TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 867, 20 November 1916, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "R.A.S.—Cherubini was never beaten on the Auckland course. After his lack of form at Biecarton Seadown has been having an easy time of it, and there is not much chance of his being sent to Auckland. Mr W. G. Stead holds a particularly strong hand in the A.R.C. Bailway Handicap with Sasanof, Cheloma, Sweet Corn, Shrill and Cold Painting. Since returning to Trentham Devotion has been causing her trainer a lot of trouble, and there is little chance of her sporting silk again for some time. It is supposed that she ricked her back while doing a working gallop. An overnight cable message from Sydney mentions that owing to the death of their owner, Mr Carlisle Studholme, Silent Way and New York will be disposed of privately. The yearlings purchased by Mr B. Acton Adams at the Christchurch sales have arrived at Porirua, says a Wellington writer. They are a Sarto Chinook colt, a Birkenhead— Hoopoe colt, and a Birkenhead—■ Caller Ou colt. The trio will be gelded shortly, and will be put into the paddock until February next. The Sarto youngster is on the small side, but be is all quality. Hoopoe's son is well grown, and should come early. Another arrival at Porirua is a full-brother to Crowhurst. He is very like his relative in colour, shape, and markings.

Those owners who have horses engaged at the Forbury Park Trotting Club's spring meeting should not overlook the fact that acceptances close at 9 o'clock this evening. That the standing start system, which was practically on its trial at the Metropolitan meeting, did not impress officials of other clubs, is evidenced by the fact that the New Brighton Trotting Club has determined to adhere to the old style of handicapping and starting. Rumour has it that Ihe Canterbury Park Trotting Club, also, will not make any change in its handicapping and starling system. Trainer 11. Gaskill intends taking several of Mr Kilchingham's horses to Weslland at Christmas time for the Greymoulh and Westport meetings.

The opening day's racing at Ota-j huhu on Saturday was full of in- I forest, and easily distanced any of j its predecessors in point of totalisa- I toi turnover. A. Fleming produced Lucille and.Madam Shaw, winning a race with each, but whereas the former paid a double figure dividend, the American mare was backed down to extravagant: odds on. In most of her past essays Lucille has shown little liking for a two mile! course, but in Saturday's contest it was only in the las' furlong that she j headed Strategy, the favourite. This! marked her first success since she won a mile event at Mull Valley just I on two years ago. It also registered her initial win over a two mile journey. Madam Shaw, who was particularly well handicapped, made a runaway ''ace of the Campbell Handicap, and no doubt she could have knocked .several seconds off the 'l.-10 recorded had there been anything in the Held capable of extending her. Prince Child, who accounted for the Mangere Handicap, is by Rothschild from that smart mare Princess Ena, who raced in Canterbury before being taken to Auckland by Mr R. A. Shepherd. One of the most improved horses seen out at the meeting was Dorothy Dimple the six-year-old daughter of Papanui and Lady Lyllian. The latter will be remembered as a grey mare raced in Canterbury a decade ago by Mr .las. Pellie, for whom she won several good stakes. In tier first essay on Saturday Dorothy Dimple had little difficulty in holding the lead throughout, winning comfortably in 3.11. Though penalised 21 yards in the Electric Handicap, she was again successful, rewarding her supporters with a handsome dividend on this occasion. The best finish of the afternoon was that fought out by Victor G. and Silver Black in the Tramway Handicap, the judge being unable to separate the pair as I hey passed the post. The next light harness meeting in Canterbury will he thai of the New Brighton Trolling Club, entries for which ''lose on Wednesday evening. Several programme alterations have been made which should add lo the attractiveness of the fixture. Lack of support in the past no doubt influenced the executive in replacing the Free All on the second day by a handicap event known as the New Brighton Handicap, of 'IOO sovs, open lo horses that can do 4min Klsec or better. In some quarters the cessation of the Free for All will be re-

garded as a retrograde step, but owners have only themselves lo blame for its disappearance. As a spectacle il was seldom a success, and must have cos! tlie club a 10l of money. For many years I he Mew Brighton Club lias had a three mile race on its summer programme, but this season Hi!- so-called eontesl for slayers lias been cul out, ils place being taken by a mile and a-quarler event. There is litlle lo sustain f!u: interest in races al more than two miles, and any horse that can go that jour-

ncy at the speed now required to win can lay every claim to stamina. All the mile races have nice stakes attached to them, and altogether the programme is one that does its trainers every credit. Since the declaration of weights lor the Auckland Cup there has been a marked disposition to favour the prospects of El Gallo for that event. Last season the Spalpeen gelding put up an excellent race under 21b less weight than he is now asked to carry, and his performances in the interim have been of a creditable nature. After winning the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase it was reported that El Gallo was to be reserved for the Auckland Cup, in which he is leniently enough treated at G. 13. Others that have come in for early support are Snub and Mullingar, both of whom raced so well in the New Zealand Cup as to favour their prospects, while Blackall and John Barleycorn are in ecpialIv good demand. As one of the place fillers in last year's contest the former, with only lib more to carry, reads particularly well. During his recent visit to Christchurch Mr "C. Machell" made an offer to his trainer, W. McDonald, to transfer his headquarters to Ellerslie. The proposed change did not appeal to McDonald who is always assured of a good team of horses, but it will result in Mcltchikoff going to Auckland. On at least two occasions the V.rr.C. handicapper went higher than 11.0 in commencing the weights for Melbourne Cup. In 1863 Archer (who had won with 10.2) was allotted 11.4, while in 1809 The Barb had 11.7 placed opposite his name, and so enamoured were many racing men of The Barb that they believed in his ability to carry even that heavy load'successfully if he had been submitted to the test. Such freak weights have not been awarded since, but in 1891 Carbine was allotted 10.12, or 71b more than he handled successfully a year before. TEMPLAB.