SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1244, 19 February 1914, Page 16

SOUTHLAND.

An Addition to Trainer Hogan's String — The Southland R.C.'s Autumn Programme —Alaska Getting Back to Form —Specialform’s Dunedin Cup Prospects. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, February 14. The chestnut gelding Wild Pilgrim, by Pilgrim’s Progress—Lady Garland, has been taken in hand again by trained P- T. Hogan after a beneficial spell. He is looking well, and should soon round up into racing condition. St. Robera, by Canrobert —St. Brigid, a full-sister to Daringdale, is being built up and carefully attended to in view of being given a final trial on the turf. She has plenty of pace, but so far does not stay too well and has yet to win a race. A three-year-old full-brother to the above, known as Sir Brigid, is doing well on the local tracks at present, and may possibly race at the Dunedin J.C. Autumn meeting next week. Immediately on the appearance of the weights for the Publican s Handicap at the Dunedin Cup fixture, Palisade was withdrawn. It is said tha his connections were dissatisfied with the handicap set against him. The son of Pallas and Red Peony recently took first prize in the thoroughbred stallion class at the Tapanui Agriculural Show, but this must not be taken as an indication that he is to be withdrawn from the racecourse. He has quite recovered from the jarred feet which recently troubled him at Trentham, and it is more than likely that he will carry silk at the Dunedin J.C. fixture. A handsome black mare, four or five years of age, recently joined trainer Hogan’s string on the local tracks. This daughter of Stepniak and Kate Kolmar, by Pilgrim’s Progress from Countess of Kolmar, who is to race in the interests of the sportsman who raced Routine in these parts looks like shaping into a galloper of the first water. The programme for the Southland R.C.’s Autumn fixture made its appear ance during the current week and met with general approval. In addition to the fiat-racing divis’on being liberally catered for, steeplechasers and tro.ters have not been forgotten, and no less than £5OO is to be divided over four light-harness events. The support of trotting owners has played no minor part in the success of late years achieved by the Southland R.C., hence it is only fair that this fact should be freely recognised when prize-money is allocated. The steeplechasers Sportsman and Royal Medal are expected to arrive from Otago at any time within the next few days. They have been treated to preliminary work for some time past on their owner’s property at Henley, but they are now to return to their old quarters at Riverton, where trainer J. Thistleton has a strong team in work from Kia-Ora Lodge. A patron of P. T. Hogan’s stable recently purchased from Mr. F. Malcolm, of Heddon Bush, a three-year-old horse called Master Ahei, by Ahei from Miss Stout. He has been added to the list, and when he recovers from the operation he will be educated as a steeplechaser by Hogan, who is an adept at the business. Two North Island-bred three-year-olds, in Master Jim, by Ahei from Primula (dam of Probable and Mt. Victoria), and Aerogram, by Ahei from Motuo aria, have been showing improved form on the Southland tracks of late. Aerogram has already shown pace in her races, but Master Jim has yet to face the starter. The latter is a very nice colt, and it is more than likely that he will win a race before the current season closes. The Hawke’s Bay horseman, R? Gray, has arrived in Invercargill, and will, as usual, help with P. Hogan’s jumping horses for a few months to come. Gray appears to make the trip south an annual one, at least he a; done so for several years. Trainer G. Hope is persevering w th Golden Webb and Miss Kellerman, and this pair of Claptain Webb mares are doing all that is being asked of them. Hope is noted as one of the most attentive mentors at the local tracks. The Canrobert —Turret three-year-old colt, Alaska, has been transferred from Riverton to Winton, and is now under the care of J. Gray, better known as the trainer of ThistledownAlaska can gallop fast, but soreness has retarded his movements for some time past. However, he is stated to be casting aside this trouble and

racegoers should soon see what he is really made of. The Martian —Lady Jehu mare pretty Jane, a member of P. Hogan’s team, is recovering from an attack of what appears to have been a mild case of strangles. This filly has not lost condition during her period of illness, and can surely be depended upon to add to Martian’s total in the winning sires’ list during 1914. The Black and Red —Minaret mare, Magdalecn, is putting on condition under the charge of G. McLean, who has hopes of getting a good race out of Mr. Deegan’s speedy mare. The next meeting in this part of the world will be that of the Lumsden District Hack R-C., which takes place on February 24. A totalisator permit will not be available, but the fixture invariably attracts attention, as the club provide an excellent dirt track to race upon, and thus owners of valuable thoroughbreds are not afraid to patronise it for trying-out purposes. Local racegoers are looking forward to the Dunedin Cup race next week, and many of them are not at all afraid of Kilrain and Co., but will pin their allegiance to Specia form, winner of the recent Invercargill Cup. Her race in the Canterbury J.C. Midsummer Handicap did not please northern critics, but it has not discouraged her southern supporters.