SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1574, 24 June 1920, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

W. Robinson Most Successful Rider in Otago and Southland During Present Season—Admiral Fisher Recommissioned—Tin Soldier to be Given Lengthy Spell.

INVERCARGILL, Monday. Road work is the order of the day at present with most of the local trainers, but the fine weather during the past week has enabled some track exercise to be accomplished. In the meantime nothing has been definitely settled as to the southern representatives for the N.Z. Grand National gathering at Riccarton, but a move in this direction will have to be made during the present week. The jockeys’ dispute has had little effect on racing operations in this part of the world beyond newspaper correspondence, but it is understood that all the horsemen here connected with the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association stand fast to their membership despite attempts to wean away their allegiance. The leading Rorke’s Drift Lodge horseman. W. Robinson, is at present on a holiday trip to the North Island, it being his intention to assist at the Hawke’s Bay and Wellington winter fixtures. As a result of his efforts at the recent Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter fixture Robinson, after battling hard throughout the season, finally headed the list of winning jockeys in Otago and Southland, thus securing a gcld-mounted whip donated by Mr. G. J. Todd, of Dunedin. The scores of the leading riders were: W. Robinson, 20 wins; G. Young, 19; A. H. Wilson, Young easily claims the best average, but Robinson has successes across flat and over country to enhance the merit of his performance. It is interesting to note that this annual contest was won on five consecutive occasions a few years back by J. Olsen. It is understood that an offer of 700 guineas was recently turned down for Bengeroop, this being only one, of several inducements to Mr.- H. Woodley to part with the son of Calibre —Alumini. The sturdy chestnut brother to Hardshot and halfbrother to Gold Corn remains under the care of P. Hogan, who may be called upon to step this useful five-year-old out at the Grand National gathering. The five-year-old Admiral Fisher, by Vice-Admiral —Camille, has been taken up again by G\ J. Gray, but it will be some time before he sees the tracks as he is to be built up by road work for two or three months. Primum and some other members of Mr. Stone’s team are daily covering long stretches of the King’s highway, but. Eleus and Silver Peak have been in easy street since the Dunedin winter gathering. The well-tried colt bv Kilbroney— Grey Linnet has joined P. Hogan’s string. The two-vear-old son of imported parentage cost 290 guineas at the dispersal sale of the Elderslie Stud in February, 1919. He is a very fine youngster, and his Mataura- Island owner has refused several tempting offers for him during the past twelve months. It is reported that the Dunedin winder meeting yielded a small profit despite the inclement weather experienced on the opening day. The club have to be congratulated on the satisfactory outcome of an effort which called for the disposal of a record amount, in stakes for the bleak season of the year. Tin Soldier was lame after competing in the Birthday Handicap at the Dunedin J.C.’s meeting, and will probably require a lengthy spell to enable him to come back. The son of Calibre —Tinwald Beauty is a good stayer, and it will be a very severe loss to Messrs. Price Bros, if he should fail to stand another preparation. The annual meeting of the Winton J.C. is set down for July 22, when

some interesting matters will come up for discussion, including the conditions of the Winton Stakes Handicap, the only approach to a classical contest contracted in this part of the world.

Magdala is still under P. Hogan’s care, but it will be some time before his trainer can definitely decide as to whether the Comedian gelding is likely to stand a preparation for the C.J.C. Grand National meeting.

It has been erroneously stated by several North Island journals that Walter Fielding rode Lochella in the successful essays of the Grafton Loch jumper. Walter Fielding is still in the South Island, the rider in the limelight being George Fielding, who left the Rorke’s Drift Lodge to join Trainer C. Christie at Wingatui. G. Fielding has spent the greater portion of his racing career in Southland, where he is known as a very steady, modest, and capable horseman, well acquainted with every move in the art of riding between the flags or over the battens. On his return home from the Dunedin winter meeting Golden King was treated with the scaring iron and turned out for a lengthy spell. P. Hogan has had Dunmure and Lifebuoy qualifying with the Birchwood Hunt in recent runs, a number of well-known Western District horses being qualified in view of the Otago Hunt Club totalisator fixture later in the season.