SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1319, 5 August 1915, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Pretty Jane Recommissioned —Notes on the Birchwood Hunt Club’s Meeting—Prairie Fire Runs up to Form. (From Our Own Correspondent ) INVERCARGILL, Saturday. The fact that Magdala’s name is missing from the acceptances and general entries in connection with the Grand National fixture leads to the conclusion that all is not well with the son of Comedian. Jockey J. Olsen came down from Dunedin this week to attend a social in the Western District, his mission being to receive a presentation whip donated by Mr. J. Griffin, of Nightcaps, for the most successful horseman of the current season in Southland across the flat. Olsen has secured this honour for three years in succession, and on each occasion has been in receipt of a whip hung up for competition by Mr. Griffin.

The list of entries for minor events at the Grand National meeting at Riccarton includes the names of Wild Pilgrim and Golden King, and Mr.

Graham’s useful pair appear to be in good condition, if somewhat above themselves, at the time of writing. In the event of Golden King racing at the C.J.C. meeting, it would look as if his exertions are to be confined to short distance races. The Martian mare Pretty Jane has been brought in again after a term in the paddock, and is being well treated by her owner prior to taking her departure for Wingatui, where she will in future be trained by C. Christie. Favourable reports are to hand from Dunedin to the effect that Moonglow is doing satisfactory work with C. Christie’s string, and this fact will be welcomed by a few local backers who intend making the Treadmill horse their Winter Cup selection.

The thoroughbred sire Vice-Admiral has been brought in from the back country to a place called Woodlands, near Invercargill, where he will be at the disposal of studmasters during the forthcoming season. A number of useful mares have already been booked up to the son of Multiform.

A very fair number of southern horses have been engaged in the minor events of the CjJ.C. Grand National meeting, and the same remark applies in connection w ; th the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s gathering. Several of the home trotters can be depended upon to put up a good showing at Addington, as their ranks contain some useful horses, and all have been prepared away from the damp tracKs of the home district.

Trainer J. Thistleton greatly enjoyed his recent trip to Australia, where he saw some good racing and at the same time looked up his family connections, whom he had not seen for ovei’ 12 years past. He is taking the Austral’an - bred Lord Frederick to the Grand National fixture, where the grandson of Carbine will be racked over the battens. It is to be hoped that the son of George Frederick will prove more successful than did Red Earl from the same stable, as the Black and Red gelding broke his neck on the occasion of Thistleton’s previous trip to Riccarton.

A photograph taken of Giralda recently at Wingatui shows that the half brother to Magdala has improved out of all knowledge since being placed in the hands of T. Stiven, junr. The Canrobert gelding now looks as if he will strip a greatly improved racehorse in the spring. It is reported that the Canrobert —Minaret racer has been successfully treated for kidney troubles.

The first annual racing fixture of the Birchwood Hunt to be carried out under totalisator conditions was

conducted on the Riverton Racing Club’s well appointed property on Wednesday last. There was an enthusiast’c gathering of hunting folk, lovers of steeplechasing, and the general publ’c, the result being that a financial and sporting success has to be credited to Mr. G. Hunter’s legislative effort to assist followers of the local hounds. The weather was all that could be desired —bright sunshine and an absence of wind at a time when the floods are about in the North Island—and the gate receipts and totalisator returns exceeded

expectations. The sum of £4750 was invested on seven races.

The principal event at the Hum meeting decided across the flat was the Gardner Memorial Stakes, named after the founder of the Hum, and when the scheduled mile course had been covered Lord Frederick

(9.0), an Australian-bred gelding, by George Frederick (son of Carbine) from Zither, was in front from Canrobur (9.0) and Wild Pilgrim (10.7). The winner is in very fair form, but will stand improvement prior to competing at Christchurch. The Birchwood Hunt Steeplechase, the principal event decided between the flags, fell to Heatherlea, a North Island-bred gelding by King George— Rip Van Winkle mare. He was well ridden by our crack gentleman rider, Mr. A. Langford, and defeated seven other starters, the majority of whom made mistakes in the trying Riverton co untry, where road doubles, plough and turnip paddocks and water obstacles are not unknown. When Lord Frederick won the Gardner Memorial Stakes he returned a double-figure price in a field of four.

The Canterbury-owned Turco (.late Black Tracker) was made favourite for the Hunters’ Hurdles on Wednesday, but failed to get a place, the winner turning up in Recharge, by Renown from Tomboy (a castoff from the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s Karamu stud). Recharge, who was foaled in Southland, is a crooked legged half brother to two winners in the south, viz., Office Girl and Canrobur. He only won after a good race with Caseshot (Linstock —Lyddite) and it is safe to say that the outing will do the latter good if it is intended to race him in Christchurch. A field of nine was very satisfactory, ft is hard to believe that the pair referred to ran over a mile and a-half in 2m.n 57sec in dead going. In the Wallace Hack Handicap (seven furlongs) the well-bred ancient Grafton Laddie (Ayr Laddie — Lady Grafton), 10.2 (J. Olsen) sprinted home cleverly from five others and thus recorded a long deferred win for Mr. J. M. Crosbie, of Lumsden, a well-known caterer on the road to the Cold Lakes. The New South Wales gelding was brought to Maoriland by Mr. L. C. Hazlett many years back. In a field of eight for the Riverton Hack Steeplechase, Mr. M. Hanley, who used to race that good steeplechaser, Honest Tom, brought off a surprise with a handsome five-year-old geld.ng called Tipperary Boy, who is by Golden Vein, son of Clanranald, from an Earl of Richmond mare, the chestnut’s success being greatly aided by the riding of G. Fielding. The winner is a horse likely to be heard of again in connection with steeplechasing, as he can jump well and is possessed of pace. Both Tipperary Boy and the second horse, Waimahaka (by Reflector), returned double figures to their followers. Royal Guard and Zingabee, the favourites, made mistakes. Canrobur (Canrobert — Tomboy) made amends for his defeat in trie Gardner Memorial Stakes by winning the Otautau Hack Handicap (six furlongs) with 10.5 in the saddle from Pinnacle (Canrobert —Minaret) and Outlook (Signalman — Andromeda). The latter pair are very likely racers. Pinnacle (half brother to Magdala) can gallop fast, and Outlook should develop into a very fine hurdler, as he has pace, size, and substance.

Prairie Fire, who is leaving this week to race at the Grand National fixture, won the Ladies’ Bracelet (one mile and a-quarter), with 12.11 up, in 2min 24sec from Caseshot (11.0), Recharge (11.2) and five others. The son of Pilgrim’s Progress—Blaze is in good fighting condition, and may prove an excellent stand-by at Riccarton.