SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 17918, 25 April 1917, Page 7

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. It Is reported that Gunreat failed to hold his condition during the trip to the North Island to compete at the Wellington R.C. fixture. This may account for the fact that he failed to make a showing at any part of the two races in which he started.

It Is stated that Blackall has developed a thorough dislike to racing at all now. However, with the sting out of the ground and a course of Jumping education, he may come back to something like form, as he will not have to hurry to the same extent as a hurdleracing performer.

The Canrobert gelding, Minesweeper, who is now trained by his owner, ran well at the South Canterbury J.C. meeting, and would probably have finished further up on the concluding day had it not been for meeting with some interference during his race for the Temuka Hack Handicap, won by Malvolia.

Mutiny, one of the best ’chasers of his time, or any time, that ever raced in Maoriland tsays the Sporting and Dramatic Review), is still alive at Te Mahanga, Hawke’s Bay, and will be thirty-one years old next foaling. Ho raced first when six years old, and that is perhaps why he lasts so well. He was always taken good care of and never knew what it was to go hungry.

Mr W. J. Marshall was an interested observer of the form displayed by Triple Entente and Charley at the South Canterbury J.C. fixture, by reason of the fact that he has in his possession -a fullbrother to the former and half-brother to Charley. The horses referred ‘to are all sons of Edna May 11, a very attrac-tively-bred mare of Australian pareiv:age. The All Red three-year-old in Mr Marshall’s possession Is to be given plenty of time to mature prior to being seriously tried out on the training track and racecourse.

The second day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Winter fixture has been postponed until Saturday next, in order to prevent clashing with Anzac Day.

The well-known Auckland horseman, J, Conquest, was one of the New Zealand jockeys drawn in the recent or Sixth Ballot.

L. H. Hewitt, who was prevented from riding at both the Auckland and Avondale meetings, had so far recovered as to be out of hospital quarters and was present on the second day of the Avondale fixture as a looker-on only. The ex-Southlander was unfortunate, as he removed to Auckland some time back with bright riding prospects ahead for the meetings referred to.

Golden Rupee and Peerless put up a stubborn finish In the Wai-iti Hurdles at Timaru on Saturday last. They ran to the winning-post leading stride about, and the son of General Average got in his advantage at the right time. It is stated that Peerless was hardly at his best during the progress of the S.C.J.C. meeting, which is not to be wondered at, when it is considered that ho has other engagements to meet later on during the winter months.

The pacer Frandocia, so long associated with the name of the cx-South-landcr, Mr W. Black, has resumed work in Christchurch after a spell. He is in future to be trained by B. Jarden.

The aged Prince Imperial stallion, Advocate, was sold at Leeston, Canterbury, on Friday last for the small sum of twenty shillings.

It Is rumoured that M. Hobbs will leave on another trip to Australia immediately, with Kilboy, Sasanof, Shrill, Cheloma, and Sweet Corn.

Writing in Christchurch News “Looker On” says;—“ The writer thought Mohawk finished third in the Railway Handicap at Trentham, and little R. McLellan evidently thought he was amongst the first four, as he trotted in to get weighed, but both of us must have been wrong, as the judge placed Chortle third and Nystad fourth.”

Mr J. B. Reid's winners at the Wellington R.C. meeting, Kilkee and Killlinn, were trained by G.' Matthews at Elderslie, Oamaru, until a few weeks ago, when they were sent on to Riccarton to be prepared by M. Hobbs for their Autumn engagements. Hobbs, by the way, was very successful at Trentham, being credited as the mentor of six winners, while several of his team gained place money.

It is reported (says the Lyttelton Times) that Mr E. S. Luttrcll has bought out the interest of Mr W. G, Stead in Kilbov and his two-year-old brother. Kill’em. Both horses will remain under the care of M. Hobbs at Riccarton.

It seems probable from the comments that are being made In some quarters, that the introduction of the totalisator into New South Wales has by no means settled the opposition to the machine.

The proprietary clubs were never In favour of it, and there is a fear that they will miss no chance of preventing the public taking a fancy to the machine. According to the Australasian, those proprietary tracks are not giving Uie totaiisator a “fair deal.” At a pony meeting to which it makes reference the totaiisator was in use, but the machine, was a tin-pot affair, with only two receiving windows, and there was no chance of getting money on at the finish. Backers were forced to go to the bookmakers. These proprietary people are taking a big risk. Mr Holman is at the back of the totaiisator and may be relied upon to see that it eventually gets fair play. Mr Holman is making no sign at present, but probably the proprietaries, which do not do their best to make the totaiisator welcome, will hear from him before long. The Australian Jockey Club is spending about £50,000 in putting up suitable totaiisator buildings at Kandwick, where the totalisator will be used for the first time in September. It is the Government that is going to make the profit out of the totaiisator, not the Australian Jockey Club, but the club will still get a fair revenue from bookmakers. All the courses which want to keep details of their profits hidden, and remain in the good books of the Government, should do what they can for the totaiisator, and overcome their predilection for “bookmakers only,” as a safeguard against curtailments and the stoppage of all betting by bookmakers on a racecourse.

Residents of the goldfields have from time to time been accused of displaying thin sporting instincts on the Day of Rest, but the limit has been readied by a Wellington newspaper, which states that Spectual "was among file winners at Tuapeka on Easter Sunday.”

Kilboy beat Desert Gold fairly in the Trentham Cup on Saturday (says the Press). As usual, Mr Lowry’s mare set out to make the pace. O’Shea kept her about ten feet out from the rails, and Deeley hugged the fence, about two lengths back, driving his mount all the time, so that Desert Gold never got a spell. Five furlongs from the post Kilboy ran up on the inside, and got level with the leader. From there until two furlongs from the box the pair raced stride for stride, but, once faced for home, the Kilbroney colt had Desert Gold beaten, and strode to the judge by himself, while the Toff and Sasanof challenged the beaten champion. The Toff was from two to three lengths in front of her at the post, and a hundred yards away it looked as if she would be beaten out of a place, but struggling on with the utmost gameness, she headed Sasanof again, and got third place by a head. The going was very holding in places, and the best of it wa-s dead and yielding. Without wishing to detract from Kllboy’s very fine performance, for the colt would probably have won on any going, it would have been more satisfactory to have seen him beat the mare on the ground she likes best.

The advice received from Dunedin to the effect that the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Wipter meeting is to be gone on with as originally fixed, has given a great deal of satisfaction in the south. A large number of .Southland horses are being prepared for the meeting, which ranks as the last chance of the season for many local owners to secure the wherewithal to pay for winter oats.

ILADXES’ OOJ.T, The Invercargill Ladies’ Golf Club will open the season with a foursome match on Thursday afternoon. A bus will leave the Post Office at 12.45 p.m. The following is the draw :—Mrs A. M. Macdonald and Mrs Galbraith play Mrs Train and Miss Crofts; Mrs Handyside and Miss Ewart play Mrs Haggitt and Mrs Cruickshank; Miss Henderson and Miss McQueen play Mrs G. Henderson and Miss Joyce; Mrs Lewis and Mrs Raymond play Mrs Scandrett and Mrs J D. Mitchell: Mrs R. J. Gilmour and Mrs C. Jones play Miss Grieve and Miss Tucker; Miss Bush and Miss L. Render, son play Miss M. Campbell and Miss Hawke: Mrs T. F. Macdonald and Miss Broclrick play Mrs Roberts and Miss I. Thomson; Mrs J. Gilklson and Miss R. Carswell a bye.