SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11947, 5 March 1917, Page 4

SPORTING GOSSIP.

(By "ARGUS.")

| , FIXTURES. j March 7, 8-ffeison Jockev Club. | March S-Timaru Trotting Club. i Vj sr ". h L '- 'o—Aaoier Park Racing Cliro. -March 15-Wainate Racing Club. I ;H aro ? J5 lfi—Mssterlor. Kacing Club. I arc " 17—Westport Jockev Club to arch 17—Gpimafce Eaeius Club.

Tho Akaroa County Racing Club's meet-in.?, which was held at Motukarara on Saturday, is entitled to rank as the most successful fixture promoted by this club. Up till a few years ago the club raced At Little River, and the meeting held a place all its own. Judged'from a racing point of view, it was";;, very modest affair, the fields being usually small and of poor quality. To the majority of those who patronised the meeting at Little River, however, the racing was a matter of secondary interest, the fixture having grown very popular with city families, who found it an excellent excuse For a picnic in the country. Residents from .all parts of the Peninsula also patronised it, liberally, and At no meeting in Canterbury was the country element mora strongly in evidence. In many ways, however, the Little River course was not at all suitable, and for several seasons the club has been racing at Motukarara. With the change of venue a great change has taken place in the character of the meeting. The country picnic element has largely disappeared, but it has improved out of i knowledge as a racing fixture, while still jit-tracting a large number of country patrons. The club has an excellent course, though it would be much better if the sheep were prevented from making tracks across it. With a little attention, in fact, it could be made a perfect racing track. The olnh has recently gone in for some improvements, including an -up-to-date total isa tor house, of the IVLacdougal! pattern. which has become so popular on Canterbury courses. This is not the time to discuss increased prize money, but after the war the club will doubtless ; take this into consideration, and in J time its meeting will become very much more important, the course being so j handy to the city that it cannot fail to attract support. Owners patronised' j the club liberally for Saturday's fixj hire, most of the fields being large, j while the racing wa<, exceptionally interesting.

There were only three competitors for the Hurdle Handicap, Master Hamilton being a strong favourite, while St Curio was a little better supported than Peronilla. Backers were sadly astray in their judgment, as Peronilla was in front all the way and won easily. It was her first race over hurdles, and she gave a very creditable display. Her jumping was very clever and though she hit one or two of tho obstacles she escaped serious trouble. Peronilla is a smart galloper on the flat, though she. has not always raced up to expectations, and her speed slvould serve her well in jumping races, in which she is likely to earn iurther distinction. There was, however, nothing startling about her initial effort, as she was in receipt of 441b from -Master Hamilton.

j The Maiden Plato attracted a. field of j thirteen, and they were the best, lot | feoen in a race of this description for ! some time past. They gave the starter ! a lot. of trouble, several of them being | only half-ed'ucatod, and tho.y wont in | all directions when the signal to go [ was given. Tremena was the smartest I to begin, and she was in front all the way. I was prepared to see her out ! with the leaders in the early stages, as she can go fast, but I wa s surprised to see. her stay out six furlongs so well, her past efforts having suggested That she could not quite get to tho end of five. She is evidently improving in stamina, and will do better yet. Tremena's sire, Count Witte, a half-bro-ther to Solution, was a good class two-year-old. but he has not done much at tho stud. Avance. the dam of Tremena, is by Treadmill—Golden Crest, so that there is plenty of successful blood in the filly's pedigree. Petrachio, the favourite, is a three-year-old brother to "Winning Way, by Cannie Chiel—Lady Wayward. He is a big fellow, who probably requires timo. In this race he dad not jump cf.it well, but on settling down he rau on in good stylo. The imported filly. Winter Cherry, was nearly as well backed as Petruchio. It was her first appearance in a race, and she was very green, getting off very badly. She was a long way back at the end of a furlong puti in a great run and finished third. With more experience .she will prove the best of the lot who contested this race, and sho may win an important event before the close of the season. Fother-. ingay, another imported mare, showed a lot of pace, but cannot stay at present. Kibble, the half-sister to Eraperador. shaped fairly well, but is only a moderate. Dionysius, a well-grown gelding by Hymettus—Orlygia, ran a decent race, and will be a lot better j after more experience. Ortoplete, by All Red—Octave, is another promising sort. Kill'em. the t.wo-year-old brother to Kilbov, was in the field, but he is not ready yet.

j A field of five contested the Peninsula: Cup, Jean not being favourite in a good betting race. Jeannot. had the best staying credentials, and the race was run to .suit him. Bill Terry got a sound pnee from tho start and Comely took •up tho running about half n. mile from home. It was not till the straight was reached that. Jeannot came ~on the' seem, and he won comfortably from Comely, with Briar Patch a moderate third. Jeannot is just coming on, and" he will win more races this season. Comely might, hare troubled him had less use been made of her. a? <she has a lot of speed, though she is not ai proved stayer. There was ;< good deaf of bumping during the contest. Bi 1 ] Terry's rider, T. Musson, was fined £2 for interfering with Comely soon after the start. When nearjng the straight Bill Tern- also got into trouble, and nearly came down.

Aerial was favourite for the Kinloch Welter Handicap, and he won in good stylo, after being one of the lenders all the way. Riga was badly placed in-the early stages, but finished with a good run. It was his first race spring, and he shonM nick up a stake before long. Oallipoli was alwavs in a good position, but he lost his place on the turn verv suddenly, coming on affain nicely and finishing fourth, iust behind his stable mate. British Rose, who was making his second apnea ranee, as was Bill Terry. Madam. Butterfly showed up ,for five fnrloncs and then" faded but. Antiope got- off very batHv, but then showed a lot of speed. There was" an inquiry after the race, A. Trilfo-rid, who had the mount on Aerial, hems fined £2 for careless riding.

A field of nine contested the Terawera Hnelr Handicap. Red Shield, Bayonne and Kimbolton being solidlv supported. Tt was a bad race for backers. 'Warform made all the running, bat fa the straight Star Blue challenged and won by a neck, with a bit to spare. Tho winner is by Cerise and Blue, bv Lakeehell—Bloomer, his dam. Miss Rudstono.

RACING AM) HOTTING NOTE

being by Stonyhurßt—Manga, by Bamanima- Star Blue is a useful galloper, aud may win again shortly. Tile Aus-tralian-bred Kiinbolton ran a good rac-i in tliird place, while Bed Shield was fourth. The imported filly Bayonne, by Bayardo—Alicia, was never prominent, bat she will see a better day. Star Bin*, and Warform paid good dividends. Backers were again off the track in the Forsyth Flying Handicap, for which Donnata, Tantalus. Aerial and Derby Day were in most request, carryiug Jnoivthan two-thirds of the total investments. Aerial was the only one of the \ quartette to show up at the business end, and he had to put up with third position. Bomb, Gallupin and Listen made the running, and Listen looked like winning till Charley came along anil beat her comfortably over" the las: bit. Derby Dav was gomff on well at the end. Tantalus showed after getting out badly, but he ran wide at the turn and failed to see the journey out. Dounata came up badly, noyrr being preeminent at any stage- The winner, Charley, is a four-year-old by Charlemagne 11. from the Australianbred mare Edna May 11., by Playbill— Puritan, by Positano—Wood nymph. by

Musket—Sylvia. Charlev has ire: ( ueut'y shown pace on the tracks, but this wi-.s the first time he had reproduced it in public.

The two trotting events- at the Aknroa County Racing Club's meeting lasweek attracted, as usual, largo fields which were quite up to the average in quality. The mile and a half event, in harness, saw Jessie Dillon. Syr--

I pnthy mid Great Britain backed in i that order. The first-named did no« a,o on" right and never cot in the fighting line, but Groat Britain was rnrlv in tho lead, followed bySympathy. :/Franks's horse broke badly half a rod* from home, when in the lead. ai;«l later; after making up his lost ground. put in another brock.■ finishing secon 1 to Sympathy, with Mnst?v Theckla. who -went ste»dily throughout, in third place. Groat Britain doe* not appear to he a. good one. He has. starred :i few times, arid has boon solidly backed, only to perform indifferently. TTn is by Rothschild—Quincey, by Brittany - Britannia, by Berlin, so he is a particularly -well-bred horse. Sympathy i-; a four-year-old mare by Dominion--Silver Que, and although not a big one can pace attractively. She finished third in the Amateur Handicap on tho second day of the New Year meeting at Canterbury Park\ Dominion, the! sire of the winner, was by Rothschild from an Electioneer mare and did a good deal of racing, being a horse with a fine turn of speed, though he could not stay too well. Silver Que, the dam of Sympathy ,was brought from Australia with the grey pacer Mada, by Mr K. Wylie- She was raced for two seasons, but was unsuccessful, although she could show a fair turn of speed over a short course. Her pedigree is returned as "unknown," and there was a good deal of difficulty in satisfying the authorities before the! mare was allowed to race. Sympathy is trained by H. Frost at. New Brighton. Since taking charge of his father's establishment, H. Frost has had a good deal of success, both ui saddle and harness events. He has been recognised as one of the leading riders for the last two years, hut got few opportunities to show his ability as a reinsman. Since leaving Bryce's stable, however, he has been seen frequently in the sulky. He leaves for Trentham camp in a few days. Foxhill finished fourth but he could not go with the field in the early stages, although he was pacing well at the finish. Tho race was « very fast one, considering the condition of the track for harness racing.

I For the two mile trotting event, in saddle, Chorus Girl, from Bryee * j stable, ridden by F. E. Jones, was backed as though the race was all over, but she never looked liko a winner at any stage. Bell Elmore, who, I hear, vraa purchased at a good figure subsequent to going into E. M'Cann's stable, wi< next best supported. She went of? very quickly and established a long lead in the first three-quarters of a mile-, when she tired to nothing, and finished in the ruck. Dainty Dillon, the winner, was alwavs in a good' position and. judiciously ridden by A- ButterneM. stayed out the distance well, winning | rather comfortably at the finish. She | is a six-vear-old by Harold Dillon from a Lnicoln Yet mare. She can pace soundly, and possesses good staying powers, the lattW qualification accounting for her success- Arcadian went a good race. The trotter was on his best, behaviour and kept his gait till entering the straight, when he put in a had break. Tie got going again, however and' finished well, getting second place. Like the winner, he returned a good dividend. General Joffre headed off Bell Elmore when M'Cann's mare commenced to stop, but -would not race oi> generously and finished third. Thomas's }iorse is a sour-tempered animal, who cannot be prevailed upon to always do his best in a race. The Aucklandowned' Rotomanuka shaped very badly, and failed to race up to his track form, but Mystic Bells went eotmdly all the way, finishing fourth. Reaa «Bosi found the. journey too far <wnd Galindo Lou is not racing well at present.

A handsome silver rose bowl accompanied the stakes for Vthe Peninsula Cup on Saturday. At the conclusion of tho race- Mrs W«. F. Parkinson, wife of the president" of ' the Akaroa County Racing Club-, presented the trophy, H. Ellis, the trainer of Jeannot, receiving it on behalf of the horse's owner.

The three-year-old colfe Tantalus was sold by Sir George Clifford on Saturday to Mr H. CassidyYin whose interests he raced in the * Forsyth. Flying Handicap at the Akaroa Racing Club's meeting later in the afternoon.

Though tho Peninsula Cup did not. attract a big field on Saturday ther* was a good deal of interference during tho running of the race. Comely suffered soon after the start, while Bill Terry had a narrow escape from falling about tbre<s furlongs from home. T. Mussen, tho rider of Bill Terry, was fined £2 for interfering with Comely. There was also some trouble in the Kinloch Walter Handicap, A. Trilford, who bad the mount on Aerial, being fined £- for careless riding.

Joannot ran a good race- hi &o Peninsula Cup on Saturday. He teas always in a handy position and he outstayed his oyer the:last two furlongs, winning with ■■6omeifciag in hand. Jeannot m«t with an 'accident in the Winter Cup last Augutf, and was off iho soene for a few nynthfc He made his reappearance at thd holfc day mestinga on tho "West Coast but was not forward enough to show hi* best form. He has come ok a lot lately, and is likely to be seen to further advantage at some of the! autumn meetings. » •'