CANTERBURY DOINGS

By Fbitz,

The trotting horse British Pluck has been purchased by Mr C. H. Gorton, and has gone into C Piper's stable.

Wildbf-rry, well known on our local trotting tracks, and who broke down soiue months ago, was fired this week.

Good judges who were present at the Wellington meeting are picking out Aka Aka for the Grand National Steeplechase.

I hear that Kremlin has impioved out of all knowledge since he changed hands a couple of months ago.

Now that the Wellington meeting is numbered among the events of the past, interest centres m the Grand National meeting, consequently news f rom __Riccarlou grows daily moie interesting, and the tiacks are beginning to present a busy appearance. Visitors from the north are already arriving. Merry Boy put in an appearance on Saturday, and on Sunday Papatu aijdvetl on the scene, while Aka Aka, Cre^pin, and Tal.ae w;ll be on the Fcene before these hues are 111 print. Papatu has not done any work here yet, but Merry Boy wa3 given fi turn over the big fences this morning, and jumped well. Some inteiestmg schooling has been witnessed during the week. Kuku anel The Mohican were companions 111 a ciicait over the hurdles at a solid pace. Huku, who had a puil in the weights, went paiticularly well, fencing in his best style. The Mohican also performed with ciedit. Plantagenet and Bayonet got through a similar task with credit. The most interesting piece of work done during the week was witne&sed on Saturday, when Slow Tom and Phaetonitis had a turn over the bia fences. Both went well for the first round, but at the post and rails the second time Slow Tom came to grief. Phaetonitis went all right till the double, when he made a faulty jump. Slow Tom was remounted, and went a round by himself, when he fenced safely, but, taken all through, Slow Tom's display was not satisfactory. He has a decided dislike to the double, showing a strong disinclination to face the second obstacle, otherwise he jumped well enough. Cannie Chiel, Ability, and Catherine Gordon arrived back from Wellington on Saturday. All three are looking well.

W. Holmes, who was at onj time connected with tho Yaldhurst stable, and late in Mr J. B. Reid's employ, is now working for E. Cutts. and will probably do some of the Chokeboie rjrling during the coming season. Mr S. Brown arrived back from the North Island at the end of the week with Victory and Roller. Victory, who shows signs of lameness, is to be treated to a cotuse of swimming exercise. Roller has gone home, as he is amiss so badly that he will not be seen out again for Borne time. C. Piper has taken in hand a mare by Ascot, a lecent arrival from the North Island. Count of Kolmar ha& recoveved from his' lameness, and is in regular work again. Delauey, who is to ride Slow Tom at thf Grand National meeting, has arrived, and is at piesent assisting Taggart. Mason has been down at Riccarton several times during the week with some of the \'aldhnrst horses. On Saturday his team consisted of Crucifotm, Nightfall, Maitian, Grand RR I'p:ds, ITranus, Golden Lily, Savomy, and Silkworm. The last-named, who has recently been put in commission after a short spall, is looking lusty and well, and appears to be quite sound. With the exception of Silkworm, all the Yaldhui-sl hoises were given sound pacing over two circuits, finishing up fast. All of them bear a healthy look.

Golden Knight, the rising three-year-old by Wallace — Aura, was down at Riccarton with the Yaldhurst team one day last week, s>nd die useful pacing! Since then, I regret to say, he j has been thiown out of work. He has developed a splint, and has been fired, which will necessitate a spell. The mishap, coming at the present time, is particularly unfortu- | nate. The colt gave promise of turning out well, and he was in work with a -\iew to taking part in the Australian Jockty Club's Derby at Rai.dwick on September. Tt was, indeed, the prospect of having a like'y Derby candidate I that fhst induced Mi Stead to contemplate a j trip to Sydney for the rpproaching meetir:.,. Several of thi? other members of the Yaldhurst team hove also been worked of late with a •> iew to the Australian fixture, and it is .still possible, notwithstanding the mishap to Cl olden Knight, that Mr Stead will be represented at Randwick. If any of the Yaltlhur«t horses r.lO sent over, Cruciform is almost cerftain to be a member of the team, but no decision 'has heen come to regarding the others. In the meant ims Cruciform, it may be mentioned, is still rather backward, as she has not been in work long enough to be at her best yet.

Betting on the New Zealand Cup has not taken a very wido range dtuinpr the past week. Rcseshield, Uranus, Float, Jlelocleon, Lady Lillian, and Roseal have been supported a 1 varying prices. The Grand National doub'e has been made the medium of a good deal of speculation. There has been a big run on Aka Aka for the Steeplechase, and he has been coupled with Tupara, Cavahy, Lissa, Tahae, Kremlin, and The Gues&er. Foi the Hurdle Race, Cavalry has been in considerable demand, a lot of inquiries being made about him from the North Island.

I learn that Robertson's double totalisator, which was used at the Wellington meeting last week, will probably be worked at the next meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club.

The weights for the principal events to be decided at the Grand Nationa l meeting mado their appeal ance last week, and have been thesiibiect of general discussion since. Haydn, who leads the way m the Steeplechase, is genei.illy considered as fairly treated, and most people give him a big chance. He is one oi the proved fencers in the race, and ss the Riccarton country takes jumping, this is 0 big consideration. I have a big liking for Kiatere after his Wellington showing. Slow Tom, though nicely weighted, I do not like, as I think the country will beat him. Papatu, on the other hand, is a good fencer, and he may- have a decent chance. Moccasin rurst a' to ha considered. Aka Aka I have a great fancy for, particrt'aily after the good accounts I hear from visitors to the Wellington mooting. I am told he ib a perfect Jumper, and we know he has some pace. None of the others are to my liking, and if a«ked to name three I would take Haydn, Kiatere, and Aka Aka. In the Grand National Hurdle Race Waiweia is well treated, with only sib more than he won with last year. It is true he ha? not been 1 mining well of late, but I expect to see him doing better at Riccaiton, especially if the goi.Tg 1= anyway hard. Spalpeen, 11 well, must have a big chance. Kiemlin and Regu'ation are two likely recruits who have plenty of pace, if they can only jump. Fuither down Aka Aka takes the eye, and a likely trio are Tupara, Cieusot, and Tuhae. Passing on, Ido not like anything till I come to Huku, whom I regard as the pick of the handicap. When not half fit he ran a good race last year, and won on the last day

of the meetinr. He wns never looking bettei than lie is .' L jnesent, and as he is a great stayer and a pCifcct junipei. he mn4 be hard to beat. I hear good accounts uf The Gucsser, Li°"a, a".d lia>iai).<, but in the meantime tha four I hire aio Waive! a, Spalpeen, Huku, and Tahae. In the Winter Cup Vladimir is given a big chance of repeating hist year's performance. On paper he afpefis io hold Kremlin safe, but the la ter is said to be greatly improved, and tn Wel'nigton running lit- may bo hard to beat. Lady Lillian and Cannie Chiel are ..xiily treated, and fiiand Ripids has been given a big chance. Te xapni shou'd also 11111 well at present. The three 1 fancy are Viadimir, Kremlin, and Giand Rapids.