SOUTHLAND

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1417, 21 June 1917, Page 10

SOUTHLAND

Golden King to be Treated to Enforced Spell — Reported Sale of Silverspire — Two Leading Local Horsemen Fail to Pass Medical Test —Lion Joins C. Gieseler’s Stable —Curtailment of Racing Days in Otago and Southland — Wellknown Sportsman’s Trying Experience During Floods — Prominent Local Turf Associates’ Contemplated Move to the North. INVERCARGILL, June 14. It is very satisfactory to learn that the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter fixture returned a profit under the adverse circumstances of floods and a curtailment of railway traffic. It transpires that Golden King, in addition to breaking down in the Birthday Handicap at Dunedin, was also seriously galloped on as he was being pulled up. It is likely to be a very long time before an attempt can be made to train the Golden Knight gelding again. A report is to hand that the promising steeplechaser Silverspire, by Quicksilver (Silvermark — Selina) from Minaret, has been disposed of by Mr. P. Boyle, of Heddon Bush. The report lacks confirmation, but is quite likely to be correct; as the gelding’s rider, Mr. F. Langford, and several of the horse’s connections have been called up for military service.

It is stated that J. Gray, of Winton, is handling two young horses for Mr. R. Miller, owner of Jock. The youngsters referred to are both by Crichton (son of Lochiel and sire of Mosgiel) from Turret (Sant Ilario —Minaret) and Follicle (dam of Jock

and Cannonade), by Casket —Parvula. Turret, by the way, has proved a very unlucky matron, as her progeny so far have invariably met with serious sickness or some training or racing mishaps. The daughter of Minaret produces good looking stock and well known gallopers, but appear to have been born under an unlucky star. P. T. Hogan’s leading horseman, W. Robinson, who has won some good races on Rorke’s Drift and Golden King, made his bow before the Medical Board last week, only to be told that he “will never see the war.” Thus the two leading local horsemen, Robinson and A. McKay, have failed to satisfy the military medical examiners.

Two nice youngsters, bred by Mr. F. Moore, of Winton, are being carefully tended and handled at the present time. A handsome chestnut colt by Rose Noble from Order, by The Officer —Spot, is owned by a Winton syndicate, while a colt by Soldiers' Chorus from Order will be raced in Mr. Moore’s own colours. W. Ratcliff is hacking the Rokeby —Camille filly about and it is safe to say that she will be raced in the early spring, provided all goes well in the meantime.

Wingatui advice is to the effect that the Bezonian — Zemlia gelding Lion has gone into C. Gieseler’s stable. Mr. J. Christie’s horse was looking well at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting and twice ran into a place. It would not surprise the writer to find the hitherto disappointing gelding accounting for a winner’s end of a purse in the near future. He is a sturdy-looking ani-

mal and appears to improve with age. It is hardly necessary to state that a great deal of interest is being taken in the approaching curtailment of racing days in Otago and Southland. The fact that the Lake County J.C. are not desirous of carying on operations during the currency of the European War wil help to some extent, but trouble may arise elsewhere. However, there are quite a number of southern clubs living from hand to mouth in the meantime, and if their responsible officials do the right thing they will pull out of line of their own free will, with the knowledge that they will have their permits renewed later on and command financial support from their more fortunate rivals until peace again reigns supreme. The well-known owner and president of the Southland Racing Club, Mr. W. T. Hazlett, had a trying experience during the recent floods. He was out on his newly-acquired farming property on the banks of the Oreti River when the waters came from up country and speed ly submerged his land. His residence becoming rapidly inundated, Mr. Hazlett and two of his youthful sons had to take refuge on a table, where they stayed for about two days prior to being rescued by a boating party. Mr. Hazlett’s thoroughbreds, Vocation, Dorian, Directoire and the latter’s colt foal by Danube do not appear to have come to any harm. Trainer P. Hogan has not yet announced his intentions in regard to the New Zealand Grand National meeting, but it is safe to say that he will be found at Riccarton in August next in command of a useful team of jumpers and fiat racers.

Corporal E. Russell, owner of Mohawk, is still with us under a further month’s sick leave. A kidney injury, received during the progress of an exciting military Rugby football match at Trentham having proved rather serious to the sturdy southern soldier. A rumour is current to the effect that a prominent Southland trainer and an equally well-known local horseman are contemplating a move to the north under permanent conditions. Should this intention be carried out it will occasion no surprise, as it is an open secret that the mentor in question has been particularly well looked after during the season now closing when it came to the handicapping of his charges. It is on the cards that several horses from this part of the world will be nominated for the Wellington Racing Club’s winter fixture. It would thus look as if the almost fruitless visit of Gunrest, Buller and Mohawk to Trentham some time back has not dismayed some people hereabouts.