TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 26, 25 December 1912, Page 11

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

Local trainers can find little to grumble at in the weather of last week, and the entire absence of rain has enabled them to give their charges plenty of fast work. Several horses, however, have been feeling the effeets of the hard going, and will have to be treated very carefully to be fit to race in the immediate future. Most of the work has been done on the plough track, which is beginning to get hard underneath. A shower of rain would do it a lot of good. Word has been received of the safe arrival at Ellerslie of 11. Cutts with Sir George Clifford’s team, consisting of Masterpiece, Nightwatch, Winning Way, Glenfinuan, Brown Owl, and Heatherbrae. They all looked in the pink of condition when they left here. M. Hobbs left for Wellington, en route for Auckland, on Saturday with Martel), Mowbray, Peg, and Vice-Admiral. The Auckland Cup horse has done everything that has been asked of him on the Riccarton tracks, and appears to have recovered some of the form that he showed a year ago. Martel is a half-brother to Danube, and has the reputation of being able to gallop very fast, but I am confident Mowbray is the better of the pair. Peg has been galloping well, .and will be seen to advantage when the class is not too select. R. O’Donnell has also left for Auckland with Bon Revo, Bon Ton, Los Angelos, Culprit? and Oxenhope. All these horses are in ••apital condition, and have been doing satisfactory work on the Yaldhurst tracks. Mr. J. B. Reid has decided to send the Charlemagne II.—Natuiloid colt Ogier to Manawatu to contest the Palmerston Stakes, so that M. Hobbs’ stable will be represented at three important fixtures during Xmas week—Auckland, Manawatu, and Dunedin. Ogier has not shown form enough to give him much of a chance in a race of this kind. Takahau, a three-year-old sister to Chief Loch lei, White Cockade, and Scotch Plaid, has joined D. Roberts’ stable till after the Dunedin meeting, as her usual trainer (E. Griffen) will be away on .the West Coast with other members of his team. Something like thirty horses are booked to leave here for the Dunedin meeting by a special train next Monday. Gold Pin has been showing symptoms of lameness in the near hindquarters, but McDonald does not consider it serious, and has been keeping the sou of Terrapin busy. * * *