TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 862, 14 November 1916, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Inquirer, Christchureh. —As the A.J.C. Derby is open only to entire colts and fillies, Sasanof could not compete in that event. Another contingent of northern horses is due to take its departure to-night, and in a day or two the lliccarion tracks will be g'ven over entirely to local trainers. With so many important meetings coining off in the course of the next few weeks, fchc tracks will soon be busy again.

Should the weights be favourable, The Toff will be a starter in the Auckland Cup, but it is probable that the Great Northern Derby will be his especial mission at the A.R.C. meeting. As Mr W. G. Stead is returning to New Zealand next week, it is quite on the cards that Sasanof will form one of the field for the A.R.C. blue ribbon. A meeting between him and The Toff should give an excellent line as to the merits of New Zealand and Australian form. When at the post for the Metropolitan Handicap Marc Antony got n severe kick, which has necessitated a spell in his training work* <

Not a little of the credit attached to Sasanof's victory in the Melbourne Cup can be ascribed to the gelding's trainer, Murray Hobbs. When the Riccarton mentor left here late last autumn, he was accompanied by several of his own horses, and some of Messrs Studholme's and J. B. Reid's. In the early part of his campaign Hobbs won several minor events with his team, and on Mr W. G. Stead dispensing with Quinlivan's services he took charge of the Mawke's Bay sportsman's horses. Despite the fact that Kilboy had failed to pass a veterinary examination, Hobbs landed him at the post well enough to win the A.J.C. Derby, an accomplishment that, in view of subsequent happenings, deserves more than passing mention. Before he left New Zealand the Kilbroney colt had a suspicious tendon, and to this must be ascribed his disappointing displays subsequent to his Derby win, and his partial breakdown on the eve of the Melbourne Cup. With such a big stake at issue Hobbs must have had a very anxious time when his second Cup candidate, Sasanof, was threatened with a ■curb on the Wednesday preceding the big event. Fortunately the trouble was only of a passing nature, and the Martian gelding was landed at the post fit to run the race of his life. When Hobbs left New Zealand it was his intention to reside in Australia, but subsequent happenings may cause him to alter his arrangements. Kilboy was the sixth favourite in succession to let his backers down in the V.R.C. Derby. He was the worst horse in the race for the ring, while Wolaroi, the winner, was one of the best.

In describing his ride in the V.R.C. Derby, A. Wood, who had the mount on Wolaroi, stated that the colt galloped well all through. Despite the heavy going he pulled hard in the early stages of the contest. After being in second or third position from the start Wolaroi look charge a furlong from home, and, after being ridden hard for a few strides, won by a couple of lengths. Killboy's rider, F. Dempsey, took his defeat in sporting, spirit. He stated that he had a good position right through, but soon after the start 4'ealised that in the unsuitable going Kilboy would have to be kept going to have any chance. Dempsey worked hard on his mount all the way after the field had settled down, but soon knew that he had no chance of victory. Nominations for the Hororata Racing Club's annual meeting close to-morrow evening.

Quite the outstanding feature of the recent N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting, from a racing standpoint, was the success attending the stables presided over by Jas. Bryce, E. McDermott, and A. Pringlc. Altogether as trainers, riders or drivers those three accomplished horsemen accounted for 13 out of the 24 events, Bryce's total being G, Pringle's 4, and McDermott's 3. In the matter of placed performances also their records were equally remarkable. Bryce's establishment, apart from the half-dozen wins, had an equal number of seconds and 3 thirds, making a total of 15 placings. Pringle was associated with 7 placed performances, and McDermott six, so that between them the three mentors were responsible collectively for 28 placings, which works out at over one per race.

There was not a great deal of business transacted at yesterday's horse sale, conducted by Messrs 11. Matson and Co. Bidding was spirited for a handsome two-year-old filly by Harold Dillon from Violta, sent in by Mr Frank Vale, and she topped the sale at 111 gns. This half sister to Goal King looks like making good on the tracks, for she can already muster up a lot of speed. There should be some interesting racing at Winton to-morrow for the fields are of more than average strength both in point of size and quality. Gunrcst will have to be at his very best to cany 9.6 successfully in the Winton Cup and he will meet two very worthy opponents in Marsa and All Ready.

The Karamu hurdler Gladful broke down on Saturday morning, and is to he given a lengthy spell. Weights for the Auckland Cup are due on Friday next, and their appearance is being anxiously awaited by local trainers who have representatives in the Ellerslie race. A big proportion of the horses that contested the New Zealand Cup are eligible to compete in the northern event, notably Ardenvhor, Merry Roe, Multiply, Snub, John Barleycorn, Marc Antony, Mullingar, and Told.

The betting lax which was fixed recently by the Victorian State Parliament operated for the first time on the opening day of the V.R.C. meeting. Bookmakers were obliged to pay license fees based on the following scale:—V.R.C. grandstand enclosure, £SO; hill enclosure, £lf>; and flat, £5. In addition, they had to pay a stamp duly of 3d for every bet made in the grandstand enclosure, and Id for each bet made in the other portions of the Flcmington racecourse. It is estimated by one of the largest bookmakers in Victoria that the tax will have yielded about £30,000 for the Government when the present V.R.C. meeting has conch, led.

Amongst the acceptors for the chief event at the Otahuhu Trotting Club's meeting which starts on Saturday next arc:—Lucille 12yds bhd, Brown's Nugget 30yds bhd, and Mandercne 132 yds bhd. Madam Shaw has had her engagement continued in the Campbell Handicap as has Mandercne in the Tramway Handicap.

On Saturday afternoon a trial was made at Forbury Park of the WhiteDunne handicap starter, of which the inventor is Mr J. "White. The contrivance for sending the horses away, says the "Otago Daily Times," is a simple and apparently an effective one. At either side of the course are erected two light iron frames, very much the shape of the letter P, but having the loop somewhat flattened and turned to the other side of the upright line; and it is along this loop that the barrier flies from bottom to top immediately it is released. The two ends of the barrier are held down by clips, both of which are lifted simultaneously, and the barrier, acting under the influence of a powerful elastic spring, immediately rushes up the segments of a circle to the top. It is, of course, quite possible to place as many barriers across the course as may be desired. The tests made were entirely satisfactory, so far as the working of the apparatus was concerned, but it was naturally a strange experience for the horses to have the line flying upwards at the signal to "go." TEMPLAR.