TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 138, 17 July 1914, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

Any winners at Trenthanr'to-morrow claiming engagements in the three principal handicap events at the Grand National Meeting will incur penalties. To the Karamu stable belongs the honour of sheltering the top-weights for the three principal events at the Grand National Meeting, for which the handicaps have been declared. " Eoyal Arms was sore before contesting* the Winter Hurdles at Trentham, and, though leniently treated in the Final Hurdles did not accept for to-morrow's event. This does not augur too well for his Grand National Hurdles prospects. According to a cable message from Sydney, the Associated Racing Clubs have cancelled the licenses of all pony jockeys, owners, and trainers. The jockeys are talking of establishing an independent course. Though Veritas ran in the colours of Sir George Clifford on the first day of the Wellington Meeting, it was officially announced that he was racing in the ownership of Messrs Nichols and. Morton. The Racing Conference yesterday decided to raise the amount won by- a horse before being barred from the hack classes. to one race of £l5O or £4OO in the aggregate. This is a concession ihat will be greatly appreciated by small owners. A cable message from London' states that Redfinch won the Swaffham Welter Handicap at Newmarket in a jpanter. by four lengths. The horse had not won a race previously. The stewards immediately detained it and ordered V portion of the saliva to be taken for analysis. They added -that it was not intended to cast a slur on Edwin Martin, the trainer. The most important resolution 'passed by the Racing Conference yesterday was .one that makes it incumbent on .owners to undertake neither directly nor indirectly to make any wager with bookmakers in the events they have representatives in. Bert Rae, rider of Captain Jack in the Wellington Steeplechase, is a son of the well-known Auckland ownertrainer, who was years asjo associated with such prominent cross-country performers as Levanter and Orangeman: A few seasons back young Rae met with a railway accident while crossing from one horse box to another, and had to have a foot amputated. He informed "Sir Lancelot" that Captain Jack-was such a great jumper and safe conveyance that one could ride him barebacked. „ Racing will be continued at Trentham to-morrow, when the most interesting items of the day's card will be the July Steeplechase and Final Hurdle Handicap. An acceptance of only nine out of the 29 horses handicapped for the former race is distinctly disappointing, and reflects more on the enterprise of the owners concerned than on the weight-adjuster's handiwork. Peary has been given a rare chance of retrieving his lost laurels, for he has been dropped 21b, and the shorter journey should be all in his' favour. If he cannot earn distinction to-mOrrow, his Grand National with an addition of 21b in the saddle, will not read at all favourable. Such a splendid jumper as Sir Lethe must always have achance, and Ruffy can be expected to do a lot better than in Wednesday's race. There has been a big weeding out also in the Final Hurdles, which has only drawn 14 acceptances out of the 30 handicapped. It seems to be generally conceded that Admiral Soult did not show his true form in Wednesday's contest, and he may do better oyer the shorter course to-morrow. Player has not been overweighted, and Glenorchy looks the most promising of the light-weights. Last Saturday's meeting of the Birchwood Hunt at South Hillend was attended by a couple of rather nasty accidents. After the runs to hounds a jumping competition over three flights of hurdles was held, and two of the competitors in Sunset and Master O'Brien came to grief. The former's rider, Mr J. Kirkr wood had his collarbone broken, while Master O'Brien rolled over his rider, Mr W. J. Cowrie, who was found to be suffering from an injured back and internal complications. The American stallion Billy Burke, 2.3£, is dead. He was by Silent Brook, and was sold in the United States to go to Russia in January, 1913, for £BOOO. Next to Croesus, 2.2|, he was the fastest stallion ever sold for export from America.

GRAND NATIONAL WEIGHTS. THE STEEPLECHASE ADJUSTMENTS. That old saying that weight makes less difference to a 'chaser than to a flat racer, has been borne out this season at all the northern steeplechase meetings. Whether the sequence will be continued at the Grand National Meeting remains to be seen, but Mr Henrys cannot be accused of taking much risk in the direction of favouring recent winners. There was little doubt but that Peary would be found in the place of honour in the National, but it comes as something of a surprise to find Bercola and Captain Jack on the same mark with him. When Peary and Captain Jack met at Ellerslie the former presented the latter with 101b and a bad beating. On Wednesday at Trentham, there was 171b between the pair, and the Aucklander defeated the Karamu representative with a lot in hand. Even so 171b is a substantial concession, and of the pair I prefer Peary's prospects. Bercola is set by Mr Henrys to meet Peary on 31b worse terms than when they both finished out of a place at Trentham, and he is only meeting Captain Jack on a stone better terms than in Wednesday's race. S The Spaniard has apparently gone off, and the same remark applies to Glenmore, whose prospects with Peary will be easier to gauge after to-morrow's racing. Of all the horses that competed in the Wellington Steeplechase Jackman seems the most leniently treated, for in that event he finished a good second to Captain Jack. Now Mr Henrys sets him to meet his recent conqueror on 131b better terms, while he is only called on to concede Peary 41b for a bad beating. On this showing Jaekman, who will be well suited to the Eiccarton country, looks to be well in amongst the topweights. I am very much afraid that Paritutu is now* a back number, and even so he does not seem to be treated with undue leniency. Exotic has been dropped 31b on his Wellington treatment, and it can be said in his favour that he Will not find the country beyond his capabilities. Nor will Sir Lethe, who is also on the lOst 101b mark

but he is badly treated on Wellington form, only receiving a concession of 21b from Jackman, especially as tire distance is a quarter of a mile further than in their last encounter. Little notice need be taken of Ruffy's failure in the Wellington Steeplechase, and he will probably show to much more advantage at Riccarton. The veteran Armagh is surely well past his best, while the journey will probably be too far for Tim Doolan and Silver Monarch. Should Kauroa come back to his best form he would have a rare" chance, but that he will ever do so is not suggested by any of his latest displays. As a recent winner The Chief is not badly treated, as he is a most reliable jumper, but if Waterworks repeats his form in the Great Northern Steeplechase he may be in the fighting line at the finish. Such an improving horse as Daylight Bill has been given a good chance with only 9st 71b against his name, and of all the lightweight division he should'be the best worth following. The other two big handicaps will be dealt with in future issues. TEMPLAR.