CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1927, 26 October 1888, Page 23

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By « RATA."

I have previously referred to the unsatisfactory interpretation of racing law through an agency of undue division of authority, and to the necessity of a periodical revision of the rules of racing. No set of rules can be framed to govern such a sport that do not require subsequent alteration and addition by virtue of improvement, deterioration, or change in the sport itself, and alteration, addition, and equitable interpretation are necessarily hampered by the absence of an individual governing body. The rules do not appear to be very lucidly framed in regard to the relations of owners or trainers and jockeys, and evidently these are now subject to diametrically opposite interpretation by turf legislators, and the subject is a most important one. A trainer and jockey are roaster and servant, and necessarily subject to the ruliug of the Master and Servants' Act, but something beyond that is requisite. A jockey is a peculiar kind of servant and one that cannot be easily replaced sometimes. Apparently Kean brought such an one with him to Hawke's Bay, hut while there the horseman severed his connection with his employer on a week's notice, and on the stewards being appealed to they refused to do anything in the matter. An understanding has previously existed to the effect that a jockey is entitled to give an employer three months' notice prior to leaving, and such a decision appears to have been given by the D J.C. in the case of Cutts v. Brown, and Cutts also received a very similar decision in a case with White ; yet the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club refused to entertain Kean's application for the compulsory retention of a horseman beyond a week. Now it is obvious that a jockey's term of notice ought to extend to at least three mouths during any part of the racing season, and that the enactment on the subject ought to be perfectly clear and stringent. Kean left home with a string of horses, and attended by a stable horseman who had no doubt ridden these horses iv their principal gallops throughout the spriug, and presumably kuew their peculiarities better, and could ride them better in their engagements, than a comparatively strange horseman of even equal calibre, yet he left on a week's notice at the beginning of the season, before tho horses had been actually raced, and a metropolitan club when appealed to refused to sanction his retention. Doubtless that jockey was well within his legal rights, but it is equally doubtless that an act oc Parliament passed for purposes of social government and trade and commercial requirements is inadequate to meet the exigencies of a particular profession, and had Kean appealed to either the C J.C. or the D.J.C. in all probability his jockey would have been compulsorily retained nntil the conclusion of the Christchurch Metropolitan meeting or disqualified for non-compliance with club ruling and general usage. Tbe subject is plainly conspicuous by rea6ou of a disparity of judgment in turf legislators of equal authority) and acting on similar rules, and a certain lack of unity iv the administration of racing law is obvious under the metropolitan club system. No doubt the jockey who left Kean was a good borsemau, and as these are comparatively rare and not easily replaced, the stable may be partially dependent upon the services of outside riders during the early portion of the year, and that in itself must necessarily be a disadvantage to a trainer. A week's notice is all in the interests or a jockey, but it is contrary to stable interests, and contrary to the spirit of racing law. In Canterbury and Otago a jockay can be retaiued for three months prior to the celebration of a big meeting, and why not elsewhere ? The metropolitan clubs run under the same rule?, and though these with regard to master and servant, in the absence of a stipulation in writing, may go beyond the letter of colonial or imperial law, they are equally binding on a jockey, provided he be of any good ; his riding can be stopped. The chief feature of the week has been the exercise of the Northern horses at Ricoarton, and they are pretty good as a rule. Corunna, the two-year-old by Musket from Nelly Moore,is considerably more than an average racer. He is a very powerful colt, showing great muscular development all over, and undoubtedly some of the two-year-olds are wonderfully good this season, and he is one of the best that has put in an appearance here yet, though he has never been fully extended since his arrival. Cuirassier may be a good one, and no doubt he is so, but I do not think he is the equal of Manton in any way. He is a big leathering horse that looks a bit too light for his size, and I should hardly think that racing would be likely to improve his present form greatly either. Escutcheon is in tip-top nick, evidently, but he appears to be flighty, aud he is built a bit too much on greyhound lines of contour. Leopold, on the other hand, is well made ; a not over big chestnut, he is low on the legs, deep in the girth, and well let down iv the loins, with good shoulders, back, and quarters, and he appears to me to be the best of the Northern horses bar Coruuna, and it is just possible that the two-year-old is a bit backward. Dudn and Escapade are both fit, and obviously the latter is very fast. I do not think that the Northern stables will provj particularly dangerous in the principal events, though they. may succeed in netting one or two good stakes amongst them ; it appears to me that they are hardly as good as half a dozen that might be picked at Riccarton, with the exception of Corunna, who will make the field gallop in the Welcome Stakes should he get well away, and that ought to be one of the most interesting races of the meeting. Merrie England is undoubtedly a first'Clasa two-year-old, and when galloped at top with the Charity colt over half a mile he commonly finishes alone; and Alsace is another that will prove fast ; while Retina, in Mason's stable, b said to be a veritable clipper. The Brockenhurat Stakes- at Rangiora has apparently given some line to two-year-old form in the past— Sommeil won last season— but this year the race will be reduced to a match between Cyniscaand one from Middlepark, and Water Baby is the better of the pair entered from that stud. The Canterbury Trotting Club held a meeting on the Addiogton show grounds on_ Saturday. The attendance was not particularly good — some 600, perhaps — and the .trotting waa of the ordinary description seen in the neighbourhood—two and three mile trots,, TbecourW

is a good one in point of running ground, but is too small for harness trotting, and I fane too, that grass is not the best kind of going fi trotters. In all probability, however, there wi be several innovations introduced when a tro ting association has been actually formed, and is evident that such an association will be forme presently. The handicapping at this meeting better than is usually seen at trotting reunion in some instances. On the occasion of tt celebration of the first meeting at the Adding ton show grounds there was a dead heat, and o Saturday in the Handicap Time Trot (iv saddle there wfis no more tlwn half a neck betwee Bachlieu and Moonlight. That, however, migb have been a fluke to a certain extent, bu at the first meeting of the club there wer several close races, and it is trlore than probabl that handicapping could be greatly improve upon in so far as trotters are concerned. should undertake to pick one man thatcoul give any present handicapper of trotters a aton and a handsome beating, and that man is Harr; Piper, Ho was the chief handicapper at th ' n'mt meeting held under rhu auspices of th • Canterbury Trotting Club, and that was th best handicapping I have scon in Canterbury On Saturday proceediiig-s commenced with i Maideu Trot, for which four started level, an< Potatau won by more than the length of th< straight. A Handicap Novel Trot (in harness was the second event, and Never Mind, the limi candidate, led from end to end and wot easily from Kate. A Handicap Time Tro (in saddle) was the next race, and for tbat even Tommy, who is well known about Christchurch was made a strong favtmite, but could get n< nearer than third to Random and Zulla, both o: whom were backed by their connections. In deed, Random was esteemed a particularly gooc thing for thab race beyond those who knew something of his private form, and he won verj easily. For the Handicap Time Trot (in harness) over three miles, Richmond was made favourite but he had no show with Betsy, a bay ponj (33sec), who assumed command on covering s couple of circuits and won anyhow, and but foi Betsy's commanding lead a mile and a-half from home it is more than probable that Richmond would not have finished second. There was at least one unplaced candidate that could have overhauled him, but that candidate could never have got *' upsides " with Betsy, who is a very fast pony. Queenie won the Handicap Pony Trot (in saddle), and Bachlieu just succeeded in beating Moonlight in the Handicap Time Trot ; bui ssec separated them in ttie handicap, and it is singular lIOW Moonlight did not get to the front before the winning post was reached. That she was trying every yard there is no doubt whatever, and perhaps her rider did not make sufficient use of her in the early part of the race. She is certainly a better trotter than Bachlieu, beyond ssec, if looks go for anything ; she is a good mare. The last race was a Novel Trot (in saddle) for which Lady Emma literally walked over, though Miss Small, who wa3 placed second, was no more than three lengths behind her ; but as a matter o fact Miss Small was a lap behind : instead o being placed second she ought to have beei absolutely last. The acceptances for the New Zealand Cuj are very satisfactory from a numerical point o: view, and the Canterbury trained candidate; have a very great chance of retaining the priz< in the province. Lochiel is supposed to bt " good goods," and I hear he is going well on th< training track, but his present weight may tesl his stamina a bit better than his last season's impost did ; he may be a real stayer for all ) know to the contrary, bub bar Prestonpans h( is the first of his sire's stock in my recollectior that will geb two miles, and I do not know thai Prestonpans could do that in a strong run race I recollect him running second, with Bobbj Wyatt up, in the Lewes Handicap, after having oeen saved up for a couple of years, but in that race the pace was no more than a tout would call three-part speed until they came into the dip, seven furlongs from home, and then he did not finish game, though " Bobby " said his mount put his foot in a hole, and that horseman mew the efficacy of excuses, or was supposed to antil called upon to interview the Sandown stewards over the Brilliancy case — that was a bit of roping that " coopered up " a prosperous man. Lochiel, however, may be a stayer, and he may win fche Cup easily, but should he succeed in doing so I fancy it will be mainly a result of speed. I have only seen him once, but I am certain he is a speedy horse ; he is well made aud a good mover ; yet I should think a mile and a-half would be nearer his best distance than the New Zealand Cup course. He •certainly won last year, but th* weight he ■carried was insufficient to test the stamina of a speedy six-year-old ; and even tim season he has no more than a nice racing weight. Perhaps I shall see him in the course of a week ; he is greatly fancied about Riccarton. Escutcheon appears to have too much weight, and I fancy his fore legs are not over sound ; yet he is in tip-top condition, and he will be a genuine candidate. So will St. Clair, and he will also strip perfectly fit ; and Mr Webb means to have a go with Uuby, who is a much better horse than I have seen him previously; but should he run forward, he will undoubtedly do so on the score of speed rather than that of stamina, and he is certainly speedy. British Lion is not abad secondclass horse, ami be is one that no end of good points would be discovered in in the event of victory, but should he actually win the field will be bad, and Lorraine, in the same stable, ought to smother him at; their respective weights. I believe Lorraine is a good horse. The Hon. W. Robinson was on the course on Saturday morning and had his horses galloped fast, and it is said thab Chain Shot did a very smart thing against tho watch. That may be so, too, and he may win the Cup easily, but I am certain he is not a first class three-year-old, and I saw the trinl gallop, thaugh I do not know what the tince was. I have always considered Exchange a better horse, but he appears to bs getting a bit too light now; yet that can hardly affect his form : he is iv &he hands of a most experienced trainer, and one not likely to overdo him in point of galloping. If his condition satisfies R. Ray, it may be taken for granted that he is thoroughly fit Leopold is a good nag, but Manton ought to beat him at the weights, and Manton ought also to beat Cuirassier, but Butler thinks that Manton has a small show 1 . Still, provided he can stay, I do not think so, though running him in the Cup will militate against his Derby prospects. Engagement has a light impost to carry, but she is not-, a good mars, and Son-of-a-Gun will in all probability sport silk during the week. There are several strangers to arrive yet, and Silver Mark and Phormium Tenax are supposed to be the best of these. All Cutts' horses have gone out of the Derby, aud certainly none of them had any show of winning. Phormium Teuax has not put in an appearance yet, bub he is supposed to be a very good one. Redwood, who was sent North from Cutts' stable, is more than an average colt, aud it is said that Phormium Tenax has run clean away from him in a trial, and if that be true the latter is a good one. Chain Shot, Exchange, Manton, and Cuirassier have all been left in, but in so far as those already at Riccarton are concerned, it is a match

it between Man ton and Chain Shot, and I fancy j, Manton is the better. >r Tho Welcome Stakes will be a good race. II Cutts has three Ipft in, but Alsace will be his best, and Merrie England, Dunkeld, Corunna, I and Retina are all good two-year-olds. The Southern horses have not arrived at the time of writing, but Mr Goodman has an uncommonly good one in Blizzard if he can lower the colours of the Canterbury lot this time. If Maxim be well on the day the Canterbury Cup ought to be a one-horse race ; neither Manton nor Chain Shot can look at him in point of class, whatever the strangers may be able to do. At Middle Park Idalia has dropped a bay colt to St. Geerge, Flatter a chestnut colt to Apremont, and Watersprite a bay filly to St. George. RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. [By Telegraph— From " Rata."] CHErsTCHURCH, October 20. . The work was varied on Saturday morning by the presence of Mr Robinson, who had his horses galloped fast after the major portion of the exercise was over. Merrie England and Charity colt were the first of Ray's to put in an appearance, and in a four-furlong spin Merrie England had all tbe best of it from start to finish, and came hume half a dozen lengths in front of his stable companion. Engagement and Exchange, in company, went a mile and a-half at top, and the latter was in front at the finish, though Engagement went fairly well during the first part of the journey. Exchange is a good horse, and I fancy he is superior to Chain Shot. Son-of-a-Gun and Chain Shot also covered a mile and a-half, and the roan stuck to the bay throughout the gallop. Cutts brought out Lorraine and British Lion afc daylight some time before sunrise, and sent the pair twice round at a strong pace, followed by Ravenswing and St. Clair at a similar rate. Of the Northern horses Escutcheon and Leopold travelled two miles aud aquarfcer, covering the last mile and a-quarter at nearly top. Adulation went a circuit at top, and Vandal and Manton compassed a mile and a-half each at a fast rate. Cuirassier put in an appearance for the first time since his arrival at Riccarton, and west twice round the tan at a steady pace. October 21. Cutts was out exceptionally early this morning and seat Ravenswing and Parvula a steady mile and a-quarter in company, followed by Maligner at a similar pace. St Clair was given a sweat over four circuits of the new plough, and Lorraine and British Lion negotiated a mile aud three f urlongß at nearly top. Golden Crest went a steady mile gallop, and ExchaDge compassed twice that distanceat asteady rate; while Engagement went half a mile further. Cuirassier and Leopold were sent in company twice round, covering a mile at half pace and going the remainder at three-quarter speed. Vandal traversed two miles and a-half at a clinking pace, and he is evidently being prepared for the Cup. Sou-of-a-Gun aud Chain ( Shot did steady work over two miles. Escutcheon cantered and threw a shoe, and looked lame in consequence. Ido not think that his fore legs are of the best material. Ruby was given a strong gallop over the Cup distance. October 23. ( Lorraine keeps sound, and is galloping in splendid style. Chain Shot performed a * gooJ gallop on Saturday, and is thought c superior to Exchange, who shows some 1 temper, and is sore in front. None ot the North Islanders have done strong work yet, but * Leopold is most in favour. Cuiraisser is suffer- £ ing very little from his accident at Wellington, c St. Clair looks remarkably well, but has had r none the best of one or two recent gallops with j Ravenswing, a much improved filly. Manton | continues to improve, and British Lion is moving in excellent style, but Engagement has not * created a favourable impression, and Ruby though s quite at his best is not highly thought of. Lochiel p is reported to be doing all that is asked of him q ot Yajdhurst, and still shares favouritism with t Lorraine. q Cutts commenced work this morning before g daylight by sending British Lion a strong two - h and a-half mile gallop. St. Clair was afterwards v worked with Lorraine, the pair going twice £, round at half and three-quarter speed, the second circuit being covered at the latter rate. 8 j Ruby and Manton were despatched in company on the same track, the trio travelling a "double" j, at nearly top. Engagement attended Chain Shot in a striding two mile and a-half gallop. 8( The latter is greatly liked at Riccarton now, and j £ he is undoubtedly in tip-top fettle. .Repose was j t sent a good working gallop on the old plough ; and Leopold and Cuirassier in company tray versed two rounds on the tan, increasing the 0 pace to three-quarter speed over the second 0 circuit. +i