SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1249, 26 March 1914, Page 15

SOUTHLAND.

J. Thistleton Strongly Represented in Steeplechase Events at Southland R.C. Meeting—Sombrero Doing Good Work—R. McNay’s Team at Riverton—’Chaser Tolstoi Now in R. Gray's Charge—Queen’s Prize's Unusual Preparation.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, Ma-ch 19

The Riverton trainer J. Thistleton claims a lonal record in connection with the Southland R.C.’s Autumn meeting, in that he has no less than five • cross-colntry horses engaged in one of the steeplechase events. Thistleton has a promising recruit to the big jumping game in Tommy, a useful-looking gelding by Legerton (son of St. Leger) under his care. Tommy is possessed of rather more pace than the general run of southern steeplechasers, and in addition goes at his fences as if he rather likes the game. So far he has never refused or fallen at a hurdle or fence. At the time of writing Soldier’s Chorus i(S standing up to his work well at Riverton, despite unyielding ground. It looks as if there is every chance of the Martian horse again

securing stake-money prior eo saying farewell to the turf. He has a strong point in his favour as far as standing up to his work goes, as he is a very nice horse to handle and can easily be guided to gallop or canter at any required pace. He is looking slightly on the robust side. As to whether the Southland champion will be seen at Riccarton or. not at Easter, the matter has yet to be decided- In the meantime he will probably be given a race over six furlongs at the Southland R.C.’s Autumn fixture. The continued absence of rain is proving a serious drawback to Southland trainers, particularly at Riverton, where the grass tracks are very hard. The large number of jumpers in commission at the seaside racing resort are the chief sufferers in this respect, as they have to leave the ploughed gallop, on which most of the work is being done, to take a trip across country occasionally. The Invercargill tracks are also hard, but two nice ploughed circuits are in use. Sombrero is another well-known southern racehorse now doing good work after a spell, necessitated by a severe kick. The son of Simmer is somewhat on the big ..side, but a couple of good races, should leave him fit and well. A McKenzie is having an anxious time with the brown gelding, but prospects of a return for his care and attention are in sight. Two other geldings in the same stable—Punchinello (MartianPantomime), and Teirot (Finland— Pantomime)—are galloping resolutely. The latter can gallop fast, but it

:s hard to know what to think of Punchinello. At one time he promised to blossom out into a very valuable racing proposition, but subsequently he seemed to lose his pace completely, or it may be that he would not try. In the meantime, however, he is fall of life and movingwell.

Hesione is pulling round again after suffering from a severe chill, but is not likely to show her best until the Easter period or even later. Trainer R. McNay, who has been very unlucky for a long time past, has now got the Canrobsrt geldin

Cannonade, galloping nicely at Riverton- He showed to advantage the ether morning in a gallop with Rongahere. McNay is building up the veteran, Waiju, agai(n after a lengthy retirement. The old fellow is a regular worker, but care will have to be exercised to get a race out of him. The owner of Waiju has a halfbrother to the chestnut in McNay’s stable called Helios, by Ahei —Julia, but it may be some time before he can be raced with, success He is a fine stamp of a horse, but he ran away on the Southland R.C.’s tracks, some considerable time back and has been more or less of a cripple ever since.

The black steeplechase gelding Tolstoi, by Battery—Sou’-wester mare, came down from South Canterbury last week and is now in P. T. Hogan’s stable here, where he will be a special charge of R. Gray. He is very lusty in condition, and will take some getting ready if he is to compete between the flags with success at Riverton. If he is kept until the Dunedin J.C. June fixture he will be worth bearing in mind, as he is a useful fencer.

The Well-known Riverton mentor, A. D. Mclver, has a smart team in work, comprising Peter and Buller, both of flat-racing fame, and the jumper Renee,, one of the cleverest and surest jumpers of big country ever schooled in this part of the world. Mclvor’s team is to be joined by a four-year-old mare by Heroism (son of Grafton) from Lady Seaward. This mare is destined for the crosscountry sport next season, but in the meantime is to be raced across the flat- She is a rare cut for a steeplechaser, and can gallop fairly well. Should she prove sound in wind and limb, there is every chance that she will furnish into a very valuable proposition. She is the property of Mr. F. McKay, of Riverton, a gentleman whose name is well known to old-time Southlanders as a lover of hunting and a successful handler of jumping horses in the early days of the Birchwood Hunt Club. The North Island-bred mare Queen’s Prize, by Daystar—War Medal, is being prepared at Riverton by her owner, Mr. A. Provan, in rather an

unusual fashion. Part of her work is done on the tracks and the remainder in her owner’s gig. This treatment suits the mare, and on a previous occasion it resulted in her winning the Southland Cup at Invercargill, and returning a large dividend. It is quite on the Cards that her mission will be the Riverton Cup, decided over a mile and a-half, as she is a good stayer. After Easter Queen’s Prize will be retired to the paddock, as she shows signs of being in foal to Canrobert. Mr. Hymers, owner of Soldier’s Chorus, is experiencing some disappointment with Marginal, by Martian —'Greek Maid, for whom he gave a long price last year. The three-year-old showed promise as a juvenile racer, but has not shown much improvement this season. He was turned out down at Riverton for some time following oh an attack of strangles, and it is thought that he picked up a large . amount of sand, which is having .a bad effect. He is

not- thriving too well at present, whatever the cause may be.