CANTERBURY HORSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 9

CANTERBURY HORSES.

WELLINGTON CANDIDATES. AMORIST IN GOOD HEART. ! FORM OF THE SMUGGLER. ; [FKOSf ' OITR OWN COB.BESrONDENT.I ,] CHRISTCHUKCH, Thursday. 'The Wellington; Meeting will' nttract a fairly strong team from Riccarton sjtables. the number, however, being less than in previous years. The slate of the Trentham tracks is responsible for several of the defections, but 1G representatives booked to race during the week's programme should give a good account of themselves. ' Tlmrina and Fresh Breeze will carry the Riccarton banner in the Matai Hank Steeples, Thurina, who showed outstanding promise a month ago, has ■ had the bad luck to experience two severe falls in his two races to date, and lias had a couple of .'unflettlirig experiences in track-essays since owing to having to school alone. These misfortunes cannot but a bad effect on him, and, good a jumper as he is, he cannot, therefore, be recommended for Saturday's event. . Fresh Breeze, a half-brother to Waterlinn, and a typical type of steeplechaser, has shaped well in his two efforts over country, but has not. yet tackled fences such as at Trentham. lie has yet a lot to learn about jumping, and may find it difficult to get round on Saturday. Ono thing in his favour- is that ho has more than the ordinarv 1 speed for a hunter and is endowed with plenty of staying ability,. Southern visitors will be inclined to see how he fares on Saturday before placing much confidence in him. Um/ali's Chances, The South Island has other more solid and seasoned representatives in West Dome, Umtali • and Taramoa, and in the face of their • winning performances this season. West Dome and Umtali are considered likely to take part in the finish. West Dome is a good jumper and is not troubled by a journey. Umtali has had a sound preparation and is a solid finisher. Of the pair, Umtali is likely to be selected to prove the better prospect. Grand Aero is the eole acceptor from hero for the Woburn Hack Handicap. When he raced in tho North Island, and, oven in his early career in the South,' his Bolidity was' open to question, and his many disappointments have earned him a bad reputation. During tho past six months, however, be has shown tangible signs of having become more solid and a few successes in minor events have recompensed his connections for their patience with him. Grand Acre is a specially srnart_ beginner and is in his element in soft going. Grand 'Acre, who will bo ridden by his trainer, J. W. Jennings, might bo all tho better for a race and if he fails on Saturday might do better later in the meeting.

Water Power, who also figures in the WobUrn Handicap, has had a hard season for a three-ycarcpld and has contested races from six furlongs up to a mile and aquarter. She has'been in the limelight in tho past-few months without winning. She is owned and trained by P. T. Hogan, who raced her ' half-brother, Master Sandstone with much success a few years back: .Hogan has, a high opinion of her, but has raced her fairly extensively. Properly handled, Water Power has reasonable prospects in Saturday's race, and seems a fair proposition ;.to follow i during the meeting. Although liiccarton 6tables will not contribute to the field in the Stewards' Handicap, the South' Island has twt> likely representatives in Royal Saxon and Inevitable. There is - no doubt about Royal Saxon'e capabilities, and he has not run a bad race this winter, even under the exacting burdins he has been called upon to carry. Royal Saxon will be ridden by D. O'Connor, who eeenis to get more out of him than any other, of liis pilots, and, as_ he is partial to a soft track,' he will be in keen demand. especially by those who have .followed his recent performances. Inevitable Is Pit. -:Lieyitable . has not done-as well as expected during the past few months, but ho has seldom run a bad : race, In practically all his races, at least in the South, lie has been one of the first awaiy and lias often looked a winner, even in ten furlong races, until tackled over tho final stages. At Timaru last month he had the field well beaten at'six furlongsi a-nd-a repetition-of that - form 'would entitle him- to be seriously considered on Saturday. Inevitable lias proved he can Handle heavy going, and with G, Humphries in the saddle, will,not Want for Southern support. • Tuki, Fabriano, Malu and Tunamoe aro due to contest the Wellington Steeplechase and although; they cannot be considered the best of the moderate band of cross-country horses in the South Island this season, they form a useful quartette. Tuki showed much of his old dash at Wingatui and his jumping was a treat to witness. Ho was one of the leading division for the major portion of the journey in each of the two races he contested, but whether he is still capable of winning a big event is a matter 'to be decided by his Trentham efforts. Fabriano ran fair races at : WingatUi and his owner-trainer considers he has gone on the right' way since. Ho may require some more racing to'get him right back to the form he displayed at Trentham tvvo years ago when he. was ridden by. D. O'Connor, who will again -have the mount on him. Matu ,is known more to. North Islanders than to Southerners. .Ho is a fit horse after his recent 'racing, but he has always been a doubtful proposition and does not appeal. . 1 - ~ , - Hopes for Carin/hia.

,Tunamoe can be termed liery useful. .Big fences do not trouble him and he has one solid pace .which always makes him dangerous when the opposition, is. likely to be weakened by mishaps.' Tunamoe, therefore, makes most appeal of the four, and it would not be surprising to find him racing well at* the meeting. , . , Carinthia, Amorist, Troilus and Apache will figure in the Trentham • Hurdles. Carinthia has not been seen in public since his return from Ellersdic;" but 'is ' Stated to be in'good order,and high hopes •tained of his repeating his last year's performance of. winning th'e Wintor Hurdles. Long distances suit Carinthia best, but he should run a very solid race on Saturday.

Amorist has come to hand very satisfactorily. and one could not help being impressed by liis recent effort at Ashbnrton. his first race since January. A few weeks back,- he did not look likely to bo thoroughly ready yet. awhile, but he has been infusing plenty of dash into his work and that is-an oncouraging sign with Amorist., Rocegoers can expect to see him make. ft hold showing on Saturday, even if tne track should be heavy. . . . /

Troilus showed signs of lameness yesterday. and is a doubtful visitor, but in any case he is no good orr anything but. a firm track. . . . ~ ' 'Apache lias had plenty of opportunities to become seasoned and' 1 hose who watched his progress up North will not neglect him. However, Amorist will be the most fancied of the quartette by Southern racing men. The Hack Springers. . Punchestown, The Smuggler, Semper Paratus and Water Power will do battle in tho Te Aro Hack Handh-ap. Punchestown < and . T!!V Smuggler, will be .in keen demand. Punchestown has been very consistent of late'and is improving all the time, lie will, however, encounter a formidable opponent in The Smuggler, who created a great• impression'by winning two races and running second in another in his three starts at Wingatui lost month. The Smuggler will be ridden by A. E. Ellis and is likely to be favourite. Kemper Paratus is capable of winning races, and good ones at that, but he is an uncertain customer-and will not be fancied much. Water Power is engaged earlier but may be-reserved, in which case eh<r will attract'some attention. The Smuggler and Punchestown are worth noting. Royal Saxon very often figures in the acceptances for two ovents in ono day and sometimes is produced twice. He is included in the Wh.vte Handicap and should he be kept for this the public will not allow him to make a big return. Mount Boa is a likely candidate in this race, and with going to suit,! him, he will have to be regarded seriously. ( He has invariably run his best, race first up and this fact will not be overlooked by visitors. Town Major is also solid on soft ground and at Trentham last year 'created quite a sensation by winning two hack races and being beaten by half a head by the mudlark Taboo in'the Winter Oats Handicap on the third day. Town Major has not done anything of late,' but P. T: Hogan ha« a penchant for springing surprises and Town Maior may have to be seriously reckoned with. ■ Red Boa is one of thoso determined gallopers capable of winning races in the best of company. Like his brother Baltlowa, and in fact., all the Balboa breed, he revels "in heavy going. The same judgment apr-lies to Rascal, who is as well now as ever and with his marked ability out of th" barrier be may t"ke a lot of beating. Topere, who is still owned here, but trained at Washdyke, has 'recovered from the effects of his fall at Wingatui. but may be all tho better for a race. Red Boa, Rascal and Mount Boa should do the beet in the conditions likely to prevail.