CANTERBURY CHAT

NZ Truth, Issue 685, 3 August 1918, Page 7

CANTERBURY CHAT

(By "The Toff.") The South Canterbury Hunt Club held its steeplechase meeting on Thursday of last week, m dull but fine weather. The course was surprisingly good and there was a fair attendance. Only four out of the eierht carded faced the starter m the I-Ladl^*-"- Hack and Hunters' Hurdles, of BjTiich Golden Prince was made a bettei favorite than Silver Shield. Golden Prince slipped and nearly fell at the start, .but with three furlongs gone he went to the front and opened a gap which he retained to the finish. Prenfiz Garde is an Auckland fencer and will have to improve before he pays his way as a hurdler. Seville is a likely sort, and one that should win a race before returning north. Luigi is a useful hunter which might catch a race at some of the country fixtures. Barley Rigs was first out m the six furlong'heat at Timaru, but after leading for five furlongs she began to tire and finished close up fourth. Fleetham was putting m some great work at the end of the Levels Handicap at Timaru, but he could not reach the front division. Leaping Burn is very short of work. A fair horse when ready. Bomb was with the bunch that led into the straight m the six furlongs at South Canterbury, but he stopped over the last bit. Warform scored F. E. Jones his first win as a trainer. He was ridden a nice race by F. Ellis, and should win again. August, perhaps. Belgian King is an improving individual that will do S. Trilford's stable good Service when he gets some of the surplus flesh, off him. " : • Majestikoff does ■ not gallop well with weight on top. She is seen at her best with 7.7 or less. ' Luff wanted a. race to sharpen him up. He was m the firing line at the end of a mile at Timaru. Fleetham was all right, at Timaru, but should be better at Riccarton. Master Hamilton was backed as If he could not be beaten at Timaru. After

going easily for a mile and a half he went to the front and won with ridiculous ease. S. Trilford was very confident about Bellshire In the' mile at Timaru. He paid a good price. All the "heads" were m on Hiero at Timaru, but he ran like a hairy dog. John Barleycorn ran an attractive ,race m the Claremont Welter at Timaru, m which he finished second to Bellshire. He can be looked for at Riccarton. Dardanelles will pay his way. Two miles is far enough for him over fences. Craigdugald will be good enough for a small race down the line. That is, when he gets a little more work. Gay Light, m S. Trilford's stable, looks a commoner that will take a lot of time to get ready to win a heat. Kaupokunui bolted m m the Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Timaru. Though it was a poor lot he beat, he should be prominent m much better company. Seville was backed m the Hunters' Plate as if he could not be beaten, but he had no chance with Jack Symons, who is likely to improve. Not at any part of the South Canterbury Steeplechase Handicap did Bore have any chance of beating Sylvia, who won very comfortably. Rolling Tide was very/short of work at Timaru. The race did' him a heap of good. I . ■ '"' At Timaru, Moreeamne looked as if he had just come out of the store paddock. He' certainly acted like it. The Dunedln Jockey Club has acquired a piece of land for tho purpose of providing a new motor entrance at the Wingatui course. Mr. W. Gardiner, junr., president otthe North Otago Jockey Club, and a popular owner, has been elected to the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club. Sam Trilford led m. five winners at the South Canterbury Hunt Club's meeting. Three others from his stables were placed. Master Hamilton, who is now quite sound, was m a bad way about fifteen months ago, having broken down very badly. He was attended to by. H, E. Martin, M.R.C.V.S., who fired and treated the leg, with the result that the horse is standing up to-day and winning races. After lunch on Saturday," Waimai (Flynn) was sent over a circuit of the big country. He failed to put any dash into his work and fenced with a great deal of uncertainty. The pace was slow. Perhaps had he been sent along he would have given a better display. Sir Fisher and Collector are doing.useful threequarter pace work, and Sir Agnes and Sir Solo are hitting out m attractive style at Riccarton. Gladful is m great heart, but Wishful is a trifle sore. Sleight of Hand has not altogether recovered from the injuries he sustained on his way to Lyttelton, and is yet far from his best. Art will strip one of the fittest horses for the National Hurdles and will take a power of beating. Saxby is galloping very attractively "m his essays at Riccarton and should be well forward for. National events,/