SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1508, 20 March 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Local Tracks Benefitted by Rain—A. D. Mclvor’s Team for Southland Meeting—Directoire’s - First Foal Makes Appearance on Southland Racing Club’s Tracks—Mazama’s Pleasing Gallops — P. T. Hogan’s Large Team — A Number Being Schooled Over Big Country—Glenshine to Make His Debut Over Hurdles at Wingatui—Dunedin Jockey Club’s Attractive Winter Programme. INVERCARGILL, March 13. After a rather prolonged dry spell for this part of the world, rain is falling at the time of writing, and trainers will welcome the moisture, even if it does interfere with track operations. The training paths had

become very firm, and all galloping had to be done on the plough. Trainers with steeplechasers in hand for engagements at Invercargill, Gore, and Riverton had just made a longdeferred start to school their charges when the rain arrived and was eagerly welcomed. The Southland Racing Club’s secretary, Mr. W. A. Saunders, is to fill the gap left by the death of Mr. John Latham. The local expert he can with truth be placed as such —— is to carry the Gore Racing Club and Gore Trotting Club over their respective meetings, after which a new appointment will be made to the positions held by the deceased gentleman. The rising two-year-old colt by Martian —Two Step, owned by Mr. W. Stone, was brought back to Invercargill from Wingatui last week. During his stay at the headquarters of the Dunedin Jockey Club the youngster was handled, ridden, and added to the list. He will be wintered here by his owner, who does good work and gets a lot of amusement out of the home management of at least one young equine during the off season. The Martian juvenile will probably carry a lady during his daily trips out into the world, and, if so, he will benefit by the control of a pair of hands which have steered quite a number of local thoroughbreds gently along the paths of learning. The Riverton mentor, A. D. McIvor, has engaged accommodation • here for nine horses for the Southland Racing Club’s autumn fixture, including: Burrangong, Kilmeedy, Marching Order, Highwater, Martifors, Buller, Red Admiral, Gunrest and Cannot.

It was originally intended to take Eleus, Golden King and Calma to the Ashburton Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, but the proposal is now in abeyance, as one of the owners con cerned is absent from home, and has yet to notify his desires in the matter. Golden King has been standing up well to his work since his return from Oamaru, and Eleus and Calrna are undoubtedly in excellent racing shape. The first foal of the Auckland-bred mare, Directoire, has made his appearance on the Southland tracks, in the shape of a rising three-year-old gelding. The son of Danube is a well-grown, sturdy youngster, and if Directoire is going to produce more of ihis kind she will prove a very valuable mare to Mr. W. T. Hazlett. The gelding referred to will presently be followed to the training stable presided over by W. Gardiner by a half sister, a filly by the Elderslie Stud stallion, Kilbroney. Of Mr. Hazlett’s horsqg in active commission, Dorian is picking up slowly after his collision in a gallop prior to the Dunedin Cup meeting, but Mazama has never looked back since his visit to Wingatui. The black gelding is due to win a race in the near future, if he can substantiate his track form with the colours up. P. T. Hogan has 18 horses in work, of whom 13 have been engaged at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting next week, at least one in each race on the programme, with the exception of the four light harness events. Entering up his string was a complicated matter, with the result that Hogan lost sight of Redshire altogether, and the Downshire gelding was missed from the list for the Disposal - Stakes, an event for which he was specially designed—he is getting into the sere and yellow class.

The total entries for the Southland Racing Club’s autumn gathering created satisfaction in point of numbers, but very few horses were named from Canterbury. Of the 12 contestants in the Southland Cup, 10 are owned in the home province, while Glendower comes from Canterbury and Royal Star is prepared in Otago for a Canterbury owner. P. Hogan has been schooling Palladio, Silverspire, Dardanelles, Dalton and several novices of late over big country, with the assistance of jockeys G. Feilding, J. McChesny and I. Tilson (apprentice), and the firstnamed pair will probably be heard from at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting. As a matter of fact Silverspire appears to be a more seasoned horse this year than at any previous period of his career. Hogan is also preparing several horses for hurdleracing, with Calma to serve as a try-ing-out standard. Glenshine, by Glenculloch —Minaret, should be ready to make his debut over the battens when the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter fixture takes place in June. As soon as the local meeting concludes, a start will probably be made

to alter the Southland competition track, which will be extended and improved at several of the turns to a considerable extent. The programme for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter gathering early in June is meeting with wholehearted approval in the south,- particularly where the fancy of owners and trainers leans to the encouragement of the racing jumper. The Otago Steeplechase, lOOOsovs (three miles), is well worth consideration, while the Wingatui Steeplechase, 400 sovs (two miles and a-half) and Dunedin Steeplechase 500sovs (two .miles and a-half) should serve to attract widespread attention. The Otago Hurdles, ,500sovs (two miles), Victoria Hurdles, SOOsovs (one mile and a-half), Trial Hurdles, 200sovs (one mile and a-half), and Jumpers’ Flat Race, 200sovs, read well for competi- - tors over the lesser obstacles. The Birthday Handicap, 500sovs (one mile and a-half), is the most valuable flat race, but the gallopers have been well provided for throughout.