TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 584, 23 December 1915, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

That speedy mare Peronilla, who has been responsible for much attractive work at Biccarton receiatly/'' V; -will- : - not fulfil her engagements at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting. Her defection comes as something of a surprise, as she .appears to be quite sound.

During the holiday meetings Biccar-ton-trained horses will be racing at Auckland, Manawatu, Greymouth, Diinedin, Invercargill, and Oamartu Altogether quite 60 local horses will be away from headquarters, and as a result matters will be very quiet at Biccarton for the next fortnight.

Two notable omissions from the list of entries received for the Waterloo Plate at the Wellington meeting are Warstep and Desert Gold. No doubt the rather severe penalty conditions were responsible for their being left out.

Beports from the north credit Lady Jack with showing brilliant form in her training work at Ellerslie. On her own course she should be capable of keeping the best of the visiting two-year-olds busy in the Great Northern Foal Stakes. Maniaroa was railed through to Ellerslie on Monday, so all doubts as to his startrng in the Auckland Cup are now removed.

Though Chortle has not done a great amount of work since racing at Biccarton, he is reported to be galloping in great form at Woodville. He is being •ridden in his exercise by S. Beid, who will have the mount in the Manawatu Cup. Beid is also likely to ride Crcesus in the Flying Handicap. The Porirua trainer, J. H. Prosser, is taking Stepney, Martyress, Tango, Merry Dale, and Whanake to the Manawatu meeting. On the conclusion of that fixture they journey on to Marton. Mullingar was responsible for a very attractive gallop at Ellerslie a few mornings ago. With a fair weight in the saddle, he got to the end of a mile and a-quarter comfortably in 2min 18 sec, an achievement that equalled the

best gallops of Warstep and Reputation prior to the last Auckland Cup. One of M. Hobbs's juveniles, in the Kilbroney colt Kilkee, has had to be eased in his work, as the result of having struck himself.

The Wairarapa Racing Club receives acceptances for its Summer Meeting up till this evening. Merry Roe is still being worked over a short distance, and everything points to her being started in „the Railway Handicap, in preference to the Auckland Cup. The Now Zealand-bred El Bro (Soult —Momi) won three races at the recent Ballarat meeting. He is owned by Mr F. J. Mitchell, who also won the Cup with Hassadene, and incidentally more than half the stake money. The acceptances received for the Ash burton Trotting Club's Summer Meeting hardly come up to expectations. No doubt the many counter attractions on Boxing Day have had a good deal to do with the poor response, while the near approach of the more pretentious meeting at Canterbury Park has induced many owners to wait for that fixture. An acceptance of only 10 out of the 32 originally engaged in the Ashburton Trotting Handicap is disappointing. Most of the horses handicapped have been racing during the past few weeks, and their form was well exposed. This makes the defection of so many hard to understand, for it looks as if the handicapper had followed recent form very closely. With M. Edwards, J. Bryce, R. Franks, and R. Reay away at other meetings, the defection of their numerous charges was only to be expected, and this naturally had a prejudicial effect on the fields. Most of the minor events come out all right, and there is still plenty of material to provide an excellent day's racing.

The West Coast owned Makomako will contest the Auckland Cup, and then be hurried back south to take part in the chief events at the Greymouth Trotting Club's fixture. Should he be successful at Auckland, other arrangements may be made for the speedy son of Harold Dillon and Tui.

Amongst the visiting contingent that have arrived at Auckland for the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting are Makomako, John Dillon, Scenery, Jewel Chimes, Hal Zolock, and Lieutenant. Plash of Steel has a habit of putting his tongue out when racing, and, as this is believed to tell against him, a silk handkerchief was passed over his tongue and tied under his lower jaw when he was sent out for the Welter at Moorefield on December 11. The handkerchief was so fixed that, while it was almost impossible to slip, it effectually kept the horse's tongue in his mouth. Although some of the trainers present admitted they had never seen this done before, Hewitt, who rode Flash of Steel, said it was by no means an uncommon practice in England. There was a lot of interesting work got through at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning, in view of the A.B.C. Meeting. Warstep, who is now favourite for the Cup in Auckland, created a good impression by holding Snub at the end of a seven furlong gallop. Flying Start pleased track watchers better than San Sebastian over six furlongs, which was run in lmin 21sec. Wisebird took lmin 25sec over the same journey. Wishful and Halina moved nicely over six furlongs, the last four: taking lmin 6 4-ssee. r I

Mountain Dream and The Toff sprinted five furlongs. Mr Dalgety's Cup candidates, Warstep and Snub, the former with fully her Cup weight up, jumped off at the seven-furlong post, and, with the pace solid all the way, covered the seven furlongs in lmin 31sec, with Warstep holding her companion at the finish. The first furlong took 12sec, two furlongs 23 4-ssec, three furlongs 37 25sec, and the half-mile 50sec, and it was the best gallop registered so far this season. Eligible and Blackball were sent a working gallop of a mile and a-quarter, which they left behind in 2min 21 2-ssec, finishing together. The first furlong took 13sec, two furlongs 27 2-ssec, three furlongs 42 2-ssec, four furlongs 56sec, five furlongs lmin 9sec, six furlongs lmin 25sec; seven furlongs lmin 38 3-5 sec.

Lady Jack surprised the touts by sprinting five furlongs in lmin 4 3-ssec, having the assistance of General Joffre over the last part of the journey. Xanthos and Greenstreet spurted four furlongs in 52 l-ssec. Bimeter alono covered four furlongs in 52sec.

The Cup horses Sir Solo and Colonel Soult were companions over a mile and a-quarter, which they covered in 2min 17 2-ssec, the last round taking lmin 53sec, with Colonel Soult pleasing most. Self was a length in front of Castalia, and finished better at the end of a short mile and a-quarter, the last round taking lmin 56sec. Merry Eoe spurted four furlongs in 52sec, Marne bringing her home over the last couple. Mullingar and Jack Delaval were associated over a round, the Cup horse easily beating his companion, covering the journey in lmin 52 3.ssec, and ing well. After being spurted at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning, the horses Xanthos and Greenstreet were taken to the barrier, for starting practice, and when they lined up, the former charged the tapes, and his rider, an apprentice named F. H. Woods, in the employ of Mr E. J. Mason, was pulled off. The youngster hung on to the reins while on the ground, but the horse rearing, struck him on the forehead, inflicted a severe cut over the eye, rendering him unconscious. He was taken to the casualty room, and his injuries attended to, after which he was conveyed to the hospital, no serious results, however, being anticipated. TEMPLAR.