SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1338, 16 December 1915, Page 14

SOUTHLAND.

Master Ronald Changes Hands —Winton J.C.’s Recent Meeting—Rorke’s Drift to be Sold This Week —Wyndham R.C.’s Satisfactory Nominations —Rose Noble’s Success in Show Ring. INVERCARGILL, December 10. The Canrobert —Lady Ranald gelding, Master Ranald, has changed hands, having been purchased by Mr. W. Baird, jun. This speedy shortdistance sprinter may find his way to the goldfields during the holiday season. The three-year-old gelding Verdun, by Canrobert —Tugela, is said to be

furnishing out and improving during the course of his preparation at Riverton. The North Island mare Tugela has several useful performers to her credit as a matron in this part of the "world. Her progeny in work at Riverton include Spanish Princess, Buller, and Lady Buller, in A. D. McIvor’s charge, and Verdun (second in the Winton Stakes) under the care of N. Gateley. There are generally to be found two or three racehorses attached to Barton’s Circus, which is at present touring Southland, and" there is no exception to this rule just now. The circus arrived in Invercargill with a couple of horses in work in its train under E. Cotton, and one of these has now been left behind for a short time under the charge of trainer W. Ratcliff.” Very satisfactory entries have been received for the Dunedin J.C.’s summer gathering on Boxing Day and the following date, including a large number of useful horses from Canterbury. Local racegoers argue, and not without a show of sound reason, that this spells an excellent response from owners in connection with the Southland

R.C.’s Invercargill Cup fixture. The annual raceing fixture of the Winton Jockey Club last month resulted in a credit balance of over £360, as against a profit of £440 last year. The stakes were increased by £420 this year, so the financial outcome must be considered very satisfactory. The handicapping of Mr. A. Jones contributed to a large extent to the success referred to, and the club’s executive recognised this fact by voting him a bonus. Three smart performers, practically of the novice class, have been nominated from the Southland R.C.’s tracks for the D.J.C. summer meeting, viz., Dorian (brother to Byron and Martian Maid), Heatherbloom, by Canrobert—Rosebloom, and Mohawk, by Mexican —Maxine Elliott. The lastnamed is the American-bred colt purchased in Sydney some time back by a local owner. The three-year-old colt Glenshine, by Gienculloch —Minaret, has been added to the list. He has come on fairly well at Sirius, Lodge under P. T. Hogan’s care, and should prove equal to assisting his sire on the winning stallions’ list prior to the close of the season. It is confidently prophesied that

there will be spirited bidding for the gelding Rorke’s Drift, by Calibre — O’Rorke’s Fancy, when Mr. J. C. N. Grigg’s horses come under the hammer in Invercargill on December 16. Several Otago and Southland owners have cast longing eyes at P. Hogan’s charge, but they will have to contend with strong opposition from the stable.

The Wyndham Racing Club have every reason to feel pleased with the number of entries they have received for their annual New Year’s Day fixture. The nominations constitute a record in point of numbers, while the quality of the contestants all round is. the best ever experienced. The Wyndham Cup, of 300sovs., one mile and a-quarter, has attracted twentyseven horses, and as some of them are being asked to race over a staying course for the first time their names will provide interest: Moulu, Moidant, All Ready, Dan Cameron, Encore, Multum in Parvo, Scotch Melody, Hesione, Meltchikoff, Rorke’s Drift, Ogier, Rongahere, Giralda, Quirinus, My Lawyer, King Torrent, Miss Finland, Silent Way, Ardenvhor, Neu-

roma, Marc Anthony, Specialform, Sir Tarka, Palisade, Varanian, United Service, Gunrest. Should the Riccarton mentor F. Holmes elect to visit the Wyndham and Southland meetings with Moidant and Ardenvhor, he will be paying his first visit to the home province. When Mr. J. C. N. Grigg’s gelding Rorke’s Drift commenced to win races in the South, there was a fruitless search for particulars as to the breeding of his dam, who was given as Miss O’Rorke. According to an advertisement announcing the son of Calibre for sale next week, his dam is now given as O’Rorke’s Fancy. At the Gore A. and P. Show this week the championship award for thoroughbred stallions went to Rose Noble, by Medallion —Miss Kilmany, who has grown into a handsome sire. He had very few mares of recognised breeding while in the Western District of Southland, but should get a better cha,nce now that he has been removed to the Otago border line. The ancient Stepniak—Lady Lorraine horse, Warsaw, who, by the way, has two Invercargill Cups to his credit, was placed second to the stallion bred in New South Wales.