TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 16

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The rain that fell early in the week improved the tracks at Rlccarton wonderfully, and they are now in ideal condition. Several trainers who have been keeping their charges at the lightest of tasks have now g,ot them in strong commission, and work will be worth witnessing from now till the Easter meeting comes along. Cross Battery, which was given a wellearned spell, after the Wellington meeting, has been taken in hand again by Taggart. She has built up wonderfully, and now looks particularly well. This disaj (pointing daughter of Stepniak only wants to be caught right and any such race as the Easter Handicap would be well within hei‘ cornpass. She Is one of the sort that has always run her best races in rather big condition. Idealist and Rose Noble, two of McGuinness’s charges, have been taken In hand again, and are bowling along in nice style. The easy time both have had on account of haul tracks has freshened tlnin up nicely. Canton, Musketoon, Makuie and Pattypan

have been responsible for Romo good work over hurdles during the past week. Of the quartet Musketoon is one that may do best when it comes to racing in public. Tlm? Possible has had to be thrown out of work owing to a curb which developed a few weeks ago. Possible's son will have to be laid aside till next spring. During the absence of Murray Hobbs in England several of his charges, including Nancy Stair, have been placed in charge of G. Matthews, who for some time past acted as Hobbs’ foreman. Good progress has been made by T. Price with Mr. G. Payne’s yearlings, four of whom have already been ridden. The St. Ambrose -Martin colt is going on the right way, and is a promising youngster. Mr. Payne has been offered a price well above the figure he gave for him in November, but he is not prepared to sell. The annual meeting of tho Akaroa County Racing Club, which takes place on Tuesday next, is attracting considerable attention. A large number of Rlccarton trained horses are engaged, and the gathering-should be a great success. Though. Millionaire was sent to Wanganui, I understand the trip was only taken for educational purposes, as Treadmill’s son is as yet rather backward. When thoroughly seasoned the colt can be relied on to do his young sire every credit, and as a three-year-old I expect him to be right in the first flight. Up to the present he is an awkward galloper, but he should stay as well as any of the Chokebore juveniles. The weights for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps-are being looked, forward to with much interest, and it is admitted on all sides that Mr. Henrys has never had such a mixed lot to bring together. Dusky Morn and Munjeet were in fair demand, locally, for the Newmarket Handicap, and Apologue received a little support for the Australian Cup. Though Munjeet was so strongly backed for the sprint event, I have it on the )>est of authority that her owners did not support her for any great amount. CHRISTCHURCH. Monday* Rain that fell last week has done the Rlccarton tracks a lot of good, and some interesting work can be witnessed each morning. Traitress, the two-year-old daughter of Stepniak and Decoy, has been sent home to her owner’s place at Methveu. She will be taken up again after the autumn meetings. T. Sheenan has disposed of the three-year-old sister to Jack Ashore and Hilarity to the Riverton sportsman, Mr. J. Me Ivor. The price has not transpired. Fleetfoot has had rather an easy time of it since the summer meeting, but she is nevertheless in splendid condition, and she shows no signs of the lameness that troubled her a monfa ago. Flitaway and Husbandman, another pair of Cutts’ charges, have been responsible for some useful tasks, and they should be at their best by the autumn. Pattypan, Canton, and Eurus have been responsible for some attractive jumping during the week, but the first-named dwells rather badly at obstacles. D. Roberts is breaking in a rather promising two-year-old filly by Finland from Flame, a half-sister to the unfortunate Suttee. Ouidaform, the son of Multiform and St. Ouida, who was a failure w r hen racing here, changed hands in Australia recently at 450 gs. As the outcome of a judgment given by the Racing Conference Appeal. Court in the Suttee—First View case. W. McConkey, trainer of Lady Stockwell, who finished second to Suttee in the Midland Welter at Reefton meeting on Boxing Day, has claimed the stakes. In the judgment of the special committee set up to inquire into the Suttee —First View protest at the Greymouth meeting, Suttee was Improperly nominated. McConkey states that the conditions similar at Reefton, and appears to have a good case. ■Glenculloch’s poor showing in the Jackson Stakes came as something of a surprise to his connections, who w r ere quite confident of his ability to account for Gravitation and others engaged. Prior to leaving Riccarton, the Cianranald colt had registered some useful gallops, and it was expected that he would be just as well as ever. His poor showing is hard to account for, and though he can be improved, his chance of earning further class honours this season does not look too attractive. However, in Fleetfoot and Husbandman, Sir Geo. Clifford has a pair of tw'o-year-olds that should make things particularly interesting in the North Island Challenge Stakes and C.J.C, Challenge Stakes. The Wingatui trainer, H. Ellis, has recently taken up two of the Hon. G. McLean’s juveniles—a colt by Multiform from Lady Rosslyu, and a filly by Lord Rosslyn from Tourmahine. Both are well grown and handle tigpmselves well.