SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 12899, 23 August 1906, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

CANTERBURY NOTES. [Special to the Stab..] _ CHRISTCHURCH, August 22. Incidents of the Grand National meeting having been noted day by day, there is little to say now. The success of Phactontis in the chief event was xery popular Mr Buckley is one of the best type of sportsmen, buys good horses, spares nothing m their training, and likes to see them win. He was prevented by illness from being present at the meeting, but is making some -mprovement in health, and all hope he will soon be able to be about again, and score more successes. But for Ability going wrong a few weeks ago, Mr Buckley would had fair chance of winning the double of Hurdles and Steeplechase. r The Grand National Hurdle Race winner (Cuiragno) was a lucky purchase, having cost his present owner £IOO a year ago, when he was incapable of winning the smallest race. He promises to win many more good events yet. The horses which competed in the tapping events were far from being the best we have seen at either big fences or little sticks, but under the weights which they were asked to carry they both jumped and galloped well. It is noteworthv that neither sod wall nor post-and-rail brought any horse to grief during the three days, all the falls occurring at the brushed hurdles. It is suggested that the horses chance everything above the highest visib'e batten of the fence, and that the blunders would be obviated by a batten being placed on the take-off side on a level with that inside the fence. It appears that Kiatere was by no means done with in the Steeples when he struck the brush fence at the top turn and unseated his rider. Hd was certainly some lengths behind the leader, but his" speed would have brought him into a different position bar accidents before the remaining three furlongs had been covered. . The injury to Irish was sustained by his coming into contact with a hurdle which had been knocked out of place. One of his shins was peeled a good way down, and it will be a long time before he can race again.

Nadador's lameness, the result of an injury received at Hawke's Bay meeting, became worse after her return home from Christchurch, and she is reported to have been turned out of work pending amendment. Last year influenza and this year aji accident spoil ei what were excellent prospects of success.

Welbeck's broken fetlock was put in plaster by Mr Charlton, the club's honorary veterinary surgeon, immediately the horse was got into a stall, and it is hoped 10 save him for stad purposes. Though moving sound when he went out, three of his legs looked very bad, and it was the fourth which went, presumably on landing over the last hurdle. The occurrence emphasises the many representations which have been made of the need for a horse ambulance at the Riccarton course. It was distressing to see this fine horse hobbling for several hundred yards on his broken limb through the crowd of spectators. Some very promising horses were seen at the meeting, notably Nogi, by The Officer—Victrix, a big, upstanding five-year-old which looks capital material for the making of a steeplechaser. Playfair showed much improvement, and may further _ distinguish himself. Carlo, by Au Revoir—Titwiflow, is much above average hunter quality. . Faro improved each day, and requires little further progress to qualify him for the best company over hurdles. Prospector is already a good hbtse. Sardonyx jumps well, and is fast np to a certain distance, and Aqua Regia promises to reach the front rank. Kaihu and Hikairoa also are better than ordinary hunters, and Recruit, by Cajolery from Hotspur mare, is a very nice horse which might have had better luck.

Two New Zealand Cup candidates scored in the flat races, Lyrist and Landwern. Both, ran honestly, but not impressively. Tirole, Blythemaid, Notus, Royal Crown, Zetland, Makaroff. ami Tsitsitiar did notling to account for their having been; entered for the big November event. Redgauntlet was one which, improved with each/ gaHop, and'there jeenis hope that this grand horsa may regain his old form. Gavcly showed great speed as far as could bo, estimate&jffith.- tiie juyjd^y^figjnjr,. _Ar-

mamento ran welL Brikwayo -was going well when he broke dawn. The Son&iind viators had £ good finish to the meeting Tifib the success of BlackFmr, who, however, was greatly aided to ■victory by -the very nice handling of Wv* Hyde, the crack HawkeJls Bay amateur. The half-brothers Jolly Roger and Jolly Friar rah in inprwod form, though the • latter was unlucky. The former is said to have been bought by his present owner F Holmes, for £25.' ' '

The first thing that will, strike most people on glancing at the weights for the New Zealand Cup is the number of cripples left in the. race. Mahutonga, QhoorJea, < Welbecky Buiicwayo, Assegai, and one or two others that I cannot call to mind at' the moment are all under a cloud. Of the others Maniapoto, Soraiaon, Savoury, and Starshoot are, in Australia, and it ia extremely doubtful if the two first-named will return in time to take part in •the race. After a harried glance through, the list 1 have come to the conclusion that the following horses combine the necessary quaßficatioDs of being fairly, sound and having been w©Q treated r —Boomerang, Paritatu,! Lyrist, Multifid, Auratus, Marteßo, W3r-i ral, TJenuku, Landwern, and Stepdancer. \ Convoy "was handicapped for the Newi Zealand Cup by mistake, he having been.! withdrawn some time ago. .' The following are the prices offered on*' the New Zealand Cop:— 8 to 1 agst Paritatu.. 10 —1 . Boomerang. 12 1 Armistice.

14 —1 —— Auratus, j 16 —1 Lyrist, Letfherjn, MtfltifidVl Uennkn. ; 20 1 -Marteflo, Zimmerman. 25 —■ 1 Gladstone, Ironmould, Wow ral, St. Joe, FlamenJ Landwern, Star Rose. | 53 1 Starshoot, Bourrasque, Stepdancer, Field,' Gun, Notus. . . • 50 1 Maniapoto, Solution, Sa* voury, Makaroff, IdeaEstJ Zetland, Idaeus,. Sea King,] Submarine, Chicane. i 66 1 Apa, Lapland, Blythenmid. ~ 100 1 Czaxevna, Moscow, Joe/ Chamberlain, Hairoma,, ' Assegai, Tirole, TsitsEhar, Royal Crown, Balsam,. Benzene, AUegrcsse, La Torpedo. \