TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XXIV, 10 December 1904, Page 19

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.--Own Correspondent.' CIIRISTCIHUtCH, Snllirda; Mr Moss tlec.ares that the price which iia received fm Canteen has been greNlljr exaggerated. it was not nearly iUhi.'i pounds. lutdy Somnus. I»y Somnus, and J.»ue Eyre, by Bos, have foaled colts to (lie Government stallion Bcmpioiu The former's has si uro died. After his unsuccessful efforts at the <’.JJ\ spring met* Ung, Blackstone w.is treated to a spell. tie will be taken up shortly to be prepare (I for the autuniu campaign.

The sub-committee of the Canterbmy Jockey Club, set up to conduct the Petrovna case before Hie Court of Appeal are much iuceused at the finding. In .1 1 ngthy letter in the current number of the

“Weekly Press” they express icgrct Hint the court should have permitted Itself tq deliver a judgment which, “In the tone by which It is animated and the terms in which it is couched, tenemblcs much mor* the address of a defending counsel lh:«:i the v.ttcraneo of a presiding judge.” The Committee protests that the decision in the Bngjlpcs appeal and the Petrovna appeal “are strangely Inconsistent.” and appends the opinions of Messrs Harper and Stringer, two leading barristers. In support of its coucl-usioiis.

There is a disposition locally to bark Ciuclfurm for the Auckland Cup. Up io the publication of the ncceptam<‘» Mr Stead made m» announcement regarding his intentions, and in default of one, backers were in the dark until last night.

Although lite North Canterbury J.C. annual race meeting on Thursday opened amid a drizzle, the rain cleared off. and the meeting was hold in pleasant went her. The altendanee was small, and Included few visitors from town, but specula Hon was slightly biisker (han at last ytnr’s meeting. The going was bard ami fast, which accounts for the times registered in several of the events. Only three horse. 4 started for tin* North Canlerlmry Handicap, which fell to l.olah. Hie outsider of the parly. The daughter of Musketry cannot be (rusted to get a mile iu decent company. but neither Antigone nor Qulekfir? could take her along fast enough to thoroughly extend her. The field for the Hack Race was no larger than that which contested the principal event, and the Saracen mare Sa ranges won easl'y. Betting on this race was restricted to n total of £1 10/, ami on'y half a sovereign was invested on the winner. Loluli was brought out again for the Rangioia Welter Handicap, but. (his time failed to get 1 place, the Apremont mare Nor’-wester winning by a head from Clanburn, with the disappoint ing E’.ilmnk a bare length nwav Welbeck’s half sister. Pensive, was made a strong favourite for the Flying Handicap. and justified Hie confidence reposed in her by winning eaflly from King Stork and Antigone; but her stable companion Blue Stocking, who was most in demand for tin* Malden Hack Race, was beaten by the threc-year-old filly Melinda, by Musketry Maybird. Shortly after the meeting closed, rain s» I in heavily, and continued through the night aud all day yesterday. JI was not wanted by the farmers, but It will benefit the tracks al Ricca! ton.

CURT STU HV RC JI, T ucsday. After a brief foretaste of suniincr the -weather broke in the early pait of last week, ami has been wretched ever since. Un Monday the weather was suggestive of June rather than December. As a result training operations have been much impeded. Sir George Clifford s team fur Auckland will consist of Quany man, To-morrow, Gohlen Vein, and Signalman. Quarry man, To-morrow, ami Signalman will leave today (Wednesday), and will be joined at Wellington by Golden Vein, who has remained in the North Island since the Fellding meeting. The horses will bo under the charge of E. Cutts. Mr Stead’s tram, which will leave on December 14th, will probably comprise Cruciform, Savoury, Rubin, Nightfall, Sungod, Delaware, and Nightfall’s (dark) brother Noct nJ form. Cruciform is now a strong favourite for the Auckland Cup, ami Savoury occupies a corresponding position in the railway handicap. A story got abroad here that after the C.J.C. meeting Mahutonga remained in Canteibury, and was being trained at Yaldburst. The story was untrue, of course, and how it came to be invented nobody knows. Probably it arose out of the fact that Mason is known to entertain a strong admiration for Mahutonga. Cannie Chid and Tessera returned on Saturday from their fruitless visit to Feilding. Cult's team has been further strengthened by the inclusion of Treadmill and Brave Heart. The former was brought down from Stoney hurst on Tuesday of last week, and has resumed work, lie looks just in nice condition to begin a preparation, and his forelegs, the seat of the trouble which necessitated his withdrawal from training, look as if they would survive another preparation. Brave Heart camo up from Ashburton. where she had been on a visit to Pilgrim's I’rogiess. She was accompanied by Catherine Wheel, who. with a nice looking colt by Clanranald, has gone on to Stoueyhurst. The local horseman. McCluskey. intends being present at the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting. As Zetland show’s little signs of improvement. he is to be blistered and treated to a spell. De la Rey and King’s Guest are among the Rlccarton horses booked for Dunedin at Christinas time. The Christchurch Racing Club’s summer meeting will be opened next Saturday, and continued on the following Friday, which Is the province’s anniversary day. The acceptances fur the principal event on the first day are:— Windsor Handicap of KlOsovs. one mile: Stepdancer B.l’l. Secret Society 8.10, Terrapin 8.6, Sandy 8.5, De la Rey 8.2. Lady Lvonors 8.1. Magnificent 7.10, Ability 7.7, Lolah 7.4, Manjoss 7.2. Lady I.yonors or Ability may win. In the minor events the following horses may run forward in their respective engagements: — Nursery Handicap: Hilarity ami Buccleugh. Springston Welter Handicap: Magnificent. Flying Handicap: Master Alix and Sandy. High Weight Handicap: Stepdancer. A. 11. Frew, the well known Victorian tiainer, passed through Christchurch last week on his way to Auckland. He inspected some local horses, and I understand was much impressed with Magnificent, who he thought has the makings of a fine steeplechase horse. It is rumoured here that further proceedings may be taken in the Petrovna Mr 11. Howell, a gentleman well known in Invercargill racing circles, died last week. The Castor gelding Sarehcdon has resumed work at Wingatuf. A filly by Casket- Farvula, and a colt by The Officer —Sabia, have been broken in by L. Lawson, the Southland trainer.