TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue IV, 23 January 1904, Page 19

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Special to ‘’Graphic.*’ CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The rains of last week Have uoue a tremendous amount of good to vegetation In Canterbury, and the tracks at Riceartou have shared in the general improvement. The going at head-quarters is in first-class order now. The chairman of the Racing Conference has declined to approve of the proposal or Muskburn’s owner to change his horse's u.'inie to Platoon. Machine Gun returner! from Auckland with a cracked heel. That Is the reason why he was not landed at Wellington with Silkworm and Golden Lily. Although the last named Is at the Unit Jt is by no means certain that she will fulfil her engagements at the Wellington Racing Clubs Summer Meeting. It will depend on whe thor she has completely thrown off the effectis of lhe influenza which she contracted at Auckland. I! appears that W. Holmes. Mr Ketd’a stable jockey, wont out of his way nor to ride Gladsome at the Auckland meeting. Having received an offer lo ride for Mr Rathbone ai Napier, he iHMiutaded Mr Kehl to absolve him from going to Auckland. He is naturally uol very well pleased with himself just now. Magnificent. The Malsler. Ability, Nor’wester, Defiance. Bombanlo. ('aunoulte and. Wonderful have returned from the West (’oast, where all except Bombardo took part In the summer meetings. Botubardo went amiss and was unable to si art. Treadmill and Quarryman returned from Auckland on Wednesday. WlndwhhiUe, Golden Vein and Stronghold remained in Wellington. where they wore joined by Cnnnle Chlel and Chrysela, who will assist them to represent Sir George Clifford at the Wellington Summer Meet Ing. Secret Society, Magnificent and one or two other local horses will akj® gc Nort h. Euterpe, the two-year-old daughter or Phoebus Apollo and Harpist, teas been thrown out of training, and Rent back to her owner’s station for a .spell.

( HHISTCIIVRCII, Tuesday, ruo weather is new lovely, and the tracks at ill carton arc- in capital order. Matters locally nr* quiet, however. and are not likely to liven up until the Canterbury Jockey • •tub’s Suuiiut r Meeting approaches. treadmill and Quarry ma u are looking light r.fter their Northern trip, and are taking things easy. They will probably freshen up quickly on a rest. All the local candidates for the Wellington meeting have taken their departure. Tesßora was th° two-year-old which accompanied Cannie Chid. She is a daughter of Clanranald and Tcrediua, and can gallop a bit. •Before leaving for Wellington Dolarey created quite a sensation by accomplishing one of the fastest mile and a quarter gallops tiiat have been recorded this season. Accompanied at various stages of the gallop by two companions, and carrying rather • •ver his Wellington Cup weight, he flnish-ed in capital style, lie will be ridden in the Cup by L. Thompson. H. Donovan is still suffering from the effects of the shaking he sustained when Magnificent fell in the G Plymouth Cup, and Is recruiting at Hamner Springs. The two-year-old filly by Clanranald from Iris has been named Aello. She is duo to make her debut at th? Canterbury Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting next month. Blunderbus, by Artillery, has arrived at ]< leeart on, and has joined Langley’s stable. J. J. Lewis, who hash been recuperating In the North Island, has returned home. lie is much improved in health. IL Thompson, the once noted horseman, and now manager of Mr Friedlander’s stud at Ashburton, has given to the turf one promising rider in th»* person of the fashionable light-weight, T. Thompson. Now a second son has joined Holmes’ stables as an apprentice. Kopu has thrown off the effects of his rerent mishap, and is in strong work again. The entries for the principal handicaps to be decided at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Hummer Meeting are rather meagre. Only seven have been nominated for the Midsummer Handicap, ami 12 for the St. Albani, Handicap. Gladsome is most in demand here for the Wellington Cup, but personally I should not l»c surprised if she were beaten by Canteen. I be stallion Phaeton, who has been serving a season at the stud in the Marton and J’atea districts, Is returning to Canterbury. He will probably go to Wanganui next focason. To-morrow is improving again, and it is hoped that the brilliant daughter of Bill of Portland will make another appearance on the racecourse. Although in the matter of stakes the Forbury Park Racing Club'a summer meeting on Saturday was very email, the attendance was large. No doubt the lovely weather was partly instrumental in attracting a large gathering, but the fact Is also partly attributable to the popularity of the old course with the rank and file of race-goers. St. Denis, who shared with Blazer favouritism for the principal event, the Forbury Handicap, is not himself just now. He ran last all the way, leaving Blazer to win comfortably from the Canterbury representative, Sophistic. The last named’s stable companion, Scottish Minstrel, was made favourite for the Hurdle Race, but he was in ‘trouble all Hie way, and after Plain Tom had run himself to a standstill. Plpl assumed command, ami won easily from Phaetonitis. Witch Winnie landed the short odds taken about her in the Trial Handicap in the easiest possible fashion: and Goldspur, jumping off smartly, while Sophistic was left, won the Flying Handicap with plenty to spare from Flower o’Clutha. In the Hack Race, Aldin'ga, the winner, and Trent bridge got mixed up in the straight, and a protest followed, but the stewards decided - not to disturb the judge’s verdict. ’Aldinga is by the Treason horse Rebellion, but the pedigree of Kremlin, who won the Welter Handicap, is unknown. The Lord Roslyn colt, Sychem, got a nail into one of his feet recently, and has bad to be stopped in bis work. At the Wairlo (Otago) race meeting on Wednesday, the Dreadnought gelding Sirius won the principal event.