TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue IX, 1 March 1902, Page 398

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) SPECIAL TO THE “GRAPHIC." Riccarton has been very .quiet since the Canterbury J.C. Summer Meeting, and Is likely to remain so for the next three or four weeks. During the past two or three days local horses have been leaving for Dunedin. When the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting Is over the exodus northwards on the North Island circuit will begin. • Mr Evett appears to have made a fairly good handicap for the Wanganui Cup. Of the Southern horses I like nothing better than St. Michael, in spite of the heavy weight which the son of St. Leger has received, and if St. Michael Is likely to run prominently Nonette must be labelled dangerous; also, Cannle Chiel has evidently been handicapped on the assumption that he cannot stay, and in taking that view of Sir George Clifford’s horse Mr Evett no doubt Is right, but 7.10 Is certainly a light weight to give a horse who has finished third In two mile and ahalf races this season, and who has few superiors over a mile course in this colony. In the light of her defeat at Egmont Tortulla cannot be said to possess a rosy chance, and Ideal’s form of last year seems to have deserted her. Beddington, I suppose, is a non-stayer, but if Coronet were In a generous mood* on the day I would as soon back him as anything else. Glenaladale, In his best spring form, would have a chance, and Mellwood might win outright. If The Shannon has learned to stay she, too, may be dangerous, and Sirius has a plodder’s chance. At present I like nothing better than St. Michael, Nonette and Mellwood. Lady Zetland’s full-brother. Lord Zetland, is still lagging superfluous on the turf somewhere in the country districts of Otago. The ancient son of Perkin Warbeck ll.—he Is 14 years old — looks even more attenuated than he did ten years ago, which those people who remember his appearance in the early nineties will scarcely credit.

The once noted cross-country horseman, J. Cotton, still preserves an intermittent connection with the turf. At a country meeting in Otago the other day he had a mount in a welter handicap, and although he did not have the pleasure of riding a winner, he quite impressed the local critics with his energetic style of riding. The injuries sustained by Blazer and Battler at Wellington have proved quite as serious as was anticipated, and both horses have been scratched for all engagements at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting.

Beauty Sleep, who. after being weeded out by the Yaldhurst team some years ago, was sent to the stud, raced unsuccessfully at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer Meeting. The daughter of Medallion and Siesta Is in foal to Dundas, a full-brother to Marquis of Zetland. Harry Thompson having accepted the control of Mr Friedlander s stud farm at Ashburton Is making preparations to leave Riccarton. He is advertising his stallion Lakeshell for sale, and as the horse is one of the few Lochiel sires in New Zealand he should not be long in finding a purchaser. Bristol, the son of St. Clair, who proved such a grievous disappointment to Mr Hobbs that the proprietor of the Racecourse Hotel was glad to get rid of him for a very small sum indeed, is now running in harness. The announcement of the death of Somnus recalls his sale as a yearling at Middle Park, and his subsequent turf career. As a young horse the handsome son of Hammock played second fiddle In his owner’s estimation. to Idalium, who had cost Mr Robert Campbell the hitherto unprecedented sum of 1025 guineas at the same sale. The latter, however, was too infirm ever to stand a thorough preparation, and although he ran as a two-year-old, and accompanied Somnus to Australia next season, he never won a race. The glimpse of form which he gave in private, however, was enough to prove that his leg alone prevented him being a great racehorse. Somnus was made a great pot for the V.R.C. Derby, but finished unplaced. Various reasons have been assigned for his failure, but the one which always found favour with those best qualified to judge was that the son of Traducer could not stay a mile 'and a-half. Mr P. Campbell has sold Lapiadiary, and the son of Ahua Is now an inmate of W. Pine’s stable. Riccarton is quieter than ever now. In addition to the absentees at Dunedin, Glenaladale, Tercelet, and Wind Whistle have left to fulfil their respective engagements at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting. ® ® ® DUNEDIN J.C. AUTUMN MEETING. The following acceptances have been received for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting:— FIRST DAY. First Hack Handicap of 60sovs, one mile.—Medus 9.2, Transport 9.0, Moslem Maid 8.2, Snider (late No Class) 7.13, Western Belle 7.0, Lady Dundas 8.9. DUNEDIN CUP of OOOsovs. One mile and a half. st. lb. st. lb. Pampero 9 S Cameo 7 10 Dundas 8 11 Muscovite 7 6 Fulmen 8 10 Lady Lillian 7 4 Cannie Chlel.. 8 7 Calibre 610 Canteen 8 6 Ladies’ Bracelet of BOsovs, one mile and a quarter.—Transport 11.13, Dormant 11.5, Billet Doux 10.10, Diablerie 10.7. Publicans’ Handicap of 150sovs, six furlongs.—Gold Spur 9.7, Dundas 9.5, Cora Linn 9.2, Tsaritza 8.12, Battlecry 7.7, Savannah 7.2, Calibre 7.0, Foray 7.0. Stewards' Welter Handicap of 70sovs, seven furlongs.—Cora Linn 10.5, Maremma 10.0, Vandyke 9.12, Spider 9.8, Lady Lillian 9.7, Wild West 9.5, Ardnaff 9.5, First Light 9.0, Visionary 8.9. "Hawthorne 8.7, Red Banner 8.4. The following remain In the Champagne Stakes of 150sovs (six furlongs):— Vladimir, Wellbeck, Lady Rosslyn, Sarchedon. ® ® ® WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING. Th following are the acceptances for the Wanganui Autumn Meeting:— THE WANGANUI CUP of 750sovs; second! lOOsovs; third, 50sovs. One mile and threequarters. st. lb. st. lb. Tortulla 9 3 Military 7 4 Nonette 8 11 Sirius 7 3 Ideal 8 4 Fashion 7 2 Beddington .... 712 Fakir 610 Skobelott 710 Maro ...' 6 7 Mellwood 7 8 St. Lyra 6 7 The Shannon... 7 7 Stewards’ Stakes Handicap of 150sovs. One mile.—Crusoe 9.7, Halberdier 8.3, Windwhistle 8.0, Queen’s Guard 7.12, Fleka 7.10, Bowman 7.9, la 7.5, Lady Bel! 7.4, St. Lyra 7.2, Katriona 6.11, Gipsy Queen 6.11, Sunfish 6.10, Heriot 6.9. Flying Handicap of 250sovs. Six furlongs.—Jabber 9.7, Chasseur 9.0, Sylvia Park 7.11, Indian Queen 7.10, Calceolaria 7.9, Rangltata 7.9, Westguard 7.7, Faugh-a-ballagh 7.7, Zealous 7.6, Katriona 7.0, Durable 7.0, Sunfish 6.10, Mairehai 6.7. Jackson Stakes of 500sovs. Six furlongs. —Glenogle 9.10, Royal Artillery 9.6, Windwhistle 8.10, Jewellery 8.5, Sunfish 8.5 Grey Seaton 7.7, Orloff 7.6, Porirua Kelbourne 7.2, Immersion 6.13, Deerstalker 6.13, Tercelett 6.13, Lavalette 6.13, Optlmfist 6.13, Dirk 6.10, Armistice 6.10, Punanui 6.10, Formullst 6.10. Petre Welter Handicap of Irtn«ov-. One mile and

Beau Ideal 10.0, Rose Plot 9.9, Van 9.7, Hard Work 9.3, Mairehau 9.0. First Handicap Hurdles of ISOsovs. Two miles- and a distance. —Molfaa 12.10. Walwera 12.8. Royal Conqueror 9.9, Stockade 9.7, Aquinaldo 9.7, Tokatera 9.3, Nea 93, Sultana 9.0.