CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 79, 3 April 1926, Page 23

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB

PROSPECTS DISCUSSED,

The time-honoured Easter fixture of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be commenced on Monday ■ and concluded on Tuesday. With the passing of time, the Auckland Easter Meeting has become a serious rival to that at Riccarton, and this year has even attracted Ricccartontrained horses to the North,- but, on the contrary, there are many Northerners at Riccarton. In point of fact, without the North Island horses the meeting would be very flat and' stale, arid unprofitable for the club. The meeting promises to be one of the best of recent years for this part of the season, and Visitors should be rewarded,by some very interesting racing. "There has been a fair amount of unsettled weather in the South, but the Riccarton. course dries .quickly,; and always provides very fair going under any conditions. .■.'." Only three horses have been left in the Kildare Hurdles, and Many Colours, for all his 11.13, probably .will be favourite. He last raced on the flat at Dannevirke, finishing third to Asleep and Perle de Leon. Projector is said to be a very much improved gelding, but on North Island form Many Colours would be selected to be able to give him 141b.. Kapuns, is. a recent winner, but his form is not anything very great. At his best Many Colours should win, but if Projector has improved to the extent reported he might beat him. . . • The Champagne Stakes comes early on the card, and what will concern most will; be Commendation's deportment and' the possibility of his getting out well. Mr. M'Nab has electric barrier releases at Riccarton and a very- capable assistant, so that the crack two:year-old should have every chance. Limerick won the Dunedin Champague Stakes, and will be suited by the big' course at Riccarton, but he does not appear to be of the same class at Commendation. Paper Boy and Alyson do not appeal, but Front. Rank showed herself to be a very good filly, while Note, Paperchye,' and Scrip have all galloped well. At the same time one would not consider any against Commendation but for the doubfc about the start. Front R»nk and Limerick may be the next beat to Commendation. If Rosenor is started in the* Autumn Plate he should be a good favourite, but it seems more likely that he will be seen out in the Great Easter. Corinthic won the, principal race at the Hororata Meeting last Saturday, and she should see out the mile well. The North Islanders, Piuthair and Mime, should both show up well, Piutbajr appealing mdre at a mile, and, in addition, she will have a 3lb allowance and T. Green in the saddle. •■> -..•-.. Spode will probably be started in the Russley' Plate, and being an hone.l; and seasoned" filly,, is sure, to run well. Paper Boy and Young Lochihvar, however, look to have great chances at the weights, and the latter, with G. Emerson up, will be well backed. Zarisee and Battlement are a pair of promising youngsters with only featherweights to carry, but they may not be considered seriously yet by their connections. • Young Lochinvar and Paper Boy appeal most. : Grand Knight.is now in the post of honour in the Great Easter Handicap, and although, if he had had a race his chances might be greater, he will still be very hard to beat. Listening Post has done all that has been asked of him in his work, and is expected to show up I well. Royal Divorce and Fobl's . Paradise, if both start, will be'bracketed with Grand Knight and the combination is sure to be favourite, though Grand Knight will be the real mainstay on any record form. Civility has been gallopiug great; guns and will run put a merry seven furlongs. Siaoii-has shown. no sign of/last year's form, and: will have to do better. Baldowft and Set Sail are. a pair of southerners whose chances are regarded highly, but at seven furlongs Set ,Sail should beat Baldowa. She has some great efforts under big weights to her credit in the South, and being a Solferino, can be depended upon to go o:i improving. Father O'Flynn might be beaten by the distance; Rosenor has had plenty of limelight lately, but apparently is no lightweight's horse. Licinius may find the last fur* long too much. .Overdrawn is a Great Autumn Handicap candidate, but his second in the last C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap should not be forgotten. The five on the minimum mark, The Harp, Miss Mirierva, Corn Money, Carnot, and Rob, may any one spri-g -a surprise, but those likely to be prominent are Set Sail, Grand Knight, and Civility. The three-year-old filly Receipt, by Paper Money from Satisfaction, has some good form on her side, and seems nicely placed in the Gimcrack Handicap. The Tren thorn-trained* Minotus hag only to gallop up to his 1 best to be hard to beat, and he should be well saited by the big straight track at Riccarton.' : The Sockburn Handicap is in some respects a dress-rehearsal for the Great Autumn Handicap. The meeting between Gold Light and Count Cavour will be intresting, but if Tommy Dodd, 7.1, is started he seems very nicely placed. If Fool's Paradise ran up to his I :st middledistance form he would be a tough proposition at only 131b above the minimum. Haze, 7.9, may be the best of the others. Not a great deal separates the top and bottom of the Courtenay Welter field. Zaragoza probably will be favourite, but a pair who might trouble her are Clandhu and Centrepiece.