SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1451, 14 February 1918, Page 13

SOUTHLAND.

Southland R.C.’s Autumn Fixture — Bonnally Joins J. Boyd’s TeamMohawk' Nominated for Wanganui Meeting—Mussulman Still on Invalid List — Gunrest Making Steady Progress.

INVERCARGILL, February 9. The sum of £ 2500 is to be given away at the. Southland R.C.’s autumn fixture next month, making the local turf institution’s prize total £5500 for the current season. A race for apprentices will now be necessary, and this has been fixed as the Disposal Stakes Handicap on the opening day. Jockey A. McKay was turned down by the Military Appeal Board the other day, and will consequently have to go into camp immediately after the Dunedin Cup meeting, at which his services will be in great demand. The Sarto —Dinna Forget gelding Bonnally has joined J. Boyd’s team at Invercargill, to be prepared for the Southland R.C.’s gathering on March 20 and 21. He has been hacked about the roads and is looking bright and well. Boyd, by the way, is taking Awahou and the two-year-old filly Ancenia to the Dunedin Cup meeting. The former is galloping along nicely at present, while the juvenile daughter of King Mark has furnished in a marked manner since being brought here from Hawke’s Bay. The Riverton trainer J. Thistleton has been granted an extension of time by the Military Appeal Board until the May draft go forward to camp. The chairman of the Board hastened to explain that Thisfleto.n’s request was granted on . account of private and not professional reasons. As he served for Australia throughout the South African war, the writer would think that Thistleton is just as much entitled to consideration as any other member of the community who has to work for a living, on commercial or religious lines. The Southland-owned mare Redowa was a visitor to the Canterbury JC. summer meeting on Saturday last, and managed to finish second in the Hornby Welter Handicap to Majestikoff. She ran a fair race, but the second dividend returned was not welcome to a strong following of local punters. It is just .possible that the American horse Mohawk will again visit the North Island in the near future, as he has been nominated for three events at the Wanganui J.C.’s autumn meeting. If started at the Dunedin Cup gathering he will carry a fair share of support in the Publican’s Handicap, as he is very well just now and should not find 8 9 beyond him in the company he' is asked to meet at Wingatui? If he should strip at WUngatui visitors to that far-away meeting will at least see a very fine specimen of the imported thoroughbred in action, as he has both appearance and breeding to recommend him. It is hard to find reliable riders for hurdle horses in the south at the present time, and for this reason the local gelding Prairie Fire may not make the trip to the Dunedin J.C. meeting. This is rather hard on Mr. Fahey, as the Pilgrim’s Progress gelding is fresh and well. A very -large contingent of Southland supporters of the turf purpose assisting at the Dunedin Cup fixture next week, and it looks as if they will get a run for their money in events in which Mohawk, Special Order, Burrangong, Hot Air, Kilkee, Glensßonse, Kauwhero and Rorke’s Drift are engaged. Golden King is training .on well but may hardly be ready to strip at his best yet. It is-stated that the veteran steeplechaser ?Peary has been giving trainer j. .Boyd ‘ a considerable amount of trouble of late. ■The'; Winton Stakes winner. Mussulman, is : still suffering from a mild . attack ‘Of.- strangles,' ..but- his full-sis-terMuzzin is going on the right way. Gunrest is making progress in G. ■ McLean’s hands, and may be ready do- race fairly well by Easter time at Riverton, but the son. of Calibre is not a horse, easy -to. wind up to his very best form.