THE TURF

Southland Times, Issue 17661, 19 February 1916, Page 10

THE TURF

NOTES BY “SIR MODRED." Jubert was taken to the D.J.C. fixture,, but his owner elected not to start the Canrobert gelding, and he was returned to Invercargill without being raced. Pinnacle ran very badly in the Suburban "Welter on Thursday, a not ■ unexpected happening, as he walked very listlessly in the birdcage prior to going out on to the track. It was noticeable that the North Island crack, Panmure, was booted in front when he went out to oppose First Glance in the Hazlett Memorial Plate. It is said that the Forfarshire horse has touched himself slightly once or twice, hence the precaution referred to.

Prominent in the crowd surrounding the birdcage prior to the start for the Dunedin Cup on "Wednesday last was an assertive northern critic who insisted on audibly reviewing the horses as they passed to and fro. A mild-mannered acquaintance called his attention to Rorke’s Drift whom he claimed was stepping out better than any other horse in the parade and looking well to boot. The expert finished the Calibre gelding off with a hasty glance and the remark, “he is a sturdy looking sort, useful in a hurdle field, but quite out of place among racehorses.” On the second day of the D.J.C. fixture the owners of Rorke’s Drift were •approached to put a price on the son of Calibre, but declined to do business. A straight out offer running into four figures was passed over. It is understood that the intending buyer had Grand National prospects in view for the Dunedin Cup winner. It transpires that First Glance was badly interfered with when Martian Maid broke her leg in the Dunedin Cup race. The Irish mare was going great guns when the daughter of Martian faltered and swung out almost broadside on. This caused horses behind her to spread, some going to the outside and otliers getting through on the rails, but First Glance was badly blocked. Donovan is firm in the opinion that First Glance would have won or run second, but for the" accident. Snub was another sufferer by the accident as for meeting with disappointment Bee interfered with both he (Snub) and First Glance. The mare from the Emerald Isle is looking somewhat drawn and wasted, but there cannot be a great deal wrong with "her, judging by the brave fight she put up in opposition to Panmure in the Hazlett Memorial.

Eord Frederick showed a pronounced aversion to go at his jumps on Thursday with the result that F. Ellis had a very hard ride up to the obstacle where he was very nearly bumped off. The recovery made by the popular Riverton lad was one of the best seen for a long time in the south, and thoroughly deserving of the cheer which greeted the feat.

Magdala must have come on very fast as regards condition since his arrival at T. Stivens’ stable at WingatuL When home trained he ran like a horse right out of shape in the Wairio Cup, yet on Thursday lie came out looking strong and lively, and carried oif the Anniversary Handicap like a racehorse. Ha read to he well handicapped at S.O, but consistent followers of the game would not have him on his showing at Wairio. However, his success helped more than one patriotic Southlander to tide over rather an indifferent financial trip. It may be pointed out that the victories of Magdala, Rorke’s Drift and Daringdaia at Wingatui have caused some North Islanders and Canterburyites to change their views as to the quality of the thoroughbreds racing in Southland. The firmness of the galloping area at Wingatui did not appear to suit Buller. The Canrobert gelding travelled down rather sorely in his preliminaries each day. At the time of writing the admirers of Mr T. B. Mclntrye’s horse are hoping for rain before Saturday’s racing to sec if it will make any difference in the brown horse's galloping ability. The form shown by Buller on "Wednesday and Thursday was far from his best on record. Mi R. M. Paterson, the well-known Rake County owner and breeder, met with a severe misfortune the other day in having to shoot his stallion. General Average, by Hotchkiss —Crecy. The horse escaped from his box and when in chase of another equine got into a wire fence and injured himself very severely. The Auckland-bred horse did not get many opportunities at the stud, hut southern racegoers will recognise him as the sire of those useful racehorses Golden Rupee and Copper Boy. The well-known trotting reinsmen and trainer, .1. Bryce, started his first Hat race charge in the Apprentice's Plate on the opening day of the D.J.C. Autumn fixture. This was the five-year-old mare, Stargazer, by Martian —Rosiphede, who was ridden by J. Bryce, junr., a promising apprentice in a leading Riccarton stable. .Stargazer may never prove a champion racehorse, but boy Bryce is a strong, determined youngster who may develop into a clever jockey. The death of My Lawyer must have been a very heavy blow to Mr J. Ellis, but that gentleman accepted his loss in a philosophic spirit, remarking that ho had experienced many losses in his day, and always found it best to forget them as soon as possible and hope for better luck in tDo future. The son of Blackstone and that good little mare, Emmeline (winner of many races in Otago and Southland! was a very handsome animal, and with high-class breeding to recommend him, quite apart from his deeds as a racehorse, looked like turning out a valuable sire. Mr Ellis held high hopes of My Lawyer proving a valuable site, and in this idea lie was not alone, as the gallant black came of great staying families, while he could carry weight and gallop fast over any distance from four furlongs to a mile and a-quarter. Of late years .Mr W. T. Hazlett has no less than on throe occasions had horses carrying Ills colours destroyed as the result of suffering severe injuries in races. At Gore he lost a good gelding in Astrakhan, while Wingatui proved fatal to Cocoon and Martian Maid. The loss of the last-named was easily the most serious. Although Pinul probably cost more, as she was well enough bred to lie valuable as'a brood mare. His many racing friends present at Wingatin on Thursday were pleased to find that Mr W. Crossan appears to have got hold cf a well grown and speedy iwc-year-old in The White King, by King's Guest —Kotuku. He is a splendidly furnished gelding and can travel

very fast. After getting away very badly in the City Handicap, he caught his opponents going up the hill, and looked to hold a slight advantage as the held swung into the straight. Many backers who saw the youngster gallop have tucked him away in their thinking boxes for reproduction in the springtime.

His term as schoolmaster to Martian Maid in her Dunedin Cup preparation evidently agreed with Daringdale as the Canrobert —St. Brigid horse won his two races in rare style at Wingatui. His connections supported him with connoence each day and were richly rewarded. It may not be generally known that Daringdale was purchased as a two-year-old by Mr Hazlett for the record price, as far as a Southland-bred youngster is concerned, of 305 guineas. It was rather an unusual happening to sec Daringdale and. Palisade, owned respectively by the brothers, Messrs W. T. and L. C. Hazlett. fighting out the finish for the Suburban Welter Handicap. Canrobert’s stock have been doing well of late, and the deeds of Daringdale, Robert Bell, and Pinnacle at Wingatui will enhance the reputation of Mr W. Keith’s handsome-son of Soult, who is easily the best stallion so far owned In Southland. The English horSe, Panmurc, was greatly admired at Wingatui by many people and Southlanders present found a likeness in him to Mr E. Russell’s American-bred colt, Mohawk. Apart from bis drooping ears, the writer will have it on the Yankee to develop into the handsomer horse, although he may never be as brilliant as Panmure. However, even this has yet to go to the proof. The aristocratic English chestnut, it may be mentioned, was not bought on his looks by trainer G. Price, bnt on the more solid recommendation of a good gallop. Quite a number of northern visitors to the DJ.a meeting hastily turned up their race books when Dorian entered the weighing-enclosure in order to ascertain his breeding and ownership. The son of Martian and Greek Maid gathered many friends who have made a mental reservation to keep him on their side in a big race some day. There are evidently some excellent flat racers In Southland at the present time, but the class of our jumpers is far from being of a high standard, a fact which was exemplified by the running of Peerless and Lord Frederick at Dunedin. The green horse, Bore, made ho race of the pair in his second attempt this week, and it is no certainty that he will not beat them again to-day (Saturday) if started. However, with the weights in his favour Peerless may put up a fair display over the shorter distance of a mile and a-haif, the longer distance events on Wednesday and Thursday were beyond his compass with a speedy galloper like Bore in his way.