RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1276, 15 March 1918, Page 3

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. March 10—Ohincmnri .T.C. Annual. March IG—Westport J.C. Annual. March 18—Opunake R.C. Annual. March 20 and 21—RnnRitikci lI.C. Annual. March 20 and 21—Southland R.C. Autumn, ISO and April I—Auckland R.C. Autumn. March 30 and April I—Riverton R.C. Autumn. April 1 and 2—Canterbury J.C. Autumn. April 1 and 2—Feilding J.C. Autumn. April I—Waipukurau J.C. Autumn. April I—Beaumont J.C. Autumn. NOMINATIONS. March 13 —Canterbury J.C. Autumn. March 20—Manawatu R.C. Autumn. April 3—South Canterbury J,C. Autumn. April 20—Marlborough R.C. Autumn. TROTTING FIXTURES. March 30— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Easter. April I—Waimate Plains T.C. Annual. April 13—Auckland T.C. Autumn. NOMINATIONS. March 28 —Auckland T.C. Autumn. March 28—Otahuhu T.C. Autumn. March 30 Manawatu T.C. Annual. April 17—New Brighton T.C. Autumn. turf Topics. Though the lack of special trains affected the attendance at the Waimate Racing Club’s meeting yesterday, it ,was a most enjoyable gathering. In most of the events good-sized fields lined up at the barrier, and, taken all round, the racing was of more than ordinary interest. There were only four competitors for the Waimate Cup, all of whom came in for solid support, with Killard in the position of favourite. Kilbroney’s son quite justified his selection by scoring in decisive style. There was sufficient merit in his performance to bring hifti into prominence for the Great Autumn Handicap, even with the 51b penalty incurred by bis success. Killard is trained by G. Matthews, who will shortly bring the gelding and Punka to Eiccarton. Brambletye ran one of her consistent races in getting second place, but the same can hardly be said of Comely and Spangle. Golden Prince scored a long overdue win in the Studholme Stakes, and rewarded those who stuck to him with a surprising dividend. To some extent he was lucky to defeat Mortham, who got knocked right back in the early stages of the contest. Later in the afternoon Mortham made amends for his failure by appropriating the P isident's Handicap from a strong order in the Wingatui-trained Kilboyne. This time the luck was all in the winner’s favour, as only for losing several lengths at the start the favourite would probably have prevailed. The biggest field of the day was seen out in the Trial Plate, amongst the competitors being several promising sorts. One of these, in Zephland, by Finland from Zephyr, showed a fine turn of speed in the early stages, and once in front never gave the opposition a chance. He is a full brother to Finless, who last season won four races in succession. All Pink, who, on Motukarara form, was elected favourite, gave her backers a poor run for their money, as, in company with Mystery Maid, she was left at the post. Weight of southern money was sufficient to send Linden out favourite for the Waitangi Hack Handicap, while, Bellrock also had a strong following. The former quite justified the confidence reposed in him, for, coming with a fine effort in the straight, he just got up in time to defeat Red Rover and Golden Prince, who had made most of the running. There was considerable bumping during the race, as a result of which P. C. Porter, the rider of Thestius, was cautioned for interference with Bellrock. The Stewards' Weltef was an unsatisfactory contest, as All Ready, the favourite, and Te Anau were left standing when the barrier went up. Though faced with an impossible task, All Ready’s jockey set sail after the field, and made up so much ground as to suggest that under ordinary circumstances victory would have come his way. As it was, Kilrush, Micky Free, and Matty fought out a great finish, the trio being in that order as the post was passed, only necks separating them. Marco Bello, who was making Ids reappearance after a lengthy absence from the tracks, broke down when racing prominently, and it is doubtful if he will be persevered with. It is understood that the position of secretary to the Auckland Racing Club, rendered vacant by the death of Mr J. F. Hartlaud, has been accepted by Mr W. S. Spence. Owners are given a final reminder that acceptances, general entries, and forfeits in connection with the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting close at 9 o’clock this evening. The Southland Racing Club receives acceptances fer its Autumn Meeting up till this evening. •Legacy, who won the Morven Trot at Waimate yesterday, is a four-year-old half-brother to Bribery and Bequest, trained by R. Logan.- With half the distance gone, he put in a very bad break, and Ids subsequent effort in cutting down those out in front stamps him as likely to take much higher honours. Colenut, the favourite, spoilt his chance at the start, and it was left to a pair of useful three-year-olds in Tatsy Dillon and Lunsdale to chase Legacy homo. On this showing neither'Colenut nor Lunsdale can have much chance of success in the Champion Stakes at the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club’s ingA rank outsider in Armature created consternation in the ranks of the many who had piled their money on General Bon in the Hook Trot, by defeating the favourite after a great struggle down the straight. No sooner had the horses passed tlie post than Armature’s rider was informed that he was out of court as a result of starting before his time. Apparently this was not recognised by the gelding’s backers, who, on seeing General Boa’s numbers hoisted by the judge, gave expression to their feelings in no uncertain style. Armature owed his win entirely ito the two lengths’ advantage he got at the start, and it would have been very hard luck for General Ben’s connections had the fact not been 'noticed. This marked General Bon’s first success, and in casting the mile behind in 2inin 27 2-ssec he put up a fine effort. Unfortunately, like his sire Bonification, ho is decidedly wanting in stamina. The pacing mare Gold Queen, who recently joined H. Fox’s team, lias been put into work again, with a view to racing at some of the autumn meetings. Since competing at the. Marlborough meeting, Bideus has been kept in steady work, but she will not be sent north for the Waimate Plains meeting. Handicaps for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Meeting will bo declared on Monday next. There will be racing at Westport and Ohinemuri to-morrow. The track at Tauhercnlkau must have been exceptionally fast yesterday, as two local records were established. These were put up by Red Ribbon in the Wairarapa Cup and by Torfreda in the Nursery Handicap. The winning double, Chimera and Red Ribbon, was backed down to a very short price at the Wairarapa Meeting yesterday, while both horses were supported with the utmost confidence on the machine. Probably the fact of

Deeley having the mount on both accouned for their extreme favouritism. When Parisian Diamond and Bradamante dead-heated in the Mangaimoana Handicap at Wairarapa yesterday, the former paid a very short price. Bradamante, on the other hand, rewarded his supporters Avith a double figure price. As a result of her win in the Wairarapa Cup yesterday, Red Ribbon will have to put up a 51b penalty in the A.R.C. Great Easter Handicap. Even with 8.5 In the saddle she should race well in the big Ellorslie event. Had Menelaus succeeded in the Wairarapa Cup yesterday, and so incurred a penalty for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, he would not ha\ r e been brought down for the Riccarton Meeting. Seadowu’s trainer has experienced considerable difficulty in getting a competent horseman to ride the gelding in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap. This leaves a probability of seeing Seadown at Riccarton next month. The well-known horseman B. Deeley has been greatly in the limelight lately, both in the matter of riding winners and striking trouble. At Napier Park last week the stewards expressed dissatisfaction with his handling of Sweet Corn, and yesterday at Wairarapa he was fined £2O for breaking an engagement to ride Miss de Val in the Cup. The latter incident is to be reported to the Auckland District Committee. As a result of her four efforts in Australia, Desert Gold has secured £IBOO towards the good cause to which her winnings are to be derated. The New Zealander will make her first appearance at Randwick on the 30th inst., on which date the A.J.C. Autumn Meeting opens. She is engaged in the Autumn Stakes, one mile and a-half, and may be opposed by Thana, Wallace Isinglass, The Fortune Hunter, Lauius, Llngle, and others. The Fortune Hunter and Lingle ran first and second in the race twelve months ago, and the former came out and won the Sydney Cup. On the second day of the meeting Desert Gold and Cetigne may meet in the AllAged Stakes, a mile race. Whitefield, who defeated Cetigne in this event last Easter, is down to compete. Desert Gold has also been entered for the Cumberland Plate, two miles, in which event Thana, Wallace Isinglass, The Fortune Hunter, and others have been engaged. Desert Gold’s name also f%>pears among the entries for the A.J.C. Plate, three miles, run on the concluding day of the meeting. TEMPLAR.