SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1322, 26 August 1915, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Failure of Local Brigade at C.J.C. Meeting—Sale of Pacer, Admiral Wood—The New Zealand Trotting Cup Representative, Our Thorpe— Gore Racing Club’s Enterprise. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, August 19. Horses from Southland were anything but successful at the Canterbury Grand National carnival, as far as proceedings at Riccarton were concerned, the hurdle horse Lord Frederick being the only one to get into the prize money list when he ran into third place in the Styx Hurdle Race Handicap on the concluding day. He ran good races in each of his starts, however, and th’s fact may be worth remembering when he in future strips nearer home, where the competition is not of such an exclusive nature. Wild Pilgrim ran once across the flat, but failed dismally, and the Canterbury-owned hunter Turco, from the same stable, was unfortunate enough to topple over a prone opponent in the Hunters’ Hurdles and this accident settled him for the meeting. It was anticipated that P. T. Hogan’s third charge, Prairie Fire, would have a chance in the Hunters’ Plate (flat) on the last day, but he burst a blood vessel in the head when running in the front rank, and thus universal disaster attended the entrants from Sirius Lodge. The Otautau-owned hunter Royal Guard was a competitor in several cross-country events restricted to his class, but he too fell when the pace was on, and some of his rivals persisted in falling in his class.

The majority of southern backers were not at all confident about local representatives at Riccarton, but they certainly looked for a measure of success in the light harness races at Addington, and here they were not altogether disappointed, as Messrs. Stevenson and McMattie’s mare Queen’s Drive scored in the Introductory Handicap (one mile and a-half) in the smart time of 3min. 32 2-ssec., at the same time beating another ex-Southlander in Cromstall (3min 30 2-ssec). The latter was very unlucky, as he cut his previous best time by about lOsec., only to meet with defeat. On the second day of the gathering the Invercargill gelding Lindetta was produced, but the mud stayed his career, and he was thereupon retired to wait a more favourable occasion. He is a smart pacer, and will be heard of again, as also will Harold Direct, who proved a very costly proposition to many Otago and Southland visitors during the New Zealand Metropolitan Trot-

ting Club’s fixture. The southern mare Win Soon put up several good races, just missing the money on more than one occasion, and it is pleasing to have to note that she is healthy and well and may hold a chance in her second New Zealand Cup race, provided the limit is not unduly extended. In view of the fact that an Aucklander has purchased the crack pacing colt Admiral Wood, by Wildwood, Junr. —D.1.C., for the record price of £IOOO, it may not be out of place to remark that the New Brighton Derby winner of 1914 is in great heart at the present time. When inspected by the writer at Wildwood Farm a week before his sale he was found to be lusty and well forward in condition, as Mr. Kerr had taken advantage of the prolonged spell of fine weather to push his forward in case the rain came down. He is a beautiful pacer and a most commanding horse and should attract widespread attention in the north when his racing career closes and he is claimed as a sire. It would look as if the light harness sport is prospering in the Far North, as Auckland now holds two records in connection with the selling price of pacers, and both were bred by Mr. W. Kerr at Wildwood Farm, viz., Waverley, by Galindo —Thelma, two-year-old, £SOO, and Admiral Wood, four-year-old, £IOOO. At the same time, followers of trotting in Auckland will have to bear in mind that Admiral Wood is not the only champion in the field for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, as there is another four-year-old colt in Canterbury who can pace far and fast, and this is Our Thorpe, who will be supported for real money on the day of the big race, provided all goes well with both cracks in the meantime.

Several Southland owners were on the look out for horses during the C.J.C. Grand National meeting, but found it hard to gratify their desires, as worn out and moderate racers invariably prove a costly investment when brought to the home province nowadays—the locally-bred article is making itself felt. At a meeting of the Gore Racing Club committee last week it was decided to increase the stakes for the spring meeting by £3OO, a departure upon which the Eastern District turf institution is to be congratulated, and it is to be hoped that their hack events will be fully recognised when the allocation is made. The committee also voted £lOO to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund and decided to direct a proportion of the profits of the spring fixture to the same object. Mr. R. E. Harley was re-ap-pointed starter for the season. It is reported from Winton that Mr. H. Cunningham is working Varanian again after a lengthy spell. The matter of having the big chestnut schooled over hurdles is at present under review.

Mr. A. J. Gibbs has been appointed handicapper to the Tapanui Racing Club. Mr. W. R. Quin, who has been selected as starter by this club is a son of the gentleman who bred and for some time raced that smart sprinter Red Lancer, a full brother to Red Peony (dam of Palisade, Redshire and other winners).