SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1379, 28 September 1916, Page 12

SOUTHLAND.

Renewed Activity on Training Tracks —G. Hope’s String Now Located at Invercargill—Zarkoma Taken in Hand Again—Night Alarm Changes Hands —Verdun Shows Promise — P. Hogan’s Winton Stakes Representative — Record Number in Work on Southland Tracks—A. D. McIvor’s Team at Riverton. INVERCARGILL, September 22. After a period of rain, snow and sleet, with flooded grass and plough circuits, and the thoroughbreds galloping on the banked clay trotting track, the ordinary routine of training has been resumed at the Southland R.C.’s course, while mentors at Riverton, Gore and Winton are commencing to breathe freely again, encouraged by strong, drying breezes. Trainer George Hope has moved into Invercargill from the Winton district, bringing with him the jumpers The Gunner and Spanish Dancer, while it is stated that Master Jim, by Ahei—Primula, is to be added to his string. In the event of the latter statement turning out to be correct, it may be taken for granted that Master Jim is to be educated as a fencer, a career to which he seems eminently suited.

The gelding Zarkoma, a son of Sarto and a full brother to Rongahere, is reported to have been taken in hand again in the South Hillend district, with the object in view of having his cross-country education completed, after an interruption caused by an injured foot. Unlike his hurdle-racing brother, he is a shortbacked, compact horse, and just the stamp to develop into a successful steeplechaser, as he can gallop well

and is not afraid of an obstacle or two in his path. When Night Alarm (Calibre—Midnight) makes his debut under silk he will carry the racing banner of his new owner, Mr. Todd, having recently been exchanged for two youngsters by Calibre and some coin of the realm to boot. In due course the juveniles referred to will gallop in the same interests as Rorke’s Drift, who. by the way, has done nothing of late to justify the high opinion which the “woolbrokers” claim the public hold of him. Owing to the fact that their racing track is undergoing a complete process of renovation, the Tapanui R.C. have been granted permission to race at Gore. It is understood that dates during the second week in January will be claimed by the T.R.C. Mr. Ewen Matheson, one of the most experienced professional racing officials in the home province, has been appointed secretary of the Clifden Racing Club. One of the most improved horses seen out on the Riverton tracks of late is Verdun, by Canrobert —Tugela, and consequently a full-brother to Buller and Spanish Princess. He is a goodlooking gelding, but was never seen at his best during the past season. The Riverton owner-trainer Mr. J. Hymer, who in turn raced Soldier’s Chorus and Marsa prior to handing them on to new owners, has been for some time on the sick list, leaving his charges—Brooksdale, Lady Trent, Verdun and Colbert —to be worked by N. G'ateley.

It is hoped that an injury which practically kept Golden King off the racecourse last season, has now been overcome. The aged son of Golden Knight and Fairy Benzie is in work again with P. T. Hogan’s team, and ran down a couple of furlongs soundly one morning this week. The New Zealand Cup candidate Rorke’s Drift has been working regularly on the plough this week, and looks bright and well.

The Glenculloch—Office Girl filly, which is being prepared by P. Hogan for the Winton Stakes, is rounding up into a useful-looking three-year-old, but it is hardly likely that she can be ready for a severe task early in November.

It is expected that in the course of another ten days or so the Southland R.C. will have at the disposal of trainers the best set of tracks provided by any club in the district. A re-cently-constructed and very wide grass circuit is at the present time looking really better than the course proper. The number of horses in work, gallopers and trotters, in and around Invercargill at the present juncture is rapidly reaching record proportions. Down at Riverton, A. D. Mclvor is busy with Buller, G'unrest, Neuroma, Mohawk, Minesweeper, Hot Air, Spanish Princess and a Winton Stakes candidate, and it is fully expected that one or two of the lesser lights of his working brigade will be hearo from early in the piece.

Rarity, by Canrobert —Follicle, a full-brother to Cannonade, is described as a handsome gelding, but there is just a suspicion that all is not well with the horse’s breathing apparatus.