TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1590, 14 October 1920, Page 9

TURF TOPICS.

The prevalence of influenza among horses has interfered considerably with the preparations of some teams. Both at Trentham and at Awapuni there are horses entered for early events who will not now be properly ready before the summer. ■

As fully anticipated, the Avondale Stakes winner, Mermin, easily accounted for the seven two-year-olds which opposed him in the Hastings Stakes (four furlongs) last week, and the dividend he returned was of very small dimensions. Fulsome, the full sister to Humbug, proved the best of the others, though she just managed to defeat Dissertation for second honours bj a nose.

Aureate (All Black —Aurarius), the sister to Desert Gold, failed to run up to expectations in the Hastings Stakes, finishing outside a place. Aureate is engaged in the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, and though her prospects in that event do not appear bright compared with those of Mermin, Fulsome and Toa Taua, she should not be long in justifying the high opinion held of her in some quarters.

The published list of horses remaining in the Wellesley Stakes, to be decided on the opening day.: (October 23) of the Wellington R.C.’s spring meeting, is subject to three alterations: —Mr. Karl Elgar’s Zero Hour is an addition to the entries, and from event the following should be omitted: Mr- James Paterson’s Royal Soult and Mr. H. F. Nicoll’s Solferino —Dolly filly.