TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 10

TURF TOPICS.

The weather was beautifully fine at Bicearton this morning, but training operations were decidedly dull. Most of the horses that raced at the Easter mee ig are now only jogging on the track. Gay I .ad was out doing steady exorcise. The son of Cellini now shows tittle effect from being galloped on in the Easter Handicap. B. Emerson is getting Moorabbe, Fabivo and The Sapper ready for the South Canterbury, meeting. The Sapper galloped this morning, but was not asked to do his best. After the South Canterbury meeting Moorabbe will most likely compete at the Oamaru fixture. Jeannot ran six furlongs in Imin 19 l-3*ee, having St. Cletus to assist. The hurdler moved freely. Wardancer was sent a mile with a light weight up, but it was merely a working gallop. All going well with him, the Martian gelding will be sent to the Dunedin meeting. F. D. Jones leaves for the north this evening with Euripos and Bore. The pair ran a mile this morning in Imin 47 l-3sec, finishing together. W. Hibberd intends taking Braid and Hands Off to the South Canterbury meeting. Hands Off ran on a couple of occasions as a two-year-old, and was afterwards operated upon. The only horse to go at all fast this morning was Post Haste, who ran four furlongs in 50 lose". The Bicearton track in the early morning somewhat resembles a kindergarten, nearly every trainer having one or more rising two-year-olds pottering about. The two-year-olds Nautvillc and Warlore, who collided whilst exercising on the track some time hack, were given their first sprint this morning, when they ran three furlongs together. Warlove, who is a half-sister, by Sanquhar, to Warstep, is a neat filly, but small. A chestnut hunter by Coronet is one of T. H. Gillett’s team lieing got ready for the jumping season. At the Greymouth meeting horses trained by T. H. Gillett almost seored as “abundance declare.” The stable was represented in six races and won five times. During the Christmas holidays at the Coast meetings Gillett won either 15 or 17 races, so that he has no reason to regret his trips. A big contingent of Bicearton horses was shipped aboard the Mararoa last evening to fulfil engagements at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. The list included Almoner, Melee, Roval Heathercote, Night raider. Miss Mimic, Lionskin, Punka, Some Kid and Glendower. The Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting will be concluded to morrow, when the leading attractions include the Autumn Handicap and Waitakarei Handicap. Maronne, winner of the Juvenile Handicap at Wairarapa yesterday, is a very promising filly by Martian from Intelligence. She claims engagement in the Picaket Nursery Handicap on the opening day of the Wellington meeting. Particularly fine acceptances have beer received for the Manawatu Racing ClcVs meeting, but the fields are likely to be reduced considerably as a result cf Trentham form. With Desert Gold and Sasanof engaged in the Awapuni Gold Cup, a battle royal can be confidently expected. Auckland authorities claim that the £14,025 invested on the St. George Handicap at the recent A.R.C. meeting establishes a fresh totalisator record for the Dominion. The Dunedin Jockey Club has received generous supj>ort from owners foy the steeplechase events at its Winter Meeting. Amongst the best known of the performers figuring in the list* are Crib, Diavoio, Kanpokonui, Morecambe, Nita, Styrax and Tirau. After a number of failures in Victoria, Impediment has at last struck form, but is racing with bad luck. Within a week she filled second place three times. In the St. Kilda Cup, a mile and three furlongs, and Moonce Valley Eight Hours Handicap she was beaten* by Kunegetis (Coolpan— Artemis). In the Geelong Cup, a mile •ml three furlongs. Impediment carried »A and was beaten by Luteplayer (Comedy King—Luteola). On each

I occasion E. Barker rode the horse that finished in front of Impediment. E, McDermott rode Letitia in her two wins at Eaikoura yesterday. She ; was barked down to a very short price i in the President's Handicap, but found I less favour than Imperial Fan for the Farewell Handicap. ' Wallace Junior spoilt his chance in ! the Ladies' Bracelet, at Kaikoura, by i anticipating his bell, which led to his being called off.

Rex Coronado looked a certain winner in the early stages of the Kaikoura Trotting Cup, but a bad break cost him a lot of ground. He is a very promising threc-year-ohl pacer by Van Coronado from a Burlington mare. The North Canterbury trainer, E. Redmond, was in good form at the Kaikoura T.C. meeting yesterday. He scored a very easy win ou Micky Marr in the Stewards' Handicap, and sub>equently just got Full Cry up in the Cup in time to make a dead heat with Rex Coronado. Backers sized up thj position very well in the Cup, for there were only four tickets difference in the totals recorded against the two deadheaters. The Oakhampton representative, Craigielea, was made a staunch favourite for the Maiden Handicap at Kaikoura yesterday, but could only finish third. He met with some interference soon after the start, which may have affected the result. After being beaten in the Stewards' Handicap at Kaikoura. yesterday by Micky Marr, Blue Duck came out later in the afternoon and scored decisively in the County Handicap. Subsequently she made yet another appearance in the Allies' Purse, but could only finish third to Micky Marr and Black Witch. The winners at Kaikoura yesterday in Full Cry and Micky Marr claim engagements on the first day of the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting. TEMPLAR.