RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1935, 26 March 1891, Page 25

RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Chbistohubch, March 21. Horses are now being worked at Riccarton mainly in view of the C. J.C. Autumn meeting, and though the form of racers is pretty well exposed at this season considerable interest is centred in the morning work. To-day Fred Matthews made an early commencement with Cutta' lot by sending Cruohfield a strong mile-and-a-half gallop, that " Gieat Autumn " candidate moving freely and travelling remarkably well. Whim followed Crucbfield in a sharp sixfurlong flutter, pulling up very lame, and Yon Tempsky had Chester Lad fora companion over the same journey in a fast gallop. The gelding by Parkin Warbeck II covered a couple of circuits, going the first round at half pace and the second at three-quarter speed, and Lord Aston did useful work over the same ground ; while Dragon was given a steady " once-round," covering a mile and a-quarter, afterwards at a good three-quarter pace. Freedom and Hazel went in company, going a mile and a-half at three-part speed, and compassing another mile at top, the filly being considerably the fresher of the pair on pulling up. Freedom did not look well this morning, and he may gone off a bit ; in all probability he has done so. There is something suspicious about his looks anyhow, and he "puffed" considerably this morning. Tornado accompanied Lady Sockburn in a sharp six-furlong spin, and half an hour afterwards he led Erin-go-Bragh in a rasping mile and a-quarter gallop, while Florrie and Flinders covered five furlongs at top, the filly going capitally, and doing the gallop in good time. Florrie may not be as good as she was in the spring, but she can evidently get over the ground yet, and so can Flinders. Tassy was given a steady " twice round," and Ahua, not looking anything like well, cantered two circuits. Cajolery was given half-pace work on the tan, and Inez and Rosebud were sent a switching mile gallop, the latter pulling up very lame, and her legs aro apparently pretty nearly done up. Diadem and Crown Jewel covered a couple of circuits at half-pace, followed by Ruby in similar work. Peerswick, looking a bit lame behind, only cantered, and May was sent a .couple of rounds steadily. Merrie England was on the ground, but he did not work. After breakfast a strong nor'-wester blew over the course, and nothing beyond cantering exercise was done.

March 23.

In consequence of a heavy rainfall during Saturday afternoon and night;, the tracks were very sloppy on Sunday morning, and very little work was got through. The Chokebore Lodge lot only walked, as did also Butler's team and Dragon. Sheenan Bent Erin-go-Bragh three times round the tan at half-pace, followed by Lady Sockburn at a slightly better rate. The Lonsdale team, comprising Freedom, Hazel, Tassy, and Flinders, were all given good halfpaca work ou the inner plough, and Diadem, Ruby, Cajolery, and Feerswick cantered ; while May went twico ronnd steadily, and Crown Jewel covered a circuit more at a similar pace. To-day Cutts was at it before the far side of the course could be distinguished accurately, and sent Crucbfield a good three-quarter speed gallop twice round. Chester Lad was given like work, and Yon Tempsky covered the same ground at half pace, as did also the Petkin Warbeck II gelding. Inez and Rosebud travelled steadily round to the top of the straight and spurted home, and Freedom (in sweaters) was sent three times round, accompanied by Hazel over the last two circuits, the pair going about three-quarter speed. Flinders was sent at half pace t « ice twice round, as were aho Lord Aston and Florrie. Flinders, looking a bit stiff behind, and Union Flag negotiated a wile and a quarter

at a steady rate. Dragon compassed two circuits steadily, aud Cajolery covered a like distance, finishing at three-quarter speed over half a mile. Ixiou, Tres Sec, and Ahua were all given half 1 pace work twice round, and Diadem compassed a mile and a-quarter at half speed and then covered the same ground at nearly top. May cantered to the six furlong post, where she was joined by Crown Jewel, who had jumped off at tbe mile and a-qnarter mark at a good pace, and the two-year-old was brought home at top, and that was the best gallop of the morning. Peerswick was given a twice round at half pace, and Ruby travelled a mile and a-quarter strongly. After breakfast Yataghan was sent half a mile at top, and Romulus negotiated two circuits fast, while Catamount went round strongly to the home turn, and finished up at t6p with Arcade over the last four furlongs of the outer plough. One or two others cantered, and the Toi filly trotted, presumably on account of her lameness behind.

March 24.

Training operations commenced at Biccarton this morning before the names of the horses could be written in the open. Piper was tbe first out with the Lonsdalu Lodge team, and I fancy something of a trial against the watch was on the board. Before the hones could be distinguished a dozen yards away, Freedom and Hazel were jumped off at the mile and a-half mark on the outer plough, and raced the Great Autumn distance. I do not know what tbe time was, but I do not think it was very good. On pulling up, Hazel looked by far the fresher of the pair, and I fancy that Freedom is a bit overdone, though he may be got right for next week. He was greatly fancied by the stable a week since. Chester Lad and Lightning were cantered to the Biz furlong post and raced home at top, as were alsj Florrie and Flinders— the two-year-olds going fairly well. Cutts gave Cruchfield a rasping mile and a-half gallop, and he went in splendid style, and I should think in very good time. Union Flag and Yon Tempsky compassed six furlongs at top, the Champagne candidate fairly pulling over his opponent for the greater part of the journey. At the mile post Lord Aston started off at top and picked up Tomato at the five furlong mark, but the little chestnut could have waltzed away from Tomato at the finish, and he afterwards covered a circuit at half speed. Dragon did a good working gallop once round, and Erin-go-Bragh was jumped over the schooling fences in two circuits. Crown Jewel was accompanied by Lady Sookburn in a top speed six furlong spin ; and Diadem and May were ridden hard all the way over the same journey, and both these fillies are coming on rapidly. Peerswick cantered twice round, and Rosebud and Inez in company negotiated six furlongs at top. Ruby led Cajolery over three-quarters of a mile at full speed, the two-year-old going well when once he got under weigh. Ixion, Tres Sec, and Ahua all did half pace work.