SPORTING.

Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. Southern owners will be interested in the announcement that acceptances for the first, day of the D.J.C. Winter meeting close at o o'clock to-night. Ex-Soiiihiandcr F. Ellis, who is now riding r.s a freelance, steered King Star when the Martian gelding won the Junipers’ Flat Handicaps on Friday last at Oaniaru. At the time of writing it looks as if a record field for Wingatui will contest the Trial Hurdle Race on Tuesday next. Thirty-one hor-es were handicapped for (he race. The North Island trainer, F. Higott, announces that he will campaign Wairokino and Luke at the Dunedin J. C. meeting next week if transport arrangements permit. The Wanganui studmasrer, Mr G. M Currie, sent a number of brood mares into the sale-ring at his home town last week, bur there G evidently no demand for pro dueers in that locality, as none of the lots found, new owners. An objectionable skin disease has made its re-appearance among the horses at Wellington Racing Club headquarters. A few horses have been attacked by strangles, while quire a number are troubled by hail colds. Preventive precautions are being taken of having the scraping sheds and sand roll? fumigated. A Christchurch Star writer comments nr. th- success of the Oamaru Cup winner in the principal event of the concluding day 01 the North Glago J.C. fixture:—“Burrangong was always in a good position in the President's Handicap, and drawing out at the entrance to the straight, he won very easily, though only by a narrow margin. It was a striking performance under a good weight, arid it made his recent form prior to this meeting harder than ever to explain. He has the reputation of being a moody customer, but in both his races this week he ran very solidly. Kdkeo got our well, bur failed to hold his place over the last two furlongs. However, he was finishing very fast, and he easily beatall but the winner. He was unlucky in running second to Burrangong in the chief event, each day. but. his winning turn should come very somi."

The recent successes of Burrangong have been commented upon in various newspapers as being hard to understand, while in more than one quarter, particularly nearer home, rather nasty insinuations have been made, but there is another side to the story. Following on his forward running at the Riverton R.G.'s Easter meeting, Burrangong was thrown our- of work at Winton —the effect of this on a stallion will he understood by experienced horsemen—the intention of his owner being to have him added to the list. However, on A. D. Mcivor being prevailed upon to take Mr htnne's horses to Christchurch, it was decided to ask him to include the son of Mystification in his team with the object of getting the horse into shape again for

Dunedin .I.C. Winter fixture. On treeing to this addition being made to Lis responsibilities Mclvor journeyed to Wi ntou to have a look at the galloping stallion and found that he had an enlarged •oint. the result, of some mishap sustained luring his period of ease. The joint was placed under treatment and Mclvor did not see the horse again until he reached Riccarton, when the trainer discovered that an improvement had taken place and after further nursing it was decided to work Burrangong. The horse was kept, moving and his injured joint gradually resumed its normal state. From this time onwards Mr Fmslie’s racer began to display improving form on the tracks and in his public contests and it was presently noticed that he ran prominently' in the Sandringham Welter Handicap at the Royal meeting. Subsequently track work improved him still further until the date of the North Otago J.C. gathering when he won the Oama.ru Cup. and following this up by scoring .again next day. It may interest some of the critics to know that, although supported to an average extent., Burrangong was nor backed in the Oamaru Cup with any confidence by his immediate connections. He certainly started third in order of selection, but this fact can be accounted for in several ways, one of these being that his forward running at. Riccarton had been observed by the general public. And, armed with the knowledge of the facts as set forth above and guided by track reports and his forward showing a: Ricearton, the writer gave him a good out'ide chance* in the Oamaru Cup and Southern backers did not. fail to profit by the intimation in rho columns of this journal that the horse had come back to something like his best. form.

The opinion offered in Sydney regarding the two rniie record (3niin 22J sees; put up by Kennaquhair in the Sydney Cup is that it is to be accepted as one of the most Pennine ever registered and, further, that it will probably be many years ere it loses its place at the head of the list.

Referring to the Te Puke Welter Handicaps at Oamaru the Christchurch writer ‘’Argus - ’ says:—‘‘Orange Bitters helped to set the early pace, and he was going well in front when Bengeroop tackled him at the foot, of the hill. It was only near home that Orange Bitters was unrler pressure, and he just lasted long enough, and bear the Southland gelding by a head. Bengeroop stayed on much better than was suggested by some of his earlier form, and he looks like being useful.”

A lot of comment has been occasioned by the announcement that Mr T. H. Lowly had picked on Finland as the first mate for Desert Gold, and on first blush it looks as if the Hawke’s Bay breeder had taken a decided risk in going so close to inbreeding in coming to such a decision. It may be mentioned, however, without any breach of confidence the reasons which brought about the decision arrived at (says "Whalebone"). As mentioned previously Buckwheat was the for Desert Gold to visit, but, owing to a misunderstanding, the service was missed. It then became necessary to secure another mate, and, after giving the matter consideration. Mr Lowry arrived at the conclusion that as the crack mare was of such a high-spirited character (it may be remarked that she has kept herself practically in racing condition by her manners in the paddock;. that it would perhaps be as well to let her enter her career as a matron at home instead of sending her to a strange place, where she might become excited and do herself some injury. There is always a big risk in sending young marcs on a journey, and the probabilities are that once the daughter of Aurarius becomes a matron she may become much more staid than she is at present. At anyrate that is the view Mr Lowry has taken of it.

In connection with the Dunedin J.C.’s Winter meeting Luke has been penalised s!i> mid First Line 91b for the Otago ?!ee; Icclrj'e, Luke has also been penalised s!n in the Hack Steeplechase.

The annual report of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club states that the year’s operations were the most successful in the hi.-tory of the club. As the balancesheet, will show, the increase in stakes amounted to £1,430 as compared with the season 1916-17. when the last full meetings were held. The loss by fire of the grands:au'l during the year was a most regrettable incident and a very large sum will be required to rebuild. The rebuilding of the stand has been postponed owing to the Government’s refusal to authorise its reconstruction. The delay in installing the new Julius totalisator was due to labour trouble in Australia, but the machine is now arriving, and the work of building the new house will be starte dimxnediately. The credit balance in hand at April 30 was £5,256.

CANTERBURY TURF NEWS,

HORSES TO RACE AT WINGATUI. (Special to the Time?), CHRISTCHURCH, May 25. Coalition was sent south yesterday to contest the cross-country events at Wingatui. At Riccarton to-day Master Strowon and Gang Awa’ moved very freely in a gallop over a mile in I min. 4S secs. V< re-tier and Clean Sweep leave for Dunedin at the end of the week. Merry Lad and Manawapango are both looking very fit for their Dunedin engagements. F. Christmas will in future confine his attentions to training the horses of Mr H. W. Brown, consisting of Arrowsmith, Kilrush and Loyal Arch, with the addition of Mr N. Rutherford’s Kilmoon. This has necessitated fresh arrangements being made byMr D. H. Roberts for the cave of his team, which will be handed over to V,'. .McDonald in a few day-3. For the present Fiery Cross, Glendowcr and Castellan will comprise the lot in active commission, and, as they are all well forward, they should be ready to race at the Grand National meeting provided they remain sound. Partner, who was a popular fancy for the Paparoa Handicap, the principal event on the opening day of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting, was scratched yesterday, much to the chagrin of early punters. It is understood the withdrawal was, duo to the owner being dissatisfied with the handicap allotted Partner, Yet another prominent trotting trainer, I M. Edwards, has decided to relinquish the profession with which he has been so intimately connected for about 30 years. His training establishment, at New Brighton, known as Brooklyn Lodge, is in the market and his horses will be submitted to auction at an early- date. Evidently the training of trotting horses cannot he the remunerative task that many people imagine, as within the past few week-- A. Pringle, H. Jarden and M. Edwards have retired from it to follow other callings.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL. A TEST MATCH. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. May 25. The secretary of the Wellington centre of League football ha? received advice that a test match between New Zealand and the English team will be played in Wellington on July 24. COUNTY CRICKET. MIDDLESEX v. SUSSEX. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 24. In the match against Sussex at Lord’s, Middlesex, with four wickets down for 543, declared the innings closed—Warner 139, N. Haig 131, H. Leo 119, J. W. Hcarne 116 (not outi. LAWN TENNIS. THE DAVIS CUP, (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 24. Private advices show that the withdrawal of Canada from the Davis Cup contest was owing to the players being inferior to Gup calibre. BILLIARDS. McCONACHIE EASILY DEFEATS KENNEDY.

The match in which Clark McConachie, New Zealand’s professional champion billiardist, conceded the local professional champion, Kennedy, 500 in a game of 1000 up, was played in the Grand billiard saloon last evening. The first part of the game really resolved itself into a display by McConaehie, as the local cueist, after opening up well with a break of 37, had only added another 49 when the New Zealand champion had scored 521. McConachie’s first substantial break came with his third visit to the table, when, by clever red ball play, in which in-off’s to the centre and top pockets alternated, he made 75. Then followed break? of 3S, 38, and 35. In the second break of 38 McConachie had the balls in good scoring position, but the red striking the cushion at the centre pocket ran down close to the ensh towards the bottom pocket, leaving a difficult cannon which was narrowly missed. A little while later McConachio added a break of 120, mostly scored from top of the table piny by cannons and occassionally potting the red. Before the half-time wr,s called he added breaks of 20, 54 and 86, in which his favourite in-off shots figured largely. In the second part of the game McConachie after missing a comparatively easy pot added his largest break, 167 on his next visit to the table, practically all of which came from red-ball play. A little while later he exceeded the 100 mark, all except two of which were scored off the red. A 2 and a 5 followed and in the next break he had reached 44 with nursery cannons and

looked like adding a great many more, the red and his opponent’s ball were touching and had io be sj ott.’d again. The break finished 54. His find breaks were 37, 22, 9 and 10, which were make from all round the table play and in which he gave a good exhibition of the alow -crew flints. Towards the latter part of the game Kennedy played a brighter game and made breaks of 35, 19, 24 and 2S. He played some very hard shots but did not play nearly such a good position game as his opponent. McConachie ran out at the 1000 when Kennedy had reached 720.