SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1334, 18 November 1915, Page 14

SOUTHLAND.

Winton J.C.’s Successful Gathering— Country Belle’s Trotting Cup Victory—Notes on the Winton Gathering. INVERCARGILL, November 12. From every point of view the Winton J.C.’s annual fixture was easily the most successful yet held by the inland club, the introduction of the ten-shilling totalisator in particular having a great deal to do with this result. During the two days the sum of £20,826 was passed through the machine, as against t£ 17,900 last year. The Southland representative in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, Win Soon, failed to distinguish herself, and the explanation is s’mple. Win Soon (Pringle) and Country Bqlle scored up to the mark together, when Pringle judged that he was going to leave before his bell and thus took a pull at last year’s winner, the outcome being that Win Soon lost some valuable time. Meantime Country Belle held on her way, and was really travelling at high speed when she left the

mark, a fact which explains her appearance up amongst the leaders, in about fifth place, at the end of a furlong. The winner was the only animal in the race trained by an amateur (her owner), and she was turned out in great shape. The home-owned mare was not supported to any serious extent in Southland, the majority of punters preferring to follow the fortunes of Our Thorpe, although the news had trickled South that Country Belle had accomplished several workouts above the average. Like several of Mr. W. Morland’s best horses, Country Belle made her early racing bow in Southland, so she is therefore rather well-known in this corner of the Dominion.

The Winton Trotting Club have received very good entries for their first totalisator meeting on December Ist, and among the promised visitors are a number of horses from Otago proper, North Otago, and as far away as Canterbury. Several of the class races will suit the invader better than the home-trained performer, a statement which may be explained by pointing out that so far this season very few good horses have appeared on Southern tracks, unless Ilza and Quadroon, from W. N. Wilson’s Gore stable, and Lady Rathsoon, from Riversdale, can be included as such.

It .s stated that a large amount of money was placed on a Southern pacer for a recent engagement with the woolbrokers of Dunedin, Christchurch and elsewhere, and when the good thing duly eventuated there was joy in the land, but the rejoicings were somewhat short-lived, as it subsequently transpired that the “coupling rule” had been brought into force. The winner was coupled on the totalisator with a stable mate, and this enabled starLng-price merchants to halve tneir liabilites.

On the second day at Winton Rorke’s Drift followed up his Winton Cup victory by accounting for the Memorial Stakes (one miiej, the principal event. The son of Calibre was made a very hot favourite, and despite an early bump and a somewhat rough passage, was first to reach the judge, with Quirinum close up. The Canterbury-owned gelding claimed several engagements on the two final days of the C.J.C. spr.ng meeting, but so far as is known here at the time

of writing did not undertake the trip. The Stewards’ Purse at Winton displayed Buller in winning vein, but the Canrobert—Tugela gelding had to be ridden hard to stall off Lion (Benzonian—Zemlia), who is a greatlyimproved gelding framed by C. Christie at Wingatui. Lion is a good kind of a four-year-old, and will probably be heard of again at Southern summer meetings. Buller was not dressed in his best, but ran out the six furlongs well enough. The second steeplechase at Winton was won by a little gelding called The Deuce, by Pallas —Cajolery mare, who gave a fine exhibition of jumping. The winner was ridden by J. Langford, who had the pleasure of defeating the favourite, Heatherlea, on whom his brother (Mr. A. Langford) had the mount. The Langford lads love steeplechasing for its own sake, and their successes are always popular. The Deuce some time back

was sold unbroken at the modest price of £6, and his then purchaser offered him to P. T. Hogan to school and train, but the local trainer thought him too small. Black Sea, who was assessed at 12.13 by the handicapper, was withdrawn from the race. The Brewer again disappointed his connections.

Helicon (Finland—Peak), who was unlucky in runn.ng up against the Martian colt Dorian on the first day at Winton, won the Awarua Handicap (six furlongs) the following day, defeating a strong field. The County Hand.cap at Winton went to Glensponse (Gienapp—Response), a gelding who has been rac.ng very consistently, but without success, since the opening of the Southern season. He is trained by G. McLean, who at one time won many races with Hiro, Wild West and other horses.

The Winton Farewell was secured by Cortes, the half-brother to Obsono showing that he is gradually improving as a racehorse. He stayed out seven furlongs well. A strong favourite in All Ready disgraced himself by whipping round at the post and thus forfeiting his chance. Micky Free, who chased Cortes home, is easily the most unlucky animal now racing in Otago and Southland.