TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 47, 1 April 1914, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

This morning being an off morning, nothing of more importance than half to three-quarter pace work was accomplished at Riccarton.

Reverse work on all the tracks at Riccarton has been abandoned until after the autumn meeting. The following hordes were given useful pacing this morning:—Clierubini, Emperador, Historiette, Rencontre, Fastradj, Camulus, Valhalla, Canute, Autumnus, Masterpiece, Warstep, Rinaldo, Flora M 'Donald, First Glance, Peg, Chudic, Stardancer, Flower of the West, Silver Shield, Lady Marcia, Charmilla, Angeline, Honesty, Bold Stroke, Court Martial, Marsa, Don Francisco, Goldseeker, Con the Shaughraun, Daylight Bill, Sunbeam, Kilmeny, Sveaborg, Scotch Melody, Chrysotis, Moddite, Snowraker, Free, Sir Hamilton, Wise Bird, Cortes, Firegod, Atheldana, Skein Dhu, Finhorn, Merry Guqst, St. Helen, Bee, Signprile, Thrax, ViceAdmiral, Glenfinnan, Joan, The Cornet, Coroniform, Judith, Owhetoro, Frangrauni, Vanna, Forest Belle, Miss Kolmar, Lady Query, Andrea, Bonne Bouche, Slogan, Vanquish, Hops, Taskmaster, Troon, Teviotdale, Glenowl, Briar Patch, Gnome, Fabrikoff, and Eaglestone. F. P. Claridge has Mumura looking bigger than for a considerable time. The veteran has been wording in a paddock at his trainer's place in Fendalton, and the change has apparently agreed with him. This morning he was given a round on the plough track at Riccarton, and appears to have thrown off the soreness that has been troubling him. Should he train on he may yet pick up a stake before the season closes. C. Emerson left for the north last night en route for Masterton to fulfil riding engagements.

Flora M'Donald has been the cause of a considerable amount of worry to her trainer, H. Thomson, and it is understood it is a matter of speculation as to whether she will stand a severe preparation. The leg that has been the cause of the trouble is again filling badly, the inflammation travelling upwards under the knee, and as she shows signs of soreness after her work the prospects of her standing do not appear too bright. This is to be regretted, for the best has not been seen of the daughter of Boniform and Lady Loehiel.

As the result of ihe good form he has been showing on the tracks, Masterpiece is now one of the most fancied candidates for the C.J.C. Great Autumn Handicap. J. Bryee has a big team of horses in work at the Addington track, and all of them look really well. Two of their number, in Jenny Lind and Kalgoorlie, are being worked in saddle by R. Reay. Acceptances for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting fall due on Wednesday next.

Word is*to hand from Melbourne that Sister Radius got slightly hurt while rolling in her box at Though the injury she sustained was not of a serious nature, it is bound to prejudice her A.J.C. prospects. White Plume, who went amiss on the eve of the Wanganui meeting, is again in work, and will sport silk at the Feilding meeting. If her form there is encouraging she will probably be taken to Australia. In the handicaps declared by Mr Brinkman for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting, Hazelfield should read Mayfield in the Introductory Handicap, and El Carbine 12sec, should have appeared in the Autumn Handicap. In consequence of their victories at the Rangitikei meeting, Papamarama, Ratana, and Orleans have each incurred a penalty of 71b for their engagements at Masterton to-morrow. Recent advices from Sydney state that Wallalo is now first favourite for the Sydney Cup, with Sinapis at a point longer odds.

Amongst the New Zealand sires who will be represented at the Randwick yearling sales are King Rufus (5), Sarto (13), All Red (1), and All Black W" ■ , According to information received from Randwick none of the Sydney horsemen are able to control NorthEast, and he bolts almost every morning. At the recent Kembla Grange meeting he bolted with W. Black, when carrying 12.5, and even ,then only got beaten on the post. TEMPLAR.

THE ROSEHILL CUP DISASTER. The Sydney "Referee" describes the accident in the Eosehill Cup as follows: —Saturday's meeting at Rosehill didrnot pass over without a mishap, no less than eight horses falling in the Rosehill Cup. There were twenty-five starters, and the race was cleanly run until nearing the half-mile, where Gracelle, who had done the early pacemaking, but was dropping back, blundered and fell. Then horse after horse came down, until there were eight jockeys on the ground, and, naturally, it was feared that most, hud sustained serious injuries. With the exception of Olive Green, all the fallen horses quickly regained their legs and galloped back to the weighing yard, riderless. The ambulance was immediately on the spot, but, fortunately, was only required for three of the riders—W. H. Smith (Aurofodina), F. Foley (Gracelle), and A. Callinan (Olive Green). Of the trio Smith fared worst, as in addition to being badly cut about, he had several ribs on his right side fractured, some in two places, while they were practically driven in, tearing his right lung and lacerating his liver. Foley sustained slight concussion, while Callinan was cut about the face and badly bruised about the body, but neither rider had any bones broken, and they are now practically all right. The other riders whose mounts fell, were:— ■ W. Black (Limelight), C. Emerson (North East), J. Townsend (Crown Grant), N. Russell (Master Paul), and N. Fox (Danum). It was simply marvellous that more of the riders and horses escaped injury, and the mishap was reminiscent of the Trial Stakes at the same track on March 20, 1909, when

twelve of the twenty-nine starters fell, and the prominent jockey, T. Clayton, was so severely injured that he died a few days later.