SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1561, 25 March 1920, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Silver Peak and Eleus Both Engaged in C.J.C. Great Easter Handicap— Eight Bells Reported Sore — Heatherlea Breaks Down Badly at Clifden Meeting — A Remarkable Cross-country Contest — Dunedin J.C.’s Popular Winter Fixture — Notes on the Clifden Meeting— Fleetham Galloping Well.

INVERCARGILL, Monday

Intermittent rain has fallen during the past week, but the southern tracks are still on the hard side, and very little schooling work has been accomplished. Two leading jump ing mentors, J. Thistleton (Riverton) and P. Hogan (Invercargill), have been afraid to practise their charges as in past seasons. Eleus and Silver Peak, both owned by W. Stone, have been left in the great Easter Handicap at Riccarton, while Eleus also, has been accepted for in the great Autumn Handicap. Silver Peak, who is trained by her owner, is doing fair work, but it can hardly be claimed, that she is up to the standard required for the C.J.C. sprint event. Eleus, who is prepared by P. Hogan, has been under suspicion during the past week, owing to the fact that he jarred a joint during the course of the Gore Racing Club’s autumn fixture. His trainer declares that the injury is not serious, but it is noticeable that, he was not asked to gallop hard until Saturday morning when he was tailed off in a try-out with Rorke’s Drift and Almoner. The latter pair finished together over a mile and a distance, with Rorke’s Drift travelling better than he has for a long time past. The Calibre gelding may be heard from when the Riverton Cup is decided or Easter Saturday. The speedy Vice-Admiral filly, Eight Bells, is suffering from soreness and canters as if one race will send her to the right about. During the contest for the Waiau Steeplechase at the Clifden meeting last week one of the best known steeplechasers in this part of the world in Heatherlea, broke down. The North Island-bred son of King George, who has jumping races to his credit on all the Southland courses where steeplechasing is encouraged, is unlikely to race again. Trainer A. E. Ward will be sorry to lose the services of the old horse, who was a perfect fencer and also served as a most efficient schoolmaster to novice performers in his stables. The Orawaia Steeplechase at the Clifden R.C. gathering, produced one of the most remarkable cross-country contests ever seen in the home province or anywhere else for that matter. At the first obstacle Fairplay refused, and took no further part in the race. Then in short order Wilden Lock and Peerless followed suit; and were both pulled up. Sultana fell and gave his rider (Mr.

North) a nasty tumble, but an amateur remounted him only to fall off on the flat approaching the double. Having been injured in a previous spill the professional jockey, J. Callahan, caught Sultana and continued the race. Meanwhile Frog had established a long lead to the second to last jump over which he came to grief. T. O’Connor climbed back into the saddle and continued to the last fence, where Frog fell again and lost his bridle. Some time was lost in restoring his gear but Frog was still enabled to canter home an easy winner from Sultana, who got round at a leisurely pace. Frog, who is wellknown in the show ring as a jumper, and was only put to steeplechasing during the past month, is a gelding of unknown breeding. His dam came down here with a mob from the North Island of well-bred buckjumpers, and subsequently produced a foal by an unknown sire. There is good blood in the veins of Frog, judging from appearances, and when he is more seasoned it is quite .on the cards he will earn further winning distinction. The Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter fixture in June is now looked upon as the most popular meeting of the season south of Christchurch, with its rich steeplechases, hurdle races, and flat contests, the result being that a number of Southland horses already have been labelled for special preparations. The cross-country course takes some jumping, and southern sportsmen live in hopes that some of the crack North Island ’chasers will sooner or later be tempted to visit Wingatui to compete with their slower southern rivals but horses accustomed to the * stiffest obstacles. Hence an interesting levelling up of

the situation should develop. Trainer C. Christie, of Wingatui, states that all is well with the last Grand National Steeplechase winner, Lochella, whom he expects to produce fit and well in the near future. Of the other jumpers in his. stable Nocturnal and Grafton Tot will take nursing until the ground softens, while Wilden Loch so far has proved a disappointment at racing between the flags. The last-named is at present a visitor to Invercargill, where he has schooled badly, and also made a very indifferent display at Clifden, where, however, the fences were stiff, bare and straight.

The prevailing shortage of motor spirit did not prevent the Clifden Racing Club from carrying out a record annual fixture on Wednesday last, the first meeting held in. the district since the war curtailment in 1917. Situated away on the fringe of wild, fiord country about 70 miles from Invercargill, the picturesque racecourse is located on the banks of the noted Waiau River, which has proved a home for salmon in Maoriland. It is a hard place to get at, but visitors were rewarded with some interesting racing, including a remarkable steeplechase and two dead-heats. The first tie resulted in the Lilburn Plate, in which race the judge was unable to divide Bretton and Sartolite, while a second dead-heat took place in connection with the Clifden Cup Handicap, of £lOO (one mile), the principal event of the day, when Pallah and Mettle Drift (by Rorke’s Drift) crossed the line in company. The West Coast jockey S. Gibb, who is now with R. Berry (Invercargill),

thus took part in both dead-heat events, as he steered Sartolite in the former and Pallah in the latter race. Gibb also secured the Farewell Handicap on Sartolite (by Sarto —Rubelite). Only two started in the Waiaua Steeplechase, of £lOO, the winner turning up in the pony Glenisla, who had no difficulty in accounting for Heatherlea, whom it was subsequently ascertained had broken down. The winner is by Pallas Lea (Pallas — Hardalee) from a thoroughbred mare. He is a great jumper, but lacks pace. It is noticed, however, that he is improving in speed and staying power, and better class horses may find him troublesome at the Southland R.C. and Riverton meetings. The imported horse Fleetham is standing up to his tasks well on the Southland R.C. tracks, but rain would be all in his favour. It has been decided to add ViceGrand (Vice-Admiral —Fibrona) to the list. The Winton Stakes winner has been a sore disappointment for some time past, but the operation may lead to an improvement in his manners and galloping ability. In addition to the local entrant Eleus, two Great Autumn Handicap candidates in Radial and Warlike are engaged at the Southland meeting. Warlike was selected favourite for the Southland Cup from the appearance of the weights. Mr. T. H. Lowry’s castoff is a useful galloper. The master of Rorke’s Drift Lodge is handling some young stock at present, including fillies By Markhope— Anchilla and Vice-Admiral respectively, also a colt by Winkie — Honesty, by Martian —Success. The last-named cost P. Hogan 175 guineas at the recent Christchurch sales.