SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 3

SPORTING

J7OTES BY SIR MODRED. Wefiington Racing dub meeting opens Thursday. Fortuity Park Trotting Qub’e acceptances close Friday. Takapuna J.C. first day acceptances close on Friday. D. Cotton rode three Cup winners in succession on the Coast. Rivalry is in easy work again on the Riccarton tracks. Hie American trotter, Guy Parrish, is working at New Brighton. It is reported that the Wairio J.C- meeting yielded a profit of £l6O. A jarred joint prevented. Shirley racing at the Auckland meeting. Hever H. Hickey is now training the well-known sprinter Gold Boy. Imported Hunting Song has 16 colts and eight fillies for his first season. Hurdler Sayonara is himself again and may race at Wingatui soon. Mr W. G. Stead will race High Pitch, Laity and Welkne at Trentham meeting. M. McCarten will settle up his affairs in Maoriland to settle down in Australia. The Hawk is reported to be galloping well since he returned home from Auckland. Pacer S«*a Pearl came through her Auckland racing well and may start at Forbury. The flying youngster, Cimabue, who had a fall at Auckland, is being spefied. S. Waddell’s Trentham team—Rascal, Father O’Hynn, Shirley, King's FoUy, Polydectes. Wanganui has two good mares in V>ellingron Cup, Civility (7.10) and Mandane (7.8). Ashburton R.C. trotting winner, Amazon, is an gelding by Adonis from Missouri. The entries for the Dunedin Cup meeting number 370, as against 323 last year — incrooss 47. Invercargill apprentice, L. Hunt, rode a fine race on Punjaub across country at Wairio. The nominations for the Dunedin Cup number 22, as compared with 21 last year. The Hawke’s Bay district is represented by eight smart candidates in the Douro Cup race. Auckland lightweight, A. Driscoll, has been engaged to ride Mandane in Wellington Cup. Leighton has sired some smart youngsters —Diorama (Australia) and Cimabue, Paleta and Cosmetic (N.Z.). It is estimated that 35,000 people were present at Ellerslie on Boxing Day to see the Auckland Cup contest. Mr H. P. F. Blundell, owner of Diogenes, is said to possess a smart youngster got by Gasbag from Canyon, by Nolawa. It transpires that Te Kara went wrong in a ligament during the Auckland Cup contest and may not stand racing again. The New Brighton Trotting dub’s Summer meeting will be held at Addington on March 12 and 15, during the term of the Royal visit to Christchurch. The owner of Arrowsmith, Mr H. W. Brown, of Wellington, was recently asked to put a price on the English horse but declned to do so.

Rice art on mentor, G. Murray Aynesley left for Wellington on Saturday in charge of Paperchase and FootfaH, who are fancied for Trentham engagements. Red Wink started in the Wakanui Handicap at the Ashburton County R.C. meeting on Saturday, with C. Emerson up, but soon dropped to the rear and remained there. Christchurch light harness trainer, N. J. Tomkineon, is reported to have tried his new Australian pupil, Oondift, out with Nelson Derby and Hapland and found him a proficient pacer. The unlucky Margaret Birney was beaten by a neck in the last few strides of the leading event, Tinwald Handicap, at the Ashburton meeting on Saturday by Gay Queen, the ten furlongs being covered in 2 mins. 6 secs. The following Rjccarton horses are due to leave for Trentham this evening:—Crossbow, Don Jose, Silver Coot. Fresco, Oriflamb, Booster, Rapier, Gold Mint and Frivolous. Count Cavour was to go north last evening. J. Boyd trained the winner of the Lagmhor Hate at Ashburton on Saturday, the youngster being Royal Tractor, by Tractor— Royal Delight, by Royal Fusilier—The Brat, by Stepnick—Merisette, by Medallion.

A Wellington writer notes that Count Cavour, who is eligible for the Wellington Cup, has never shown anything like his best form at Trentham. At Ellerslie, Riccarton and Wingatui he nearly always manages to wm races.

It is reported from Palmerston North that the Otago-bred Buoyant is going on well with his preparation for the Foxton meeting. Trainer Doyle has hopes of annexing the Cup with his recent purchase by Solferino— This tiedown.

At the Old Glory sale, a famous United States gathering for the sale of trotters, held annually, the two-year-oki, Adam, by Arion Guy, brother to the Canterbury-owned stallion, Guy Parrish, was sold for 17,000 dollars, approximately £3500.

The four-year-old horse, Homelight, who was beaten into second place in the Nightcaps Hirixfii Trot at Wairio on Saturday paced very fast in patches but travelled unevenly by the way. By Four Chimes— Adonis mare, he appears to take after the sometimes excitable Adonis famHy. However, he has speed at command, and some day A_ McLellan is almost certain to keep him down in a race and when that occasion arrives the opposition will tire shuffling after him.

Fairy Ring, who has been off the racing scene for some time, started in the Woodlaw Hack Handicap at Wairio last week and displayed all her old pace by the way, but failed to quite see out six and a half furlongs.

Sparkhng Eyes did not move out too well in the Wairaki Handicap at Wairio on Saturday and this fact alone would account for the sister of Listening Post having very little chance with the leaders in the straight, Top Gear and then Spean Bridge, but die ran badly as compared with several other starters and was well back at the home turn.

A four-year-old cast-off from Sir George Clifford’s stable, in Countermove, by The Ace —Counterecarpe, was seen out in the Wairaki Handicap at Wairio as a pupil of the Riverton mentor A. McKay. He was not seen at his best and was backed accordingly, but he displayed a fair dash of pace by the way and will probably create a more favourble impression later when his trainer has time to build him up for racing service.

The ’chaser Kilkee, who came to an untimely end in the Aparima Steeplechase at Wairio on Saturday, ranked as a halfbrother tn Stmarf, (Snr*; 7 "k-*). of

the New Zealand Cup ci 1924. The defunct gelding who won a number of flat races when trained by P. T. Hogan for Mr T. Deegan, of the Western District, but afterwards changed hands to become the property of his pilot of last Saturday, J. Langford, was a well-bred gelding by Kilbroney —Latehet, an Australian-bred mare by St. Alwyne—Latch Key, by Paddock—Jess, by Grand Prix. Kilkee, who was an erratic customer when raced across the flat, had a mis-shapen head, which gave him a peculiar appearance and may have affected him in the brain. It was related to the writer some years ago by a person who knew something of his history, that shortly after his birth his dam lay on and crushed the head of her foal, hence Kilkee was not in favour when the time arrived for his breeder, Mr J. B. Reid, to send his annual draft of yearlings into the sale ring.

The racing that the trotter Escapade did at the recent Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting seems to have improved her (writes “Argus” in Christchurch Star), as she has never looked better. In conversation with R. B. Berry, he stated that the mare had a lucky escape from serious injury when contesting the Rowe Cup. Just as the straight was reached the last time, Pete Peter broke and swerved out, causing Escapade who was travelling fast, to get tangled up in the sulky wheel. It was a most fortunate escape. That it did not upset the trotter very much, however, is proved by the fact that she won a race on the second and third days of the Northern club’s meeting.

The late King Edward’s racing cost him practically nothing. From 1886 to 1910 he was fortunate enough to win £146,000 in stakes alone, his most profitable year being 1900, when over £31,000 was credited to the account of the Royal owner. At the commencement of his turf ventures he banded a cheque for £lOOO to his manager, Lord Marcus Beresford, to open an account with Messrs Weatherby. He was never called upon for another penny, and at one time nearly £60,000 stood to his credit.

Reference to the fees received by jockeys during the recent EUerslie carnival, says the Wanganui Herald, reminds Mr Tom Corlett, of Te Kawa, who rode at North Island meetings half a century ago, of a fee of 1/4 paid by a grateful owner whose horse he steered into third place. This was at a Te Awamutu gathering in 1874. Mr Corlett had the mount on Costello, a big bay horse belonging to his friend, Mr Andrew Kay, of Orakau. The race was a sweepstake of 2 Z 6, poet entries, run over a mile course, and there were nineteen starters. The winner received £2, and the second horse 7/6. Costello gained his owner no prize-money, but, putting his hand into his pocket, Mr Kay produced all his small change—one shillings and four pennies—and handed it to the “jock.” ‘1 was just as pleased as if it had been a £5O note,” says Mr Corlett. Perhaps! CANTERBURY SPORTING NEWS. THE ASHBURTON R.C. FIXTURE. A SUCCESSFUL MEETING REPORTED. RICCARTON HORSES FOR WELLINGTON. SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIVES’ PROSPECTS. (Special to the Times.) Christchurch, January 16. The weather was beautiful for the Ashburton meeting on Saturday and the attendance was the best ever seen on the course for a galloping meeting. The High Weight Handicap was a disappointment for the punters who selected Shandre as a moral and he should have won. The start was not good, but Shandre got away well and was close behind the leaders Corn Rigs, Prophet’s Mark, Master John and Goldtown. He, however, drifted back and back until he was second last of a strung out field with half a mile gone, while Corn Rigs was sailing along in front well clear of Prophet’s Mark and Master John, and looking a certainty, but he had to be hard ridden over the last half furlong to stall off Shandrre by a neck. J. T. Humphris is usually a competent horseman, but he cannot congratulate himself on his handling of Shandre in this race. The Winchmore Hack Handicap was run at a great clip. Gold Mint and Coch-y--bondhu carved at each other well clear of Moratorium and Brightling, with Calcite next. Both leaders were being hard ridden entering the straight, the result being that they were stone cold when Moratorium and Calcite challenged. Moratorium owed his narrow victory over Calcite to C. Eastwood’s nice handling, but he was lucky to beat her for she got badly placed in the early stages from which her small rider could not extricate the mare. A mile race will suit this Calcite nicely. The Melrose Trot was a great race. Patsy Phaegan, who was favourite, broke up at the start, while Amazon led from Miss Dorothy, Silvertown and Princess Thorpe, with Bonnie Prince, who lost some seconds at the start, and Ayr, who had got away smartly, closing the big gap. Amazon was still in charge entering the straight with Miss Dorothy, Ayr, Bonnie Prince hard after him in the order named. Amazon struggled on gamely to beat Bonnie Prince by a good head, with Ayr a head am ay, half a head in front of Miss Dorothy. Bonnie Prince was very unlucky to lose. Courtly Rose, who was coupled with John Bradbury, lost a lot of ground at the start of the Tinwald Handicap, while Margaret Birney set out to win all the way. She set a solid pace, but Beau Geste, Fairy Herald and Ophir, followed by John Bradbury, were never far away. John Bradbury ran up to the leader in the straight, but could never head her, and the Adjudge mare looked a winner, when Gay Queen came with a great run on the inside, and got up to win by a neck, with John Bradbury a length away, not much* in front of his bracket mate. Courtly Rose, who might have won with a better get away.

A couple of nice two-year-olds started in the Lagmhor Plate, these were the Paper Money—Kilbirney filly, Tripaway, arfl Love-in-the-Mist, by Martian—Love-a-Duck. Both were very green. Love-in-the-Mist was not at all interested in the race, and was always well back, but Tripaway showed a great turn of speed after getting hopelessly left. The winner, Royal Tractor, by Tractor —Royal Delight, was always well placed, and he won handsomely. He is a big fellow, one that will make good. Gay Sonnet is a smart filly. Last away in a poor start she was rushed through in the Moreton Handicap, and was out forcing the pace with Violet H before going three furlongs, while En Route, who had got the best of the start was steadied in behind them, the result was that when the brilliant leaders had torn each other to pieces the old hurdler took charge, and hunted out won by two lengths from Sir Roy. Patiently ridden Gay Sonnet would have won. As it was, En Route owed his win to J. Beale’s nice handling. The Selma Trot was spoiled. Locanda Maid led to the straight where a number of horses were closing on her, when Locanda General fell, bringing down Surfboard, Amazon . and Ashley Dillon. This left Lyonwood to run home an easy winner. What would have won but for the accident is hard to say, as not only the horses that fell but half a dozen more who were with them were closing on the leaders so rapidly that any of them might have won and it certainly spoiled a great finish. None of the drivers or horses were hurt.

The start for the Wakanui Handicap was not good, and such a brilliant beginner as Finora getting slightly the best of it, made the despatch look all the worse. Finora, who was favourite, soon had such a commanding lead that the race was all over. Goldtown lasted just long enough to stall off Corn Rigs’s final effort. G. J. Pine is taking Don Jose, Silver Coot and Crossbow to Wellington. All three t«ave been doing well for him since they were last seen in public, and he is sanguine that at the least they will pay expenses ” b : le at Tr?nfh' , m

T. H. Gillett had hopes that he would have Money Order ready for the Dunedin Autumn meeting, but he found that to attempt getting the Paper Money—Kilrea gelding ready would mean more trouble with his legs, so he decided to just potter along with the speedy gelding, and trust to time to callous the damaged spots. The respective trainers of Count Cavour, Rapier, Footfall and Fresco, are not confident about winning the Wellintgon Cup, bnt they give their charges good fighting chances, and are fairly sanguine about beating each other. All that can be said about the four Wellington Cup candidates mentioned, is that they are in fine health and are doing good work. Weight of money invested on Te Monanui in Wellintgon has made him a short priced favourite for the Wellington Cup, for the overflow from Wellington swamped the market here, and now queries as to Te Monanui’s price get short answers. Booster and Paperchase are both working well. Booster, being a much smarter beginner than the filly, naturally his chance of winning the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham is preferred. It is hardly likely that Paperchase will get a good position among the twenty-one engaged in the Telegraph Handicap, but should she fluke a good passage in the first two furlongs she will make the leaders travel over the last furlong if they want to reach the. winning-post first. Centrepiece has been galloping well, and his prospects of winning a race at Trentham are looked upon favourably here, that is if the track keeps firm. WANGANUI TURF NEWS. LYSANDER IS IN FINE FETTLE. MASK’S FAILURE AT ELLERSLIE. REFLECTIONS ON TRENTHAM MEETING. CIVILITY’S GREAT GALLOP. (Special to the Times.) Wanganui, January 15. Lysander lightened up a bit after his races at Ellerslie, but he is now looking in fine fettle again. On Thursday on his home track the Absurd colt was sent over half a mile on a very fast track. He was at top passing the four furlong post, cutting out the first furlong in 11 1-5, the two furlongs in 22 4-5, and the half mile in 48 2-5. The colt was doing it on the bit at the end, when he had to finish against a strong wind. Lysander goes to Trentham on Monday to fulfil his one engagement there, that in the Wellington Stakes on the opening day. He has earned the full penalty', and will accordingly have to meet Limited, whose pet distance this is, at a disadvantage of a stone. This is a lot to give such a smart one as the Fordell gelding, and it should prove a great race between this pair, for Limited should be capable. of extending the crack. The penalty conditions seem to be too much as a rule for the three-year-olds in the Wellington Stakes, for, out of thirty contests held to date, only seven have been won by them. So that this race is a good one for the babies. It will be remembered that Limited won this classic last year, the fully penalised Lady Cavendish failing narrowly. Lysander, however, is better than Lady Cavendish, and where she failed the colt should succeed. He is very well, and despite the fact that he has been racing from the mile upwards this season, he retains sufficient to land him home first at Trentham. Limited will be his hardest opponent, but much interest will be taken in the doings of the others. Silver Mine 7.3 has two starts and two wins to his credit, while High Finance 7.5 and Lorna Doon 7.9, are smart fillies. Before going to Ellerslie, Desert Gold’s daughter, Auratum, was superior to Doree, yet the latter won and Auratum failed to run on in her races. Not all of the eight left in will see the post, however, but nevertheless those that go to the post will provide an interesting contest. The form of Mask at Ellerslie was rather puzzling to his connections, who quite expected the Limond gelding to score a win at least. However, he failed at each start, and now he is being rated in some quarters as an over boomed horse. Before this can be conceded he must be given another opportunity, and after the Wellington meeting there may be need to revise opinions. Mask is still working in good style, for on Thursday he hit out nicely over six furlongs in 1.16 1-5, after cutting out the first half mile in 49 2-5, on a track that was exceedingly fast. Mask’s next appearance is to be in the Wellington Cup, and if his rider succeeds in getting the most out of his mount (which many judges consider he has not always done) then the Wanganui representative will go a big race and not return from Trentham emptyhanded. Mandane is also in the same race, and advices from Fordell point to her being one of the favoured ones for the Cup, a race the stable scored in last year when Enthusiasm was first home. There are going to be the usual assortment of high class hacks to take on the Douro Cup at Trentham next Saturday, and among them L Great Day. The Day Comet gelding is to run in the hack sprint on the opening day, and after that event a better idea of his prospects in the valuable race on the second day may be obtained. At present Great Day is still working well, and ou Thursday morning he was altogether too good for Break o’ Day in a flutter over five furlongs, which he ran comfortably in 1.5. On the Awapuni and Feilding trip during the holidays Great Day did not do well, but he is all right now, and he should strip a very fit horse at Wellington. He is a smart beginner, and this will stand him in good stead in a race like the Douro Cup. Although perhaps no certainty for his engagements, Great Day should give his supporters a run for their money in his engagements.

The unlucky Mint Leaf is down to contest the High Weight Handicaps at Trentham next week, and if he can carry the higher scale of weights he will have an excellent chance of breaking a long series of minor placings. Mint Leaf is to be one of E. George’s team for the Wellington meeting, and this trainer is surely due for a winning sequence. The Douro Cup seems a likelier event for Mint Leaf than the High Weights. There is a big number of two-year-olds down to compete in the handicaps at Trentham next week. The Wanganui colt Paleta heads the list for Thursday, and although he has now won three on end he will find this task the hardest yet. The son of Leighton is a brilliant performer, but 9.6 on the straight five at Trentham is a load that takes some carrying, and he will be even better than thought if he can do the trick. Perhaps the juvenile events on the second and third days will suit him better, although it would not be a matter of surprise if the colt runs well the first day, for he is even better than during the holidays. There are another couple of Wanganui youngsters engaged in this event. Thaw and Otairi, two promising sorts, not to mention the speedy Melissa, the full sister to Bathos. Certainly the two-year-old races at Trentham will take some winning. According to those who should be in a position to know', Deluge was going extremely well in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie when something got on to his heels, with the result that he was cut about so much that it was considered advisable not to start him at the meeting again. The chestnut is going well in his work, and on Thursday morning he had no great difficulty in holding The Thorn over half a mile in 49 3-5. Deluge is in the Telegraph Handicap next Thursday, and it is interesting to recall that it is nearly two years since he won a race. Now he is once again working well enough to score one more win if he would only do his best. The much improved Alloway is not to be raced on the first day of the Wellington meeting but he will be seen out on the second and third days. He is little the worse for his Ellerslie efforts, which resulted in a first and a third (in the Derby). On Thursday morning he was not hustled over five furlongs, which he ran easily in 1.6. Although he will be up against some of the best handicap horses at ~in->thani. Alhv’nv will not be F

However, he will need to have made a vast improvement to capture a stake at the fixture. Civility always gives the Wanganui track watchers something to talk about, but the climax came last Thursday morning, when she skipped over six furlongs. She was slow over the first furlong (this is her trouble in her races), which took 12 3-5, but then she rattled off the next in llsecs, making 23 3-5 for the first quarter, and then she did the three in 34 3-5, the half mile in 46 1-5, and the six furlongs in 1.13 1-5, probably the fastest gallop put up on the training track. Many Jackson Stakes contests have been won in slower time than that. Civility did it well too, and it is worth mentioning that she came on strongly over the last furlong in the face of a stiff breeze. She had a flying start, and even then the first furlong was almost the slowest of the lot, and so this makes it more than ever apparent that she is now beyond sprinting distances. Civility ran the half mile of this gallop in 49 3-5, which was great going under the conditions, although the track was lightening fast. Although it has not yet been definitely decided to start Civility in the Wellington Cup, she will have more than an outside chance if she does see the post. There has been a doubt as to her running out a mile and a half, and she failed once when tried, in the Avondale Cup. Civility seems to be staying on better now, for in the Marton Cup she was galloping faster than anything else at the end, and that- with a horseman aboard who has never yet ridden, a winner on the flat. In her present grand condition there are more unlikely things to happen than that Civility should win the Wellington Cup. Unfortunately for her supporters the daughter of Elysian will not have B. H. Morris in the saddle to conserve her for a final effort in the straight, but she will need a strong rider in this and her other efforts at the meeting. In Civility, Mask and Mandane, Wanganui looks like being better represented in the Wellington Cup than ever before. WELLINGTON TURF NEWS. TRAINING OPERATIONS AT TRENTHAM. SIR GEORGE CLIFFORD’S TEAM PRESENT. PROSPECTS FOR THURSDAY. INTERESTING GENERAL NOTES. (Special to the Times.) Wellington, January 17. Warm misty conditions prevailed for training work this morning. The outside of the course proper, the inside of the trial grass and the tan tracks' were open. It was an off morning, and there was not a great deal of fast work. Rapine and Star Stranger galloped from the mile post on the course proper. They were slow over the first part and finished together in 1.17, both going well. Rapine, perhaps, the better. They both carried light weights. Zarisee, on the trial grass, covered four furlongs in 50secs. No Favours left six furlongs behind on the tan in 1.19 1-5.

Aston and Battle Colours and Mimetic and Decoy Bird were companions in separate sprints over four furlongs on the outside of the course proper. The former pair kept together all the way and went well, but Decoy Bird shied at a flag nnd dropped well behind Mimetic, whose rider pulled him up to wait. Mimetic, however, was too far in front and came home by himself without being extended at any part of the gallop. Joy King ran four furlongs on the tan easily in 51secs, the last three in 37secs. Lorna Doone sprinted half a mile on the course proper in 51secs. On the tan Riverna sprinted, doing the last three furlongs in 37secs.

H. Cutts, who has six horses at the meeting, confined them to easy work. Centrepiece moves a trifle short, but he is usually that way. Footfall did a couple of rounds of pace work, and Paperchase was not asked to do anything strenuous. Corn Money and Receipt, separately, ran four furlongs on the outside of the course proper. There are no marks on this galloping ground and times of any value were impracticable. Corn Money has an impressive style of galloping.

Ballymoy fl., Chips and Royal Picture did pace work. After breakfast the weather was fine and hot, but there was nothing of great interest to record.

Rosenor, who was very fresh, ran five furlongs on the outside of the course proper. He took some time to settle down, but was ging well at the finish. Te Monanui and Mint Leaf, after a couple of good rounds on the tan, ran home from the four furlong post in 52|sec.

King Smock was out and did pace work. Melissa ran five furlongs on the proper course in Imin ssec.

The arrivals to-day included:—Lysander, Mask, Thaw, Deluge, High Finance, Ring the Bell, Ti Tree, Dimma, Cawnpore, Baby Bun, Stormy, Oration, and Mint Leaf. Rapine has done very well since he raced at Auckland at the New Year, and he has come to Trentham in first class order for his engagement in the Wellington Cup. He galloped well this morning in his mile with Star Stranger. R. Reed and B. H. Morris will be the jockeys for this pair in the Cup, and Reed, who arrived back from Sydney to-day, is to choose which one he will ride. The Southern hack, Battle Colours, who is a half-brother to his stable mate, Receipt, appears to be a pretty fair sort- of hack. He has a very good recent record in the South and this morning on the track he shaped very well in a gallop with Aston. Corn Money comes north with a reputation of being rather fractious at the post, but he is not likely to cause a great deal of trouble under Mr O’Connor, at Trentham. Corn Money, on his past performances in his own Island is well above the average sprinter, and, by the way he galloped on the track this morning, he seems likely to be prominent in his engagements. With B. 11. Morris on either Star Stranger or Rapine another rider will be on Footfall, on whom he was successful in Auckland. F. E. Jones is footfall’s usual pilot, and probably he will be on the Riccarton-trained gelding in the Cup. C. Eastwood rides Paperchase in the Telegraph Handicap and both these representatives of Mr C. G. Dalgety are expected to race prominently. Their present condition certainly leaves nothing to be desired. Te Monanui and Royal Mint, the two Cup representatives from the stable of E. George, put in an appearance at Trentham this, morning and both moved freely in their work and look very well. Te Monanui will be ridden by L. G. Morris and Royal Mint by T. Bound. A softer track would be to the advantage of Royal Mint, who goes better with the sting out of the ground. It is not long since he was thought little of in the stable, but he has improved a lot and his win in the Stratford Cup on New Year’s Day indicates the extent of the improvement.

Cawnpore won the Telegraph Handicap twelve months ago, and if produced in his best form on Thursday would, at the weights, have to be seriously considered again. His running at Auckland recently could not increase his admirers for Trentham, but it is said that the track conditions at Ellerslie were all against him and that he is expected to perform much better at Trentham where the going will be hard. E. A. Keesing is to be his pilot. Oration and Mint Leaf did not come down with E. George’s other horses, but made the trip to-day. Shirley is amongst the discussions for the Telegraph Handicap. A lot of people would like to know to what extent the trouble which prevented her from racing at Ellerslie has affected her Wellington prospects, and as S. Waddell’s team is not due until to-morrow an authoritative statement wiH probably not be available till Wednesday. Civility appears to be increasing in popu-l-r''y for i 1 Wellington Cup. There is

only one doubt about Civility and that is her staying the distance. She failed in the Avondale Cup to fill a place over twelve furlongs, but there was a big difference in the weights then as compared with what she will carry on Thursday. Civility’s holiday form and recent track w’ork have been excellent and she may run the journey right out, in which case she must be labelled very dangerous.

ATHLETICS. HANDICAPS FOR EVENING MEETING. Good entries have been received for the evening sports meeting to be held by the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club at Rugby Park this evening. The following handicaps have been declared for th% running events: — 100 YARDS: Geddes scr, Bissett 3yds, Patton 3yds, 0. Hormann 4yds, R. Smith syds, Kallm 6yds, Howard 6yds, C. Hormann 7yds, C. Larsen 7yds, G. Henderson syds, Gardiner Syds, Wilson Byds, I. Manson 7yds, Trotter 10yds, Sharpe 10yds, Clelland 10yds, Fraser 10yds, F. Anderson 10yds. 220 YARDS: Geddes scr, Bissett 4yds, Patton syds, O. Hormann 6yds, C. C. Hermann 7yds, R. Hormann 14yds, Howard 9yds, Smith 12yds, Kallm 11yds, Henderson 10yds, G. Sharpe 14yds, J. Trotter 15yds, L. Aitken 15yds, W. Fraser 16yds, W. Aitken 16yds. HALE-MLLE: O. Hormann scr, C. C. Horman scr, R. Hormann 15yds, J. Trotter 25yds, J. Aitken 30yds, L. Aitken 30yds, W. Gibson 45yds, J. Gibson 45yds, Parcell 45yds, C. Larsen 45yds, W. Fraser 50yds, Clelland 55yds.

CRICKET.

TO-MORROW’S FIXTURES. The following are the fixtures for tomorrow : Union v. Marist; Queen’s Park. Appleby v. Waikiwd; Queen’s Park. VISIT OF VICTORIAN SIDE. ITINERARY OPENS IN INVERCARGILL. Advice received late last evening by the Secretary of the Southland Cricket Association (Mr P. Gilfedder) from Southland’s representative on the New Zealand Cricket Council (Mr P. Dalrymple) was to the effect that the Melbourne side would be leaving Melbourne by the Moeraki for Bluff direct on January 26. It was proposed to open the visitors’ tour of New Zealand at Invercargill with a match against Southland on February 2 and 3. The message stated further that failing to connect with the Moeraki the team would sail for Auckland by the s.s. Marama on January 28. This would mean commencing the tour in the north, with Southland to follow later in the itinerary. SECOND GRADE. APPLEBY v. TISBURY. Tisbury defeated Appleby by 5 runs at Biggar street after an interesting game. Appleby, batting first, compiled 75 runs, P. Poole 25 and F. Watson 20 being top scorers. Flynn 5 for 36 and Nicol 3 for 27 bowled well for Tisbury. Tisbury, after making a bad start (losing 4 wickets for 8 runs) compiled 80 runs. Lock and Mclntosh made a fine stand against the Appleby attack. Watson 4 for 12 and Groves 5 for 38 were the most successful bowlers. The Bluff second team met I.C.C. second in Invercargill on Saturday. I.C.C. batting first declared with 175 for five wickets (Jarvis 17, Stephens 49, Blue 23 not out, C. Agnew 14, D. Agnew 58, extras 14) Bluff could only reply with 69 (Seamer 23, Winter 18). I.C.C. won by 106 runs. THIRD GRADE. Woodend, 110 for 5 wickekts (declared) beat Appleby 36, in a one inning’s match. For Woodend, Mclvor 36 not out, Purdue 19 not out, McCallum 17 and Williams 16, batted well. Gutzewitz 12 was the only Appleby man to reach double figures. For Appleby, Frobarth took 3 wickets for 18 runs, and for Woodend, McCallum 5 for 2 and Mclvor 2 for 8. GORE v. WAIKAIA. The following will represent Gore against Waikaia to-morrow:—Perry, Scott, Divers, Kelly, Clarke, McCreath, Hawke, Shanks, Reid, Anderson aud O’Shea. Emergencies: Curry and Davis. IN OTHER CENTRES. WELLINGTON. Thomdon v. ’Varsity:—Thorndon, 367 (Kortlang 201, Roberts 72). ’Varsity none for 41. Y.M.CA. v. Wellington:—Y.M.C.A. 244 (Henderson 50). Wellington six for 85. Institute v. Kilbimie:—lnstitute 296 (Bilby 53). Kilbirnie one for 24. Hutt v. Old Boys:—Hutt six for 282. DUNEDIN. ' Senior matches were continued in fine weather. In the game between Albion and Carisbrook, Albion, who had lost two wickets for 190 on the first day, declared with the score at 286 (Shepherd 75, Barron 43). Carisbrook replied with 238 for four wickets (Blunt 157, Gourley, not out, 32, Dickinson 25). The match was drawn. Blunt has scored centuries in three successive innings in club cricket, 175 against Dunedin, 102 against Grange and 157 against Albion. Dunedin scored a two-point win on the first innings against Grange. Dunedin, with four wickets down for 141 on the first day, continued and took the score to 216, when they declared for five wickets. Grange made 116, Walker, with 37, being top scorer. For Dunedin, Torrance, 3 for 23, and McGregor 4 for 65 bowled best. MELBOURNE CLUB’S TOUR. ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED. Christchurch, January 15. The New Zealand Cricket Council received official advice this morning that the Melbourne Cricket Club team has accepted an invitation to tour the Dominion and will leave by the Moeraki for the Bluff on January 26 or by the Marama for Auckland on January 28. ASSOCIATION AGREEABLE TO TOUR. (Rec. 1.3 a.m.) Melbourne, January 14. The Victorian Cricket Association has given ite consent to the Melbourne Cricket Chib to send a team to New Zealand on condition the consent of the board of control can be obtained and that a Melbourne club player chosen to play inter-State matches must represent his State and that members of the team must be actual players of the Melbourne Cricket Club. Mr Trumble says the conditions to be carried out probably mean Hendry will be unable to accompany them.—A. and N.Z.