CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 25

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

[Bv The Aristocratic Tout.] Never before in the history of the Cup race has there been so much enthusiasm ! displayed as when Lady Zetland won the Cup. The field that w’ent out, though a I numerous one, was not perhaps very strong in quality. Only two three-year-olds were amongst the seventeen starters. One, Defiance, had been tried, and found wanting. His appearance before the race was not inspiriting, for he was dry in the coat and apparently overdone. The other. Epaulet, was to a great extent an unknown quantity. In appearance he had every- ; thing to recommend him. He is a very powerful well-knit colt, and should furnish into an even more commanding horse than Euroclydon. The Yaldhurst colt was bright in his coat, but it was understood that his preparation had been interrupted, and that he had been olf and on in the paddock during the last few weeks. Followers of the stable were not confident of the colt’s chance of landing the stake, and they hold in even lighter esteem the prospect of the Great Autumn Handicap winner, Bellicent. As the sequel proved, neither of these were ever dangerous. Another trained away from the headquarters, Culverin, was whispered about as being superior to Mr Stead’s pair, but if they ran poorly she performed several degrees worse. The daughter of Son-of-a-G un looked fit enough, too, though she does not fill the eye as a cup winner. There was no doubt that Percy Martin had The Possible in fine trim. The half-brother to Maxim was making his first appearance at Eiccarton, and, from his relationship to the great Musket horse, was eagerly scanned. Fabulist had a great number of admirers. He is a horse that improves on acquaintance and looks a regular weight carrier; and if perhaps not a thorough stayer, is not, or I am greatly mistaken, going to belie his reputation gained last season. But before

all these mentioned, the Dunedin crack, Euroclydon, was the one that engrossed attention. Those connected with last season's winner would not hear of the defeat of their champion, and on behalf of those immediately connected with him no less a sum than .£4OO was rung on him just before the start of the race. Goodman had certainly performed very effectually his part of the contract in bringing the horse fit to the post. Euroclydon has greatly improved in appearance since he last raced at Riccarton. He was then very much on the leg, and though now he is not very closo to tli© ground. 110 licis fnmisiiGu. and filled out to a wonderful extent. He quite dwarfed the other Forbury representatives, Casket, Captive and Black and Red. Lady Zetland never looked in better fettle for her big' task. She had gone through a very severe preparation, and though she ■went somewhat sore a fortnight before the gathering, Hobbs was able to ease her off without any detrimental consequences. The only other Riccarton trained animal, Quiltiri, was not expected to see out the finish as his preparation had been a very hurried one, but Ngatuere, a really nice cut of a horse, was very much fancied by his trainer. Notwithstanding their good form at Hawke’s Bay, the public at Riccarton would not stand Lotion or The Shrew, and certainly the former looked a veritable commoner compared with such as Euroclydon, The Possible and Lady Zetland, but although the latter is small The Shrew is very much of a weed compared to her. The handsome Mahaki had appeared to so little advantage on the training tracks that he was labelled unready, and although the ex-hack, Voltigeur, was expected bv a few to run prominent under his light’' impost he was not looked upon by the knowing ones as likely to bother the top-weights. “Our only starter ’ succeeded in despatching the large field on their momentous journey in perfect line the first to break which was Mahaki, and as they thundered past the stand ho was sailing along - well clear' of Defiance, the body of the field presenting an ever cnanging mass of colours, Euroclydon being noticeable in the centre of the field, whilst Lady Zetland was one of the rearmost of the lot, creeping along next the rails. On they sped with no alteration in the positions of the leaders till the mile post was reached, at which point Ngatuere had unaccountably dropped right back, last, and appeared to have broken down badly as he was travelling in a very laboured fashion. All down the back Mahaki was pulling hard at the head of affairs (and from his position it was judged that the race was being run at a slow pace) with Defiance still close in his wake, while Euroclydon was seen to be going up through the field, Lady Zetland, still next the rails, going up behind the top weight. Defiance got alongside Mahaki as they raced past the five furlong post but the Gisborne horse was not half done with and gallantly held his own wel] into the home bend while Ili e Possible was observed close behind this pair and going so well that he seemed able to cut down those in front at any moment. Not far away from Mr Gollan’s horse lay the favourite, who was swinging along, while Derrett as yet had not called upon him, and only two lengths from the big fellow lay Lady Zetland who was reefing at White, and evidently full of running, and had commenced to roll about. Heads were hardly turned for home when Mahaki gave up the battle, dropping right away to the rear, leav : ng Defiance to come on from The Possible, Euroclydon and Lady Zetland, who was on the outside. As The Possible swooped down on the light weight, he momentarily gave hope to his backers that the magpie jacket would bo landed first past the post; but the hope was no sooner cherished than he was seen to be troubled, for Derrett, calling on Euroclydon for an effort, the favourite strode to the front, and his victory was loudly proclaimed on all sides. The cheering for the favourite, however, was of short duration, for a mightier shout rent the air as little Lady Zetland sailed up to the big horse, and, taking his measure in a few strides, was seen to have the mastery. At the lawn rails the race was over, tor White had his hands down on the mare’s nock, and Derrett had almost ceased to punish Euroclydon in the vain endeavour to catch the little Lady, and she landed her Cup in very easy fashion by a full length. Defiance struggled on gamely, and finished on sufferance in front of The Possible, Quiltiri being fifth and Epaulet sixth, whilst Culverin finished last of all.

It might bo too much to say that Lady Zetland is the best mare the Colony has produced, but she certainly is the most lasting, and, for her inches, not only the best in the Colony, but claims no equal south of the lino. She is a wonderful weight-carrier, and there is hardly a doubt that it is her smooth, creeping action that assists her to bear such heavy burdens as she has been successful under. In my mind it is quite a truism that “ action carries weight. The great distinction belongs to Lady Zetland of having won more public money than any other performer in New Zealand. While extolling the sterling performance of Lady Zetland, which is co-equal with Tasman and Vanguard in carrying the heaviest weight to victory in the New Zealand Cup, it must be said that Euroclydon registered a really fine performance. He has shown himself a really first-class horse, and it does not speak well for the general run of our performers that he can give such lumps of weight to his opponents, bar Lady Zealand.

Although the stake for the New Zealand Cup is far the most valuable in the calendar, the Canterbury Jockey Club will receive from the totalisator and the owners themselves by far the greater portion of the sum required by the owners of the winner and placed horses.

Social Pest, who won the Hurdle Race in very easy style, is a son of that good a li-

round horse Ahua. I don’t know, however, that he will be any superior to Ilex when the latter gets a more accomplished fencer. Ilex had to be ridden hard at every fence, and by his faltering lost a deal of ground. Old Liberator was a runner, but tailed off most of the way, and did not finish. We have, I’m afraid, seen the best of the old fellow at last.

Uniform won his first race, appropriating the Maiden Plate, for which he naturally went out a- warm favourite. He was followed home by Plotter, a l'eally good cut of a colt, and one that will be heard of later on.

The well-preserved Cannon Shot justified the assertion that he was heaps better than his previous running showed, for he beat his opponents pointless in the Welter Handicap, and afterwards, after getting badly away, ran second to Vanilla in the Stewards’ Handicap. Vanilla, however, won very easily, and is a much better mare than the vast majority of the racing public have supposed. It will he remembered that she made a runaway race of the Stewards’ Handicap last season. Skirmisher went to the post for this race, but did not take part, owing to the jockey being badly kicked by St. Laura when the fields were being lined up. If the owner of the horse w - as not allowed sufficient time to get another jockey, surely the stewards ought to have declared Skirmisher a non-starter. But the question of not doing so was not even considered, and the backers of the horse lost their investments without having a chance to win. The rule that prevents such confiscation should be amended without delay. We are often talking of showing the Old Country the way to do things, but in this respect I have noticed they do things better in England, for if a horse or liis rider be injured or disabled in any way whatever when going to the post, such a horse is deemed a non-starter, and all bets are declared off.

The Welcome Stakes produced a close and exciting finish. The field left the post in perfect order, but Sir Launcelot and Multiform at once singled themselves out, and although the Hawke’s Bay colt had an advantage of a length at the distance, Multiform gradually closed up in a punishing race to the chair. The judge declared his inability to separate the pair. The next of the field finished a long way astern.

The success of Taipari in the Ladies’ Purse was mainly due to good horsemanship, but those that finished behind him are rather a moderate lot. Venom, from the same stable, won the Shorts in a very easy manner.

Few encounter's for the classic Derby prize have produced a more interesting race than that for this year’s event. Epaulet was evidently sent out with tlio intention ot cutting down Defiance, in the interests of his stable companion, and right well did he fulfil his mission ; for, hustling the Hawke’s Bay colt along the greater part of the way, Defiance was done with by the time the straight was reached, where Epaulet was left to pilot the field. An element of danger then appeared on the scene from an unexpected quarter, for when the “selected” of the Yaldhurst stable ranged alongside his stable companion, Plotter came with him. The three colts were locked together at the half distance, and as Epaulet swerved from the whip he bore Uniform and Plotter right to the outside of the track, but unable to maintain his place, the pace-maker dropped back, and Uniform, who had probably got the worst of the bumping, and Plotter were straightened up and settled down to fight out the finish. It was a sharp, short and decisive contest, from which the jock in yellow emerged successfully. Derrett rode a really brilliant finish on the winner, and Plotter showed that the good opinions expressed regarding him early in the spring had foundation in fact. I shall expect him to be a superior horse in time to his Derby conqueror. Day Star was one ot the field, but cut rather an inglorious figure, being last all the way.

lt was fully exemplified by the running in the Criterion Handicap that Mr J. B. Reid, whose horse, Skirmisher, did not get start in the Stewards Handicap the first day, had really bad luck ; for the race in question ho won in such handsome fashion, that there is scarcely a doubt that he would have carried oil - the more valuable prize on the Monday, which, being run on a shorter course, was all in favour of the Middleton horse, who it was thought might not last out the seven furlongs on Wednesday. Mr Reid stood to win a big stake on the Monday, but allowed the horse to run comparatively unbacked when be won.

Ilex ran a much improved horso in the Hurdle Race to what he did the first day. Always at the head of affairs, he stayed there till the end. Solitaire made her maiden essay over hurdles in Ilex’s race, but did not show the proficiency she was supposed to have attained privately.

Multiform made a runaway affair of the Juvenile Plate, and it would seem that Sir Launcelot, who chased him home, was fortunate in dead heating him in the Welcome Stakes.

The correctness of the running of the Cup was borne out in the Metropolitan Handicap, for The Possible won very comfortably in the end, beating all the best in the big handicap, barring those that finished in front of him, who were of course absentees. Dauntless surprised most people by his position at the end, for he was reckoned a non-stayer. Acone was made favourite, and he ran a good race. Fabulist went disappointingly. Strangely, he was the pace-maker —a peculiar way to run one carrying such an impost as he

had. Quiltiri ran well, and Bellicent was prominent for a part of the way. The race was a fast one, as most Metropolitans have been.

Misfire scored in the Welter and did his owner a good turn, as he had him well backed. It was a bit of an eye-opener to take down the numbers of such as St. Laura and Bisley.

On Canterbury Cup day proceedings opened with the Spring Nursery, and Blazer, who had run unplaced in the Selling Two-year-old on "Wednesday, scored a very easy win from Sir Launcelot, who was made a strong favourite, with Beauty Sleep third.

The Oaks Stakes came next, and backers made Armilla favourite, w'liile Firefly aud St. Ouida were next in demand. Pitch and Toss cut out the running till -well into the straight, when Armilla shot up, and going on, won handsomely by two lengths from Marlin, with St. Ouida third. Dalliance was weighed out for the race, but did not start, owing to going very lame, her owner, Sir G. Clifford, obtaining permission from the stewards not to start her.

For the Jockey Club Handicap a field of eleven came to the post, and Dauntless scored after a good race with Marquis of Zetland, who finished second. St. Laura was made favourite, but could only finish fourth.

The Canterbury Cup came next, and much interest was displayed as to how Lady Zetland and Euroclydon would finish. Epaulet and Defiance, the other starters, were neglected in the betting. Defiance cut out the running till the stand was reached, when Euroclydon w r ent to the front, and going down the back he was still ahead, with Epaulet second, Defiance third, and Lady Zetland commencing to make up her ground. At the entrance to the straight the three-year-olds dropped back beaten, and Lady Zetland, catching Euroclydon ab the distance, went on and won comfortably by two lengths, while Epaulet was third a dozen lengths away, Defiance pulling up last. The winner was loudly cheered when weight was declared.

Telemeter, who was a big outsider, won the Avon Welter Handicap) from Marino after a good race. Bisley, the favourite, ran very disappointingly, finishing last.

The Curragh Steeplechase produced a pretty race. Robin, attended by Gillie, cut out the running till the sod wall "was reached the second time round, where he ran off. Gillie then went on and led to the post and rails where Vagabond fell and Te Kooti being called upon went to the front and landing first over the last fence won by two lengths from Undesirable Bill, with Kingswood third and Gillie fourth. Clarence fell at the first fence, but being remounted by Free Hohnes, went as far as the double where he stopped again.

Multiform, after getting badly av T ay, scored in the Electric Plate. Dauntless and Belle Clair finished second and third respectively.

The Fiual Handicap was looked upon as a good thing for St. Laura, she being made a strong favourite, but she could only manage to get third, Dare Devil winning comfortably with Mahaki second.