TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue II, 12 July 1902, Page 83

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Special to •‘Graphic.”) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The arrangements to re-open Forbury Park are practically completed, and in all probability a club called the Forbury Park Racing Club will be racing there during the coming season. It is said that there will be no difficulty with regard to totallsator permits. The Hon. 11. Gourley, M.L.C., is likely to be a prominent figure in the new institution. Flngall, the paralysed colt by Projectile, who, I told you recently, had been given by Mr Brett to a Wingatul resident, who Imagined that he could cure the sufferer, is still in his old quarters at McGinness’. Apparently the Wingatul man has thought better of his determination to try his hand on the colt. The N.Z. Cup candidate Lady Lillian has been turned out for a short spell at Ashbtirton. The daughter of Lady Zetland promises to be a good rough outsider for the Cup.

Flngall, the paralysed colt by Projectile, who, I told you recently, had been given by Mr Brett to a Wingatul resident, who Imagined that he could cure the sufferer, is still in his old quarters at McGinneas’. Apparently the Wingatul man has thought better of his determination to try his hand on the colt.

Hovas, the mare by Neckersgat from Tyropean, imported from Australia by Mr J. B. Reid, a few weeks ago, has been sent down to Elderslie on a visit to Stepniak. The Programmee Committee of the Canterbury J.C. has at last been persuaded to abolish the Shorts, a furlong selling flutter, with which it persisted for many years in disfiguring the programme for N.Z. Cup Day, and has substituted a Sapling Stakes, a race for two-year-olds who do not remain In the Welcome Stakes after November sth. It has made another move in reinstating the distance for the Canterbury Cup at 2 >4 miles, and it has renamed the Farewell Handicap the Fendalton Handicap, and increased the stakes to 250sovs. The prizes for the Spring Hurdle Race and Maiden Plate have been reduced by £5O each, which concludes the list of major alterations to the programme for the Spring Meeting. In the programme for the Summer Meeting the Midsummer Handicap and St. Alban s Handicap have ben reduced by £5O each, and the Lyttelton Plate and Flying Handicap £lO each. The Champion Plate has been eliminated, and a handicap for two and three year old fillies of £l5O substituted. This race will be run on the first day, the Middle Park Plate taking the place of ths Champion Plate on the second day. The Belfast Welter is seven furlongs instead of six. In the programme for the Autumn Meeting the distance for the Kilkare Hurdle Race has been increased to two miles, and that of the Malden Plate to one mile, £lO being added to the latter stake. The Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps will be £750 each, as against £lOOO and £5OO respectively last season; and the Autumn Nursery Handicap stake has been reduced by £5O. The reduction of acceptance fees, based on last year’s figures, would leave a loss of £453, but the committee hope that the lower fees will result in a larger number of acceptors. The gross increase In stakes will be £415, which, added to the reduction in fees, totals £B6B. The committee expresses regret that the hurdle races are not better supported, especially those at the Autumn Meeting, and added in Its report that It is a matter for further consideration whether these races should not be struck out of the autumn programme. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Although the weather has been bright and fine during the last three or four days, the lot of the Riccarton trainers is still far from a happy one. Heavy frosts, following one another with monotonous persistency, have got into the tracks, and mangled them to such an extent that trainers have been positively afraid to give their charges fast work. About the only exception is G. Aynsley, who sent Huku for a schooling gallop on Thursday. The son of Vanguard was accompanied by Pipi, but the latter fell at the first fence, and his companion was obliged to finish his journey alone. Hukp got through his task safely, but fenced rather slowly, a fault which his trainer attributes to the want of a strong pace and a companion. At one time it appeared as if Aynsl*y had accepted a hopeless task in trying to convert Skobeloff into a lumper. Lately, however, the son of Stepniak has been taking kindly to his lessons, and on Saturday, with Bugle Call as a companion, he jumped a few flights of hurdles in most creditable style. While at the meet of the hounds on Tuesday. J.P.. by Apremont from the old steeplechase mare Justice, fed and broke his neck.

Cutts’ horses. Cannie Chiel, Aherlow. Cyclas. and Parva, have recommenced work.

Pallas and Wepner are also on the active list again.

The latest arrival at Riccarton is the Auckland-bred mare Regulation, by Regal from May. who has put in an appearance from the West Coast of the South Island.

Nonette continues to be supported for the New Zealand Cup, and is now quoted at the ridiculous price of 9 to 1. Messrs Barnett and Grant report the following business on the New Zealand Cup: 1500 to 10 against Nonette. 1200 to 14 Sarchedon, 1000 to 10 Waipawa, 700• to 20 Kelpy, 600 to 37 Melwood, 600 to 20 Sirius. 500 to 32 Cruciform, 500 to 12 St. Michael, 400 to 12 Motor. 400 to 20 Welbeck. 400 to 18 Ghoorka. They also report the following business on the Grand National meeting, Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdle Race: 500 to 7 The Guard and Strathnalm, 500 to 5 Lochade and Treeham. 500 to 5 Cannongate and Cannonrate 400 to 4 Evening Wonder and Smithy, 300 to 8 Gobo anl Dundas, 200 to S Gobo and Kahuwai, 200 to 2 The Guard and

Reliance. K 0 to 1 Cgenongate and Mare, 200 to 2 Cava Hero and Mars. MO to 1 Gobo and Skobeloff. Winter Cup and Grand National Steeplechase: 500 to 74 against Muscovite and Gobo, 200 to 2 Siege Gun and The Guard. cS?,L, eDtr ‘? Ust week for the Canterbury J.C. Grand National meeting compare most favourably with the nominations received for the correspending events last year. They total 217 as aKalnst 176 received In 1901. The Grand National Steeplechase shows an increase of 91. the Grand National Hurdle Race an Increase of 16. The Sydenham Hurdle Race an increase of 18. and the Winter Cup an Increase of one. The decreases are in the Beaufort Steeplechase, in which there is a falling off of one. and in the Lincoln Steeplechase, in which the reduction is two. The Canterbury u.C. has shifted into Its new offices in Hereford-streot. The spring meeting of the South Canterbury J.C. will be held on September 3 and 4. Mr Henrys will make the handicaps. The death is announced of the stallion Mellboeus, the doubtfully-bred son of Ben Battle or Arbitrator from Hasty Girl. Mellboeus was bred in Ireland, and after racing with a fair amount of success In the country of his birth and England. and winning a quern’s premium, was purchased for export to this colony, by Messrs Tesch maker and Campbell. He did little good at the stud. The Christchurch Hunt Club announce that it will hold a race meeting at Plumpton Park on July 26. The Dunedin Jockey club ha_s closed the season with a credit balance of £7OO. There is to be no opposition to the members of the present committee. As I predicted in my last letter, the Dunedin Jockey Club, as Metropolitan Club of the district, has offered no opposition to the claim of the newly-formed Forbury Park Racing Club for a permit; it has merely forwarded the application without comment to the Colonial Secretary. The enrolment of members has been held over pending the Minister’s answer, but it is anticipated between 300 and 400 will join. Hankins, the Dunedin trainer, has Anally decided to try his luck In South Africa. ® ® ®