SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12084, 13 August 1917, Page 6

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAW m TROTTING,

(Bv "ARGUS.")

FIXTURES. Aupust 15, 17—Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 16, 10—Canterbury Jockey Club.

ACCEPTANCES. August 13—Canterbury Jockey Club,

Final payments for the Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdle Handicap, and Winter Cup, and acceptances for the minor events on the iirst day of thb Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting, will close to-night, at uine o'clock.

The southern horses, Compulsion, Paremata. Golden Butterfly. Lion, Stouo Ginger and Golden Rupee arrived at Biccarton on Saturday to fulfil engagements at the Grand National motting this week.

F. Tutchen, who went into camp a few weeks ago. lias secured the necessary leave for the Grand National meeting, and lie will ride St Elirm this week. The St Ambrose gelding will probably have his steeplechase and hurdle engagements continued to-night, as there is some doubt regarding the race he is to be started in.

Crib was schooled over the steeplechase fences at Wnshdyke on Saturday, in company wiih (Jrev Benown, and gave a good exhibition of jumping. It is understood that ho will be a starter in tho Grand National Steeplechase on Thursdav.

Tlio fact of St, Flmn being sent oyer a round of the fences at Biccarton on Saturday was taken by many people as an indication that the Grand Nationnl Steeplechase would be his mission next Thursday. According to latest reports, however, no definite decision has yet been arrived at, it being still uncertain whether he will lie started in tho 6teeplechaso or the hurdle race.

The South Canterbury trainer, S. Trilford, is expected to arrive at Biecarton 'to-day with Crib. Oxcnhcpe, Aerial, San Sebastian, Kaupokonui and Handsome Bo v.

Spectunl broke a blood vessel when working at "Wingatui last Meek and ho will not fulfil his engagements at the Grand National meeting.

S. "Waddell, win i« widely known in sporting circles throughout the Dominion, is at present on a holiday visit to Dunedin, where ho resided, for many years, prior to taking up His present position, as private trainer to the Hon J. D. Onnond.

According to a "Wellington report. Rewi Poto will be ridden in ihe Grand National Hurdle Handicap by F. Flynn, who will also have the mount on Sandy Paul in the Grand National Steeplechase.

The annual football match between the North and South Tsland jockeys resulted in a win for the .southern tenni by 12 points to 9.

Bon Rove, has come into increased favour lately for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap. He looks in the best of condition, and his track and schooling work since he has been at Riocarton has served further to mark him as a dangerous hoi\s 0 for that event.

.Toannot lias got through a very solid preparation for the Winter Cup. a, race in which he met with a serious mishap a year ago, iiPCossitat.in.Er, a- lengthy spell. Up till about a week ago he was galloping in great stylo, but it looked as if he, was going off then, as he shaped below his usual form, in a. couple of his track efforts. Ho has sinco beuii going as well as ever again, howievor, and he is likely to race woll in his early engagements.

After racing at Riccarton this week, Art will bo sent home, to his owner's station/ where he will be given a spoil, which he has thoroughly earned, as he has been in active commission for more than two years, with only .slight rests. During his absence from his training quarters he, will be used as a, hack by Mr G. Fulton, so that he will get enough exercise to keep him in good health. When lie returns to Riccarton he will be accompanied-by the Birkenhead gelding, Banian, who is making a, good recovery from the accident that happened to him just before Easter. In the meantime, Mr Fulton will fill Art's place iix R. Lotigley's stablo with Rlul May, who lias lately had a spell. The son of Count Witvto—l'klna 31 ay has no public form to recommend him, though he has shown that lie can muster up some pace on the training track.

Mr I>. 11. Roberts, who recently purchased tho imported horse Sarto, has thm son of St Simon located on his property in the North Island. So far hell as every reason to be satisfied with his bargain, as tho horse's list is practically full for this season. Mr Roberts formerly had Gkmapp at his stud, and he bred some, useful performers bv that horse, among them, being Fiery Cress, Partisan and Glendower. Itad Cross, Kris and Fcearte, the respective dams of this trio, are at present represented by yearlings by Glenapp. which have dono very well. The marcs wore given a rest last season, but they will be among Sarto's ma tics this veaV. While located in Otago Sarto left some, good performers, most of them being stayers, and he should add further to his reputation with the wider opportunities he will now liave.

. Mr /• B -. R eid as , n the nappy position of having three English-bred stallions at the EldersJie stud this season. Kilbroney is already established as -t successful sare, his list being full. Sunny \v^- m y 4 5 ,un J?T , . d « e - and Winkio, by William the Third, are both young horses, with their reputations to make Mr Reid used Sunny Lake to some extent last year, and he intends this year to mate- ten of his own mares with Wmkie.

There is still a probability of a spring meeting being held at Ellerslie. It was thought that the racing track whicli huH been portly re-formed, would not be ready to race on in -November. At the annual meetinc of members a majority were strongly i n favour of racing in the spnng. As regards the course ( Whalebone" states), a look over the new work leaves, no doubt about its being fit to race on in November, even under the most adverse circumstances, for the track somo distance out from Y;he rails has already been completed, and aa one prominent trainer remarked:—"lf horses go out any further their connections do not want the track ready until the Auckland Cup comes lound." The Works Committee has yet to he appointed, and to visit the course, but to the ordinary man it now looks a certainty that at least one day's racing at Elferslie will be held in the .spring.

At most of the meetings held in Victoria r-rccntly there has been an interval of fifteen minutes during the afternoon for recruiting speeches. Military men speak in both reservos, hut so far their eloquence has not induced many to enlist.

A draft of younc horses, forwarded from England by Sir Thomas De-war, arrived recently j n Sydney. They were landed in poor condition, after their lone trip, but they were heajthy, so thov should soon recover from the effects of the voyage. They include colts by Tracery —Abbott's Anne, Lemberg—Cherimoya, Santry—-Ladv Cicero—Cheri.«rcs by lladium—Silesia

and Forfarshire—Kilkenny. A further draft is also expected, including the horses Calgary, The Revenge, Spearhead and Oyllene More, and the brood ma-i'Q Heedless, sister to Flotsam.

The Australian Steeplechase, the. last of the Lie jumping events of the present winter in Victoria, could scarcely be described as an unqualified success. A field of eleven was disappointing for such a good prize, especially as they included a number of very moderate performers. Only six of them finished, which was a poor record over the easy Caulfield course, though the length of the journey would probably account for mishaps in the case ol horses whoso staying credentials were at all doubtful. Tho most satisfactory feature of tlic race Ava.i that it attracted the trio who filled the places in the Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington. They all showed up prominently again, the least satisfactory performance being that of tho Aucklander, Waimai, v.ho appears to have faded out badly at) the end, after being responsible for most of the pacemaking. Old Mungindi had been a staunch favourite since the appearance of the weights, but lie had to put up with third pia<*.o on this occasion. He was meeting Cnibye on 81b worso terms than in the Grand National, but. the popular opinion was that this would not suffice to alter tho result). Old Mungindi is credited with being a great jumper, in which case be would be much betteJ served by the stiff fences at Flemington than hv those he was called on tip race over at Caulfield. In some quarters, too. there was a feeling that Caibyo was injudiciously handled in the Grand National, his rider forcing him along from the start, a decided reversal of his usual tactics, as in most of his races he has only come on tho scene at the business end. This was tho plan adopted on Saturday, and tho result of the race will probably strengthen the opinion of those who held that Caibyo was unlucky at Flemington. Caibyo was a useful hurdler, but his form in that department could not coniparo with what ho has shown recently oYer country.

RICCARTON IB AIMING NOTES

Monday

Tho weather; was very mild 'this morning, and training operations wero got. through in pleasant conditions. Most of tho work was done on tho sand, which was very fast, lut only a few horses wore sent along fast on the flat, the majority being confined to easy pacing. There was, however, a fair amount of jumping. Miss Do Val and Prince Delaware were companions in a half-mile sprint, getting through their task in good stylo in 49see.

Powder King and Merry Lad were well clear of Kirkby af tor running seven furlongs in lmin il-lsoc. Leonta and Sir Solo wont mice round the hurdles. They kept together all thv way, giving a first-dass exhibition of jumping. The pace was solid, the time for the circuit being equal to anything dono during the lest IV w weeks, and it was Ji very attractive bit of work. Marconi and To Onga followed with a similar task. To 'Jnga spoilt it by running off at the second hurdle, but otherwise they gave it a satisfactory display, though the time was not nearly so fast as that registered by tho o'tJicr pair. Bodenham and Kew did a round »f the steeplechase fences, both shaping well until the last obstacle, where Bodenham blundered.

Arthur George was schooled over four hurdles, but the effort was scarcely up to his best form.

Sir Fisher and Miss Sation jumped three hurdles, Don Francisco following on a few lengths behind. The trio fenced very safely. Master Strowan and went onee round the fences in good style, showing too much pace for Tangihaers, who gave a safe exhibition of jumping. Art and Stepenna negotiated three hurdles together, Steperina going quite as well as the Grand National candidate.

Stone Ginger, Golden Butterfly and Luigi wore companions in a circuit of the fences. Stone Ginger gave a capital display of jumping, and showed too much paco for his mates.

ADDIXGTON TRAINING NOTES

Monday

The track was again in first-class order for work this morning, although early there was a strong; nor'-wst wind blowing, which raised a good deal of chist. Later the -wind changed to tho south.

Olive and Oiive Tj. set off at a sound pace for a spin over a mile and a jhalP. BotH trotters dfid their work well for a mile, when Olive broke up and Olivo L. went, on alone. Lady Patricia, who has come on a. lot during the last month, trotted iu great style over a mile and a. half, going without any mistake, and staying on well at tho end of her itask. George Hard, without the hopples, went pleasingly. Ho made a couple of mistakes, but was travelling at a fair speed over nearly two miles. He appears to be keeping quite sound. Dillon Maid, who Iwars a well-condi-tioned appearance, went two miles at a solid working-out speed, except over tho last half-mile, when she was eased up. It was an attractive bit of work. Master Park, with ,the hopples on, sprinted over several furlongs, but his task was not a severe one The horseis looking well. Lady Rothsoon worked out two miles, going really well, especially for the first mile and a half.

Tho West Coast owned trotter. Fairy Whispers, did" not go at nil rrcll when sprinted over a few quarters, but later went a mile and a half in iniprdrcdl style. Although not an attractive, mover, she gets over the ground at a good sneed. Tho Linnet, who seems to be a good deal lighter in condition than when lasfi

raced, reeled off nearlv a mile at ari solid speed, and paced attractively. Erleen and Albert Wallace, both in harness, went a mile and a half, bntf neither vras thoroughly extended. Erleen was--pacing in improved style. Law Chimes, in saddle, sprintled several quarters, and then -went nearly half a mile with Persuader. The fast) roiler looks well. Persuader appeared to bo labouring in. ?. work-out of over a mile, and the big pacer does not look at his best.

The trotter Annie Tv. was not sent* along at top speed, but tho Southlandowned mare did not go at all steadily, repeatedly leaving her feet. Quadroon, looking bright and well, was sprinted several furlongs, and then went a quarter at a fino speed. Tine Gladeyo, drivert by A. Hendricksen, paced in good style over several half-miles, and was then sent a couple of rounds at threes quarter speed. Franks sent Eruption about two miles at a fair speed, but- the trotter* did not seem to be doing bis work a* wall as on former occasions.

Jewel Chimes, without the straps, jogged for some time, and then put in a fow fast sprints, pacing without any mistake.

Paul Huon went a little oner a mile, but it is doubtful if ho will bo seen at his best at the) meeting, as he looks obviously short of work.

Htion Patch, after indulging in several sprints, was joined by Celtic, and they worked out a fast mile, bouh horses going really well. Cwx's two trotters did a fine wojftx out together, Marvolo being ridden by J.'M'Dermott, witjh Cox in the sulky behind Rota Peter. The latter has greatly improved, and trotted really well.

Antonio was restricted to sprinting? work, which he did in fine style. Provided tho ground does not remain itoo hard, he should race prominently at the meeting.

The trotter Gay Wilkes, who lotfks very well and lias evidently improved in manners, was ridden by J. M'Lennaii over several circuits, putting in a few fast dashes. The horse moved well.

Sol, in harness, and Grattan Chimes, in saddle, sprinted together, both trotters moving well. A little la-ter they went a mile and a half, neither making a . mistake, but thej were not at top speed. Admiral Wood, with A. Hendricksen in the sulky, worked out a mile and a ?ialf, but the big; pacer was only Extended over partp of the journey. Ho pared in fine style, and looks vory well- ' ■

Lady Haldane looks bright and well. Driven by A. Pringle, the mare was jogged for some time and then set- of? at. a fine speed, covering a mile, continuing a bit further at a slower £ait.

VICTORIA AMATEUR TURF CLUB

AUSTRALIAN STEEPLECHASE;

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, Auspist 11

At tlie Victoria Amateur Turf Club's meeti.iq to-day the following was the result of the

AUSTRALIAN STEEPLECHASE, of 17.V) sovs; second horse 30n sova, and third horse 150 sovs from the stake. About

four miles. Mr P. T. Heywood's b % Caibye. by Cai-man—Go<xl-bvo, Gyrs, 12st 3lb . . 1 Mr J. Habborfiold's br g Battleship, by Flagship—Aspersion, apod, lOst S!b . 5 Rajah of Pudukota's b or br g Old Munpindi, by Poseidon—Gret, aged, 12st

2ib „» Van Homreigh list Ulb, Waimai list lllb, Coradjill list lib, San Loandro lOst Plb, Boveo lOst 51b, Cobram 9st Blb, Bessie May 9st 7lb and Union Arms 9at also started. Waimai piloted the field till the last time over the treble. Battleship took charge aloiiß the railway side from Cflibye, who led over tho last fence and won by half r length. Bessie Mav, Vac Homreigh, Boye and" Union Arms fell, while San Leand' broke down. Time--Bmm SOJaec.