RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 187, 12 September 1914, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING.

BAGING FIXTURES. September 16 and 19—Avondale J.C. Spring. September 24 and 25—Geraldine R.O. Spring, September 24 and 26—Wanganui J.C. Spring, September 28 and 29—Otaki Maori R.C, Spring. October 1-—Kurow J.C. Spring. October 3—Napier Park R.C. Spring. ACCEPTANCES. September 17—Geraldine BC. Spring. September 21—Wanganui J.C. Spring. September 21—Otaki Maori R.O. Spring. September 23—Kurow J.C. Spring. September 30- —Napier Park R.C. Spring. TROTTING FIXTURES. October 14 and 17—Auckland T.C. Spring. October 26 and 29—-Greyinouth TO. Spriag. October 26—Oamaru T.C. Annual.

ACCEPTANCES. October 20 —Greymouth .'T'.CK' Spring. October 21—Oamaru T.O. Annual.

TURF TOPICS.

Training operations were carried out under ideal conditions this morning. The No. 6 trial grass was thrown open for fast work, and the plough and tan tracks were also in commission, and provided capital going. Nightwatch and Quarantine strode over nine furlongs, galloping freely throughout. The pair finished up their task together. The former may be seen out at the Wanganui Spring fixture. The Golden Knight—Rangemarie filly and Court-Martial sprinted three furlongs in company. The former is improving fast, and may yet repay her connections for the trouble bestowed on her.

W. McDonald has recommissionod his old favourite, Gold Pin, who has been enjoying a lengthy respite. He has put on a lot of condition, and appears to be quite sound again. When Forest Belle fell in the Hurdle Race at Ashburton she gave herself a nasty shaking, and her trainer has decided to treat her to a few days' resfc Eaglestone (Shaw) was given a round over four flights of hurdles this morning. He gave a satisfactory display, although the pace was not fast. Warstep experienced little difficulty in disposing of Skene Dim over seven furlongs on the grass this morning. The daughter of Martian is in great heart at present, ami galloping in splendid style. R. O'Donnell was down from Yaldhurst with six members of his team this morning. Sauci and Bony Big together ran half a mile on the plough, the former having matters all his own way at the finish. The remaining members of the team were restricted to three furlong sprints. Tannhauser galloped freely over a round on the plough this morning. He should be in capital trim for Dunedin. In most respects the Spring Meeting of the Ashburton County Kaeing Club was entirely successful. The sport, especially on the first day, was decidedly above the average; the fields made up in size what they lacked in quality; the attendance was quite up to the standard, while the management was first class. Despite a falling off of £1357 in the totalisator receipts, the club will come out of its liabilities with a small profit, even though a substantial amount was given away in extra prize money.

The starting of Mr E. E. Harley at Ashburton was quite a feature of the meeting, most of his dispatches being smartly effected, and generally with the fields in excellent line.

Probably the most impressive performance registered at the Ashburton Meeting was First Flight's hollow victory in the Tinwald Handicap. In each of his essays last season the son of San Francisco and Fleetfoot showed most promising form, but generally managed to spoil his prospects by a re-

luetance to face the; barrier. , After racing in the Great Northern Foal Stakes he went wrong in one of his knees, which caused his retirement for the rest of the season. Should he keep sound the Chokebore three-year-old looks to have Derby prospects second to none, for there can be no question as to his brilliancy, and everything points to him developing stamina. Parable demonstrated that her first day victory was no fluke by making light of an extra 201b in the Second Hurdle Handicap at Ashburton yesterday, and winning more comfortably than in her first essay. Her jumping showed extra confidence, and at the finish., she had altogether too much pace for Kihgsway. Hatana, the favourite, was early in trouble, while Canterbury was made too much use of in the early stages. On his first day's form Lion was made a staunch favourite for the /Fairfield Hack Handicap yesterday, but though he was well placed all through he could not make the least impression on Charlotte when it came to the final struggle. Marvelite ran another genuine race, but Purseform niever flattered his backers, as the result of being badly interfered with when racing round the top turn. • Ciynelish and Scotch Melody earied the bulk of the investments in the Coldstream Welter yesterday, and they justified anticipations by finishing first and second. The Soult colt, who looked quite in a class by himself, was in front all the way, but had Scotch Melody been better placed in the earlier stages she would certainly have been troublesome. As it was she got knocked back last at the end of a furlong, and then had to come on the outside of her field. John Bunyan and Wharfinger both ran fairly well, but Moulu again failed to put any heart into his j work. j

Margarita was easily the best of the poor lot that contested the Maiden Hack Scurry yesterday, and she was backed as if the result was beyond doubt. Getting smartly to work the favourite was in front all the way, and though she had to be bustled along at the finish, she scored comfortably from a rank outsider in Christmas Lily. Though there was not a great deal of merit in First Flight's victory yesterday in the Tinwald Handicap, for they were a poor, lot that constituted the opposition, the manner in which the colt finished up his task was .most impressive.,. After lying handy from the start he fairly romped away when asked for a final effort. The Derby colt is a very free galloper, and is sure, to come into favour for any classic event he may be started in. In getting second place Briar Patch ran a good race, for she was not too well placed at the top turn, while Hornbeam and Flower of the West, after being prominent in the early stages, both compounded badly. There was,some heavy speculating on the Farewell Handicap yesterday, and backers were again right on the mark for Query, who had a decided call in the betting, scored comfortably from Sea King and Chudic. The winner can muster up a lot of pace, but he is too unsound ever to stand thoroughly winding up. Query is trained by the well-known horseman, R. W. King, whose first success it marked, and he was the recipient of many complimentary remarks.

On the conclusion of the Fairfield 'Handicap yesterday the Judicial Committee investigated a complaint against A. Reed, the rider of Waitara, for interfering with Purseform. As a result Reed was fined £5 and was cautioned for careless riding. Though he was unable to undertake his duties of starter at the Ashburton Meeting, Mr Piper is confident that he will be well enough to officiate at Dunedin next month.

In consequence of the military camp being located at Canterbury Park, thereby interfering with training operations, the Metropolitan Trotting Club has given permission to trainers who usually work there to make use of the Addington track till the camp breaks up.

The form shown by Rose Dillon and F. E. Bells, who finished first and second in the Winchmore Trot yesterday, was so incompatible with their first day's efforts as to arouse general comment. The great improvement shown by F. E.

Bells was evidently well anticipated by the "heads," as the colt was backed down to an absurdly short-price, whereas on the first day he was one of the outsiders of the field. Unfortunately for his connections he encountered another who had made just as much improvement in Rose Dillon, and the pair had the issue to themselves. I understand that the trainer of Ottawa, who finished third, desired to lodge an objection against the first and second place fillers on the score of inconsistent running,'but he states the stewards would not entertain his protest. Win Soon, who figures as favourite for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, is getting 7 through a satisfactory preparation at Ashburton, and Pringle expects to have the speedy daughter of King Child at her very best by November.

Louie Drift does not mend her erratic behaviour at the post, and yesterday absolutely refused to take any part in the Winchmore Trot.

Despite his poor showing on the first day, F. E. Bells was backed . for the Winchmore Trot as if the result was beyond doubt. Evelyn was the only other supported with any confidence, but she spoilt her chance by dwelling on the mark. A little-fancied candidate in Eose Dillon was in front all the way, and won comfortably from F. E. Bells by ten lengths. The latetr did not begin too well, but even so his form, like that of the winner 's, showed a marked contrast to that shown on the first day, when 'neither ever threatened danger. Ottawa went well all through, and finished close up in third place, but the pace was too solid for the back-markers, who made up little, if of their handicaps. A private communication received in Auckland a few days ago states that Merrimax was heavily backed in the Jumpers' Flat Eace at the Kembla Grange meeting, but the New Zealander only managed to finish second. TEMPLAE.