TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 57

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.') CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. A large number of the Riecarton-trained horses that took part at the C.J.C. Easter meeting are being kept up to the collar, in view of the Christchurch R.C., North Otago, and Ashburton R.C. meetings, all of which take place in the course of the next few weeks. Splendid support has been received for the Oamaru and Ashburton fixtures, and as the quality of entrants is better than that usually forthcoming for such gatherings their success seem assured. The acceptances received for the first day of the Wellington meeting hardly come up to expectations. The only Riccartou-trained reps, likely to take part in the Thompson Handicap are Cross Battery and Stratagem, while Sea King will probably contest the Railway Handicap. Cross Battery ran a really good race in the Yaldhurst Welter on the second day of the C.J.C. meeting, and if she could only be induced to do her best in Wellington she would make the best of them gallop in any event in which she is started. The fields likely to be seen out in the St. Leger Stakes and North Island Challenge Stakes are lamentably weak, both in size and quality. Contender, which was purchased by Mr. Rutherford after the C.J.C. meeting, is now under the charge of Bridges. Amboise, which changed hands recently, has joined W. McDonald’s team. Amongst the most recent additions to the Chokebore string are three rising two-year-olds that have just been broken in by H. Thomson. They are a brother to Fleetfoot, which shows much promise, a brother to Discipline, and a half-brother to Goldbeater. Whirlwind has been recommissioned, and is being prepared by W. Pine, while Millionaire, which recently found a new owner in Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, is under G. Matthews’ charge.

The owner of Merrie Zealand missed his acceptance for the Thomson Handicap and Waiwetu Handicaps on Saturday through his own delay.

Mr. K. McKenzie, owner of Sen Sim, is lying seriously ill in Greytown Hospital, and his horse will not fulfil its engagements at the Wellington meeting. Some really fine sport was witnessed on the concluding day of the N.Z. Metropolitan meeting, but the track, after the Tough treatment to which it had been subjected earlier in the week, was hardly at its best. Though there was a shrinkage of £3OBO in “tote” receipts for the meeting, no less than £724 was collected in bookmakers’ fees, so that the club will come out of its liabilities with a good profit. Seaweed, a greatly improved son of General Lincoln, put down two better favourites in Exchequer and Imperial Girl in the Hals well Handicap, while Lady Clare wild Al Franz also finished in front of the public selections. Later in the afternoon Al Franz showed that he is by far the best two-year-old seen this year, by compassing a mile in 2.26. This was accomplished in securing the purse of £5O hung up by the club for any two-year-old breaking 2.32 to the mile.

The best field of the meeting, from a quality point of view, contested the Champion Handicap, a race open only to horses capable of doing 4.38 or better. Advance and Florin, two favourites, ran disappointingly, for the former was evidently not in racing humour, and Florin tired badly after going a mile and three-quarters. Half-way through the second mile Verax took charge, and from this out had matters all his own way, winning comfortably in 4.46. from Lord Elmo and Master Poole. It was an excellent performance on the part of the winner, while Lord Elmo was (he only one of the others to do himself justice.

Too Soon, an Otago-owned mare, by Gossoon, which had performed wretchedly on the second day, when made a staunch favourite, went in much more attractive style In the High Class Handicap, which she won easily from Prince Alert and King Cole. The latter are a pair of really good three-year-olds, but so far both have been unlucky In their essays.

Redchlld effected a surprise bv nutting down several better fancied candidates in the Wilkin Handicap nnd by getting to tho end of two miles In 4.45 on a stnwlsh track, he greatly improved on any of his former showings.

Ono of the most nannhr victories nf tho meeting wns that of O.V M In the Sneed well Handicap. Showing n tremendous turn of speed over the first half mile the Australian bred oolt soon had the nnnosiHon In difficulties Irvine to overtake h’m Vanish put up Another fine race in getting second ninon, nnd nnlv for losing two a* three seconds at the start may have troubled the winner. - ,

Another little-fancied candidate, in Rose meath, prevailed in the Trotters’ Handicap, but it was only after a most interesting con test with Woodland Whisper and Miss Vivian that she struggled home. The concluding race of the meeting fell to Robert Einmvt, which w*». in front all the way, and let nothing else get near k.im. Ils is owned by the popular sp «tswoman, Miss J. Britton, who is a keen racing enthusiast, and at one time used to drive her own horses. In this race Santo, The Heir, and The Needle fell, and though neither horse was any worse for the mishap, K. Smith who had tho mount on the latter, injured bis shoulder and broke his wrist CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Canine Chiel, which won the C.J.C. Mid summer Handicap and other important events in Sir G. Clifford’s colours, has been engaged in some of the minor events at the North Otago meeting. It was thought that the veteran son of Clanranald, which is now in his t tai th year, had bidden adieu to the race tracks. The connections of Sea King were confident of that colt’s ability to account <"or the Thompson Handicap, and backed him to win a big stake. lie was also supported with Cross Battery in the Railway llandi cap, a lot of money being soured about the double of the C.J.C. I'L®'.*!- meeting. Sea King registered a 'great mile gallop, but failed to reproduce anything HkM his true form at that fixture. Apparently this had little weight with those who backed him so freely for the Thompson Handicap. Sea King was bred by Mr J. B. Reid, of Canowie. and is about the smartest of Sant Ilario’s stock racing. Stratagem ran a very fair race in the Thompson Handicap, and turned the tables on both Zimmerman and Signor, which finished in front of her in the Great Autumn Handicap. Husbandman, which was greatly fancied by followers of Chokebore stable for the North Island Challenge Stakes, ran like a duffer. He got well away, hut, contrary to expectations, never appeared to hold a winning chance. It was thought certain that he would at toast beat Glenculloch, but such was not the case. Diabolo, which so unexpectedly prevailed, was bred at Elderslie stud, and as a yearling became the property of a Christchurch hotelkeeper, Mr G. Payne, at 250 gs. Sub sequently he was passed on to Mr .1. Monk at an advance on that figure, and should turn out a profitable investment. That smart filly Flitaway gave further evidence of her galloping ability -by the easy manner in which she won the Plunket Nursery Handicap, under 9.21. She was amongst Sir Geo. Clifford’s original nominations for the North Island Challenge Stakes, but un fortunately was taken out when tho forfeits became due. On her recent form it looks as if the race woud have been well within her compass.

Of the other Riccarton trained horses that raced at Trent ham on Wednesday, Clanchattan ran a fair race in the Waiwetu Handicap, but the same cannot be said of All Guns, Tho Libyan and Cross Battery In their respective engagements. Ail Guns cost his present owner £4OO, and £lOO out of his first win, consequently the bulk of the stakes attached to the C.J.C. Final llandi cap goes to Sheehan, who bred, and formerly raced the colt. The Ashburton County Racing Club has decided to make considerable improvements in the course and its conveniences. A new totalisator house has been erected, portions of the enclosure having been asphalted, and other improvements made at a cost of £350.

Petrovna is rising ten years old, and, considering that she has been raced every season since she was three years old. the daughter of Stepniak retained her soundness and pace remarkably well during the past winter. It is understood she could have been purchased at £250, and would havu proved a bargain at that figure. Amongst the two-year-olds occupying boxes at Yaldhurst yet to make their racing debuts are Coroniform (by Multiform Henel Faucit), Enaby (Royal Artillery Stressa), La Champaign (by Multiform Lavalliere), Nobel (by Seaton Delnval- Problem), So Franco (by Menschiskoff Cissy), and Idyll (by Multiform—Bellicent). With tho death of Mr Stead it is quite on the cards that the Yaldhurst stable will be broken up, and its inmates, as well as the stallions and brood mares at Grassley, disposed of.

Record entries have been received for the Plumpton Park Trotting Chib’s meeting, which takes place at the end of this month. Two ladies’ bracelets events have drawn forty-seven nominations each. Owing to the omission of placed perform ance in Australia in Ard Patrick’s entry for the last Tahuna Park Trotting Club's meeting, as the result of a protest that the horse has been disqualified for the nice which he won on the first day of the meeting, and the stakes go to Lady Clair, which ran second.

The death o-f Mr G. G. Stead will be a severe blow to racing throughout the Dominion, for, though his colours may not have been quite as popular as some with the ordinary run of the racing public, there is no getting away from the immense benefit his enterprise has conferred on sport. So long ago as 1872, Mr Stead became a member of the Canterbury Jockey Club, having taken an active interest in racing in the province for four years previously. Very soon after joining the C.J.C. he became honorary treasurer, a position he held continuously until he relinquished the office on his departure for England last year. He was also chairman of the club‘for several periods, when ho invariably advocated a policy of progress, liberal stakes, establishment of weight for-age races, and good nv commodation for the public, all with proper regard for the security of the club’s tinrin cial poAitiou. Mr Stead was one of tho very earliest supporters of tho totaliftntor in Now Zealand. He foresaw the advantage to be derived from this form of betting, ami he was Instrumental in getting the machine hi use at Riccarton in IMHO, tho first time this system of hotting was tried In New Zealand. Mr Stead was a grout advocate of weight for age racing, and lie also Imported a large number of ata I lions and mares that have

helped materially to raise the siaadnrd of the Dominion thoroughbreds. ft was *n 1887 that Mr R. J. Mason l»t‘ca«ne assori.-it ed with Mr Btead as trainer, am! sin. e ih<‘;» most of the chief races decided :u New

Zealand, as well as many in Austtalia, h.«\ • been secured by their repreaentntires. Ah Mason is at present on n holiday visit t » England. The deceased sportsman's funci al, which took place to-day, was one of 11klargest and most thoroughly represeutNlive over seen in Christ cbm eh.