TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XXIII, 5 December 1903, Page 20

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Special to “Graphic.”! CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Matters are very quiet at Rlccarton just now. The last of the visitors have departed, and the local horses are still taking Things easily after their labours at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Spring Meeting. A few are being sent along in view of the North Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, which is to be held on Monday* The following may run forward in their respective engagements: Open Hunters’ Handicap, Blain Tom. North Canterbury Handicap, Secret Society and Djin-Djin. Rangiora Welter Handicap, Antigone. District Welter, Silver Event. Flying Handicap, Muskburn and The Mohican. Novel Race, Cannonite. Cerise and Blue, who has had a long spell, has resumed work. It is said that if Roseal had won the New Zealand Cup a West Coast syndicate would have profited to the extent of £4OOO. I hear that previous to tne sale Bombardo was offered as a present to Mr E. D. ORorke. The cross-country horse Agitator, who is now a member of Mr Clarke’s team, is being prepared for the steeplechases to be decided at the Auckland Summer Meeting. He is a half-brother to Liberator.

Radius, a two-year-old colt by Double Event from Corusa, has become the property of the Riccarton trainer J. J. Lewis, whose team he has joined. Mr Stead has sold his two-year-old filly, Veldt, by Seaton Delaval —Stepfeldt, to an Auckland racing man. Gleam, by Reflector —Argon, has foaled a colt to Sant Ilario* and Nenuphar, by. Apremont—Watersprite, a filly to Royal Artillery. The old hurdle racer Ilex has been put Into work again after enjoying a rest extending over some years. Mistral, the dam ot Pampero, who broke a fetlock some weeks ago, died last week after foaling to Stepniak, The foal died also. I understand that Canteen’s owner overlooked the entry day of the Auckland Cup, otherwise the son of Castor would have been nominated for that race. The report and balance-sheet presented at the annual meeting of the Forbury Park Racing Club showed a credit balance of £174 and that, although the club is the youngest in the colony, it has the largest membership of any club in New Zealand. The Hon. H. Gourlay was re-eleeted president. He stated that the club had a promise to get the first totallsator permit that fell In Otago. The membership totals 278Tournallne. by Hotchkiss —Chrysolite, has foaled a colt to Lord Roslyn; Plevna, by Stepniak—Ambush, a filly to Lord Roslyn;

Kouiurl. by Gorton—Lady Gertrude. a eolt to Lord Roslyn; Tiara, by St. Leger— Bangle, a eoit to Lord Roslyn; Mist, by St. Clair—Mistral, a fitly to Stepntak; Venture, a filly to Stepntak; and La Rente, a filly to Btepo)»k. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. rhe weather was lovely for the North Canterbury Joehey Clnb'a annual rave meeting, held yesterday (Tuesday), and the attendance, which Included a til- proportion of visitors from Christchurch. was large. The racing on the whole was interesting. The principal event, the North Canterbury Handicap, was a good betting raee. Thunderer started favourite, but Djin-DJin, Secret Society, and Zealous were well backed, and even the two outsiders, Speculate and Sophistic, met with support. As matters turned out, the two outsiders ought to have monopolised the betting, for they had the finish to themselves, Speculate catching Sophistic, who had made all the running, a eoaple of hundred yards from home and winmag by two lengths. Secret Soel-ry who finished a similar distance behind Sophistic, defeated the favourite by a head lor third position. The winner is one of the few of the progeny of Banner iby Westmere) that have been seen in publie, and is out of Spec, the dam of more than one useful performer. Single Event was imtal’ed £ a \°? r ‘ te , for the Hunters - Flat Race, but finished last in a field of three. Plain Tom S by Ge<,r winning easily from Prospect. An inquiry into the running of Single Event resulted in his rider (rarrell) being disqualified for the remainder of the meeting, on the ground of incompetency. Crusader (by St. George—Kate Hayes) appropriated the Novel Race and was bought in at £l7; and the resuscitated Magnificent beat a strong favourite in Ropu In the Rangiora Welter Handicap, the son of St. Leger and La Dauphin? winning easily by a length, with Zealous elose up third. Speculate defeated two opponents in the District Welter Handicap; and Sophistic, who Is a daughter of the Apremont—Flattery horse Ben Novato, wou the Flvlng -Handicap from The Mohican and four others, who included the favourite Muskburn.

Owing to some difficulty regarding stcamec arrangements, it has not yet been decided when the Canterbury contingent for the Auckland meeting shall leave for the North. They will go by the Mokoia, leaving on December 9, or by the Te Anau on December 12, and if accommodation cannot be provided on either of these steamers, by the Talune, sailing next Saturday.

Treadmill, the Auckland Cup favourite Is progressing most satisfactorily in his preparation. He has taken most kindly to galloping right-handed, and iu that is "going on as well as his best friends could wish A similar remark applies to Quarryman, who has quite shaken off the soreness which troubled him at the Canterbury J.C. meeting, and the remainder of Sir Geo. Clifford’s Auckland divison, which consists of Windwhistle, Golden Vein, Brave Heart, and Gladsome, wlx> is going up in charge of Mason, is now being trained at Yaldiiurst. Agitator, wlm is now in Clarke s team, is also being prepared in that locality. The weather has been beautifully fine during the post week; but, save the horses .engaged at tire Auckland meeting, the loc-ally-trained animals are taking matters easily. Stepdaneer also has been amiss, but is nearly well again, and is likely to resume work shortly. H. Davies, who has been connected with Aynsley’s stable for some years, has left it to join Mr H. A. Knight’s, establishment. Lid Perkins, who has been treated to a lengthy spell, is being backed prior to recommencing work. During the week the following business lias been done locally on the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap:—soo to 10 against Idas and Idea, 250 to 5 Treadmill and Romeo. 200 to 5 Treadmill and Hohoro. 200 to 4 Treadmill and Petrovna, 200 to 1 General Byrneus and Petrovna.