SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1446, 3 January 1918, Page 13

SOUTHLAND.

Excellent Nominations for the Wyndham R.C. Meeting—Large Entries for the Southland R.C. Summer Meeting—Sir -George Clifford to be Represented—Burrangong and Mohawk Expected to Run Prominently —Kilkee Purchased by a Southland Sportsman--Kauwhero's Prospects at Wingatui—Glensponse’s Capabilities as a Hurdler—Hot Air Expected to Strike Form. INVERCARGILL, December 26. Railway restrictions do not appear to have handicapped the Wyndham R.C.’s annual meeting on January 1, as far as nominations are concerned. Entries to the number of 110 have been received for seven events, as compared with 100 for eight events last season.

The ex-North Islander Awahou became somewhat dull and his old trouble of bleeding threatened to recur last week, consequently J. Boyd treated him to a mild dose of physic and eased him up for a few days. He is very well at present and should be heard from next week provided all goes well in the meantime. The Southland R.C.’s summer meeting has attracted large entries, all th ngs considered, and the Invercarg 11 Cup has not been neglected by owners with a nomination display of eighteen well-known horses. It is interesting to note that J. McCombe has named Subterfuge as an entrant for the big money. The Vice-Admiral Lady Talbot gelding, Calibre —Walda filly, and the Rorke’s Drift —Lady Talbot colt have been handled and ridden dur ng the past week. The son of Vice-Admiral gave some trouble at first, but eventually settled down like a sensible horse. Rorke’s Drift’s son, on the other hand, objected to be educated at all, and created an unusual amount of fuss about the matter. He is now an inmate of G. McLean’s stable. H. G. Coker has the Calibre —Walda filly in hand, while P. T. Hogan has charge of Vice-Admiral’s son.

As Brambletye has been engaged in the Invercargill Cup and Southland R.C. Handicap at the local meet'ng, while accommodation has been engaged for the daughter of Treadm 11 and Bonnie Brae, it may be taken for granted that Sir George Clifford is going to be represented in Southland for the 'first time next week. The equine hero of last season’s Invercargill Cup, Golden K : ng, has been running out for some t me past, but is to be taken up again as soon as the New Year fixtures are disposed of.

Two horses expected to race prominently at the Wyndham or Invercargill meetings are Burrangong and Mohawk, both of whom looked to be short of work when raced at the Winton J.C. fixture last month. Burrangong, who is a full-brother to Mystified and Mysteriarch, is trained in company with Mohawk at Riccarton under the keen eye of A. D. Mclvor. Another smart galloper from the same R verton stable, Special Order, may trouble the best of them at the Southland R.C. meeting. The Winton Stakes winner, Mussulman, was to have been tr ed out in more select company at the Southland R.C. meeting, but his owner missed the closing of nominations by some hours, and the son of Pallas will now have to be held in reserve for the Wairio J.C.’s gathering, entries for which are due next week.

The K'lbroney—Latchet gelding Kilkee, ' who is reported to have been galloping well at Riccarton during the past few weeks, has been purchased by a Southland sportsman and is expected to carry the colours also worn by Giralda for the first time at Wyndham. If the Kilbroney geld’ng has been doing well at Riccarton he should have no difficulty in winning a race here in the near future. He : s to join the string commanded by H. G. Coker, who, by the way, is gathering a new team round him after losing Kauwhero, Aycliffe and Muzzle. An acc'dent happened to Rorke’s Dr'ft the other day, the Calibre gelding running a piece of stray wood into his digestive organs, but the effects are not expected to be a serious handicap to the Messrs. Price’s gelding. In the meant'me, Kauwhero and Aycliffe are to race at W ngatui, with the North Otago J.C. meeting to follow, but provided the former is not harshly treated in the Invercargill Cup he may be brought back from the D.J.C. to i lay his part in the most important race of the season as far as the home province is concerned. Should Kauwhero race at the local track, instead of competing at Oamaru, he will carry a considerable

amount of support in the Invercarg 11 Cup, as hundreds of people have got it into their heads that he is distinctly removed from the moderate class over a distance like a mile and aquarter. He certainly encouraged his admirers at Winton in the bel.ef that he can gallop over a d stance of ground. The colt foal by Solferino from Eager Eyes is doing well and has been greatly admired. The American mare is not to be mated this season, but will probably join the harem of one of the Messrs. Reid’s North Otago sires next year.

The Wh.te King is reported from Dunedin to be in good shape, hence he will command a very strong following when he is stripped for the sprint events at the S.R.C.’s summer gathering next week. Glensponse is to be raced in the sprint events at the S.R.C.’s fixture, and when the summer meetings conclude he will probably be given a turn at the jumping game. He jumped fairly well for a novice when tried out over the schcol ng hurdles last season.

The uncertain Redshire has been galloping in an encouraging manner of late, and may secure a stake for P. T. Hogan’s stable at New Year time.

Notwithstanding reports from Riccarton to the effect that Marc Antony is far from at his best yet, the black horse has been engaged at the Wyndham and S.R.C. meetings. Jock failed badly at Winton after showing winning form at the Gore R.C. spring meeting, but his followers have not lost faith in him and he is expected to strip well at Invercargill. Highwater has been on the shelf for some time past, and it is now given out that she will not be raced unt'l the autumn 'fixtures come round. The daughter of Mart an is very useful when at her best.

Hot Air raced indifferently at Winton, but may. redeem her reputation within a few days of these notes appearing in print. The All Red mare is a smart galloper, and will occas : on great surprise m well-imormed quarters ; f she should fail to strike form at an early date.