OUR . CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 23

OUR . CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER.

(By Oub Special Spobtino Cobbespondbnt

Chbistohubch, July, 18. The Waterloo Cup has engrossed the attention of sporting men here 1 since my, last week's letter, and but for 6ome life being infused into the betting on the New Zealand Cup by the presence and transactions of the visitors, the last week might as well have bean left out of the racing calendar. Some of our visitors came here with very big hearts, and no price seemed too short for them to back their fancies at for the great spring event. The tale 18 told later on under the head of betting. The sand track at the Riccarfcon racecourse was made available for training purposes at the end of last week, and since then strong work has been given to the Grand National horses, and also to a majority of the flat racers now in residence at Riccarton. Most noticeable among the workers have been Hon. W. Robinson's horses, which, under the direction of George Cutts, have done good work, and are more forward than any other horses at Riccarton. Disowned is the gentleman of the party, and though he has hardly improved up to his three-year-old promise, he looks all over a galloper, and will make the best horse this side of the line travel his best to beat him over any distance up to a mile and a-half, whatever the result may be over two miles. Silver Prince retains, his leggy appearance, but hia legs are indubitably sound, and present every appearance of being able to stand the strictest of, training, bo- that those who have taken long shots , about him for the Melbourne Cup may be assured that j his going sound and well to the post j at Flemington is as nearly certain as anything racing can be. Thunderbolt appears perfectly Bound, and goes freely in the long gallops he is being .given ; but I do not like him. He. may win a straight short cut of half a mile or so, in the absence of fliers, but he looks too weedy — if so heretical a, term may be U6ed — to run a strong race in good company. He is the least improved of any of the team. Enfilade has developed into a remarkably racinglike colt, and I look forward to his proving himself one of the best of his year. Chain Shot is a wonderfully good colt ; I will go so far as to say that he will be the best two-year-old in Australia. He is remarkably lengthy and well furnished for his age, and it will indeed be a good one that will take him down. These five will in all probability form the Hon. W. Robinson's Australian team, which will leave per s.s. Hauroto, for Sydney, next week. Of those left to do battle in New Zealand Torrent naturally comes first. He looks well, and shows no indication of unsoundness, and it may prove not a bad investment to take a long shot about him for the New Zaaland Cup. Engagement may be dismissed from consideration so far as next season's racing is concerned. Always a leggy one, she has become more conspicuously so lately, and I should cay she is unlikely to face the starter as a three-year-old. Exchange (St. George — Rupee) has not done very well during the winter, and will probably not be called upon to race as a*two-year-old. Vanguard is fast growing into a magnificent type of a stallion, and if any American buyer should chance to cast an eye upon him he will fetch a very big price. Of the other trainers' lots at Riccarfcon ,B. Cutts' is of most interest. Stonyhurst has improved wonderfully of late, and in his gallops, which have been long and steady, he now shows no lameness. We have yet to see how he will stand fast work, but, to my surprise, this prince of two-year-oWs appears now to be perfectly sound. If he goes on as he is now doing he will be in the front rank of the New Zealand Cup. Nelson goes a bit lame, but shakes it off after going a mile or so and gets over the ground as well as ever. Fair Nell is going on well, and there are hopes that her hocks will escape the development of the curbs which at one time were so threatening. Of O'Brien's lot Hermitage looks very well, as in fact do all the inmates of the Racecourse Hotel stables. Sextant is of course the pick of them, and no handsomer looking colt ever stepped at Riccarfcon. Maxim is now secluded from public gaze, but he will indeed be a phenomenon if he can head the Robinson Crusoe colt next season. All O'Brien's charges look well, and their owner has every prospect of a sucessf ul year before him.

The advertising of Lochiel, Beresford,, and Marion for sale as a " cheap lot " at 1350gs has been a " staggerer " for their numerous backers. It will not hurt their feelings much more if I tell them through you that Lochiel is a certain non-acceptor (that is, on account of his present owner) for the New Zealand Cup.

BETTING.

The quotations on the New Zealand Cup are appended, and represent prices taken and offered during the last week : — 100 to 10 agst Nelson, Silence, Maxim 100 — 8 Loohiel, Beresford 100 — 7 Sextant, Artillery 100— 5 Gipßy King, Hermitage, Lady Florin, Lady Norah 100 — 4 Torrent, Moana, Bangle, Silvermark 100 — 3 to 100 to 1 otherß.

The steeplechase horses and hurdle racers are being worked strongly in view of the Grand National. Master Guy shows more improvement than any horse on the course,,but then he was about the worst to begin witli, Faugh-a-ballagh is greatly improved, and old Linwood is doing his work well. I hear that Sultan is doing well up country in his owner's hands, and this being the case, he is entitled to respect for any engagements he has entered for. The surprise of the Grand National acceptance liso is the absence of Belle, who was as good a favourite as anything. Canard has been relegated to hunting work, and Agent has been found untrustworthy for so severe a journey as the Grand National. The weights have been raised Sib all round, and Moody (12st 71b) is now top weight.

COURSING.

July 14. The weather was again splendid, but the attendance was small. The coursing was firstrate, and everything went well but for the bungling about the flags in the close couwe between Haroun-al-Raschid and John Drumm. The details are as follows : —

WATERLOO CUP. THIBD BOUND. John Drumiu beat Fownhope Haroun-aI-Raßchid beat Snowflight Killarney beat Industrious Maid Nassau beat The Brewer O'SullivaH ran a bye. FOUBTH BOUND. Haroun-al-Raschid beat John Drumm Nassau beat O'Sullivan Killarney a bye.

Cup.— Third round: John Drumm had aKttle the best of a close race up, and gave Fownhope very little chance to score. Snowfligkt was faster from the slips than Haroun-al-Raschid, but the latter shot past for a turn, and working

the game beautifully, won by a large majority. I Industrious Maid led Killarhey by three lengths, ■ but had afterwards no chance with the clever, Killarney. Nassau outpaced and beat The Brewer in a fast trial. O'Sullivan ran a bye. : Fourth Round. — Haroun -al - Kaschid just gained a turn from John Drumm, though a good many thought it was not scored till John j Drumm gob in. After an exchange, Haroun put \ in a wrenching drive,, and after another exchange John Drumm drove to the escape. Drumm'a flag was first shown, but afterwards altered, and this led to a protest. The judge stated that he at first declared Haroun the winner, and this was upheld by the 'stewards. Nassau led O'Sullivan four lengths, and his greater speed pulled him through against the cleverer working. The wrong flag again went up, the acting flag steward having. hia card wrongly made out. Killarney ran a bye. WATERLOO PUESB. FIRST HOUND. I Lord Dufferin beat Handyl Andy • Sunshine a bye (Joe Brown drawn) Mißßlheresa beatWaikari , Medoc beat Market Day» Cannon beat Agent Sterling a byo (Jubilee drawn) ' ' Sailor Boy a bye {Romeo drawn) Concrete beat Black Jacket ' Grace Darling a bye. SSCO,tD BOUND. Sunshine ,beat Lord Dufferin Miss Theresa beat Medoc Cannon beat Sterling Sailor Boy teat Grace DarliDg Concrete a bye. The Purse. — Lord Dufferin was too fast for Handy Andy in a good course, which his lordship ended with a kill. Joe Brown being drawn, Sunshine ran a bye. Miss Theresa, going in fine style, beat Waikari pointless. Medoc outpaced Market Day throughout on a fast hare. Cannon beat Agent three lengths to the hare, and after two exchanges Agent killed and lost. Jubilee and Romeo were withdrawn from to Sterling and Sailor Boy respectively, and the latter running their accidental byes together, Sterling was beaten pointless. Concrete was far faster than Black Jacket, who never got near the hare. Grace Darling ran a bye. Second Round. — Sunshine was a little faster to the hare than Lord Dufferin, and made the best use of the game afterwards. Miss Theresa led up a length from Medoc, and working well killed after Medoc had scored once. Cannon was slow in starting, but raced up and beat Sterling in a desperately fast course. Sailor Boy was slightly faster than Grace Darling in a very fast and exciting course. Concrete ran a good bye.

WATERLOO PLATE. FIRST BOUJJD. Waitangi beat Deception Lonewood beat Spider Queen Red fine beat Ringwood Rocket beat Bed-o'-Stone. Plate. — Waitangi was two lengths ahead of Deception to the hare, and outworked her I afterwards. Lonewood beat Spider Queen by six lengths to the hare, and won a wildly worked course. Red Pine had an accidental bye, Ringwood being absent through lameness. Rocket led Bed-o'-Stone by three lengths, and won an almost unassisted course. LADIES' BRACELET. SECOND BOUND. Memento beat Nelson Lucifer beat Pride of Scotland Bismarck beat Bob Hastie Margaux beat Regnant Quiutana beat Kearsage Molly Bawn beat Pat. THIHD HOUND. Lucifer beat Memento Bismarck beat Margaux Quintana beat Molly Bawn. Bracelet (Second Round). — All the courses in this round were won well ; Memento, Bismarck, and Quintana showing great form. Third Round. — Lucifer had a length the best of the lead up from Memento, but the latter was running a winning course when he fell, and before he got going again Lucifer had made sure of the course. Bismarck led Margaux four lengths, but the latter joined in for a beautiful course, which he lost through only fluking in two attempts to kill. Quintana got a five lengths start from Molly Bawn, and showed greatest pace in another pretty course. Betting at night: — 5 to 4 on Haroun-al- i Raschid,2 to 1 bac-ane. Mr O'Brien has claimed | the course against Haroun-al-Raschid for John Drumm, and employed legai assistance. The j stewards meet at Plumpton at 11 to-morrow to j consider the matter. j

July 15, The weather continued favourable for the concluding acts of the Waterloo meeting, and the various events were run off with good coursing. The first business of the day was the consideration by the stewards of the course to be adopted by themi n reference to a lawyer's letter received on behalf of the owner of JohnDrumm claiming for him the course against Haroun-al-Raschid run yesterday. They decided unanimously to confirm the decision of the stewards on the previous day upholding the judge's verdict. Before the Bracelet came on a demonstration was made against Lucifer for his course, and later on a similar proceeding with regard to Nassau f orjtbe Cup was caused by the statement by th,e reputed owner of Killarney that he had got Nassau. Further on the same individual declared that he had got both Nassau and the white one (referring fca Haroun-al-Raschid), and the latter was driven

from 5 to 2 on to any price, against him for the Cop. The stewards had an inquiry into this, and the result was that, as regards Mr Ross and hia dog Haroun, the statements were proved to haVe no foundation, and a resolution completely exonerating Mr Robs, at whose request the inquiry was made, was unanimously passed. The palpable stuffing of Mr Buckland's dog was then inquired into, but no evidence was obtainable as to the perpetration of the disgraceful act. Mr Buckland was not present at the meeting, and as he spares no expense in having his dogs well cared for, his treatment is the more shameful. Nassau and Lucifer were evidently dosed, and Sailor Boy was so injured as to be unfit to run. Their trainer was hooted on bringing in Nassau from his course against Killarney, When Haroun-al-Raschid was seen to lead Killarney in the final course for the Cup the cheering was tremendous, and was renewed every time "the Tnrk" showed in front, and when Mr Ross led his dog back a winner he was seized and carried shoulder-high to the stand. It was a most popular and well-deserved victory. Mr Rosa is a non-betting sportsman, and made no secret of the fact that his dog was a good one. Haroun-al-Raschid was bred by Mr Howard, of Invercargill, and given by him to Mr Ross on condition that be was run under the name of the great Caliph of Bagdad. The following are the details : —

WATERLOO CUP. FIFTH HOUND. Killarney beat Nassau Haroun-al-Raschid a bye FINAL BOUND. Mr D M Boss' w r d Haroun-al-Baschid, by Hurlingham— Harmony, beat Mr W. T. Howe's r b Killarney, by Taraban — Miss Eidley, and won the Cup.

Fifth Round. — To the consternation of layers of 4 and 5 to 1 on Killarney, Nassau managed to get first to the hare, bnt he could do nothing farther, and Kilkrney ran up a long' score and won. Nassau could hardly walk back to the paddock, Haroun-al-Raschjd ran a bye,

in which be was all abroad on a very clever hare •-"• / .< . - > ■ ■■ ■

Deciding Course. — Haroun-al-Raschid and Killarney (the latter being favourite at 6 to 4 on) were held off a lame hare and slipped to a strong one. < Haroun-al-Rasohid drew gradually away from Killarney' till he got three lengths ahead for the tarn. .He scored secondhand Killarney then joined in and had the best of some close work, but in anything like racing Haroun-al-Raschid was her superior, and after several exchanges he took the hare away with a wrenching drive and killed near the corner, winning handsomely.

WATERLOO PUBSB. THIRD BOUITD. Sunshine beat Miss Theresa Gannon beat Concrete

Sailor Boy a bye, , FOURTH AND FINAI HOUND. Sailor Boy was drawn. _ MrOKWlse'a ft> Sunshine, by Cricnope Linn— Mirids, and Messrs O'Brien and Butler's f w d Cannon, by Crichope Lind— Fan, divided the Putbo. • Third Round.— Sunshine and Miss Theresa ran an undecided course, but at the next attempt the former proved faster and -cleverer than the Dunedin representative. Cannon beat Concrete pointless. Sailor Boy being drawn lame, Gannon and Sunshine divided, but they ran their courses to decide some wagers, and Cannon won a very close course.

WATERLOO PLATE. i SKCOND BOUND. Waifcangi beat lonewood Socket beat lied Fine. FINAZ. Mr J S Wilson's f w d Rooket (late Wyndham 2). by Oheater-La Baplde, beat Mr R P Mi's w f b Waitangi, by Crichopo Linn-Hinera?a, and won tne Plate.

Second Hound. — Waitangi led and beat Lonewood almost pointless. Red Pine was faster to the hare than Rocket, but the latter quite outworked the Invercargill dog. Deciding Course.~Waitangi, though dead Jame, was favourite ; but Rocket was four lengths faster to the hare, and though Waitangi was very clever at close quarters, Rocket scored in the racing stretch and won.

LADIES' BRACELET. FOUBTH HOUND. Bismarck beat Lucifer Quintana a bye.

Miss W Birerbank (ns) Mr W M'Catisland's f d Bismarck, by Bob— Violet, beat Miss Judge's (ns) Mr W G Judge's b d b Quintana, by Kingfisher— Kealgrit, and won the Bracelet.

Fourth Round.— Bismarck, with 6 to 1 on him, Jed Lucifer three lengths, and retained possession till near the escapes, where Lucifer got in for a point or two. Quintana ran a severe single-handed bye. Deciding Course. — Bismarck led Quintana five lengths to a racing hare, and went on in possession and heather pointless. The Consolation Stakes, of eight beaten dogs, at £2 2s each, was won by Mr W. G.J udges r w b Fownhopo, by Totara— Pick-me-up.

July 18. The winner, Haroun-al-Raschid, is halfbrother to Horse Marine, who should have won last year. He was bred by Mr C. Howard, of Invercarglll* and presented by him to Mr D. M. Ross, of Timaru, in whose nomination he ran. His dam, Harmony, won the Waterloo Purse in 1881. HAROUN-AL-KASOHID (white and red dog). § d -3 s i 2S> i II 1 s | II f I II it. i i it ?i 8 % ft 31 ij ti IJ II fif ll H I* If ■ I! II If 3" 8 3 ? ? «~ || I* if | | «|f ■bj 1 Jsg & I %t «m § 3 e^ jS« ,3 «*- &-L SI ig H I s 2* as- 3d |S H -il M !| 2" as- II & gg M g| &i || s I i! 19 nnif ii j is a is ii h ie 81 JJ j ii > .0 aid A £ -So § o -§££•§ g» fr Q to to S ■ g Mr J. S. Wilson, Dunedin, owned and trained ;he winner of the Plate, Rocket (late Wyndham II), who is full brother to Wrekni, who ran 80 prominently for the Moonee Valley (Melbourne) Queen's Jubilee Stakes a few weeks ago. A daughter of Miranda, winner of the Cup 1880 — namely, Sunshine, by Crichope Linn— • divided the Furse with Cannon, by Chrichope Linn — Fan; but the Auckland dog Sailor Boy would probably have won had he not got lamed. Messrs O'Brien and Butler served notice on the Plumpton Park treasurer not to pay over the Waterloo Cup money ; but the stewards decided that the judge only give one decision in the course between Haroun-al-Raschid and John Drumm, and that in favour of the former. The money won was paid over to-d»y.