SOUTHLAND

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1456, 21 March 1918, Page 13

SOUTHLAND

Hard Tracks Causing Anxiety—Sir Mali Changes Hands —Rorke’s Drift Unlikely Starter at C.J.C. Meeting — Brooksdale’s Pleasing Track Work — Riverton R.C.’s Easter Meeting — Gore R.C.’s Successful Summer Fixture— INVERCARGILL, March 15. Rain is badly needed at several Southland training centres at present, as the grass gallops are all very much on the firm side. Several horses gave evidence of having been galloped on a hard track after the Gore R.C. fixture, and similar trouble will have to be faced if there is no fall of moisture prior to the Southland R.C. meeting next week. Notice of motion tabled at a meeting last week points to the fact that the Winton J.C. are about to substantially increase the stakes for the next Winton Guineas. It is almost certain that the conditions for the race will a’so be amended in favour of the progeny of bona fide Southland mares, born outside certain defined districts, being eligible for entry. This change has become necessary by reason of the fact that quite, a

number of local matrons are being sent abroad each season to be mated with fashionable sires, and, as often as not, foal away from home, their descendants in this case being debarred from the Guineas race. At the present time the progeny of horses such as Kilbroney, Solferino, Sunny Lake, Markhope, and other sires are likely to be affected. During the past week the local trainer .G. McLean purchased the well-known gelding Sir Malt, by Malster —Graceton, at £lOO from the Wingatui mentor, C. Geiseler. McLean has been very successful in the past with flighty or erratic horses, and is hoping that Sir Malt will yield to his treatment. The Auckland Cup winner Balboa was not produced at Gore, but may be given a run at the S R.C. meet-. ing if the track is at all in a favourable state. In the meantime, the chestnut stallion is standing up to his tasks. The Kilbroney filly Kilmeedy was not started at Gore, and has now been scratched for the Southland R.C.’s first day proceedings. So far Kilmeedy has failed to win a race, but her juvenile form was attractive, and her connections can hardly find fault when she is placed over southern hacks which have won minor events, in view of the fact that she was placed fourth in the Publicans’ Handicap at the Dunedin J.C. Cup fixture, to say nothing of putting up a good race in the Hazlett Memorial Stakes (one mile) behind Fiery Cross (9 13) and Wardancer (9.4), when she had 8.2 and ran third in the southern record time of lmin. 39 4-ssec. It is considered very unlikely that Rorke’s Drift will fulfil his engagements in the Great Easter or Great Autumn Handicaps. His connections have no fault to find with the weights apportioned the con of Calibre, but Mr. F. A. Price likes to see his favourite race and cannot see his way at present to visit Riccarton for this purpose at Easter time. The bay ge’ding is galloping in something like his best form just now, and this fact would have lent a great deal of interest to a visit to Canterbury. He will be supported for the Southland Cup next week, if started, and, if held in reserve, will be a dangerous candidate at Riverton on Easter Saturday and the Monday following. The Pallas gelding Brooksdale, who has been in retirement for some time past, is working along in an encouraging manner on the Southland R.C. tracks. He has been operated upon for throat trouble since he last appeared in public, and present indications point to the success of the experiment. His friends have received information that Mr. James Swale, well known as an owner of steeplechasers and agricultural show jumping horses, who left New Zealand with a recent reinforcement draft, is returninghome. It transpires that as the result of an accident on a transport somewhere on the shores of Australia he has had one of his hands amputated. Mr. Henry Nicoll, who has filled the position of treasurer to the Southland RC. with credit for quite a number of years, has taken his departure for military headquarters in the North Island to undergo a course of training. The Calibre gelding Gunrest has fined down considerably of late, and it would not be surprising to find that he is in fair galloping shape for the Riverton R.C. Easter gathering. A rough balance-sheet credits the Gore Racing Club’s summer meeting with having returned a credit balance of £l3l 10s. The Government’s share of the proceeds from the totalisator and stake tax amounted to the substantial sum of £643 19s. lOd. It cannot be said that the racing public are failing to find the sinews of war, whatever may be claimed on behalf of the party in opposition.