C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12479, 16 April 1906, Page 7

C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

With ©very promise of fine weather and excellent racing, the meeting, which oommenoes at soon to-day, bide fair to bo a pronounced success. During the past two months several improvernente ■nave been oarried out at the course, perhaps the. most notable of these being the formation of a roadway from the aad-dling-up stalls to the weighing enclosure. Formerly horses have hod to push their way through the crowd as best they could, both to the annoyance of their attendants and to the danger of the public, but the new arrangement should ensure their having a dear passage to and fro. The going will be in grand order, as there is a fine growth of herbage on the couree, and it is safe to say tfiat Riocarton lias never looked better at this treason of tbo year than it does at present. The chief attractions of to-day's card are the Great Easter Handicap and the Champagne Stakes, and each of these races will be most keenly contested. A field of fifteen well-performed horses remains in the eeven-furlong handicap, and the chances of no less than eight of them aro considerably fancied. Signalman, Petrovna, Boomerang, Starshoot, Cross Battery, Apollodoris, and Makaroff have each been responsible for some-first-class gallops at Riooarton, and a meeting between these horses and the Yaldhuret representative, Munjeet, is likely to result in one of the finest struggles ever seen on the course. Rumours are afloat to the effect that at least one of theeo candidates is expected to run the seven furlongp in something approaching record time, if necessary, and the race is bound to bo run at extreme speed from start to finish. Had Kirriemuir been at her best, there would not have beon much doubt as to the winner of the Champagne Stakes. Her preparation, however, has been much interfered witli owing to a weakness in one of her knees, and under the circumstances it is difficult to foretell whether ishc, Huasoar, or Lady Landon will prevail. In the present oa.se, tlrerefore, the "classic" event will be an exceedingly interesting item, more co, indeed, than if Kirrieanuir was known to be right at tiie top of her farm. The acceptances received in conuiection with the minor events wore most satisfactory, and with the exception of the KikLare Huadle Handicap, each will bo contested by a largo field. It will be a pretty sight to see ten or eleven two-year-olds scampering down, tfio straight five furlongs in competition for tho Rueeley Plate, whilo the Epsom Welter and the Scckbum Handicap a<ro generally regarded as being likoiy to provide a remarkably close finish. Special trains will leave Christchurch for the Race>courso platform at 10.50, 11.10, 11.17, 11.30. 11.40 a,ni., 12.15 and 1.15 p.m. The following is tho programme:— 12 noon.—THE KILDARE HURDLE HANDICAP, of 150 cove. Two mile*. et lb st lh Hongoa .. 10 13 Narcissus ..10 4 Magnificent .. 1" 13 Kurue .. 9 r> 12 40 p.m.—THE AUTUMN PLATE, of 120 soys. Ono mile. Soltikoff .. 8 7 Ciarevna .. ft 4 Notus ..8 7 Teilsihar ..8 4 Hemlock ..8 7 I-edy Wayward 8 4 Highland Fling 8 4 Farley Grove .. 8 4 Korea ..8 4 Hilarity .. 8 4 1.20 p.m.—THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES, of 650 wvs. For two-year-olde. Six furlongs. Goo. G. Stead's eh c Huaecer, by Hotchkiae— St. Eiyn .. .. 810 Sir Geo. Clifford's br o Dβ Wittc, by Stepniak— Illusion .. .. 810 Allan and Hobbs's br c Field Gun, by Hotchkiee—Gannet .. .. 8 10 Allan end Hobbs's br c Ivanoff. by Stepnisk—Arlin« .. .. ..810 Sir Geo. Clifford's b f Kirriemuir, by Clania.ne!d—Goldleaf .. ..8 8 Sir G«o. Clifford's eh f Gallantry, by Clan'raaa'.d—Goldleaf. Set Blb .. 8 8 Geo. G. Stead's b f Edna May, by Multiform—Helen Faucit .. ..8 8 St. J. M. Buckley's b f Lady Landon, by Seaton Delaval—Rob-nilla .. 8 8 H. A. Knight's b g Lapland, by Finland—Neroli .. ..8 7 2.15 _p.m.—THE GREAT EASTER HA2tt>ICAP, of 750 soys. Seven furlongs Signalman .. 8 9 Savoury ~ 710 Petrovna .. 8 * Starihoot .. 7 7 Martian ..8 2 Cross Battery.. 7 0 Conroy (inc. slb Zetland .. 611 pen.) . 8 2 Apollodoris .. 611 Munieet ..8 1 Pas Seul .. G 11 Bed Gauntlet.. 7IS Makaroff .. 0 10 Boomerang .. 713 Bandy .. 6 7 3 p.m.—THE EPSOM WELTER HANDICAP, of 200 soys. One mile. Chryieis ~ 9JB Ability .. 810 Pan Seul .. 9 12 Heirloom ..8 9 Svoheni .. 9 9 Ant'gone .. fl 7 UToptrtai .. 0 4 Vardo .. 8 6 HiphJpnd Reel 813 Assegai .. 6 0 Bagpipes .. 811 3.40 pm.—THE RUSSLEY PLATE, of ISO BOvs. Five furlongs. Mythical ..9 2 Stratagem .. 613 Edna May ..8 3 Sonia .. 613 Allegresee .. 8 3 Fire Iron ..6 7 Khania .. 8 3 Wnterehoct .. ft 7 Aimee Soult .. 713 Patty Pan ..6 7 Sant Rosaleer.. 7 1 4.20 p.m.—THE GIMCRACK RACE of 100 sots. Five furlongs. Matuku ..7 7 Muscovite ..7 7 Bonnie Bra* ..7 7 King Stork .. 7 7 Merrymaker ..7 7 Tetai . ..7 7 Te Tftiaha ..7 7 Largeeee .. 7 7 The Seer ..7 7 Handel ..7 7 Stepruaf ..7 7 Jolly Roger .. 7 7 Adrift ..7 7 5 p.m.—THE SOCKBURN HANDICAP, of 150 sots. One mil" arxj a. quarter. Convoy .. 9 9 Notue .. ell Terrapin .. 9 1 Vardo .. 611 Beau Seaton .. 8 5 Ouickfire .. G 7 Cannie Chiel .. 8 3 Farev Grove .. 6 7 Somarcff ..7 3 Tsitsihar .. 6 7

Likely winners axe:— Kildare Hurdle Handicap—Eurue. Autumn Plate—Cz&rcvna. Chainpagno Stakes—Kirriemuir. Buster Handicap—Mtinjoet or Cross Battery. Bpjom Welter—Heirloom. Rueeloy Plate—Firo Iron ox Mythical. Orimcrack Race—Largesse or Tβ Teiaha. Sockburn Handicap— Somaroff or Beau Seaton.