SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1500, 23 January 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Glenwood’s Wairio Cup Victory—The Coming Dispersal Sale at Eldersiie Stud —’Chaser Precious Metal to be Prepared for Autumn Engagements —Martifors Scores an Overdue Win at Wairio Meeting.

INVERCARGILL, January 17.

At the time of writing owners and trainers are filling up entry forms in connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. Southland will be fully represented in the leading events, but hardly in proportion as far as the minor races go. The two-year-old Anton is training on for the Dunedin Cup gathering. His shins are fining down again and he appears to be hearty and well. Wild Night was brought down from Christchurch last week, having been purchased by the local owner, Mr. W. Stone. Sir George Clifford’s castoff did not impress local track watchers, but when produced in the Wairio Cup on Wednesday he ran a much better race than was expected. He met an aged and more experienced horse over the ten furlongs and did well to chase Glenwood home as he did. The Wairio Cup winner, Glenwood, is an aged son of Glenculloch and Miss Collingwood, by Leinster — Miss Moore, by Le Loup —Marjory Moore, by May King (a North Island stallion). He is a hardy little gelding and takes after his mother’s side of the house. Leinster, by Albany— Zelica, was a good but very unsound racehorse iri this district. He had very few opportunities at the stud, but left several useful gallopers here. It is reported that the Martian — Two Step yearling colt will be sent away to Wingatuij shortly to be broken in and introduced to training duties. He will be under the charge of T. Stiven, Junior, who is building up a reputation as a successful mentor.

The Wairio Jockey Club’s meeting, which took place on Wednesday, was held in a district which was heavily hit by the influenza epidemic, consequently it was not as successful as its predecessor of last season from a financial point of view, but it is expected to show a reasonable profit. The Solferino —Eager Eyes colt is now taking to his saddle duties in a kindly manner. He is to be prepared for juvenile racing next season, and on looks may be expected to gallop. His American-bred dam comes of a family famous for its early gallopers; in fact, her sire, Cesarion, is said to have put up a record in the direction of fathering baby racehorses. Several southern sportsmen have announced their intention of being present at the dispersal sale of the Eldersiie Stud next month with designs on the thoroughbred stock to be offered, and it is to be hoped that they will prove successful in their quest. Now that the stakes in the home province are rapidly growing in value horses of a good class are being brought here to race from northern districts, and if local owners wish to hold their own they will have to get busy to improve the class of their galloping representatives.

Red Tape, winner of the Maiden Plate and Wrey’s Bush Welter Handicap at Wairio on Wednesday, is a useful and well-bred animal, being a son of All Red and Portia, by Bill of Portland —Happy Land, by Musket — Atlantis. He has been some time coming to profit, but now appears to be a promising racing proposition. It will be interesting to

see how he fares when he is called upon to race at the Dunedin Cup meeting next month for his Otago owner, Mr. W. Bunten, who has not been too successful with his racehorses for some time past. The All Red gelding is a stout looking horse and just the stamp of animal to develop into a useful hurdler. The Wairaki Handicap (five furlongs), one of the minor events at the Wairio fixture, was won by Osterman, a three-year-old half brother to Golden King. At present the son of Cronstadt and Fairy Benzie is an indifferent stayer, but can gallop with a fair head of speed on. He is owned by Mr. J. Graham, who also races Golden King, and is trained by P. T. Hogan. The steeplechaser Precious Metal is being hacked about the roads here at present by the veteran horsebreaker and trainer, G. Easton, and it is evident that he is to be prepared for the autumn cross-country events at Invercargill, Gore, Riverton and Dunedin. He is looking well. Rorke’s Drift is being kept up to the collar on the Southland Racing Club’s tracks with a view to a special effort at the Dunedin Cup gathering next month. The Calibre gelding presents a bright and healthy appearance.

After a series of disappointments, the Martian —Bravewater mare Martifors, was returned a winner at Wairio on Wednesday. Her mission was in the Woodland Handicap, and the

sister to Highwater never left the issue in doubt after the straight was reached, putting down a very hot favourite in Revolution. The first selection had 9.2 to carry over a track seriously affected by heavy rain overnight, hence it was no disgrace that she should have to give way to Martifors, who had only 7.7 to carry. The winner, who is prepared by A. D. Mclvor, has improved noticeably as the result of recent racing, and it might be just as well to remember this fact in view of immediate future possibilities.