SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11756, 21 July 1916, Page 5

SPORTING GOSSIP.

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FIXTURES. July Q7—Brackenfield Hunt. Aujfuat 15. 17 14— Uauteioury Jqgfcey CluD.

The Sonth Canterbury Hunt, Club held its first totalisator meeting on the Washdyko course yesterday under pleasant conditions The club lias conducted meetings regularly roi many years, without the aid of the machine, but they were of a very modest character, appealing chiefly to hunting enthusiasts end their friends. The alteration in the law, which made a number of totalisator permits available tor hunt clubs, provided an opportunity tor a fixture on more extended lines, and the gathering held this week was a complete success in eveiy way. A good programme had been arranged, including three steeplechases, a hurdle race and a hunters' race on the flat, or five events in all open to horses for wtiose encouragement tho hunt clubs were given totalisator recognition. A six furlong hack handicap snd a mile and a half trot provided variety ot a popular nature, both these events attracting large fields. r ho feature of the meeting, however, was the support accorded tho jumping events, _ the steeplechases attracting fields of eight, five and eight respectively, while there were ten starters in the hurdle race. Apart from numl ers, these events proved very interesting, the jumping in the steeplechases being first-class, while the contests were full of excitement. Tho meeting was well nm, the various officials getting through their duties smartly and commendable punctuality was observed in carrying out the programme. Mr H. K. Fraser had the secretarial part of the business wel' in baud, but he is an experienced officer in this respect. Mr H. Lowry noted as starter and got through bis work'in a highly capable manner, his dispatches being uniformly good, while tfiero was very little delay. Mr C. N. Orbell was judg. a position he has filled at the club's fixtures for many years. His decisions were announced promptly tind only one of them was questioned. This was in the trotting event, when Bridgewood and Marvis fought out second position: The horses were wide apart, Marvis being close under tho judge's box, with Bridgewood in the centro of thecour&e. The judge decided m favour of Bridgewood, but a largo number of the spectators considered that Marvis was entitled to the verdict. The .opinion prevailed ' that tho judge had .overlooked the horso finishing under- the box. The club is to be congratulated on the success of tho meeting, which promises to grow in popularity with owners and the public.

The three cross-country events provided plenty of interest. In the Tallyho Steeplechase, Wellwood and Rolling Tide fought out a great battle over most of tho journey, tho others bemg unable to go the pace with them, and it was only over the last furlong that WeUwood asserted himself. Later m the day, under n 101b penalty, he ran another fine raco, staying on well to beat Mawson and Fairy Finn. Wellwood, by Castashore, is a good cut of a hunter, a great jumper, and he stays well. He is now owned by Mr W. B. Clarkson for whom he may raco with credit in hunters' events at Riccarton next month. Rolling Tide, also by Castashoro, is another useful sort, who may see a better day. Mawson and Fairy Finn both ran well in the Hunt Club Cup. With a Uttle hick Mawson might have beaten Wellwood. When ha first arrived at Riccarton ho was not taken very seriously, but he is a greatly improved gelding. Ikowai registered an attractive performance in winning the South Canterbury Steeplechase. He gave a fine display of fencing, and looks like doing much better things before lone. Traditor, who was second, ran a. decent race, but the Southland gelding,' Caseshot, shaped disappointingly. Grey Renown appears to be a long way behind his best form, as he was done with beforo half the journey had been completed.

The ton competitors for the Hack and Hunters' Hurdle Handicap included some promising yonng horses. Kaupokonui. who whs a little better favourito than. Hap Dha, ran a decent race, and .ho may develop into a useful performer. Hap Dha, on the other lian<3, gave a disappointing display, not at all in keeping with some of his schooling efforts at Riccarton. Mescal ran a fair race, but ho is more experienced, and does not look as if he would ever be a good one. Cannio Hughie showed up well in the early paxt, but was well beaten when ho fell. Martial never looked dangerous, and he appears to bo a failure. Don Francisco jumped fairly well, and this wall-bred horse may win hurdle races later on. Steperina gave promise at one stage of his career, but. he has not fulfilled expectations. Little Corporal, a five-year-old by Waterloo, ran moderately, and is never likely to earn much distinction. The winner, Trireme, was making his first appearance as a hurdler, and be is likely to do even bettor when he gains experience. His jumping was fairly good, and ho finished well,

The twelve competitors for the Hack Handicap represented fair class, Jack Symons, Aaiand and Yes being well backed. Several cf tho field'began slowly and Yes gained an early advantage, which ho maintained to the end. The big sen of Finland—Proposal is a smart galloper over short courses. Jack Symons was one of tho back divi-sion-over tho fust half of the journey, but ho finished well. He is n three-year-old half-brother to; Reval, and looks like paying his way. Prenez Garde was always handy, but he faded out at the end. Tho big Terrapin gelding has mended his manners a lot and he may win races in moderate company next season. Aaiand did not show up over the first couple of furlongs, but was goinn- on in the straight. Humiliation, by Coniform from Daylight Bill's dam, shaped just fairly, his eitort being a long way below what might havo been expected from a NewZealand Cup candidate. A useful lot of 'hunters took part in tho Hunters' Plate. Miss Maronan tried to win all the way, but so much use was made of her that she stopped badly at the end, Compulsion beatin"her comfortably at the finish. The v:inner is by Crichton, an Australianbred son of Loehiel, who war, a good racehorse in his day. Bill Terry ""was favourite, but shaped below expectations. Several of the competitors could not go on, with the hot pace which was set by Miss'Maronan. Master Regel, Coral King, Rerekohu and Otara havo arrived at Riccarton from the North Island to fulfil their engagements at the Grand National meeting at Riccarton. It is stated that in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap next month, F. Flynn will have the mount on Master Kegel, who won the Century Hurdle Handicap at Wanganui two months ago. Canrobin arrived at Riccarton this week in company with Porko's Drift. Tho Southland trainer, P. T. Hogan, brought a rising two-year-old by Calibre with him when he came to Riccarton this week with RoikoV, Drift and Canrobin for tho Grand National meeting. Advantage will be taken of

RAW AND TROTTING ME

the good ground to give tho youngster some galloping. P. Malone is expected to arrive at Riccarton to-morrow with two horses, ono of which will probably be Fagot, a candidate for the Grand National Steoplochase. F. Tilloy will probably arrive at Riccarton in about a fortnight with Leonta, who will mako his third attempt to win the Grand National Hurdle Handicap, after being placed m tho two previous contests. J. W. Love will only have Seadown to represent his stable at the Grand National meeting next month, while another North Island trainer, A. J. Shearsby, will bring three horses south. A. M'Auley haß resumed work with tho two-year-old Aycliffe, who has been ou the easy list for' somo time. News comes from Queensland of tho death of the stallion Planudes, as a result of being baldly staked while playing in his paddock. Planudes, who was a very near relation on both sides to Malstor, was by St Simon —Lonely, by Hermit—Anonyma, by Stockwell. He was bred in England and exported to America, where he was successful as a siro of winners; but when overracing in that country became a public scandal, and was stopped by legislative action, tho market for blood stock fell bolow zero, and Planudes was secured by Messrs Tye for their stock farm near Melbourne, whoro he served several seasons. He was sold about two years ago to a Queensland station owner, Mr W. Glasscn, who has now securod another English-bred horse, Lilyveil, by Martagon, for stud duty.

The South Canterbury Hunt Club, which held its first totalisator meeting yesterday ou the South Canterbury Jockey Club's course, decided to include one trotting event on its programme. The race was run over a mile and a half and the clul received a good nomination, of whom twentyfour accepted, but seven were scratched, leaving seventeen starters. The weather was very fine, but the track was somewhat holding and greatly favoured those horses who were raced in saddle, although, curiously enough, the first three horses to finish were iu harness. The race was the best betting one of the meeting, several horses being well supported, with Ben Dillon a good favourite; iu fact, the connections of the horse would not hoar of defeat. Ben Dillon quickly went to the front, established a long lead, and looked a certain winner, but when the straight was reached he had had enough and was passed by the three placed horses, finishing fourth, after being ridden to a break about 150 yards from the winning post. , Jarden's mount is a five-year-old by Harold Dillon—Lady Elmo, and has been responsible for some good track work, but the horse did not Btay out the distance at all well, although he showed a lot of speed. I have little doubt, however, that he will race far better when he is thoroughly wound up. Elmo, his dam, was foaled in 1901, ana is by Almont from Judah, a mare who came from Honolulu a good many years and was a fast pacer in her time, while at tho stud she also produced that fine horse, Lord Elmo, to Rotnschild. Lady Elmo is the dam or Ben Jb\ and Baron Fran*. There was a tine finish for the race, Q.uincey Belle, by Quincey from a Prince Imperial mare, driven by T. Logan, winning, with Bridgewood and Marvis almost a dead heat for second, place, about three lengths away. The winner has a good turn of speed and stayed on well, but she was very fractious and failed to get going well in the early stages. Bridgcv/ood also went off slowly and failed to show much speed in the first mile. in the straight Price's horse came along with a fine turn of speed, but ho had too much ground to 'make* up at th • end. Marvis, who is trained at Pahxerston South, went a good race and was a trifle unlucky in being beaten, as she made .a bad mistake that probably cost her tho raco. She is an aged mare by Willowwcod— Kilburney Maid, and was brod in Christchurch. The Australian-bred maro Vera Mauritius made her first appearance but paced indifferently, although well supported, and never got near tho leaders. The three-year-old filly Letitia, by Lord Elmo, went well for a mile; in fact, it looked at one time as though she would catch Ben Dillon, but, like Jarden's horse, she failed to stay and was a long way back .at the finish.