TURF TOPICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3711, 21 December 1912, Page 4

TURF TOPICS.

- FIXTURES. December 26—Hurunui Turf E'lub Annual. , December 26. Tarataln-Carterton R.C. Annual. December 26 anti 2i.-~ Reefton J.CMidsummer. _ December 26 and 27. r l names J.C. Summer. ■. „ December 26 and 27.—laranalu J .C. Christinas. . .. T ~ December 26 and 27.-Cromwell J.C. Annual. ~ December 26 and 28— Dunedin J.C. Summer. December 26, 27 and 28. Manawatu R.C. Summer December 26. —Rorangaliau R.C. An- (, nual. • r , . December 28.—Ivaikoura R. C. Annual. . December 26 and 30 and Januai} I and 2—Auckland R.C. Summer.

(By “ Argus.”! Goldfinder and Midnight Sun, both of which look very well, were given strong half-pace work on the tan on Tuesday morning at ltilorslio, and both moved freely. Masterpiece is also very well.

Tlio Hon. J. 1L Ormond wired to Auckland on Saturday cancelling the accommodation secured at the Haip of Erin for his horse, and this morning the whole of his horses nominated were withdrawn from the A.R.C. Summer Meeting. ' * * * The two-year-old Tatterley did not arrive at Auckland with the rest of T. Quinlan’s team on Saturday, being left behind at the last minute on account of a severe cold.

A prominent feature oi the Rangitikei meeting was the line horsemanship shown by A. Oliver, who rode four winners. One prominent sportsman who was present at the meeting characterised Oliver’s finishing run on Rill in the "Welter on Thursday as equal to the late ‘-Wally” Clifford in his best days.

The first of Elysian’s foals, which are running at the Ascot Stud Farm, are an exceptionally fine lot, and the colt bv the young son of Soult from Lady 'Hester would ornament any stud. Elysian, notwithstanding _ a fairly heavy season, looks splendid, and grows more like his sire every day.

It is wonderful how the public go off a horse. In the Rangitikei Cup Mendip was made a good favorite, failing to run prominently, but on the second day won the principal event, paying a two-figure dividend.

Although Master W airiki has not won a race since he landed the Plumpton Handicap at Avondale in the spring of 1911, Mr. Morse is not inclined to take any liberty with him, and in the Christmas Handicap on the opening of the A.R.C. Summer Meeting has asked him to concede weight to°several good performers. * * ♦

Tho Southern horse Masterpiece, which is one of the favorites for the Auckland Cup, covered a round of the tan at Ellerslie this morning at half pace. Masterpiece looks bright and muscular, and shows no effects of his racing at the N.Z. Cup meeting. « * *

The Leoiantis mare Miss Livonia is tho latest recruit to the ranks of jumpers, and was given her first lesson at the game on Thursday, when, with A. J. McFlinn in the saddle, she was schooled over a couple, of the pony hurdles at Ellerslie, shaping satisfactorily for a beginner. # * *

T. Long, lessee and trainer_of Sylvia May, has received an addition to his team in the shape of the seven-year-old gelding Bonny, for whom Mr E Short recently paid something like £2OO. Bonny is by St. Peter' (own brother to St. Paul) from Bonny Morn whose pedigree does not appear in tho Stud Book. He is a big upstanding horse and won a maiden plate at "VVhangarei last season, after which ho contested several events, including a maiden hurdle race, at Ellerslie without success.

T he mishap to Waimangu will cost earlv backers of doubles a lot of money. for the Auckland Cup winner of 1910 was picked out for favorite immediately the weights appeared, and maintained his position ns one ot the first fancies right up to the time ot Ids retirement. It is not always advisable to write a horse out of a race when ho walks off the track shoving signs of unsound ness, for at times marvellous recoveries have been made, but from what can he gathered it is unfortunately almost a certainty that Maimaimu’s davs on the race track are ended. The mishap, coming on tho eve of an importance race like the Auckland Cup, is cruel luck for Mrs Lcnnard, for tho victory of her colors for the second time would have been very popular.