TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 788, 19 August 1916, Page 10

TURF TOPICS.

After a week of favourable weather a change set in yesterday morning and indications were anything but favourable for the concluding of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting. Fortunately matters turned out better than expected for it was not till late in the afternoon that the big crowd at Addington felt the effects of a light sou'-west rainfall. Despite the slight soaking it received the track turned out very well, as was evidenced by the high rate of speed maintained in most of the events. Altogether the meeting can be set down as quite the most successful ever held in Canterbury during tbe winter season. The racing generally was of a high standard, the class of competitors being decidedly above the usual collection, while the management would not have been excelled on any course in the Dominion. Speculation on each day showed an improvement, so that when the grand total came to be declared it was found to be £10,589 in advance of last vear's, the figures being £107,484 as against £9G,81>5. Most of the 10 competitors in the Midwinter Handicap had raced earlier at the meeting without earning distinction. Nor were their efforts better Tcwarded in this event for a fresh candidate in Commander Bell had the issue in safe keeping by the time half the journey had been compassed. Macwood and Bowbells both trotted right up to their best form in the early stages; indeed had] the former only gone steadily all ; through he might have been troublesome. Commander Bell is now trained by the southern mentor T. Annett, than whom there are few more cap-1 able men with straight-out trotters in the Dominion. Certainly he has effected a great improvement on the free striding daughter of Bellman, who for once went from start to fin-1

ish without the semblance of a mistake. It was a distanctly good performance for though the track must have been at least two seconds slow to the mile she slipped a couple of seconds off her handicap time. Treasure Seeker, the second favourite, never threatened danger, while Havana, Dubosc, Miss Salisbury, and Mokau all put themselves out of court by breaking in the early si ages. Only half-a-dozen of the original big list of entrants put in an appearance for the Federal Handicap, though why so many of them dropped out is hard to fathom. For a time itdooked as if Tamarisk would carry the bulk of the investments, but nearing closing time money poured in so freely for George McKinney as to establish the Oamaru representative a good favourite. For half the journey Tamarisk looked to hold favourable prospects so well was he pacing along in advance of his field. After being slow to get into his stride George McKinncy made haste to such good purpose as to have the result in safe keeping a long way from home. It was a brilliant performance on the winner's part, one that will entitle him to a place in the most select company. Tamarisk as usual did his best work in the early stages, but his concluding efforts were so feeble as to present Sungod with second money. This marked Sungod's fourth placed performance at the meeting, and he can well lay claim to being one of the most consistent horses that has raced in Canterbury, for many years. It was somewhat disappointing to find only seven acceptors for the National Cup, which carried the biggest slake of the meeting. No less than i,0G32 was invested on the race and to Erin's King, the favouirte, rested the honour of being entrusted more money than any other horse that sported silk all through National Week. In some respects it was a remarkable contest for at different stages at least three of the competitors looked almost certain winners. Erin's King did not do his work at all smoothly in the early stages, and with half the journey gone it looked doubtful if lie would even run ' into a place. By an exceptional efj fort Tommy C. worked his way to the front soon after entering the concluding round, and then it looked any ! odds on such a proved stayer remaining there to the finisji. Most i unexpectedly he faded out badly two furlongs from home, and then nothing appeared to have the slightest chance with Admiral Wood who had gathered up his field from I scratch in great style. Then, after

being apparently beaten, Erin's King came along with such a run as to bring him upsides with Brvce's representative at the distance. * A short struggle between the pair ended in favour of Erin's King who scored an exceedingly popular win by a length and a-half. Adelaide Direct and Evelyn were both pacing on strongly at the finish, while Tommv C., after being first half a mile from home, dropped back into last place. The winner's achievement was so meritorious, as to stamp him as one of the likely candidates for New Zealand Trotting! Cup honours. Though beaten, Admiral Wood ran a fair race, but he hardly put as much gameness into his final effort as did his conqueror. There was solid backing for most of the 11 competitors in the Canterbury Handicap, the most favoured pair being Agalhos and Matchlight. A very solid pace was set from the start by Capriccio and Harold Devon, so solid in fact as to prejudice (heir own chances when the final circuit had to be tackled. After always being in a handy position Malchlighl raced to the' front like a tradesman five furlongs from home, and outstaying Capriccio, scored decisively by four lengths. The winner has improved out of all knowledge during the past six months, and he should not be long in joining the most select circles. Quite the feature of the race was the phenomenal run put in by Bcllflower over the concluding stages. Pringle's representative could not fool it with the pacers for the first furlong, and made her task all the harder by a couple of mistakes. Under the circumstances her performance of gaining third place lakes rank as one of the best regis tered by any trotter at the meeting. There was a lot of money forthcoming for Woodehild's chance in '■he Addington Handicap, while the partisans of King Capitalist and Electrocute put their brass down in no half-hearted style. Backers of the favourite had a most disappointing experience, for the son of Rothschild lost most of his handicap at the start, and then showed such a great turn of speed for part of the journey as to fully justify his support. A !iit!e fancied candidate in Auckland tiirl got to the front at the end of ;> idle, and lasted long enough to defeat the faster finishing Electrocute by three lengths. Electrocute had none the best of the running, while n couple of mistakes further prejuliced what otherwise would have been an excellent chance. King Capitalist quite put himself out of court by bad behaviour, but Red

Heather, Paul Huon, and Flamingo each ran creditable races. The Australian-bred Sir Fulhani | showed such a rare burst of speed; in the early stages of the Islington I Handicap as to make his success seem'! assured. Pacing along at the head of affairs in great slyle, nothingj could get near him [ill within a fur-i long of the post. Then lie commenced to shorten his stride, evidently feeling the effects of his great; effort over the first quarter, in a particularly line finish Mako Mako, who had always been handy, worej the leader down, and, by sheer gamencss, just managed to head him in; the last few strides. Both these horses can be relied on to take still j higher honours, for they arc still : susceptible of considerable improve-! ment. Of the others Moneymaker,; Lindetta, and Moorland raced quite up to their best form. John Dillon had quite a host of i supporters for the Lightning Handicap, but Eccentric also came in for! solid backing. Partisans of the favourite had a very poor run for their j money, as he refused to leave the mark, practically taking no part in the contest. . Franzalcna looked to have winning prospects till within two furlongs from home, where Eccentric and Sherwood were making! great efforts to get on terms with her. With heads in line for home! Eccentric was out in front, but both 1 Sherwood and Frank Tracey passed: him at the outer stand, the latter' gaining a meritorious victory by half a length. Rcna Pointer gave the best! display of the unplaced division, but, like several of the others, found Ihe | pace 100 solid to sustain. An excellent afternoon's sport was brought to a conclusion with the Farewell Handicap, which attracted one of Ihe speediest fields of saddle horses ever got together on the course. After several of the limit horses had taken a hand at pacemaking Mintson ran to the front at the tanks, going in great style. Sticking to his task really well, the Papanui horse never gave anything else a chance, registering a comfortable] win. Red Mac and Frandocia were both putting in good work at the finish, but a well-backed candidate in St. Kevin refused to leave the mark. A cable message from Sydney announces that the steeplechaser Tim Doolan has left for New Zealand, j Mr Henrys will declare the weights for the New Zealand Cup on Monday next. Several North Island-owned horses returned home by last night's steamer, and each boat leaving next week will take a further consignment. The only horses submitted at Tattcrsall's yesterday to excite much interest were Recorder, Bon d'Or, Oxenhope, and Margerine. Neither of the first-named pair managed to change ownership, Recorder being passed in at 285gs, and Bon d'Or at 230gs. There was spirited competition for Oxenhope, who eventually fell to the bid of Mr J. Halligan at 500gs. As the speedy son of Obligado and Cyrenienne should still have several years of usefulness in front of him, his new owner may have no cause to regret his enterprise. Margerine made 365g5, one of her former owners in Mr Alex. Boyle outstaving Ihe opposition. TEMPLAR.