SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1560, 18 March 1920, Page 10

SOUTHLAND.

Eleus at Last—A Popular Victory— G. Christie’s Team of Jumpers for Local Meetings—Almoner Wins at Gore —Good Prospects for Riverton Easter Gathering — Some Good Jumpers Engaged—Record Meeting at Gore —Thaddeus Back to Form.

INVERCARGILL, Saturday.

Although favourable weather was experienced at the Gore R.C.’s meeting, during the current week heavy rain fell for several* days and nights, with the result that the whole countryside has benefited, while the racing tracks have softened up just in time to save a number of gallopers from going wrong. The Gore Cup contest revealed several points of interest totally unconnected with wagering on the mere measuring of strides. Eleus won his first race of the current season, although he had £961 against his name in place money, and Almoner, his stable companion, proved that there is a prospect that he has returned to form by acting as runner-up to Eleus. who has now won £l3ll in stakes for the season. He recorded a popular victory, and it is generally admitted that his owner, W. Stone, has not been compensated in proportion for his enthusiastic outlay in the purchase of thoroughbred stock. The North Island-bred Mazama, in securing third berth, also exhibited form which has not hitherto been associated with his essays in Southland.

Several jumping members of C. Christie’s Wingatui team, including Grafton Tot, Nocturnal, and Wilden Loch, are expected to arrive in Invercargill next week, to stay on here over the Southland R.C. and Riverton Easter meetings, at both of which they are extensively engaged. The principal event on the second day of the Gore fixture went to the Boniform —Cassock gelding Almoner, who had to stretch his neck to gain a victory by a narrow margin over Benefit and Mazama, with Eleus a few strides away. It was a stirring finish, and the result to a marked extent was due to the excellent horsemanship exhibited by the apprentice E. Ellis, who has been associated with Amythas in that good horse’s recent successes. The youngster put up a vigorous effort, keeping a little in reserve for the final dash. His connections backed the winner solidly, and in consequence he did not pay much over even money. Mazama. who was beaten by a short head for second place, should win a race soon, while the runner-up, Benefit, is almost certain to do so, as he is very well.

Prospects for the Riverton Racing Club’s Easter gathering look particularly bright, with 292 entries and nominations for one event still to come. All the races at the fixture have filled well, the Riverton Cup having 21, Easter Handicap 23, Great Western Steeplechase 16, Riverton Steeplechase 25, and Waiau Steeplechase 16 entries, while the minor events all show strong fields. Entries in the cross-country contests include Bore, Rongahere, Silverspire, Zarkoma, Magdala, San Sebastian, Pal-

ladio, Nocturnal, Grafton Tot, and other well-known timber-toppers, while Eleus, Burrangong, Rorke’s Drift, Almoner, Radical, Mazama, Tin Soldier, Thaddeus, Marianne, Benefit, and -other useful gallopers claim engagements in the leading fiat races. The total entries number thirty-nine more than last year. The Gore R.C.’s autumn fixture just disposed of takes rank as the most successful all-round gathering ever held in the Eastern District, with exciting racing, good attendances, excellent starting (trotting and galloping), and payable' financial returns. The Gore Club has not always experienced the best of fortune, but the fixture during the current week has proved an exception to many past experiences. Starter R. E. Harley came down from Hawke’s Bay to conduct the galloping despatches, while an honarary local official in Mr. F. Wallis attended capably to the sending of the light harness contestants away, using the yards system of standing starts. The Adjudge—Oblong mare Silver Peak cost her supporters a large amount of money at Gore when beaten each day, but the mare was hardly herself owing to recent mishaps. It was intended to take Silver Peak and Eleus to the Canterbury J.C.’s autumn meeting, but the project may be abandoned owing to the mare’s indifferent running at Gore. The pair have been extensively engaged at Riverton, which looks likes Easter being spent in the south.

Rorke’s Drift ran fairly well at Gore, but it is evident that it will take some time yet to build the sturdy Calibre gelding up satisfactorily. It may confidently be claimed that Thaddeus has returned to something like her best form. The VascoJessie Lewars gelding looked big, bright and spirited when he went out to run in the Croydon Handicap at Gore, and, getting a clear run on the rails, with Silver Peak, Aycliffe and Miss Camouflage battling desperately further out, he ran home an easy winner, returning a double-figure price, to which his connections helped themselves freely. Thaddeus looked like scoring again in the Borough Handicap, but Kilkee, who was making his first appearance at the meeting, came with a great rush and won easily. Both horses are very well at present, but Thaddeus is a more solid proposition when he does strike form, Kilkee being somewhat of a. moody gelding.

The All Red —Buryland mare Revolution is at the top of her form at present, and after winning the Longford Hack Handicap on the first day at Gore she came out on the following afternoon to run a fine race in the open sprint event, the President’s Handicap, necks only .separating _Kilbrogan,. Palamon and All Red’s daughter. Had Kilbrogan not got a move on at the start he would probably have been defeated, as Revolution' was one of the last in a field of six to leave the mark. -Kilbrogan, who has proved a thorn in the flesh of southern owners, trainers, riders and the general public for some time past, owing to his mulish displays at the starting barrier, as usual was the first to show out as the result of being given undue latitude by the starter. On quite a number of occasions the son of Kilbroney has held his fields up for lengthy periods at the post only to get first out eventually and leave his rivals with a considerable amount of leeway to make up. He is too good a horse to be allowed the privilege of starting on the move over animals standing flatfooted. He was cleverly handled by F. E. Jones on both days at Gore. With over-flrm going and most of the starters making- their debut for the autumn season across country, the steeplechases at Gore found many horses unable to see out their tests, although, however, competition was good each day. In the Welcome Steeplechase on Wednesday the novice Jack Symons (Handsome Jack — Lady Symons) put down a hot favourite in Turehana, although a panel knocked, out of the last obstacle gave him every opportunity of making a flat race out of the final stages. He was well ridden by G. Fielding. On Thursday Take Down, . who was the only horse to fall on the previous day, had little trouble in winning from Miss Trixie. Mr. L. C. Hazlett’s well-bred, daughter by Downshire— Dewy, by Medallion—Siren, fenced carefully, and had too much pace at the finish for the daughter of Comedian.

The one-time good racehorse Soldier’s Chorus had a winning representative at Gore in Marching Order, whose dam, Order, by The Officer — Spot, was a bonny racing proposition

in her day. Marching Order is a useful horse, but got a somewhat lucky run on the rails when he defeated The Boss by a neck in the Otaraia Welter.