TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 115, 20 June 1914, Page 11

TURF TOPICS.

The adverse climatic conditions prevailing had the effect of suspending training operations at Riccarton this morning. Only one trainer ventured out in the storm, and even he made a hurried retreat homewards after casting an eye over the half submerged tracks.

The middle of the course is at present in a very sloppy and uneven state, and the ruts are becoming fairby deep, so that, trotting and cantering exercise over this'portion of the course is quite out of the question. Martius, a three-year-old son of Martian and Starihot, and the Finland colt Findhbrn, have been taken in hand; again by R. Derrett. The'former, vvho was gelded a couple of months back, has furnished up a lot, and is looking lusty and well. The latter is a big upstanding colt, and he has thickened out considerably.'. He is a good mover, and should not fail to win races" during the coming season. -Both" horses are -at present being exercised .round the roads.

Another member of J.' M'Combe's ■' team,' tie bjrbwn mare Parable,, is due . to,"arrive i at headquarters' during the eoming she, is to be schooled oyer hiirdies. Parable has been a use : ' ful f peffpfnier, oir'the ifat," and if she takes kindly to' the lepping business . should not fail to earn her oats in that •■" Qjiite, a ,jiuihb % er .. of,, locally-trained horses.-have had their attention turned

to the jumping business at Ifcecarton "„•during th'e, ; past" few weeks. *. Although there is nothing to enthuse.about, in the - efforts, of .the latest recruits, one can never tell to what extent they may iihas the biggest; duffers at the commencement ofteir turn out. useful performers. ' " -. ",,''.. The Martian—-White_ Shield gelding Martial is a big upstanding sort, .and his jumping during week has been of a satisfactory order, his last attempt being especially, .encouraging. He ; is, to:be,a bit but with'; careful handling and a )>it of •tim.e 1 should earn distinction^a"s a.fencer; '.■ ;V. ; .OwJaetorb,-.*also - a beginneiy -is '-a . powerfullyrbuilt customer, just -the. sort to make a hurdler. He has so far only been schooled : once,, and oh that "occasion got tangled up.in a hurdle and :>-cirt one of his hindvlegs slightly. At . present he is laid up for repairs. • The Terrapin—Bejeet gelding, brother .;. to that useful little performer . Gold, • Pin, is fast coming into shape and ' inv ; proving in his "fencing."" ~He is very ': careful and takes no risks.

Wee Donald, a big raking chestnut gelding, should not fail to jump. He has to date only had a couple of goes at the battens. He is a very light-fleshed horse, and gives one the impression of being--a delicate feeder. ;-■■■■-

The chestnut mare Corrie is a very Bafe fencer, and has got through a good deal of .schooling. She may turn out useful, but National Hurdle honours are likely, to come her way. She may win', races -where the opposition is not too strong. Opuka is another that has been taken in hand by a locaKtrainer. He is a useful sort of hunter and a safe jumper, but;- like a" lot more of this class of horse, he is not overburdened with pace, a qualification that, is very joeeessaryto have a reasonable chance, of success against the class of horses in the jumping profession at the present time. - • The annual general meeting of the N;Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club will be held at 2.30 p.m. on July 1. The Canterbury Park Trotting Club does likewise on July 2, and the New Brighton Trotting Club on July 3,'

4 . Mr Greenwood's horses for the A.J.C. Spring Meeting arrived at Sydney safely '-• arid aTe now. located at Rand wick under R. J. Mason's charge. ' " :".'.in'cWde<i on the '■■ programme-, of the North Canterbury Jockey 151 ub 's Meet' ing, to be held ]at ffeangiora on July 11,; are two well endowed trotting events. Formby has freely engaged in ' the hurdle events:'at the AVellington Racing Club's Meeting, but he can have Kttle chance of .being at his best. '" At i the Te Mahanga thoroughbred sale the yearling Jfilly by San Fran from Fairy tJoId excited keen competition amongst. '„ would-be buyers, and eventually fell to the bid of Mr R. Gooseman at 270gs, Shortly afterwards her biother was submitted - and changed. Bands at 10gs. Two notable absentees from the list of entries received for the Wellington Racing Club's^Meeting are Mr Ruther-

ford's pair Daylight ; Bill and Sunbeam. Their omission indicates that they are to reserve their energies for the C.J.C. August Meeting. ' The lately defunct' Merman won the

Ascot Gold Cup in 1900, and it is a strange coincide nee that his death should occur within a day of the fourteenth

anniversary of his success-in the Ascot raeel ' *

The generous programme issued by the Wellington Racing. Club for its. Winter Meeting las met with a hearty response from owners. Both the big crosscountry events have filled beyond expectations and the entrants are a thoroughly representative lot of the Dominion's jumping brigade. The hurdle races and flat events have also filled particularly well so that there seems every prospect of the Empire City club being in for a record Winter Meeting. Aleppo's vietory in the Gold Cup under 9.4 stamps him as being one of the best long-distance horses at present racing in England. ,Last month the son of Beppd won the Chester Cup, after which achievement he was made favourite for last Thursday's race. A clearing sale of Te Mahanga thoroughbreds was held at Hastings, but though every lot was disposed of, prices were disappointing. Highest price was obtained for the brood mare Fairy Gold, who became Mr R. Gooseman 's property at 300gs. The stallion San Fran, who is getting on in years, only realised 90gs, at which figure he should prove a rare bargain. Other high-priced lots were: — b g by San Fran—Carnelian, lOOgs; Maude, with foal at foot by Achilles, 160gs; Carnelian, 105g8; and Ikaroa, 140gh.

. At its four meetings held during the preseitf season the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club made a profit of £11,039. -The Waimate Hunt Club was unfortunate in., the weather experienced for Us point |o point steeplechase on Thurs-

day, but nevertheless a large concourse of hunting enthusiasts turned out to witness the sport. In the heavy-weight contest Mr H. C. Bennett's kauri had a comfortable win from Meliboeus, but the the latter was disqualified for running inside a flag, second prize going to Ferryman. Mr D. W. Westenra's Selwyn was too good for the eleven that oposed him in the light-weight division, but only five of the competitors managed to complete the course without mishap. The Farmers' Race fell to Messrs Bell Bros.' Platinum, who was followed home by Major Wain's pair, Conqueror and Black Lady. During the present season the N.Z. Metropolitan , Trotting Club gave away £16,665 in stakes, while its receipts from the totalisator amounted to £25,981 and from nominations and acceptances to £4899.

A Press Association message from Hastings says that it was Wilson, rider of Sir Donald in the Whakatu Hurdles, at the Hawke's Bay Meeting, and not Marchant, rider of Parewanui, as telegraphed, who was so badly injured when that horse fell on Wednesday. The N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club is in the fortunate position of having no liabilities, and assets valued at £30,242. There was quite a chapter of accidents at the Richmond (Vic.) trotting meeting on the 9th inst. In the second race, says an exchange, Brazil B. stumbled and, colliding with Black Forest's sulky, fell. The latter's driver was also tipped out of his sulky and dragged some distance along the track. Bob Riley had to be pulled up to avoid the bolting pair, who were speedily recaptured. Before the start for the fourth race Tired Tim swerved into Marvin's Heir,'and demolished the wheels of the latter's sulky; Soon after the 32 horses had been despatched in the fifth race May S. bolted and kicked her rider out of the "sulky, which was also smashed. The bolting mare dashed right through the large.strung-out field, and seriously interfered with the chanees of several of the competitors. ; Immediately she overhauled the leader, the clerk of the coiirse raced," alongside the galloping mare, and, grasping the promptly cheeked her mad career and piloted her out of harm's way.