RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 963, 13 March 1917, Page 5

RACING AND TROTTING.

KACING FIXTURES. ' March 15—Waimate R.C. Annual. I March 15 and 16—Mnsterton R.C. Annual. j March 17—Westport .1.0. Autumn. , March 17—Opunakc R.C. Animal. March 17 and 19—Ohinemuri .T.C. Annual. | March 21 and 22—Rangitikei R.C. Annual. , March 21 and 22 -Core R.C. Summer. ' March 28 and 29—Southland R.C. Autumn, ACCLTTANCRB. \ March 10—Core R.C. Summer i March 16—Auckland R.C. Autumn. , March 10—Raugitikci H.C. Animal. 1 March 23—Cautcrburv J. C. (Great Easter , and Great Autumn Handicaps). March 24—Southland R.C. Autumn. J March 30—Wairarapa R.C. Autumn. March 30—Auckland R.C. Autumn. TROTTING FIXTURES. i April 9—Waimate Plains T.C. Annual, 1 April 7 and 11— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. , Easter. ACCEPTANCES. April 2—Waimate Plains T.C. Annual. I April 2 -N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Easter. April 13—Auckland T.C. Autumn. TURFTOPICS. M The dry weather has left Ihe ®Bracks at Riccarton very hard and Trainers are anxiously awaiting a good rainfall so that they can exercise their charges on ihe grass. This morning a good number of horses were seen out, but only a few of them were thoroughly extended. Practically all the work was got through on the plough. Hobbs had his team out fairly early, all looking in good heart. Kilboy and Sasanof were restricted lo three-quarter pace work, the other members being set even easier tasks. Marc Antony, who is coming on nicely, did a couple of rounds at a steady pace, brushing home over the last few furlongs with Red Pool. Varco's son is still on the big side, and Thomson will have all his work cut out to gel his charge ready for the Great Autumn Handicap. Bimeter showed his usual dash in sprinting four furlongs, and Biplane casl two rounds behind steadily, being exercised Ihe reverse way. Thames showed to much more advantage than Ribble in a solid gallop over five furlongs. Comely and Charley were companions in a sprinting task over half a mile, bolh shaping well. Kilmeedy and Kilrea left five furlongs behind nicely, while Donnata, was brushed over a few furlongs. Zuland and Matty were not asked to do their best in a serviceable gallop over four furlongs, and Bee's task was an easy circuit with a brush home over Ihe last five furlongs. There was lillle between Good Hope and Flying Start tit the end of a useful "five-furlong spin. Adjutant finished in front of Don Paciiico at the end of a five-furlong task, and Gamecock wound up strongly in his task over six furlongs. Tantalus went particularly well in a sprint over half-a-mile, while Fotheringay, Mavgerine and King Star were kept to easy tasks. Snub and Disdainful were associated in a useful gallop over live furlongs, neither being fully extended, and finishing on terms. Their stable companion, Wardancer, got through a serviceable sprinting task. Jeannot's portion was a strong once round, the pace being improved as the finishing post was neared. Samiscn cast three furlongs behind in her usual free style. A large contingent of Riccarton trained horses claiming engagements at the Waimate meeting, leave for the south to-morrow. The most debatable feature of the weights issued for the A.R.C. Easter Meeting is the treatment accorded the several good three-year-olds engaged in that event. The imposts Mr Morse has allotted them are as follow:—The Toff 8.12, Sasanof 8.11, Kilboy 8.10, Egypt 8.8, and Koesian 8.2. .lust how he arrives at his conclusion that The Toll' is the pick of the bunch is rather hard to follow. Sasanof and The Toff measured strides on three occasions at Ellerslie last summer, always at level weights. Their first meeting was in the Islington Plate, run over a mile, when Sasanof got the belter of the argument by three parts of a length. Subsequently they met in the Great Northern Derby, over a mile and ahalf, when the verdict was again in favour of Mr W. G. Stead's representative by the barest margin. These two performances certainly

left the honours in Sasanof's favour. When Ihev met in tlie mile and ahalf Auckland Plate The Toil' reversed his two former defeats, Ihe margin again being only a mailer of inches. Surely under the circumstances if either was entitled to a concession in the Easter Handicap it was The Toff, but neither owner could have complained if Mr Morse had placed both geldings on (he same mark. Killjoy's treatment must have been much more difficult to gauge. lie did not race al Ellerslic, and it is just a question if there was not qu' J ~- as much merit in his A.J.C. Do *#\ success as in that of Sasanof's Sfel-I bourne Cup. Evidently one Australian handicapper inclines to ihe opinion thai Kilboy is the superior of the pair, for in the Sydney Cup he Las placed II!) between ihem. Egypt look:; to have none the best of the argument in being placed within 41b and 31b of Ins Auckland conquerors, but his brilliancy out of the barrier may serve him in good Stead. Nor does Koesian seem too well placed al < 1 !.2, while there is always the doubt of his seeing out a solidly-run mile. If Plymouth is as proficient over country as is claimed for him, the Australian-bred gelding should have a rare chance in the A.11.C. Autumn name. Mr Stead's representative is also nicely treated in the Brighton Hurdles at 10.8. EI *Callo figures as lop-weight in the two big jumping events at the Auckland Racing (Hub's Autumn meeting. In both races he is called on to concede his nearest attendant Wiiimai just on a stone. According to n Press Association cablegram received from Sydney last evening, in the weights for the Doneasier Handicap the top-weight is Woorak 10.2. In the Sydney Cup the top-weight is Patrobas !).(», Kilboy 8.7, Sasanof 8.0, Pro Tern. 0.7, La Pcnna 0.7.

All the horses figuring in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap at over 9.0 appear lo be handicapped right up to their best form. Chortle has not raced up lo expectations this season, probably the result of the severe preparation he underwent for the Auckland Cup. He would need to be right at his best to prevail under 9.G, though that is lib less than he carried to victory in the same race 12 months ago. Hunting is hardly quick enough out of the barrier to have much chance in such a big field, and his recent form hardly entitled him to 9.5. Bee also is well looked after at a similar weight,; while Croesus can hardly he at hisj besl after such a lengthy retirement.! Lower down the list are several that should be capable of pulling up improved showings, notably Form Up, Colonel Soul!. Housewife, and Llanishen. The tracks at Wingatui are at present fairly busy with horses being got ready for the Otago country meetings. Amongst the besl-condi-i Honed candidates are: —John Bailey-1 corn, Rongahcrc, Marsa, Speedometer, Kilboyne, while Marco Bello is gradually regaining form. A notable absentee from the Great Autumn Handicap is the New Zealand Cup winner Ardenvhor. Martian's son demonstrated that he had had enough racing at the Dunedin meeting, and is at present enjoying a spell. While doing a strong gallop on the. Invercargill track a few mornings ago Rosa Chamberlain injured her stifle so severely that it has necessitated her being put in slings. Trainer Hogan, in whose charge Ihe mare is, is in hopes of saving her for breeding purposes, and as she is a beau-tifully-bred mare, with excellent track performances in the Old Country, it is sincerely hoped thai she will be saved.

Despite the large amount of racing he has done this season, John Barleycorn is standing up to the tasks set him at Wingatui really well. He can be regarded as an almost certain starter in the Waimate Cup, and promises to be one of the favourite selections for that event. Amongst the latest Southland owners to join the colours arc Messrs P. A. Price, J. R. Peck, and Eric Russell. They left for ihe North Island on Thursday last. The W.A.T.C. (Perth) has decided that in future all horses must wear breastplates in races. This is to lessen the possibility of accident through saddles slipping. The well-known Invercargill trainer, G. McLean, is confined to his bed. After a severe attack of pleurisy he contracted rheumatism badly, and it will be some time before he is about again. A man charged with burglary in London last mouth was noticed when in custody lo be wearing a necktie of the late King Edward's racing colours, and evidence was given that this was one of four made by his Majesty's order for presentation to celebrate the victory of Persimmon and was given to General Sir Arthur Paget, from whose bedroom it was presumably stolen. J. Bryce will probably take a small, team to the Southland Racing Club's meeting for the trotting events comprising Pleasant Moments, Two Bells, and Lord Minto. It will mark Bryce's first trip to Invercargill, though that is where his chief patron, Mr J. B. Thomson, resides. Zara quite spoilt her chance in the Otahuhu Trolling Cup by refusing to leave the mark on time and she was not persevered with. August Child was in front practically from start to finish, and though Harold Junior closed on him starting the last furlong the Blackcbild gelding was holding his own at the finish. At Ellerslie on Thursday two A.R.C. Autumn Steeplechase candidates in Waimai and Captain Lock were sent for a school over the big obstacles. The pair fenced well until the stone wall was reached, when Captain Loch look off too far, and, striking the obstacle with his chest, turned a complete somersault. Fortunately his rider (Standen) was thrown clear and escaped with a shaking, while the horse was also unhurt.

No action was taken by the Auck-j land District Committee at its meeting on Thursday regarding the application by 11. Goldfinch for his jockey's license. As the committee does not meet again for another month, unless a special meeting is held, Goldfinch will be unable to ride al the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting. Redfcrn is slated to have shown plenty of pace in the Essendon Stakes, but finished indifferently. A few days before Ihe Newmarket Handicap was decided Polycrates touched a very short price for that event. Then rumours were circulated that all was not well with the English horse, and he went rigid out of favour. The death is reported from Australia of Ncwliaven, one of the most brilliant horses of his lime. Newminsier's son was foaled so far back as 1893, and during She four seasons lie raced in the Commonwealth and England amassed £1!{,254 in slake money. As a two-year-old Newhaven won Ihe V.A.T.C. Nursery,| ] Maribyrnong Pink-, Gcelong Sires' Produce Stakes, Ascul Vale Si,ikes,! and A..1.C. Easter Slakes. Ai three! he wen the V.A.T.C.Balaclava Stakes, A..T.C. Spring Slakes, Craven Plate,l V.R.C. Derby, Melbourne Cup, Spring! Slakes, Champion Slakes, Loci'. Plate,l A.J.C. St. Lcger, and Plate. He was, taken to England as a four-year-old, and raced there by Sir William Cooper, and did well, running secOlid to Bay Ronald in the City and Suburban, conceding Bayardo's sire Mb, and was second to Ihe same ! horse in the Epsom Gold Cup, having | Winklield's Pride and his compatriot. Merman, behind him. He won the March Slakes, and ran third in the Ascot Gold Vase. As a livc-yeai -old he won the City and Suburban, March Slakes, Epsom Gold Cup, and was third in the Aseol Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. On Ihe conclusion of his lacing career in England he was sent back to Australia, consequent on being ineligible for entry 'in the English Stud Book. At the

skid he wns uol a success, bul owing lo his short pedigree the chances afforded him were not of the hest. TEMPLAR.