SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1521, 19 June 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Dunedin Jockey Club’s Successful Winter Meeting—Southland Owners Capture Bulk" of Stake Money— Several Horses Change Hands During Dunedin Fixture—Mr. J. C. N. Grigg Purchases Otago Steeplechase Winner Palladio —Success of P. T. Hogan’s Horses During Present Season.

INVERCARGILL, June 12. The Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting proved a greater success from every standpoint than even its most sanguine supporter expected. The sport was very interesting throughout the three days of the fixture, the weather being perfect for the time of year, while the totalisator and attendance figures easily constituted records for the Wingatui course. It is now announced that the Dunedin Cup fixture of February is in future to be shorn of a day in order that the winter gathering may extend over three days, as was the case last week. The general opinion will be that the club has acted wisely in deciding to take this step. This June meeting is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, and it is easy to see that the public prefer it to any other fixture of the season and are prepared to support it accordingly. Southland owners had a royal time at Wingatui, horses hailing from this part of the world accounting for the sum of £4130 in stakes out of a total of £7OOO.

During the progress of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting quite a number of horses changed hands. The Canterbury-trained Claverhouse was purchased for Dunedin and goes into G. Reid’s stable at Wingatui. The steeplechaser Crib was secured by the syndicate which used to race Rongahere, and the Sarto gelding is to be operated upon by Mr. Martin. M.R.C.V.S., of Timaru, for wind trouble and will be spelled for six months or more. Mr. Martin, by the way, has achieved remarkab’e success in operations of this nature, 100 per cent, of the horses raced after passing through his hands since he removed from Gore to Timaru, having won races, the jumpers Bore and Bandy being cases in point. Other horses sold at Dunedin last week were the steeplechaser Palladio and the very useful galloper Admiral Talbot, 'by Vice-Admiral — Lady Talbot, both of whom are now owned by Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, of Ashburton. Palladio is to be used as a hunter in the future, while Admiral Talbot will be treated to a spell prior to returning to P. T. Hogan’s care in Invercargill. Mr. Millar, the late owner of Admiral Talbot, also disposed of Calma, and the daughter of Calibre will in future carry the colours of her trainer, P. Hogan. She is a good little mare, and it is more than likely that she will race with credit for the master of Rorke’s Drift Lodge between the flags in future —she has not yet started in a steeplechase, but has demonstrated in private that she is not averse to clearing more formidable obstacles then hurdles. The fact that Mr. Millar has parted with two of his horses does not mean that he has any intention of retiring from the game, as he retains his good three-year-old. Elens. Trainer A. D. Mclvor, who is carrying out his long-expressed intention of retiring for 12 months or so, after a strenuous term of years in conscientiously preparing horses to race, has already sent four or five of his charges home to their respective owners, and it is understood that a number of others, including Burrangong, Kilmeedy, Gunrest and Staff Officer are presently to be offered for sale. Mclvor had a team of eight perfectly trained horses at Wingatui last week, but met with exasperating luck, as he only won one race, a success credited to Red Admiral, while his pupils kept running into places or just missed the money time after time.

Commencing the Dunedin Jockey Club’s fixture with 62 entries to his credit as represented by 13 horses, trainer P. T. Hogan actually started 11 contestants, with the result that they got into the money on 20 occasions and won amongst them the sum of £2795 in stakes. During the current season gallopers, hurdlers and steeplechasers trained • at Rorke’s

Drift Lodge have won nearly 40 races and almost £lO,OOO in stakes. The foregoing facts and figures will probably be found on analysis to contain two or three Maoriland records. One of the surprises of the final day’s racing at Dunedin was the victory of the ancient Gienapp gelding Glensponse in the Empire Handicap, the leading sprint event of the afternoon. It is claimed that he would not have won had Miss Finland and Redshire not have fallen and interfered with several of the other starters, but the writer will not subscribe to this contention, as Glensponse was always out near the front throughout the race and was going on strongly when he galloped past the man in the box. The win was a very popular one, as “Mr. S. Carey” has been racing without much success of late, and he is one of those rare owners who seldom or ever complain of his treatment by handicappers, trainers or horsemen. It is pleasing to know that he supported his representative to the tune of a price round about a score.

The local horseman, W. Robinson, than whom there is no stronger finisher in the South Island to-day, is leaving next week on an extended holiday visit to the North Island, where he may occupy the saddle on occasions, provided opportunities are placed in his path. The principal race of the last day at Wingatui, King George Handicap (one mile) was won by the All Red —Aerina (sister to Canrobert) mare Hot Air, who scored for the Wingatui owner-trainer D. P. Wilson by a narrow margin over Marianne, a useful daughter of the New South Wales sire Kenilworth. Hot Air had failed her party on several occasions during the past two months, hence she did not score out of her turn. Later in the day, Radial, a full brother to Hot Air and All Ready, won the Farewell Handicap in great style under 10.9. This bold, four-year-old galloper, who is held on lease by the Oamaru mentor, R. McKay, is a good horse and can carry, weight in a brilliant manner.