SPORTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17664, 17 December 1917, Page 7

SPORTING.

NEWS AND NOTES. The summer meeting of the New 'Brighton Trotting Club will be held to-day, and it promises to bo veiy successful. The fields are large and the competitors include some of the best performers from Ideal stables, so that the racing should reach a high standard. The rain which fell yesterday has had a beneficial effect on the track, 'which should be in first-class order-. The first race will bo started at noon, and a special tram service has been arranged to the course. The South Canterbury Jockey Club's summer meeting will be held to-day, when there should bo some interesting sport. The extra express trains which are now running will enable Christchurch sportsmen to attend the meeting, arriving in time for the second race and returning home after the last event.

Koesian has been scratched for the Flying Handicap at the South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting to-day, while Marsa is reported to be a doubtful starter.

The Anniversary Handicap, the chief event at the South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting, should provide an interesting contest. Though the fivj horses engaged hail from Riccarton stables, and are trained on the same track, opinions are very much divided regarding the probable result. Margerine has the best credentials, as she is the only one in the field who has won over a mile and a quarter. Her win in the Fendalton Handicap at Riccarton last month showed that she was in form, while she has since been galloping well. Battle Eve has done most of Ins racing over short courses, but lately he has been shaping attractively on the tracks over longer journeys, and there seems no reason why he shjould not run on. . Bramb'etye is in eood fettle. She was only beaten by Margerine in the Fendalton Handicap, and now *comes in en much better berms, so the main question is whether Branibletye can see out a mile and a quarter. Baripos won two races in smart style at tho Grand National meeting, but since then his form has been moderate. He has been going well lately, but his chance of seeing the distance* out is open to doubt. Spangle has shown improved track form lately, and she is likely to be very dangerous. She showed np well in a nine furlong spin the other morning, and she shapes as 1 if sho would stay.

Mr W. Kerr has sold his three-year-old colt by Wildwood Junior—Gertie to Messrs Knight and Jarden, and the horse will be trained by B. Jarden. When Mr Kerr commenced breeding on a small scale the two best producing mares he possessed were Thelma and Gertie. The dam of the recently sold colt was a fast but erratic pacer, but on going to the stud she proved far more profitable to her owner than when he raced her. Her first foal, Storm. by Wildwood, was a good pacer, who raced most consistently for soreral years on local tracks, and was then sold and went to Sydney. The next two of her progeny were the fillies Stormless auu Stbrmlet, both by Willowwood, but neither was successful on tbo race track. Then came that fine pacer Calm," by. Wildwood Junior. Although unsound early in his career, through en accident, he demonstrated that in addition to beinsr one of the best placers in action ever wen *»e could also go fast. Her next foal, a filly by Willowwood, was never raced, having met with an accident as a youngster, and she went to the stud. She is the dam of Prince Coronado, who will probably be racing at New Brighton to-day. Then came Breeze, by Willowwood, who performed with credit on the rac> track, and, like Storm, went to Australia. Calmly, a filly by Wildwood Junior, was purchased by Mr B. Shadbolt, of Hawked Bay, and has won a few small races. She is still in work,

being nominated for the Westport and Greymouth Club’s meetings that are to take place this coming Christmas and New Year. A big brown colt, Peaceful, by Wildwood Junior, was sold as a, three-year-old, and went to Tasmania, and the following year a colt by the same horse died at birth- The colt just purchased was the mare’s next foal, and his breeder has a two-J/ear-old brother, who is the last of the lino as Gertie died last year.