TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue IX, 30 August 1902, Page 531

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Special to “Graphic.” CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The storm of last week has been followed by a calm of rather more than the usual magnitude. The tracks at Rlccarton are deserted save b' r the local horses, and the latter have scarcely begun their spring preparations In earnest. Tn a few weeks our interest will be centred on the New Zealand Cup, but just now that event seems rather too far off to be discussed, while, as for past events, we are •o satiated with them that we are almost grateful to escape public confabulation. Now that the Grand National meeting Is well over and It Is possible to take an Impartial and dispassionate view of the racing, the significance of Siege Gun's defeat Is beginning to be minimised. On sober reflection most of us are beginning to realise that, after all, Mr Stead's horse ran a good race, and, what Is of most importance, ran like a stayer. He Is In just

as good favour now as he wag previous to his defeat. Local racing folk were very pleased to learn from Mr Macmanemln that Non* ette had completely recovered from the effects of his accident, and are still better pleased to discover from the same authority that the mishap had been magnified. We all hope to see the son of Beaton Delaval dressed in his best next November, and I for one trust that he will win. The movement inaugurated in Dunedin to form a jockeys* union found no favour in Chrstchurch. Last week a meeting of horsemen, called during the Grand National meeting, was attended by one solitary rider. I forgot to mention in my last telegram that Skobeleff was offered for sale last Monday, and was passed in at 140 gs. It Is difficult to realise to what use the disappointing son of Stepniak can be put. He appears equally Incapable of winning either on the flat or over jumps. It may Interest you to learn that the once-speedy gelding Forbury, by Albany —Fallacy, is now engaged in drawing a cab in Dunedin. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. At the annual meeting of the Nelson Jockey Club the committee’s report stated that the financial position of the club was sound, there being a cash balance of £3ll, of which £360 was on fixed deposit, and with other assets the total amounted to £374, and there were no liabilities. The sum of £7 17/6 for nominations and acceptances last year was outstanding. The committee recommended April 1 and 2, 1903, as the dates for the annual race meeting, and this had been confirmed by the conference. An attempt was made to dispense with the services of Mr Henry as handicapper, and on this failing a motion to reduce his salary by £lO. This also was lost. The club will distribute £550 in stakes at its next meeting.

As is the case at Riccarton matters at Wingatul are very quiet. A fairly large number of horses are in work, but training operations are restricted for the most part to preparatory exercise of an Uninteresting nature. Red Gauntlet, Ayrdale and Sarchedon are more forward than any of the other horses in training, but Vladimir and Pampero are sufficiently advanced in their preparations to be quite ready to race by’New Zealand Cup time, and Canteen is loking bright and healthy.

The weather was fine throughout last week. On Sunday night, however, there was a heavy flow of rain, but it cleared early yesterday (Monday) morning, and only lasted long enough to give the training tracks at Riccarton a seasonable soaking. The work done last week was not very interesting, but it promises to be worth watching soon. All the visiting horses, with the exception of The Swimmer, Fleka and Blarney have returned home. The first named is waiting here while his new stable companion Inchyape fulfils his engagements at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s spring meeting. Fleka and Blarney will leave to-.day. Sultana, who changed hands after the Grand National meeting, is now an in mate of Pine’s stable.

Rawmore and unaetonitis have joined the Taggart’s team. Golden Lake has gone into Lewis’ hands. Cora Linn has been resting since the Grand National meeting. The daughter of Foulshot was a little the worse for her exertions.

Mr Harris has recalled the order to destroy Redoubt. The son of Derringer is improving, and it is considered to be worth while to afford him a chance of making a complete recovery. The owner of Surrey has laid a wager of £5O that his horse will beat Slow Tom in the Hurdlq Race at the South Canterbury meeting. Principal interest at Riccarton just now is centred in the locally-owned two-year-olds. Sir George Clifford’s Bill of Portland’s, Treadmill and To-morrow, are attracting favourable notice, and of the Yaldhurst lot King Log and De La Rey have come In for most attention. The latter pair are both well followed, probably in view of the Hastings Stakes, In which they are engaged.

Dundas Is fast throwing off the lameness which prevented him running at the Grand National meeting, and will shortly begin his long delayed New Zealand Cup preparation. The other local Cup candidates, with the exception of Calibre, are all progressing satisfactorily. Calibre is still lame, and the prospects of his standing a Cup preparation are not very bright. The Canterbury J.C. secured exceedingly satisfactory nominations for the Stewards’ Handicap, the Canterbury Cup, and the Jubilee Cup, for which entries closed on Friday. Of the horses engaged in the New Zealand Cup, 17 have been entered for the Canterbury Cup. Of those not in the big handicap. Cruciform and Evelyn' are in the weight for age race, but Orloff has not been nominated, a fact which confirms the opinion of those critics who have maintained all along that the son of Stepniak was not destined to develop Into a stayer. Nonette is engaged, and the contest Mtween him and Cruciform, If both go to the post dressed In their best, Is likely to prove of supreme Interest.

The following business has been done locally during the week:—New Zealand Cup: 500 to 22 against Ideal, 500 to 20 against Bowman, 300 to 17 against Welbeck, 300 to 6 against Ktwa, 250 to 5

against Dundas, 200 to 34 against Nonette, 200 to 5 against Halberdier, 300 to 14 against Pampero.

New Zealand Cup and Stewards’ Handicap: 1000 to 5 against Canteen and and Blazer, 600 to 8 against Siege Gun and Orloff, 500 to 5 against Nonette and Farewell, 400 to 4 against Siege Gun and Exmoor, 400 to 4 against Nonette and Exmoor, 200 to 2 against Siege Gun and Pallas, 200 to 2 against Pampero and Goldspur. The Ohoka and Eyreton Jockey Club will hold the annual race meeting on October 2nd. The local police found it a difficult matter to serve summonses upon bookmakers for betting on the Riccarton racecourse and the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s ground during the week before last. Some were found as far south as Invercargill and the Bluff, while others go«t their summonses at Wellington, and as far north as Napier. © © © AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB. The following handicaps have been declared by Mr J. O. Evett:— Avondale Cup Handicap of 300eova; second 40sovs; third lOsovs. One mile and a-quarter.—Nonette 10.5, Rosella 9.8, Beddington 9.2, Highlander 8.13, Vai Rosa 8.5, The Needle 8.3, Formula 8.2, Scotty 7.13, St. Olga 7.12, The Shannon 7.11, Tresham 7.10, Mars 7.9, Matamataharakeke 7.7, Up-to-Date 7.6, Military 7.6, Solo 7.5, Ragabrash 7.5, Grey Seaton 7.4, Kelburn 7.2, Durable 7.0, Spalpeen 7.0, Commodore 6.12, Doctor 6.7. Flying Stakes Handicap of lOOsoyu, second lOsovs. Six furlongs.—Highlander 9.6, Bluejacket 8.12, The Needle 8.10, Formula 8.9. St. Olga 8.7, Scotty 8.7, Maroon and Gold 7.13, Jewellery 7.7, Winsome 7.7, Wairiki 7.7, Landlock 7.7, La Valette 7 7. Durable 7.6, Taplow 7.6, Marshal Soult 7.5, La Vallere 7.5, Spalpeen 7.5, Geordle 7.5, Cygnet 7.0, Orange and Blue 7.0, Mechanic 7.0, Gold Web 6.10, La Polish C. 7, Hikipene 6.7.

® ® © CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The following nominations have been received for events to be decided at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Metropolitan Meeting:— Canterbury Cup of 500sovs, weight for age, two miles and a quarter.—Cannle Chiel, Glenaladale, Golden Vein, Tercele, Pampero, Vladimir, Lavalette, Grey Seaton, St. Michael. Ringman, Kelburn, Bombardo, Welbeck, Tortulla, Porlrua, Cruciform, Siege Gun, Evelyn Wood, Impcrator, Nonette, and Punamu. Jubilee Cup of 500sovs, one mile,—Canteen Achilles, Cannie Chiel, Glenaladale, Golden Vein, Pampero, Vladimir, Secret Society, Lavalette. Grey Seaton, Lavallere, St. Michael, Blazer, Ringman. Firebrand, Kelburn, Full Cry, Bombardo, Welbeck, Ostiak, Tortulla, Porlrua, Cruciform, Siege Gun, Orloff, Farewell,

Halberdier, Imperator, Nonette. Pounamu and Dundas. Stewards’ Handicap of 500sova, six furlongs.—Good Intent, Canteen, Red Gauntlet. Ghoorka, Exmoor, Achilles, St. Denis, Glenogle, Cann4e Chiel. Glenaladale, Somerled, Dirk, Tzaritza, Florodor a, Wlll-o’-the-Wisp, Pampero, Vladimir, Whirlwind, Secret Society, Lavalette, Grey Seaton, Lavallero, Blazer, Battler, Ringlet, Klngetork, Antigone, Greek Maid. Kelburn, Gladiela. Full Cry, Count of Kolmar, West Guard, Melwood, Field Battery, Muscovite. Holah, Welbeck, Ostiak, Porlrua, Zealous, Hohoro. Cruciform, Orloff, Grand Rapids, Farewell, Furious, Pallas, Murello, Dingo, Scotty, Goldspur, Ray, Cora Linn, Scylla, Cerias and Blue, Dundas. One hundred and eleven nominations have been received for the Welcome Stakes (1908), 101 for the Derby Stakes (1904), 50 for the Oaks Stakes (1204), 112 for the Champagne Stakes (1904), 119 for the Thirteenth Challenge Stakes (1906), .and 106 for the Middle Park Plate (1904).