SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1337, 9 December 1915, Page 14

SOUTHLAND.

First Foal of Season in Southland— Sir Joseph Ward as Assistant Starter at Winton Trots —Lady Buller, a Promising Filly. INEVRCARGILL, December 3. It transpires that the first foal of the season in Southland this year was a filly by Buff Gauntlet from the wellknown steeplechasing mare Renee, by Battlefield. On the 16th December, the day following the big Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Show, Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, of Longbeach, will offer for sale in Invercargill a draft of 24 thoroughbred horses, including racehorses, stallions and brood mares, the reason advanced being that the Canterbury sportsman is leaving for England shortly. The stallions are Calibre (Light Artillery—Sunningdale) and Gay Spark (Clanranald —Catherine Wheel, by Maxim —Miss Kate). Among the racehorses will be Rorke’s Drift, by Calibre —O’Rorke’s Fancy, a gelding who is thought a good deal of in Southland and Otago racing circles. He recently won the Winton Cup and other races in the south, as an inmate of Sirius Lodge, the training establishment presided over by P. T. Hogan. The three-year-old Downshire—Camille filly Camaieu, who has practically recovered from her recent accident, is to resume work within a few days. She is a very nice youngster and belongs to Mr. W. Couser, a popular sportsman of the Wyndham district.

With the exception of Cathedral Chimes, the Southland horses raced at Dunedin last week at the Forbury

Park Trotting Club’s spring fixture proved unsuccessful, but as this outcome was fully expected there was not a great deal of harm done. Mr. J. B. Thomson’s pacer, by the way, raced in saddle, but is presently to be seen out again as a harness competitor. He is a useful and very courageous horse, and it is freely anticipated that he will prove his worth in an important harness race prior to the close of the current season.

The fact that the Invercargill Cup will be worth 650sovs. is expected to attract several good handicap horses from Canterbury to the Southland R.C.’s summer fixture on January 3 and 4. There is no race on the programme below the value of llOsovs., and even light harness horses will be catered for, over £5OO being allotted as their share of a £3OOO prize list, tins amount being distributed over four events. Sir Joseph Ward was seen in a new role on Wednesday, when he acted as assistant starter in connection with the principal event at the Winton Trotting Club’s first totalisator meeting. Sir Joseph touched off the electric starting clock successfully, and was visibly pleased at the part he played in connection with the big race of the season in his Awarua electorate. In presenting a handsome silver cup to the owner of the winner, the Minister of Finance had a few words to say in defence of the continuance of racing at the present juncture, and his remarks met with universal approval. It is stated that Golden King has Mr. W. T. Hazlett’s team, Daringdale, Martian Maid and Dorian, are all well and progressing satisfactorily in their work. Daringdale has not raced for some time past owing to leg troubles, but it is hoped that he will survive a preparation for the local summer campaign. A very promising four-year-old filly from the Willowbank Stud, the home of Win Soon, made a successful debut at the Winton T.C.’s meeting this week. Lady Rothsoon, to give her credit for her racing name, is by Harold Rothschild from Too Soon (dam of Wairongoa), a half-sister to Wm Soon and Go Soon. She is on the small side, but is a perfect mover, and more should be heard of her in the near future. News received from England to the effect that Mr. J. F. Reid’s recent importation, Solierino, is taking a high place this season in the Old Country as a sire of early speed is welcomed by Mr. E. Russell, of this district, as his Americambred mare Eager Eyes has been mated with the new arrival at the Burnside Stud. Lady Buller, a sister to Spanish Princess and Buller, has been placed under the charge of A. D. Mclvor, at Riverton. She is a very promising filly, and it is safe to say that she will in due course assist to raise Canrobert on the list of winning stallions lor the current season. Quite a number of Canterbury and Otago followers of trotting came down to Southland this week to assist at the W.nton T.C.’s initial totalisator fixture, and one and all expressed surprise at the flourishing appearance of the countryside—the season has so far been one of the best on record for many years past. A number of Canterbury horses were also produced on the race track, but with the exception of the Waimate mare Village Girl all were unsuccessful. The mare referred to downed a hot favourite called Nutwood Jnr., driven by M Edwards, and, incidentally, a doublogure price assisted her connections to wm a considerable amount of money. The Winton T.C. Handicap (two miles) was won by a squaregaited trotter called Balnamoan, by Geo. M. Patchen—Jane Douglas, and it has to be remarked that he is one of the speediest horses of his class in commission in Maoriland to-day, but a very bad breaker. Despite three mistakes, which would have extinguished the chance of any ordinary performer, he came away at the right end and won nicely. The fixture was a successful one, notwithstanding wet and threatening weather.

Of the novices in work locally, Heatherbloom, by Canrobert, and Mohawk are galloping fairly well at present,