SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1505, 27 February 1919, Page 12

SOUTHLAND.

Gore Easter Meetings—Rorke’s Drift’s Successful Turf Career — Local Breeders’ Purchases at Elderslie Sale —Daringdale Broken Down— Death of Popular Lake County Sportsman. INVERCARGILL, February 20. When the North Otago Jockey Club’s fixture at Oamaru concludes this week and the southern horses competing thereat return home training operations will become more interesting in view of an unusually crowded autumn campaign. The weather is favourable for working horses and growing grain at present, and thus many owners of thoroughbreds are wearing the expression of contented men.

The Gore Racing Club have decided to race on April 2 and 4, with the Gore Trotting Club’s postponed fixture on the intervening date. As both clubs race on the same track, a great deal of expense will be saved in working cost of totalisator and racecourse management, but the experiment is a risky one, as the meetings will follow on the heels of the Forbury Park Trotting Club and the Southland Racing Club gatherings, with the Riverton Racing Club fixture to come immediately afterwards. During the current season the pneumonic plague and the war curtailment of racing have played havoc with the operations of the two Gore clubs, and it is to be hoped that success will attend their April efforts. “The Wingatui Champion,” as Rorke’s Drift is often termed, added to his unique record last week when he carried No. 1 saddlecloth in the Dunedin Cup and won in a gallant manner from a numerous field. He has started four times in the race and won on two occasions. The race was a very rough one, bumping and jostling being rife, but J. Olsen kept Rorke’s Drift up at the head of affairs and thus tbe son of Calibre escaped serious trouble throughout. During his turf career the bay gelding has won £6250 in stakes, and his victories include all the leading events contested at the Dunedin J.C. headquarters, most of them on more than one occasion. His winnings to date at Wingatui total £4050. The veteran trainer, George Hope, is at present an inmate of the Southland Hospital, suffering from a broken leg, the injury being sustained as the result of slipping off a curbstone during a dark night. The Messrs. F. A. and V. N. Price’s horse, Rorke’s Drift, ran a great race under 10.0 in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap on the concluding day of the meeting, but Rose Pink held an initial advantage gained at the start to score by a length and aquarter, while Glendower defeated Rorke’s Drift by a nose for second money. P. T. Hogan’s stable made a fine effort to secure the double of the day, as Rorke’s Drift’s stable companion, Redshire, was narrowly beaten into third place by Lionskin and Kilbrogan in the Publican’s Handicap. Local breeders were prominent buyers at the Elderslie Stud dispersal sale. One of the imported mares, Sprig of Erin, purchased by the president of the Southland Racing Club, was evidently wanted in Australia, as Mr. W. T. Hazlett was offered a substantial increase on the 500 guineas for which she was knocked down

to his nod to permit the daughter of Desmond and Sweet Vernal leaving the country, but he steadfastly refused to be tempted. A well-known Sydney bloodstock authority waxed enthusiastic over the Kilbroney— Sprig of Erin filly foal, also the property of Mr. Hazlett, and declared a few days after the sale that she was the juvenile bargain of the dispersal occasion at 200 guineas. The local owner, Mr. W. Stone, purchased the Nassau — Prim two-year-old Primum from Mr. Dalgety, of Christchurch, last week at 350 guineas, and the youngster joins J. Stewart’s team at Wingatui. Stewart has three other valuable youngsters under his care which were owned by Mr. Stone up to a short time back, viz., Silent King, Silent Knight, and the Martian — Two Step gelding. The last-named was added to the list of unsexed gallopers last week. Stewart’s responsibilities are growing apace, and it looks as if he will have a very valuable collection of horses under his charge next season.

One of the unlucky horses of the Dunedin Cup gathering was Burrangong, who ran a fine race in the big event and was practically left at the post in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap. He created the impression that he will be found among the early winners of the autumn season, a fact which is said to have swayed his owners in refusing an offer of £lOOO for him.

The old Canrobert —St. Brigld gelding Daringdale broke down very badly during the progress of the Dunedin J.C. meeting, and has probably seen the last of the racecourse. It is understood that he has been brought back here and is to be turned out to end his days in peace. During his term on the turf he proved a very profitable racer to Mr. W. T. Hazlett. He must rank as one of the best of the progeny of Canrobert, and he certainly stayed better than either of the Sout stallions other two good sons, viz., Robert Bell and Buller. The last-named, by the way, won the Flying Handicap on the concluding day of the Dunedin meeting under adverse circumstances. Pyjama got away from the barrier to a galloping start and pursuit appeared to be hopeless, but L. Hagerty kept Buller going, and Mr. T. B. Mclntyre’s representative made up lost ground and won by a short head, Ludlow being blamed in some quarters for over-confidence with Pyjama.

A popular sportsman of Lake County district passed away this week in the person of Mr. G. D. Baird, who bred and raced a number of horses and was also known as one of the most enthusiastic officials of the Lake County Jockey Club. The last horse to carry his colours to victory was Copper Boy. He was also part owner of Lady Wayward 11. (dam of Emperador), who was sold at the recent Elderslie Stud sale. The imported English mare is now owned solely by the other partner, Mr. R. Paterson. Trainer P. T. Hogan was very successful with representatives of Calibre during the Dunedin Cup gathering, Rorke’s Drift winning and running into third place, Tin Soldier securing a stake, and Calma being placed second and third in the hurdle races. At the Elderslie Stud sale, the brood mare Strathpeffer (Birkenhead —ldeal) and her filly foal by Winkie, were knocked down to the bid of Mr. W. Couser, but the Mataura Island breeder did not retain possession of the pair. On learning that the breeder and owner of Michaela and Thaddeus was anxious to get them, he agreed to that gentleman taking them over at the auction price. It is understood that several North Island owners of cross-country horses are contemplating an invasion of Southland during the autumn meetings.

Alt Delaval came to light at last and registered a long overdue win at Waipa, starting favourite. The punters do sort them out. Mr. Kemp’s win was a popular one.

To decide a wager between C. and P., it has to be stated that Lochiel won the Newmarket Handicap in 1887 and was unplaced in the Australian Cup, in which he struck himself. He won that race, however, later on, and also the New Zealand Cup, but prior to doing so had run in the Auckland Cup. He was not regarded as a thorough stayer for a considerable time but was particularly brilliant, and his brilliancy carried him a long way in his races. He was a puller.