RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 762, 20 July 1916, Page 5

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. July 27 Brnckenfleld Hunt. August 15, t", and 19—C.J.C. Grand National. Angus! 2,'!—Panncvirke R.C. "Steeplechase. August 31—North Turunaki Hunt Steeplechase. ACCEPTANCES. July 22—Brnckcntleld Hunt. July 28—C.J.C. Grand National. August It— C.3.C. Grand National. August l(>—l)annnvirl«' P..C. Steeplechase. August 2fi North Turunaki Hunt Steeplechase. TROTTING FIXTURES. August 12, 16, and IB N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.. August. ACCEPTANCES. August B—N.Z. Metropolitan TO. August TURF TOPICS. The Westland owner-trainer, J. Stewart, has booked accommodation at Riccarton for two of bis charges for the Grand National meeting. The Charlemagne 11. gelding Charley, who was injured while being shod some weeks ago, is once again in work at Riccarton. It is understood that J. Beale, who up to the present has been associated with gallopers, has taken out a license to ride trotters.

The English filly Fotheringay, by Earla Moe—iolharla, a member of R, Derrett's team, is now being given light tasks on the tracks at Riccarton. She is a wilful youngster and shows a dislike for the racing business.

Two of the yearlings sent down to Chokeborc Lodge this season, Christopher Sly and Onlooker, have been added to the list and will be spelled for some time.

The southern Grand Nation;)] Steeplechase candidate Heatherlea is getting through a lot of useful work at Riccarton and it will not be lack of racing condition that will bring about the Levin-bred gelding's defeat.

The All Red colt Red Knight, who has been under W. IT. Thompson's charge for some time is another that has recently been gelded and turned out.

Very little work was undertaken at Riccarton this morning, most of the trainers and horsemen taking a holiday trip to Washdyke for the South Canterbury Hunt Meeting today.

Whatever opinion may be held as to the handicaps issued for the two jumping events at the Grand National Meeting there can be no question as to the open nature of the Winter Cup. At least a dozen of the competitors appear to have excellent prospects, so much so, in fact, that it would be a difficult matter at present to nominate a favourite. Such an excellent performer as Rorke's Drift has proved himself to be under welter imposts could not have well got off at less than 11.9. To successfully undertake such a contract a horse must possess both brilliancy and stamina of no mean order. Rorke's Drift lacks nothing in the latter respect, but with 11.9 in the saddle there is just a doubt as to whether he will be smart enough out of the barrier to get a good position in the early stages. Ko'oya showed such excellent form at Trentham last week as to make her prospects under 11.3 read favourably. It is only 91b more than she won the Fleet Handicap under, with the same journey to travel. Still, on that particular showing George and Sedd-el-Rahr are bound to be upsides with the Signalman mare. Multifual is another thai on Wellington form is bound to run prominently. He is a rare weight-carrier, and, with the services of B. Deeley in the saddle, will lack nothing in the matter of horsemanship. Flying Start always runs his best races at Riccarton, and he is considerately treated at 10.12. An opinion prevails that Seadown is likely to show much improvement on his Trentham form, and Mr Henrys has made the Downshire gelding no concession for his poor showing in the W.R.C. Stewards' Handicap. Bisognc, who was one of the early favourites, has already been withdrawn, as also another pair of fancied candidates in Rcvalcnta and Lady Black. The distance will trouble Hydros, but the better of the Poi'irua pair, George and Gold Soull, can be depended on to put up a good race. There is nothing particularly attractive about the prospects of Goldenlyte or Meltchikoff, but Ringform's showings at Wellington stamp him as a greatly improved horse, who handles himself well in heavy going. Glenroy would be more at home over a shorter journey, while Battle Eve's recent showings leave him with little chance of success even under such a favourable impost as 10.0. Should Sedd-el-Bahr be lucky al the start hejs sure to play a prominent part i?i the finish, while al 9.2 Sir Agnes is not badly placed. Amongst the lighl-weighl division are several with rather promising form to their credit. Of their number Cherry Blossom, San Sebastian, and Olara may prove the best. Altogether it is a handicap that has set followers of form a rare puzzle, um\ should draw an excellent acceptance. The special war lax payable by the Wellington Racing Club on lasl week's meeting amounted to £2730 1.")/-, in addition lo the racing club tax, which totalled £3033 10/-.

The highest weight ever carried to victory in the Winter Cup was 10.12, which impost Vladimir and Kremlin bore successfully. Only on two other occasions have horses carrying over 10.0 been successful. Horses carrying the minimum weight have won more often than any others. No fewer than 20 are in this year with the minimum weight. All the starters for the r'ootscray Steeplechase at the V.R.C. meeting, except Ungala, fell, and there was no second or third. As the rule now stands, second and third money is retained by the club.

Rendrock, who put up such a fine

race for the V.R.G Grand National Steeplechase, was trained and ridden by amateurs. Mr E. Manifold, who owns Coradjill, is a member of the V.R.C. Committee, and has been a constant patron of jumpers for over 20 years. With bis brother, Mr J. C. Manifold, be won the Grand National Steeples previously with Mysore and Dungan.

Referring to Zuland's success at the Warwick Farm meeting, a Sydney writer says:—"There is every prospect of a numerous contingent coming to Sydney this spring from New Zealand. Already we have close upon a dozen horses from,there and if Zuland is a fair specimen the handicappcrs must not take liberties with them. Zuland is a light-fleshed black gelding, who has several moderate performances to his credit at home. Since he came over he must have done remarkably well, as in a fairish field of 11 -for Ibis class he was made favourite, and it was no race. The Finland—Disappointment gelding won by three lengths, and could have won by more." Mr John Crozier, who recently died at the age of 72 years, was a prominent breeder and racehorse owner in the early days, and at one time was the proprietor of St. Albans Stud, in Victoria, which he sold to the late Mr W. R. Wilson. Mr Grozicr's colours were carried to victory in tbe Adelaide Cup in 1889 by The Lawyer, Vakeel (1893), and Gunga Din (1901), while the S.A.J.C. Derby was won by the last-named in 1899, and Vakeel was successful in the event seven years previously. He won the Adelaide City Handicap with Security in 1899, and the A.R.C. Birthday Cup with Hortensius in 1895. One of the first horses the late Mr Crozier raced in Victoria was Praetor, a son of The Premier, who won several provincial handicaps. Another good colt that he owned was Hamlet, who, however, raced in the name and colours of bis trainer, the late Phillip Dowling. Hamlet won, among other races, the V.R.C. and A.J.C. St. Leger Stakes, A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes, and Allaged Stakes, and who, as a two-year-old, had an unbeaten certificate. In recent years deceased acted as manager of Shipley Stud for Mr Sol Green. TEMPLAR.