FACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 700, 9 May 1916, Page 5

FACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Way 1f» and 11—Kginonl B.C. Winter. May 17 and 18—Marlborough B.C. Autumn. Way 24 and 23—North Otago .1.0. Winter. Way r» and I>7 \\an«ani)i .!.('.. Winter. ACCEPTANCES. Way 12 -Marlborough 8.C.. Autumn. Way 12 -Auckland B.C. Winter. Way I.V -North Otago .1.0. Winter. Way 22- Otaki Maori .1.0. Winter, TROTTING FIXTURES. Way II and 1.1 I'oiliury T.O. Winter. Way 18 and 'JO New Brighton T.O. Autumn. June 1 and :t -Canterbury Park TO. Autumn ACCEPTANCES. Way 12 New Brighton T. 0. Autumn. Way 24—South Wairarapa T.C. Annual. Wa> '-'ii -Canterbury Park T.O. Autumn. TURF TOPICS.

The fact of I'll Gallo being selected lop-weight for the Great Northern Steeplechase suggests a decided lack of even moderate cross-country horses in the Dominion at the present lime. It is not often that the handicap for a big steeplechase is started at such a light impost at 11.5, and though practically a novice at the business, El Gallo has such good credentials on the Hat as to make it only a matter of jumping for him to have a rare chance. There is" no safer conveyance in the race than Captain Jack, 11.3, but with a stand up ii is dollars to doughnuts on El Gallo finishing in front of the veteran. Glcnmore comes under the same category as Captain Jack, while Tarero may be sent to Australia. Kgaloa, who won the big cross country event at Riccarlon last August, under !).!>, has gone up to 10.13. He is a good jumper, and should be quite capable of negotiating the Ellerslic country. Bercola, 10.13, is surely a spent light, but Spalperion 10.13 has fair credentials as a hurdler. Merrimax, who figures in both the Steeplechase and Hurdles, has recent winning form in Australia to recommend him. So far it has not been definitely decided as to whether he will be brought back for the meeting, or remain in Australia for the winter racing there. Naupata 10.10, and Hurikia 10.0, should he quite capable of getting over the country, but neither is overburdened •with pace. Jn the ranks of the light weights are several whose past efforts have been mostly confined to huidle racing. It is from this class thai the best horses in the past have usually graduated, and there is no reason why one or two good ones should not be unearthed from such as Vascular, Braeburn, Hopye, Waipunoa, Ranza Mist, and New York.

Tin- field tluil Mr Morse had to deal with in the Great Northern Hurdles is more numerous than select; in fact a less promising lot has seldom figured in the big Ellerslie event, it' in the mood Black Northern should not he troubled by 11.1, but it is a very big "if." Should Merrimax bo amongst the starters he can be relied on to run well under 1t.2. Naupata and Spalfish both have plenty of weight, and muchly to be preferred are the prospects of El Gallo 10.13 and Tragedy King 10.13. Both these horses can muster up plenty of pace on the fiat, indeed in this respect El Gallo,, also a proved jumper, looks to be the pick of the handicap. Harbour Light 10.12 and Haskayne 10.12 are by no means over-weighted, and Spalperion has fair credentials. Gladful showed such vast improvement at Hastings last week as to suggest him developing into a high-class hurdler, and he should be capable of accounting for all those below him in the handicap. The Hawkc's Bay trainer, A. Goodwin, leaves shortly for Australia with Morning, Sleight of Hand, and The Hound. Morning's special mission will be the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. It is quite probable that SavanofT will accompany Eligible to Australia in the spring. During the present season the Gisborne sportsman, Mr A. B. Williams, has won £4335 in stake money with Chortle, Multiply, and Multiplication.

A half brother to Mr G. L. Stead's Halina, named Bock Linster, by Rokeby, won a two-year-old handicap recently at the Queensland Turf Club's meeting. According to a Press Association message, the committee of the Hawkc's Bay Jockey Club appointed to consider the selection of a secretary in place of Mr W. J. Slratlon met yesterday, and after a lengthy silting decided lo postpone the appointment for a month. Each of the six visiting candidates, who include Mr 11. 11. Frascr, of Timaru, and Mr G. T. Grace, of Grcymoulh, was granted £lO for travelling expenses.

The line sum of £2(i!)s will he distributed ill slake money al the forthcoming meeting of the Canterbury Park Trolling Club, entries for which close 10-morrow evening. Two well-known trolling horses in Aladdin and Trojan changed hands recently. The former is now the properly of Mr Watson, and the latter will do his future racing in the interest of the West Coast sportsman, Mr H. Thompson. Malchlighl, who ran Iwo excellent races at the recent Gore meeting, is one of the most discussed candidates in connection with the big harness event on the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting.

A big contingent of locally-trained horses left by special train this morning to fulfil engagements at the Forbury Park Trotting Club's Meeting. Others were to be picked up al liukain, Ashburton, and Tiniaru. Cello Sydney Wilkes continues to improve, and dining the past week has been responsible for several useful work-outs al New Brighton. So far there is no sign of the trouble that laid him aside last month making its reappearance.

The course proper at New Brighton was opened this morning for horses engaged at the forthcoming meeting, and was largely used. Amongst tjie teams seen out were representatives from M. Edwards, J.

Mcsservey, T. Frost, ami A. Wilson's stables, the majority of whom were hurried along. Ii is ;i remarkable coincidence that the two trotting events at the Ashburton Meeting last week were both [appropriated by grey horses. Louie Drift and Hedvic, the respective winners, were (he only ones of their colour engaged. A Press message from Auckland announces the scratching at 9.30 this morning of Spallish for all engagements at the Auckland.Racing Club's Winter Meeting. Tete-al-Tete and Marco Hello have finished their racing for the present season, and have both been turned out at their owner's place, Okawa, till next spring. A good judge who was present at the Hawke's Bay Meeting gives it as his opinion that the riding in the hurdle events there was of a verypoor description. Two of the jockeys in particular gave such wretched displays as to suggest their being thoroughly incompetent or inexperienced. The Hawke's Bay sportsman, Mr 'l'. 11. Lowry, recently lost a very promising two-year-old filly by Demosthenes from All's Well. When playing about in a paddock the juvenile became frightened, and galloped head on into a tree, smashing her skull. TEMPLAR.