TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 135, 14 July 1914, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

The light rainfall experienced overnight had little effect on the tracks at Riccarton, which were in first-class order for training operations this morning. The sand track, which was again most in evidence, provided first-class going, and some attractive gallops were registered on it. The inside of th® No. 6 trial grass was thrown open for two-year-olds only, and several of the 1 juveniles were given a sprint over a couple of furlongs. The track, although not fast enough for time making, provided good going. Thrax, Tannhauser, and Forest Belle were companions in a strong working gallop oyer seven furlongs on the sand this morning, the first three furlongs of the journey being traversed at a strong pace. The trio sprinted home over the last half mile, and finished up their task together. The Winter Cup candidates, Thrax and Tannhauser, seemed anxious to improve the pace. Chrysotis was going better than Skene Dhu at the end of a strongly run half mile on the sand. The former is looking in fine buckle just now, and is putting great heart into her work. Troon, alone,, strode over a round ojx, the sand track at a solid pace. The short spell she had has evidently proved very beneficial as the Glenapp mare has built up a lot and now strides out very freely in her daily tasks. Stevedore, and the rising three-year-old, First Flight, were companions over a short journey on the sand this morning. The pair raced together throughout, finishing up their tasks on terms, neither being fully extended. The former has been striding along in convincing style in his work of late, and is looking muscular and well. Briar Patch "was going better than Hops at the end of a half a mile run on the sand. The Treadmill mare is losing the tucked up appearance she usually carries. Sunbeam and Slogan strode over six furlongs on the sand, Andrea joining the pair over, the last half mile. The trio raced home together. Sunbeam was a trifle sore before working, but pulled up apparently little the worse for his gallop. . Rescued withM'Seveney m the saddle was given a round over five flights of the schooling hurdles at headquarters this morning. His jumping thrdfeghout was all that could be desired. Kilmeny (Douglas) with Mescal (Coker) as a companion gave one of his usual finished exhibitions of jumping over five flights of hurdles this morning. The pair raced together oyer the first couple of fences, after which the former drew away and had little difficulty in defeating his companion by about three lengths: The latter gave a very fair exhibition of jumping, but was blowing hard when the end of the journev was reached. Silver Blaze (Emerson) and Farley Grove (Wormald) were associated in a round over the steeplechase fences. Commencing at the brush in front of the stand, the pair made a good jump, and raced on to the double. After clearing the first of this, Farley Grove s rider broke a stirrup leather, but the mare managed to scramble over the second fence, and was then pulled up and took no further part in the proceedings. Silver Blaze gave one of his usual fine exhibitions of fencing, his jumping throughout being a treat to witness. Daylight Bill witli Coker in the saddle was given a round over the big fences this morning. Commencing well down the straight, the brush in front ot the stand was the first obstacle encountered, and this he cleared without an effort. Going on he treated the double, sod-wall, post and rail, and brush fence in a like manner. The grey gelding strode along freely throughout and his effort was in every way a highly satisfactory one. Ripston Pippin has been showing signs of soreness in his work during the past few days, and his chances of standing a severe preparation do not appear too bright. ... A start will be made to-morrow with the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting, when the Wellington Steeplechase, Winter Hurdles, and Parliamentary Handicap will be decided. Though Paritutu claims no engagements on the first day of the Wellington Meeting, he figures in the JulySteeplechase on Saturday, and will probably be started in that event. Word is to hand from Wanganui that Goodwin Park has broken down and is unlikely ever to race again. Had he kept sound the Sylvia Park gelding would have been one of the most tancied candidates for the Grand National Hurdles, and the Fordell stable will now have to rely on Leonta in that event. The latter was shaping fairly well in his schooling lessons until a few days ago, when he rapped some of the hurdles rather hard, and, as a consequence, was very sore for a few days. It is expected that he will be all right again in a day or two. Multiform and his son Cuneiform were both represented by winners at the Moorefield races on July 4. The former's daughter Royal Time accounted for the Meorefield Handicap, while Kirkee by Cuneiform from Jig had a narrow victory over Ouragus and My Palm in the Juvenile Handicap. Labour Day's owner, Mr T. H. Lowry, is very doubtful if his New Zealand Cup representative will see the post in that event, as she is unsound. F. M 'Cabe, who returned from his unsuccessful trip to Australia, on Sunday, will have the mount on Peary in the Wellington Steeplechase, and he will also pilot Cheddar in the Vittoria Hurdles. Track watchers at Trentham speak very favourably of Royal Arms as a hurdler. In a gallop with Julian a few mornings ago, he fenced much the better of the pair, and was a lot too good ,f or his companion on the flat. As the result of his fall in the Napier Park Steeplechase, Exotic still carries a scar on the injured leg which is also much swollen. Apparently the damaged member does not affect his galloping, for he has been hitting out in great style on the tracks at Trentham. After doing a gallop at Trentham a few mornings ago Bluestone seemed to be favouring his off foreleg, but the soreness soon wore off again. A cable message from Melbourne says that in the Australian Hurdle Race, Clontaft has been awarded top-weight, with 12st 31b, while Wiinmera has been allotted list 51b, Conn the Shaughraun 9st 111b, and Mere 9st 71b. In the Australian Steeplechase, Clontaft is topweight with 12st 31b, while Paymaster has list lib, and Whakarewarewa 9st 111b.

On the Friday night prior to the'commencement of the V.R.C. Grand National meeting £7O worth of V.R.C. race books were stolen from the ven* dor's office. A small boy is supposed to have been the culprit as the aperture in the door would not admit anyone larger. M. Edward's team of trotters at the Denver Stock Farm at Windsor has-been increased by the addition of the nlare Lady Lila and two or three maiden horses from Queensland. Edwards has decided to remain at Windsor until October, when he and Mr Ray Geddes will visit New Zealand and compete at the Cup meeting at Christchurch in November. On the opening day of the v.R.O. Grand-National Meeting the high-priced Soult—Lady Hester colt, Grand Marshall, put down a big field in the Iramoo Welter. The New Zealander is trained by A. Skirving and races in £he colours of Mr S. A. Rawdon. - I

Referring to Clontaft's varied career a writer in* the Sydney "Referee" says:—The son of Godwin was bred by Mr W. Counihan, near Bairnsdale, Gippsland, and when about a week old he followed his dam from Orbost • to Bairnsdale on foot, a distance of 60 miles! No wonder he ha§ turned out a. stayer. As a two-year-old he was precocious, for he sired three foals out of halfbred mares. A few months later he got tangled up in a barbed-wire fence, and was so badly "damaged" that his life was despaired of. On his recovery it was found necessary to geld •him. When running about the paddock as a three-year-old Glontaft was ripped about the legs so badly by a board that it was thought he would never be any good for racing purposes. So after he had got the better of his injuries his owner and breeder gave him to a friend to' use as a hack, but as he wag slower than apy cab horse around Bairnsdale he was returned as useless even for that purpose. But his owner persevered with him, and eventually the gelding improved so much that his, present owner gave £SOO for him. As Glontaft has now won five races in succession (including the two hurdles at Randwick in April), he has repaid the initial outlay many times over.

Mr J. M'Mahon, for many years an A.J.C. stipendiary steward, and now similarly employed in New Zealand, has returned to Australia for a couple of months' holiday, says "Pilot" in <the "Referee." Mr M'Mahon has a lot to say in praise of New Zealand and its sportsmen, and laughs at the suggestion of dubious practices being as common over there as many people would have us believe. I have an Mea M/ M'Mahon has found that, as in Sydney, many Dominion punters discover a "dead 'un" in nearly every beaten horse they happen to back, and in consequence often make a great outcry about nothirig. Mr M'Mahon does not think the horses ai present racing in the Dominion as quite up to our form, and gives the palm to Autumnus as the best he has seen there during his stay. Unfortunately Autumnus has not trained on. Respecting appointments, Mr M'Mahon regards New Zealand racecourses generally as far ahead of those in New South Wales, with the exception of Randwick. CLONTAFrs" VICTORY. ■ For the first time since Marmont won in 1903 a favourite was successful in the latest contest for the Y.R.C. Grand National Hurdles. The winner, Clontaft, was second favourite last year, when he only carried 9.7, but failed to run anywhere. Since then he has improved so greatly that though he had Ist 111b more on this occasion, he was backed down to the position of favourite, and scored as he pleased, having' the race quite safe immediately after the straight was entered. Though he Only equalled Wingarara's time record for the race of 5.47, it was obvious he could have lowered it if anything had been capable of extending him at the finish.. It is rather unusual, says a Sydney writer, for a horse, after winning steeplechases, to develop top form as a hurdler, but such has been the case with Clontaft. He was successful in a hurdle race at a country meeting in Victoria, but his first victories over jumps in Melbourne were in steeplechases: —one at Sandown Park and the qther at Aspendale Park. At the commencement of this year Clontaft was bought by Mr A. Matheson for something like £4OO and a contingency associated with his first win. It is stated he was purchased on the advice of Mr E. A. Connolly, who was a good winner over the Godwin gelding at Randtoick in April,, and no doubt benefited considerably by his latest success. Strangely enough, it was Mr Connolly's own horse, Lord Grey, that followed Clontaft home, and when the grey improves in his jumping he will be very hard to beat in any long-distance hurdle race, as he stays really well. Despite their good track work, both Arquebuse and Obi cut up badly. It is said the latter was kicked at the start, and twisted a plate in the race, but the manner of his defeat does not suggest he would have gone near winning even if he had escaped all Beccassine did well for nearly two and a half miles, and it was the same with Sir Prim, but both tired. However, as the former is only a four aiid the latter a three-year-old, both should be seen to greater advantage later on. Neither Flash Jack nor Wisconsin gave any trouble, but Dust Cloud, &n Orzil gelding, ran a fair race. Clontaft is by Godwin (son of imported Tostig, who died recently) from Coogee, by Glorious from Mangana, by Talk o' the Hill.

RACING AT TRENTHAM. TO-MORROW'S PROSPECTS. More than usual interest is being taken in the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting, which starts to-morrow, from the fact that most of the prominent Grand National candidates will be seen out in the principal events. No less then 19 stand their ground in the Wellington Steeplechase, and it ia quite likely that at least 15 will go to the post. The two topweights, Peary and The Spaniard are both sure to have a strong following, and they can be depended on to run prominently. Should the former meet with no mishaps his fine turn of pace on the flat will give him a decided pull over most of his opponents, though The Spaniard is the more reliable fencer. On Wanganui form Bercola looks to have slightly the better of it with The Spaniard, Sir Lethe, Te Whetu, and Sportsman, and he should certainly be in the fighting line at the finish. A victory for Antarctic would come as a surprise for the veteran has only done the lightest of preparations, and before reaching Trentham he had not faced a jump this season. Jackman has not been seen in public since he won the Wanganui Steeplechase, but he is reported to be in good racing trim. Exotic and Captain Jack are both reliable jumpers, though somewhat deficient in pace. The distance will settle Sir Lethe's prospects, and Tim Doolan has hardly done enough work to be at his best. The Auckland representative, Ruffy, is evidently on the im-

proves and on his showings at' Bllerslie last month he is bound to play a prominent part in the finish. Amongst the light weights Kauroa' seems ttr have the beat credentials.

There is the makings of. a spirited contest in the Winter Hurdles, for which ; Admiral Soult promises to start favour- ; ite. That he will run prominently, a - i mits of no doubt, for Ins jumping has ! improved considerably since he raced at j Ellerslie, and there is no question as : to his pace on the flat. He should- at ; least hold all those that figure above hita : in the handicap safe, but amongst tho light-weights he will have a very dan* gerous opponent in Royal Arms, wb» is credited with being one of the most promising novices seen out this season* TEMPLAR.