on more resolutely than in the past. Old Radial is to be given another preparation, but his days of usefulness must be

nearly passed. Nevertheless his ownertrainer does not feel at his ease, unless he has the old fellow dodging about, and he still thinks there is a race to be won in him yet. Listening Post is being treated to light work. He was putting on condition wholesale while spelling, so a little exercise was deemed necessary to keep the big fellow within himself. He will be ready for racing early in the spring. The English mare Spean Bridge continues to work along satistactorily, and she should be in forward condition for early racing. She may take time, however, to develop into a seasoned racehorse. At a meeting of the committee of the Southland Racing Club, it was decided to call for applications for the position of handicapper for the Summer meeting at a salary of £25 per day; applicants to state what meetings bearing on the Summer meeting they were prepared to attend. The president, Mr W. T. Hazlett, was congratulated by members of the club for the success of his efforts in raising-- the Southland Racing Club to its present position, and also on heading the winning owner’s list for the 1924-25 seasop. The annual meeting was fixed for Friday, August 26, at 8 p.m., in Allen’s Hall Bob M‘Kay has a nicely built youngster by Balboa—Country Queen in work for Mr Graham, owner of Queen Balboa. The newcomer will be known as King Balboa. M‘Kay’s team are all maiden performers, he having none of the older brigade in A win for Mr D. Kilkelly with Captain Sarto or Warhaven at Riccarton would be popular with all southern sports. P. T. Hogan reports Captain Sarto as very well, and although recent, training reports from headquarters do not augur well for tho prospects of Warhaven, the Kilbroney gelding is doing his work in a satisfactory manner A large number of light-harness performers are likely to bo in activo commission round Invercargill and surrounding districts duing the present month. A. Muthoson and A. M'Lellan will both have a big number in training, while S. Todd, who did so well last season, will also have n useful number to prepare. The trotting sport is going ahead with astonishing rapidity, and Southland, with its extra permits for this branch, looks like playing its part well in helping to keep its popularity up in the far south.

CANTERBURY DOINGS. By OllfltßVßß. The present winter must go on record as one in which much more than the normal rainfall has been experienced. June was a very wet month, and the early part of July showed no improvement. 'Dion the rainy spell worked itself out, but only

temporarily. Rain get in again last Thursday night, and there was a regular downpour, which showed little signs of clearing at the end of 24 hours. One result was that the Riccarton tracks, which were drying up nicely, received another soaking. Riocarton dries up much faster than mewt courses, but the ground is so wet that it will not recover very quickly this time, and even if the weather cleurs soon the going is likely to he on the heavy side for the meeting this week. There is also the point to he considered it is still raining, and the weather prophets predict that the storm may continue for a few days yet. All things considered the outlook for Grand National Week is not promising from a weather point of view,_ though in other respects it is excellent, as the material is available for some first-clasts racing both at Riccarton and at Addington. While the wet weather may prejudice the Canterbury Jockoy Club’s meeting it will have an even more serious effect on the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s fixture. Unlike the Riccarton course the clay track at Addington is not suited for winter racing. It was flooded on Friday, and with so much water lying on the ground the officials took the only course that was open by deoiding to postpone the opening of the meeting from Saturday till Monday, which fortunately was a clear day. Even now the track is not likely to lie in good order by then, but 48 hours may see it greatly improved. I am afraid, however, that we will have to make a start on Monday on a muddy track, and all we can hope is that it will be better for the second and third days of the meeting. It is an unfortunate position all round, but it is not a new one by any means. There was a similar postponement least year, also in 1922 and in. 1921.

There is no need for me to write anything now concerning events to be decided on the opening clay of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, as comments would be too late for Tuesday’s racing. The Grand National Hurdle Handicap, the chief event on the second day, is creating a lot of interest. Nineteen horses claim engagements, and Tuesday’s running may throw some light on the prospects. Many of the candidates will be seen in the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap, and even without hurdles the form should tell us something. Quite as interesting, however, will be the Trial Hurdle Handicap, in w'hich Many Colours, Te Kawa, ana Trespass may take part. Te Kawa beat Many Colours so easily at the Christchurch Hunt meeting that ho has made many friends, but with a mile further to travel on Thursday we may have a different result. I have a great liking for Many Colours, who is a good jumper, and who shapes like a stayer. He is one of the most promising young hurdlers I have seen for some time. The prospects of the Grand National Hurdle Handicap are further complicated, however, by the fact that several candidates will not race on the first day, among them being Highway and En Route, both of whom have admirers.

Boomerday came to Riccarton from Auckland with a great reputation as an improved jumper, but he did not quite please in his schooling here, nor did he shape like a really finished hurdler at the Hunt meeting. He was brought out again on Wednesday, and was sent over eight hurdles. His display was just fair to the seventh, at which he fell; but on being remounted he jumped the eighth in ! fine style. When he cooled out he was sore, and later his forelegs swelled above and behind the knees. Next dav the swelling shifted down his legs, and he was in such a bad way that at time of writing it seems doubtful’ if he will be able to race this week. This is bad luck, as he was a well-backed horse, and, even making allowance for defects in his jumping, his speed on the flat and his stamina left him with a good chance in the long-distance hurdle race, in which many of his opponents will be very tired at, the finish. Rational was schooled early last week, but his exhibition was very unsatisfactory, and left him with no winning prospects over hurdles. He was therefore given a dose of physic and was scratched for all engagements. Glenidle cut one of his legs some time ago, and it has been under treatment since he has been here. Though it is improving, he is not likely to race this week. Penury Rose met with a slight mishap while racing at the Hunt meeting, and his preparation Has been checked. Te Kawa keeps showing signs of intermittent lameness. It is traceable, I understand. to a splint. When he is right he is a good horse. Rich Prize has been causing his trainer some anxiety. He has dropped out of the Winter Cup, but there are slight, hopes that he will be got out for a hack race later in the week. Sunny Loch is under a cloud, trouble having developed in one of his joints. The big gelding was coming on nicelv, but he was far from his best. Mr G. Gould has been appointed to represent the Canterbury Jockey Club on the Dates and Licensing Committees of the Racing Conference. The 12 months’ disqualification imposed on F. D. Jones and M. M‘Oarten in Sidney last year expired on Saturday. Jones expects to start at once with a big team, while MCarten will be riding at this week’s meeting. A fair contingent of Riccarton horses will probably go to Trentham for next week’s Fleet meeting. There will be a big exodus of local trotters and pacers after the Addington meeting this week. The Floet meetings of the Forburv Park and Auckland Trotting Clubs will both attract strong teams from here.