SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 17756, 6 September 1917, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. Owners are reminded that nominations for the Geraldine R.C. Spring meeting on Sept. 27 close this (Thursday) evening. Mr A. J. Gibbs will act as bandicapper. The entries for the Ashburton County R.C.’s Spring meeting are of a very satisfactory nature in most instances, but the principal event of the concluding day has only attracted a field of eight, owners of good horses evidently being afraid to step their representatives out over a mile and a quarter so early in the season with more valuable engagements ahead. The two hurdle races have drawn an excellent response with a field of thirteen on the opening day and fifteen on the following occasion. Included among the jumpers are the Southlanders Glenthorpe and Golden Rupee. The North Island owner, Mr Whitney, has Pall Mall, Rose Pink, and Roumania strongly engaged. The nominations for the leading races include: Snub, Fiery Cross, Sedd-el-Bahr, Oxen hope, King Star, Rose Pink, and Varnish. One of the most liberally named candidates is the Southland-bred gelding Minesweeper, whose name appears in the lists of sis events. The light harness contests, two in number, have filled well, the entries including those of two prospective New Zealand Trotting Cup performers, viz., Emilius and Evelyn. It has apparently been decided to relegate the square trotting mare, Muricata, to the stud, as the daughter of Mauritius has been booked to visit Ptereeta, who is a son of one of the greatest sires of unhoppled performers in the United States, in Peter the Great. The well-known jockey L. G. King has been called to the colours in the Tenth Ballot. Sir George Clifford has sold the five-year-old stallion, Flying Start, by San Francisco—Fketfoot, to the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, and he was shipped to Gisborne last week. He was a good racehorse and continued to run on and win races long after fie became badly affected in the wind. The popular opinion in Hastings is that the colours of the late Mr G. P. Donnelly will be taken over by his daughter, who will race the Demosthenes youngsters in her own name. The shapely mare, Tete-a-Tete, by Royal Fusilier —Gossip, one of the best sprinters in Maoriland of late years, has finished with the racing game, and is to be mated with Demosthenes. Her dam. Gossip, who also produced the great Bobrikoff to Finland, will join the harem of Demosthenes in company with her brilliant daughter. The eyes of many studm asters have followed the career of Demosthenes since he landed in this country, knowing that he was the first Desmond stallion imported to New Zealand, and it must now be said that he has proved himself a successful sire. Those who select early fancies in the market with a view to wagering on the New Zealand Cup will be interested to learn that reports from Trentham state that Menelans is very forward and can usually be relied on to beat anything he works with. It is considered probable that he will be Messrs Riddiford’s representative in the New Zealand Cup. Menelaus is a four-year-old brother to Nones and Lovesick, by Martian —Lovelorn. The plough track on the Southland R.C.’s property has been in consistent use during the past few days, and trainers are commencing to liven up their charges in earnest. It is reported that the Wanganui District Committee has summoned two owner-irain-ers to provide some information regarding the training of their horses. It is understood that the licenses of D. P. Wilson (trainer) and A. H. Wilson (jockey) have been granted by the Dunedin Jockey Club with a “caution” attached. It is anticipated that one of Mr G. D. Greenwood’s two-year-olds, in the Austra-lian-bred Gloaming, by The Wilkin —Light, will develop into a money-winner. The Wilkin, an imported English stallion, has sired a number of smart two-year-olds and clever sprinters of a more matured age in Australia. Despite inclement weather interfering with the whole of the meetings conducted by the Auckland Trotting Club last season, the surprisingly Huge gross profit of £2OOO has to be announced for the terra referred to. His three consecutive victories at Trentham and Riccarton were worth £1750 to Master Strowan in stake money. Of the £2OO which is to be added to the stake disbursed at the Gore Racing Club's Spring meeting, £SO is to be allotted to the four trotting races —two class and two open events. MARTON RACES. (Per United Press Association.) MARTON, September 5. There was a record attendance at the Marton Spring meeting. The totalisator returns amounted to £22,184, as compared with £17,765. Results: — Hack Hurdles. —6 Matlock, 1; 4 Colorado, 2; 1 Siruton 3. Trial Plate. —2 Rude, 1; 6 Signorello, 2; 2 Coolpan (coupled with the winner). Hock Steeplechase.-—8 Coalition, 1; 1 Bodenbam, 2; 3 Pawerewere, 3. Marton Handicap.—4 Iceberg, 1; 3 Lady Louisa, 2; 7 Crawford, 3. Rangitikci Steeplechase.—l Master Strowan, 1; 3 Knrapai, 2 j 6 Collector, 3.

Electric Hack.—ll Valadio, 1; 2 Impediment, 2; 3 Silver Tongue, 3. Railway Handicap.—l Elocution, 1; 3 Centre, 2; 11 Hushabye, 3. Tutaeuui Welter.—B Golden March and 15 Sleepy Jack dead heat, 3 Woodlark, 3. LADIES’ HOCKEY. THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. COLLEGIATE WIN THE SHIELD. The final match in the Invercargill Ladies’ Hockey Competition was played at Winton yesterday between the local girls and the Collegiate XI. Strong contingents of “barrackers” for both sides journeyed out from town. Almost from the bully the Winton girls assumed the offensive and the horizon clouded for Collegiate supporters. The defence was sure, however, and gradually the town team assumed the command upon which, in the second spell, they realised to the extent of two goals. Winton did not score. The result of this game secures the shield for Collegiate (last year’s champions), but this team has yet to meet the premier Eastern District team (ex-Gore High School) for the championship of Southland and possession of the Dey Cup, at present held jointly by the Collegiate and Gore High School clubs. The match for the provincial championship will be played in Gore. HOCKEY CONTESTS, (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 5. At the Basin Reserve to-day the first match was played in the series of interprovincial hockey contests promoted by the Wellington Ladies’ Association in aid of the Sports Christmas Gift Fund. It was between Wairarapa and Manawatu, and resulted in a very easy victory for Manawatu by ten goals to niL