OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1352, 23 March 1916, Page 27

OTAGO.

Rongahere’s Steeplechase Prospects— Marvelite Recommissioned — Pure Gold Again in Work —Forbury Trotting Club’s Decision re Competitors at Future Meetings—Notes on the Waimate R.C.’s Annual Meeting— R. Berry to Resume Riding. (From Our Dunedin Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, Saturday. The Sarto gelding Rongahere has been taking kindly to jumping and is shaping well in his schooling over hurdles. He lacks brilliancy, but is a fair stayer and may pay his way much better between the flags than on the flat. The useful gelding Marvelite has been recommissioned, and probably will be given a chance to distinguish himself over hurdles. He is a strongbuilt sort that may shine in that direction. Pure Gold was sent to the stud last year, but is again in work at Wingatui. Micky Free is another recently taken in hand after a spell. Wingatui horses have been fairly well engaged at the Timaru autumn meeting. This should be one of the best meetings in the South Island, as the accommodation procurable for horses and men, and a good track, form a strong attraction to the fixtures held on the course. The Oamaru Club is to hang up £2OOO for their winter programme. The club cannot join at present the movement for pooling all race and trotting club donations to patriotic funds, as it decided earlier in the season to donate the season’s profits to the local Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. At a recent committee meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club it was decided that in future all horses on the same mark shall be ridden or handled in the sulky by riders or drivers wearing the same coloured cap. Horses trained in the same stable are to be bracketted on the totalisator. Amateur events will only be open to horses trained for one month prior to a meeting by amateur trainers. The club is apparently anxious to upset the appointment of stipendiary stewards. With that object in view a legal opinion from Mr. S. Solomon, K.C., has been forwarded to the president of the Conference which states that the voting which carried their appointment was contrary to - the requirements of the Rules of Trotting.

The Waimate annual meeting was held in fine weather, and the attendance, although fairly large, did not seem quite so numerous as that at last season’s fixture. Nevertheless, the financial returns exceeded last year’s figures, despite the fact that a good deal of money was shut out during the afternoon. Mr. J. E. Henrys, who was to act as judge as well as handicapping for the meeting, failed to put in an appearance owing to the mail boat being held up at the Wellington Heads by fog. In his absence Mr. A. Dickson filled the judge’s box. The card for the day provided some interesting racing and close finishes.

Ten saddled up for the Waimate Cup. Peronilla was sent out favourite, with Ardenvhor closely following her in A good deal of money also came for Findhorn, Fender, Reval and Ogier. Findhorn at once took up the running, whilst Comely nearly ran off the track at the 'first turn. Findhorn set a solid pace from Aerial and Reval, with Peronilla and Ardenvhor close up. Court Martial and Ogier lost ground in the early part rounding the first turn. Passing the six furlongs Peronilla got through on the rails and joined Findhorn in the lead. Ardenvhor a’so moved up a bit. Four furlongs from home Findhorn and Ardenvohr commenced to come away from the others and had the finish to themselves. In a good go Ardenvohr beat Findhorn a short neck. Court Martial came from the tail of the field and finished over half a dozen lengths away, third, and then came Fender, Reval and Peronilla. Findhorn ran a good race, as he was just touched off after setting the pace all the way. He is inclined i.o pull, and it is thus perhaps advisable to let him run along instead of attempting to steady him too much. He might have just

about won if he had not lost his position on the rails when Peronilla got through. Ardenvhor looked more keyed up than he did at the Dunedin Cup meeting. He was well handled by Olsen, who kept him on the rails. He was also suited by the solid pace set, as he was easily the best stayer of the field. Olsen, by the way, had quite a field day, as he rode the first three winners. Fender failed to show any dash, and the distance and the pace set soon settled Reval and Aerial. Penonilla was beat a long way from home. Ogier ran another of his piggish races, but Court Martial ran a fair race, as she was hopelessly out of it over the first quarter and did really well to get third.

The chief sprint went to Margerine, a promising sister to Martins. She was slow to move off at the rise of the barrier, but at the business end beat the others in such style as to suggest she will catch a good race or two before the season ends. Charmilia showed a lot of pace, but shut up at the home turn. Chudic, who easily scored in the first race, turned rather sour in his preliminary for the President’s. He bolted through an open gate and some difficulty was afterwards experienced in getting him to the barrier. Hornbeam, who ran second, had previously won the Trial Plate. She is a useful sort, and as she looked rather big may do better at Timaru.

A big surprise took place in the Waitangi Hack, in which an outsider in Arthur George upset a strong fancy in Majestikoff, who had previously acted as runner-up to Hornbeam in the Trial. Finless showed a lot of pace over the first half but stopped at that stage. She, however, is a quick beginner and worthy of remembrance when there is a half-mile race on a card.

The card concluded with Charleville, who had all the worst of the run, dead-heating with Moneymaker in the Stewards’ Welter. Fiery Cross, who finished third, was badly placed during the race, and ran a good race under difficulties. Snapdragon, Hap Dha (who is coming back to form) and Sartomart finished in a bunch behind the placed lot. The two trots attracted fairly good fields. In the first Captain Lyons won by twelve lengths from Chaos, who broke twice and is evidently a promising sort. He was inclined to hang out, and when straightened up and a bit more seasoned should win a good race. Limerick, the winner of the mile race, is a good, even striding pacer, and won well.

J. McCombe narrowly escaped from what might have been a serious accident whilst riding at Waimate. Just as the fxeld jumped away at the start of the ‘five furlong hack race the wire connecting the poles carrying the barrier fell and caught McCombe across the chest. Fortunately his mount hung on the mark, and this enabled McCombe to throw the wire clear. In another race, when riding Moneymaker, his mount stopped at the starting barrier tape and threw McCombe clean over his head. Leading Lady is to be schooled over hurdles.

J. A. White, the well-known Wingatui trainer, got a fall off Tawhaki a few days ago and split the cap of his right shoulder. He did not know the extent of the damage until he visited a doctor at Waimate.

It was Mr. C. Studholme who offered a “thou” for Rorke’s Drift. Had a purchase been made the Calibre gelding would have been prepared for the National Hurdles.

Findhorn will win over a mile and a quarter. He only wants a little experience to steady him over a distance.

R. Berry apparently has tired of the stud farm business, and is again after honours in the saddle. Berry was not lucky at farming, as he has struck drought ever since going on the land.

Sir George Clifford had four horses to represent him at Waimate, but they are a bad lot and not the sort fit to carry the colours of such an owner, who breeds and races on a large scale. All Ready seems to be going from bad to worse, and put up a poor show in his race at Waimate.

Charleville was unlucky not to win the Stewards’ Welter, as he had to come round his field when running into the straight, and on such a badlyshaped track anything forced to run wide has a hard row to hoe.

We are informed that cheques for £l5, £B, and £5, 88 prizes of 5/- each, also Special Gift Prizes, will be distributed on July 30 amongst users of Desert Gold Tea. It will pay you to uso this superb brand.