TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue VIII, 22 February 1902, Page 349

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

SPECIAL TO THE “GRAPHIC.” CHRISTCHURCH, February 11. The Auckland-bred gelding Galileo, by Nelson —Fiesole, won the Naseby Cup, the principal event decided at the Maniotto (Otago) meeting last week. A horse named Snider, which ran at the same meeting, seems to have created a good deal of interest. Not long ago he ran in a maiden race at the Waikouaiti meeting as No Class (late Snider). At Naseby he appeared on the programme as Snider (late No Class, late Snider). It turns out that he is a North Island-bred horse by Brigadier, and that he has won races in Auckland. As a Southern writer says, that he should have been shipped from the North Island to the South without performances, and raced as a maiden, shows, to say the least of it, extreme carelessness on the part of somebody. It is only fair to the horse’s nominator to add that directly he became aware that the horse was not a maiden he refused to take the stake for a maiden plate which he won. Still, it would be Interesting to know how he came to be ignorant of his horse’s performances. Mr Stead has named his filly foal by Multiform from Bluefire “Asteria,’’ and his filly foal by the same sire from Bellicent “Lady Lyonors. Owners of racehorses and trainers, particularly the latter, have cherished a grievance against the Railway Department. Hitherto horses on their way from Christchurch to Dunedin have had to stay at Oamaru for some hours, and have not reached their southern destination until the morning after their departure. At length the grievance Is about to be removed. The Railway Department has decided that horse-boxes connected with tho express shall go straight through in one day instead of being disconnected at Oamaru. „ Mr Buckland, the Now South Wales trotting man, writes to say that ho will

not pay Christchurch a visit at the coming Easter. He may, however, send over a few horses to strengthen the team, which his trainer. Piper, has here. At the Tuapeka Jockey Club’s annual race meeting held at Lawrence (Otago) on Wednesday and Thursday, the Lawrence Handicap fell to the CuirassierTasmanla gelding Transport. The same horse also won the principal event decided on the second day of the meeting. Mr Stead announces that San Remo, Knight Errant, and Field Battery are for private sale. If the colts are not disposed of privately they will be offered for sale by auction at Easter. There is very little to add to what I telegraphed yesterday about the racing on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting. The racing was neither exciting nor dull. The finish for the Craven Plate was close enough to satisfy the most exacting racegoers, and a similar remark applies to the contest for the Trial Stakes; but the Midsummer Handicap and the Middle Park Plate were both runaway affairs. The latter event served to emphasise the wide gulf which separated the two-year-olds of the present season with those of last. Imperator is probably as good as anything that has run in this juvenile event this year, and yet he could not extend Cruciform at a difference of 301bs.

Firecross, one of the high-priced youngsters sold at the Eldersiie sale last year, made his debut. He is a nice-looking colt and in time will win races, but he was green on Thursday and backward into the bargain. Vogengang’s haflf-sister, Greek Maid, confirmed the good impression she created in the spring, and no doubt she is a smart filly; but the other two-year-olds, as far as we have seen them this season, are below the average. In the Midsummer Handicap Dundas repeated the performance he accomplished in the Great Amumn Handicap. The opposition was weak in quality and quantity, and the faint-hearted son of Perkin Warbeck was never once in trouble. Evidently he appreciated Hewitt’s style of riding, and evidently also he had benefited from a change of air and scene which he had last Christmas, when he paid a visit to the West Coast. Fulmen ran a good race, and with the winner out of his way would have won in a canter; and Cannie Chiel was not disgraced. The latter does not stay more than a mile and a quarter, and he must have been sorely taxed by the tremendous pace set by Dundas. Glenogle was unlucky in the Craven Plate. If he had made his effort a little later lie might have won. As it was, he had finished it when Vandyke challenged him, and could not respond. Even then he was only beaten by a neck. CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. Local racing folk are much pleased with the decision of the Appeal Committee of the Racing Conference referring to the sentences passed on Mr G. Wilson, Donovan the jockey, and Rosemere. Dundas was lame after running in the Midsummer Handicap. It appears that his forelegs had been causing some anxiety to his trainer before the meeting, and after the race they showed unmistakeable signs of the contact with the hard ground. Hobbs, however, hones that his horse will be able to fulfil *his engagements at Dunedin next week. Gold Spec's absence from the meeting was due to the fact that the horse bruised one of his feet on the eve thereof Motor dicl not start on the second day cf the meeting, returning home on Friday. After her victory in the Selling .Race rn Saturday, Battle Cry was purchase.! by Mr Walter Clifford, a brother of her breeder, Sir Geo. Clifford. The daughter of Clanranald has returned to Cutt’s stables, where she was located during the time she carried Sir Geo. CLflor.l's colours. Wellbeck, the winner of the Richmond Plate, is a very promising colt. He is a full brother to Dundas and Marquis of Zetland, and follows the latter rather •than the former in colour and conformation. If his heart is in the right place he will take a high place with the three-year-olds of next season.

Fulmen returned home yesterday (Monday). The son of Castor ran a capital race in the Midsummer Handicap, but was chopped for speed in the St. Alban’s Handicap. The handicaps for the Dunedin meeting appear to have given no dissatisfaction here. Il Dundas reaches the post sound and well, he will vary a great deal of local money, but personal y I would sooner stand a stouter hearted horse on the gradients at Wingatui. Fulm?n has not been over weighted, but the distance is a trifle beyond Cannie Chiel. Djin Djin may rarely be passed over in the present state if his feet, and a sim’lac remark applies to Cameo and Calibre. This exhausts the horses which ran at the Canterbury meeting. Of those which li 1 not sport silk at Riccartou, Toruilia and Pampero read as well as anything. Jupiter 1 suppose, is an unlikely starter, and Canteen may be troubled by the distance. As *he representatives of a powerful stable, Skobeloff and San Remo arc entitled to respect, albeit some people will say perhaps that the former is overweighted. Muscovite is at present enjoying a well earned rest at the Hutt, and may be dismissed without further comment. Nihilist and Ostiak prefer shorter distances to a mile and a half. To me the race bears a wonderfully open appearance, and in selecting Tortulla, Pampero, Dundas, or Mr Stead’s pair, I may yet have missed the winner. The following handicap has been declared for the principal event to be de-

elded at the Hororato Jockey Club’s annual race meeting on March 6:—Hororata Cup Handicap of 66sovs, one mile and a quarter: Dundas 9.13, Huku 8.9, Terrapin 8.5, Medus 8.2, Calibre 7.13, Heiress 7.9, Redoubt 7.7, Good Spec 7.7, Flame 7.0, Fluke 6.7. Mr H. Mosman, the well-known racing man, arrived In Dunedin from your part of the world last week, and will remain in the Southern city for some weeks. ® ® ® C.J.C. MIDSUMMER MEETING. FIRST DAY. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. In spite of the fact that the weather was lovely yesterday, and also that the usual weekly half-holiday is observed on Thursday, the attendance at Riecarton was small. The racing on the whole was not very interesting, but in defence of the handicapper it must be admitted that with the exception of the Midsummer Handicap he made the most of the Indifferent material which he had to operate on. The Midsummer Handicap furnished a one-sided struggle. Dundas for once in a way reproduced his track form in public, and accounted for the weak opposition without being called upon to exert himself. For the first time in his career he was ridden by Hewitt, and he ran with the greatest sincerity in the hands of that rider. Hewitt handled his mount with rare discretion. He allowed him to stride along well clear of his opponents, with the result that the son of Perkin Warbeck 11. was never pinched, and won in the easiest possible manner. Fulmen. after being ridden hard in the first half-mile, struggled into second place, and Cannie Chiel finished third —a position which, considering (.he pace at which the race was run and the fact that he is not a true stayer, was creditable to him. Motor was never dangerous, and neither was Djin-Djin; while Calibre,who was very sore, finished last. The winner pulled up very fresh, and his victory was well received. Cruciform was never called upon to extend herself to win the Middle Park Plate; but the Craven Plate produced a most exciting struggle. On the strength of a wonderful gallop Whirlwind was bruited about as the best of good things for the latter event. At the top of the straight the daughter of Stepniak looked as if she were going to justify the faith of her supporters, but in the last furlong she was collared by Vandyke and Glenogle, and Vandyke squeezed home a neck in front of Sir George Clifford’s horse. Vandyke had prevoiusly started in the Hornby Welter Handicap, in which he had been practically left at the post. The features of the afternoon's sport were the successes achieved by Sheenan’s stable and the riding of Derrett and Hewitt. Sheenan won the Hornby Welter Handicap with Antigone and the Lyttelton Plate with Greek Maid, and Derrett rode three winners and two seconds. and Hewitt three winners. Results:—

Hornby Weller of lOCsovs, 7 furlongs.— Antigone, 8.9, 1; Cora Linn, 10.12, 2; Battlecry, 9.3, 3. Savanna and Charioteer were scratched. Won by a length an® a quarter. Time, Im 30 l-ss. Dividends, £8 17/ and £1 6/. Middle Park Plate of 500sovs. second 50sovs, 6 furlongs.—Cruciform. 1; Lmperator 2; Firebrand 3. The only starters. Won easily. Time 1.17. Dividend £1 1/. Telegraph Stakes.—R. W.Franks' Rellex, 7.7 (Jones), 1; St. Elmo, 7.7. 2; Cannonshot, 7.7, 3. Also started: Gewgaw, Nor'wester, White May, Romanoff, Bealey, Ordnance, Rosemore, Bristol. Won easily by a length and a-half. Time, 51 l-ss. Dividends, £3 13/6 and £3 2/. Midsummer Handicap of 250sovs; li mile.—M. Hobbs’ Dundas. 7.8 (L. Hewitt), 1: Fulmen. 8.9, 2; Cannie Chiel, 8.8. 3. Also started: Cameo, Motor, Djin-Djin, and Calibre. Dundas passed the post 10 lengths ahead of Fulmen, Cannie Chiel being five lengths away. Timo, 2m 36 3-ss. Dividends, £2 9/ and £1 1/6.

Lyttelton Plate of 120sovs; 5 furlongs.— T. Sheenan’s Greek Maid. 8.12 (Hewitt), 1; Stepdancer, 7.6, 2; Aberlow, 7.7, S. Also started: King Stork. Welbeck, Cerise and Blue, Walda. Won by half a length. Time, Im 4 2-ss. Dividend, £2 2/. Craven Plate of 150sovs; 7 furlongs.— W. George’s Vandyke. 7.7 (Hewitt), 1; Glenogle. 9.7, 2; Scottish Minstrel, 8.2, 3. Also started: Lady Lillian, Heiress, and Whirlwind. Won by a bare head. Time, lin 30s. Dividend, £5 3/G. Halswell Welter of 50sovs: U mile.—P. Jones’ Medus. 9.0 (Cahill), 1; Lapidary, 10.7, 2; Kotukotu, 3. Also started: Nance O’Neill, Dormant, Blsley. Won by a length. Time, 2m 14s. Dividend, £7 14/. SECOND DAY. CHRTSTCIIIJRCH, Saturday. The principal features of the second day’s racing of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting were the successes of the progeny of Clanranald, and the defeat of Cruciform in the Champion Plate. Sir Geo. Clifford’s stallion had quite a day out. Cannie Chiel placed the Champion Plate to his credit, while Scottish Minstrel won the Linwood Wolter Handicap. Wind whistle the Flying Handicap, and Battlecry the Selling Race, Aherlow finished second in the Richmond Plate, and Glenogle curried top-weight into third position in the St. Alban's Handicap. Cruciform’s defeat in the Champion Plate cannot have been expected by her connections. Tho daughter of St. Leger looked well enough, and the weather was cool, if not actually cold. Half-way up the straight she appeared to have the verdict in safe keeping, but she failed to respond to Cannie Chiel, and suffered defeat by a length. Possibly the

weight was too much for her in going that was a trifle holding after the heavy rain of the preceding night, and possibly also it was a case of the pitcher going to the well once too often. The winner owed his success partly to his Indomitable pluck—he was under punishment below the distance, while Cruciform was striding along without visible exertion. His victory was most enthusiastically received by the small band of spectators, and if snatching a victory in a race against overwhelming odds deserves recognition Cannie Chiel certainly warranted the applause which greeted him on his return to the weighing enclosure. Tsaritza. who was specially reserved for the St. Alban’s Handicap, won that race, but not without difficulty. At the distance she appeared to be winning comfortably. but Cora Linn stuck to her task with the greatest determination, and Tsarilza only struggled home a head In front of Hobbs’ recent purchase. The Flying Handicap was another race which furnished an exciting struggle, Cannie Chiel* s stable companion, a full-sister, Windwhistle getting home only a short head in advance of the outsider Wepener. In the Richmond Plate Welbeck, a goodlooking brother to Dundas, made amends for the disappointment which he caused his connections on the first day, and won easily. He ran pounds better for having his eyes opened, and no doubt shares the brilliancy of his relations. Marquis of Zetland and Dundas. Results:— Champion Plate of 260aovs, second 25 sovs, seven furlongs.—Cannie Chiel 1, Cruciform 2. These were the only starters. Won by a length. Time, 1.33 2-5. Dividend: £3. Linwood Welter Handicap.—Scottish Minstrel 1, Huku 2, Lady Lillian 3. All started. Won by half a ’ength. Time, 1.49 3-5. Dividends: £6 17/ and £2 14/. St. Albans Handicap.—Tsarita 1, Cora Linn 2. Glenogle 3. All started. Won by half a length. Time, 1.16 4-5. Dividends: £2 and 15/6. Flying Handicap of 120sovs, five furlongs.— Wind whistle, 8.3 (Pine), 1; Wepener, 6.12. 2; Lady Dundas, 7.7, 8. Also started: Whirlwind, Savanna and Pallas. Won by half a head. Time, 1.3 4-5. Dividend, £4 5/6. Selling Race of 50sovs, six furlong’s.— Battlecry, 7.11 (T. Cahill), 1; Lapidary, 7.11. 2; Cannonshot, 7.1 L 3. Also started: Reflex, Bealey, St. Elmo. After a punishing finish up the straight Battlecry beat Lapidary by a length. Time. 1.20 4-5. Dividend. £2 S/. The winner was bought by Mr W. Clifford for £7O. Post Handicap of 50sovs,one mile.— Lady Lilian. 7.13 (Manning). 1; Huku. 7.13, 2; Heiress, 7.5, 3. Also started: Vandyke. Heiress and Lady Lilia.i made all the running, the latter coming away at the half distance and winning very easily. Time. 1.47 1-5? Dividend, £4 6/6.