TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 12, 21 March 1908, Page 58

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Training operations at Kiccarton are becoming more interesting each working morning i u view of the near approach of the autumn meeting. Cutts' large team, which includes Gleuculioch, Millionaire, Husbandman,' Fleetfoot, Discipline, Flitaway, De Witte, Stratagem, and several two-year-olds, are all progressing favourably, and the veteran trainer wid have the strongest team ever under his charge for the autumn fixtures. All Guns has been responsible, for a couple of attractive gallops during tile week, and the change of stables has already worked improvement in this really smart colt. The meeting of the Akaroa County Racing Club was one of the most successful, from all points of view, ever held at Little River, Though ten bookmakers were doing business, there was only a few pounds falling off in, the totalisator receipts, and the metallicians were hit pretty heavily In several of the races. Casblanea, one of the oldest of St, Legpr's sons’ now racing, demonstrated his versatility by romping home in the Hurdle Race, the ex-Aucklander Crlspinot, which Ims been a sad disappointment, following him home. The Peninsular Cup brought but a really good field, and, contrary to expectations, Ambolse, which has always been regarded as only a sprinter, made a run away race of it, scoring decisively from Tremulous and The Libyan. This was the most popular win of the day, for Mr. Buchanan lias done a lot for the club in Its periods of depression, and the public were not slow to recognise the fact.. The Australian bred filly Mythical by Bundook, which at one time was trained by Murray Aynsley, put down a serviceable field in the Hack Race, and if she could be kept sound, there l» no doubt she would win in much better company than that usually selected for her. Her victory was a bad one for the bookmakers, with whom she was supported right royally. In a poor field Crlspinot

managed to appropriate the Open Hack •Race, and his performance had a fair amount of merit attached to it, for on a How course he cut out 6 furlongs with 8.8 up In Im. 17 l-5s. f and was going very strongly ifttthe finish. The well-bred gelding Portland, by Finland—Quiver, put down several heavily-backed ones in the District Welter Keep and the Australian-bred mare, Mary of Argyle following him home. The latter is really a nice mare, but her excitable temtperament always prejudices her prospects ht the start. Several Riccarton-trained horses left on iMonday for Greymouth meeting, and in view of .poor oppsition, they should be worth following. ' The meeting of the Walmate R.C. on Thursday next gives every prospect of being the most successful ever held in the district, the competitors including many Riccarton pnd Wingatul horses, besides others from Ashburton, Tlinaiu and Oalnaru. " r The racing at the New Brighton Trotting jClub’s meeting on Thursday was of a very •poor character, there being only one Interesting finish throughout the afternoon. {Exchequer, which is owned by Mr. H. F. iNicoll, captured the big three mile Handicap, and though made a staunch favourite. Ibis win took a lot of money from the bookmakers. Robert Emmett had an. easy task in the Autumn Handicap, and his victory was one of the most popular ever witnessed on the seaside course, for he is owned by .Canterbury’s foremost sportswoman, Miss Button, who at one time used to drive and ride her own horses. Spider, who claims the honour of being a Winter Cup winner, started in three races at the Clutha meeting, and was unlucky to lose in one of his Starts. He was foaled in 1896, so that he has . had a fairly busy time since he first carried silk. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Glenculloch and Millionaire have been kept up to collar since their return to Riccarton from Wanganui, but the former does not gallop with his one time brilliancy. Cross Battery has been responsible for several swallow-catching gallops of late, but unfortunately she cannot be relied on to .repeat them with the colours up. On Saturday last she was much too good for Sea King in a brush over four furlongs, which she left behind in 48 2-ss. J Cannoneer, who has been on the retired list for some time, has been taken in hand again by J. Bridges, and appears to have thrown off his soreness I hear that Elevation is intended to fulfil his engagements in the Manawatu Stakes, and Le is bowling along in his work in great style. His half-brother, Gravitation, .will carry Mr Bidwill’s colours in the classic events at the Canterbury J.C, 'Autumn Meeting. The Forbury Park Company intends cutting up the old racecourse, and selling it in small sections. At a recent meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club application was received from L. King, who was disqualified for six months,- for permission to work in racing stables. It was decided to recommend King to make his application to the club that imposed his disqualification. Mr R. O. Campbell wrote tendering his resignation as member of committee, as he intended leaving for England shortly. The resignation was accepted with regret, and Mr W. L. Philips was appointed to the vacancy. It was reported that some jockeys had made a disturbance at Wingatui after the last ■meeting there, and it was decided to write asking for an explanation before dealing further with the case. It was also deemed necessary to caution one jockey as to his future behaviour. Trainers’ licenses were granted to J. Ross, A. McDonald, J. Rogers, W. Baird, and C. Campbell. The yearling colts, by Soult—Sprite and have been broken in by .U. Thomson. The former gives every promise of developing into a high-class two-year-old. A large number of Riccarton-trained horses are engaged at Oxford J. C. Meeting on the 18th, and others will make the journey to Walmate for the meeting there on Thursday. Several others have left for the West Coast to participate in the Greymouth Jockey Club’s Meeting. Ihe sport witnessed on the second day of the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting showed a decided advance on that of Thursday, as did also the attendance. The • Marlborough-owned Dick Fly had a comfortable win in the Wainoni Handicap, but . he was fortunate in the handicapping opposition of Lady Lilian and Royal Ribbon. This pair collided soon after the start, with the result that their gear was broken, and » their chances extinguished. Prince Warbeck and Peacock both trotted well, but had no chance with the winner, who was ■ running over his favourite distance. A high-class field of ten, capable of going two ' miles in five minutes or better, contested the Brighton Handicap, and a splendid race was witnessed. Two furlongs from home. 1 (Discoverer ran to the front and appeared to be winning comfortably, hut Ten Tree ramo with a groat final effort, and scored by a length. FuSe6 and Verax, the two • favourites, did not run up to expectations, • the former giving a wretched display. Submarine. the Neteon-owned gelding, gave further evidence of his usefulness by annexing “”tho Avon Handicap, but ho war lucky, for the scratch how (Woodbury! had nearly caught, him nt. the end of a mile, only to . be- ordered out of the race for anticipating the starter’s bell. The best Performance of the registered bv The Heir In the Telegraph Handicap, the brother to ‘Fritx cutting out the mile, on a rather slow