CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 31

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Rata. Some time ago I advocated the desirability of the formation of a New Zealand T*ttcr*alVfi. A dispute betwten a local trainer and n bookmikf r, brought tomewhat prominently before the public during the past week, certainly shows the need for a betting tribunal. The case in question is a somewhat peculiar oue, and the C. J.C. will take no notice of the matter. It appears to me, however, that the metropolitan racing clubs, in consideration of the revenue derived from totalisator betting, should inaugurate some system of settling disputes between bona fide backers and layers. There is no doubt that there is a good bit of money to be got of the books by owneis aud ti'itiucis of big handicap winners, and a system of adverti-ing dtfaulters, whether booknukois or backers, would tend to purify the belting atmosphere. A method of registration, too, would enable metropolitan clubs to deal more easily with layers on the course than they can now even. Good solvent men would a-pply for registration. and registration by a metropolitan club •would be to the metallician something equivalent to "Member of Tattersall's " in a purely bookmaking countiy. I know tho ins and outs of the recetit batting case pretty well, and it is one of a kind I would like to see thoroughly investigated by a neutral body like the C.J.C Committee. The case is a bit complex, with-r*mific*tiot.s of a Bomew' at unusual character. It appeara, however, that Auckland Tattt-rsall's have mulcted the commissioner in £40, and he wants it buck. A rumour iB cunent at Riccartou ihat St. Hippo was never better in his life than he is now, and that he is considered as good a hu->e (not barring Carbine) as ever New Zealand seat to Australia. I doubt the rumour greatly, however, and, good horse though St. Hippo was when he won the New Zealand Cup two years ago, I fancy his Ruidwii-k r+putation is a bit too stiong. I undeistind Mr Stead's horses will leave Sydnc-y almost immediately after the couclusion of the meeting there, and I have heird it said that St. Hippo and Royal Rose are likely to put in an npp<*aiance at Ricearton about the same tima that Mason returns to Yaldhurst with Mr Stead's team. I utid' rstaad there was a commission for bolitaire on the Christchuich market last week, and it may be that that lightly-weighted three-year-old will hive to be reckoned? with ere tho winning post be passi d. Yet beyond the fact that somebody had a commis icn out for her I know nothing of the filly. A cult is always preferable to a filly in the spring, too. It appearß that Prime Warden will be seen under silk at Timaru, aud th»n it will no doubt become generally known what kind of trim he is in. I haidly thit-k he will ever be much of a favourite for the New Zealand Cup, however; he has disappointed both his connections and the public over that journey before now, and perhaps tbe better of Lady and Lord Zetland will be a brtter Cup favourite on the day than Prime Warden. It is generally argued here that the present " flattprinn" syßtein of handicapping is a bad one, but I don't see it. Unlesi there be an extraordinarily good horse nominated, a stone or so in front of anything else iv the entry, it appears to nn that about Hat is a sufficient New Zealand Cup lange ; and the pre3< nt handicapping hyfctoin, too, seems to pfoduoc both good acceptances and good fields. It is argued, "What chance can a tareeyear-old have with Skirmisher, for instance?" but that liueof argument seems tome altogethtr w rong. In recent years three-year-olds have had a good innings in the Cup, and I have seen it won by a three-year old that I am sura couM have carried weight-fi r-aije and smothered such a horse as Skirmishf ris I refer to M.iuton, and if there be a Man ton ia the field this siasoa Skirmisher won't win. At the same time Mr Reid's horse is, going as well in his work as bis greatest admirers need wish for, and he shows every indication of standing a tluirough preparation, and the chanc-s are that in November he will show jubt as good form as he did when a three-year-old. Mngazine is well treated for n five-year-old, and there ia no doubt that he is meant f r the Cup, bat he will run at Tim-mi on Thursday, and his racing there may give some indication of his prospects in November. Magazine is supposed to be a stayer, and it appears to me that that point will prove the chief factor in his favour in the race for the Cup. . . A nice little hoise nicely weighted is Banrer, aud there is no doubt Roden will have him lit enough by Cup time. He is being specially prepared for that race, and I believe he has been backed to win. From what I have seen of him, however, he impresses me as a horse more likely to show to advantage over n mile than over twice that distance. He appears to be a brilliant horse of the handicap class, but he does not impress one as being a rare "sticker." ... Butler ha 3 been putting a lot of work into Padlock Rnd Cannon Ball recently, and though both may be useful horses of a class neither looks much like a big Cup winner at present, and Au Revoir in the same stable ib not the Au Revoir of old, however he may shape two months hence. Ricearton will be faiily well reptesented at Tioiaiu ou Thursday, and the meeting has every appearance of proving a most successful reunion. A lot of horses have beeu worked specially during the week in view of Timaiu, and it will be no fault of those interested in horse 3 from this neighbourhood should not a goodly i>oition of the prize money come this way. Vogengang and Magazine, both of which are likely to be started at Timaru, have bum pretty well letfular companions in their tatt wo r lr. Both on 'JhuMday aud Saturday they were raced over j.ix I'ul.juks. and Vogengang easi'y defeated Majo/.n c on both occ.uioiiß. The weights carried, howevr, did not show the disparity of the Tinn.ru handicap imposts. Independent of that, however. Vogengang is supposed to have the bettor chance of netting the Timaru Cup, and several of the regular attendants at the course think he will just about win. He is real well at present. Loveshot aud Baimby have also dove a lot of strong work during the %>eek. On Thursday and Saturday both weie. gent at top, Ido aot know

what weights the pair have been carrying, but in their gallops Lnveshot invariably seeing to have tho better of Binuby. On Saturday mining they travelled six furlongs, covering th r : last five at top, and Love->hot gave IJai'iiby a bid doing On his galloiiin^ with Lovt>4iot. Btniriv seems to have very 1 til.; show of winning at Titnaru. The weights may not have beiii what they hays appeared to bo, however. Yet tliete is no doubt that Livrshot is a vastly improved horse, and, to say the least of it, he apps&rs to me to have a rual good outside show at Timaru. He Ins put up some fair time lately. I am not so very sure about Loveshot being out of tin; New Zealand Cup. Were he a stayer he would have a very big cliaucc of winniug, but, there seems to be a doubt about his stamina. I nm not aware, however, that any test has ever been applied to h'm in that line. It will be Keen how he shapes over a mile and a-quartcr at Timaru. Marino and Silverspec are another pair that have been sent along in earnest on the exercise £ioui\d:j dining the week, and th-y are meant for Timaru. I hardly think both will be staitsd in the Cup On Saturday morning Mariuo was jump -doff ut the mile and u-qu.irter peg on the gru'-'s I'iul p'eked up by Silvertpec, the pair racing home at top. The mare had the be^t of it at the finish, and there is no doubt she i« in good nick just now. It has been put about that she will bo thrf "pea" for the 'J imaru Cup, and I fancy that rumour is pretty correct, but I do not think she is any "moral" all the same, though she is bound to run well if she be actually preferred to Marino. Though he is a long way from well, the fine mornings we have had during the week have attracted 11. Ray to the course pretty regularly. He always rides a pony now. As of yore, ye y little worth seeing escapes bin notice. Gcorgie Sharp is looking all right, but her owner does not seem to fancy her Timaru Cup chacce greatly. Tommy Stewart comci on to the rour.-so pretty regularly, but thr Amberley accident is the worst he has ever had. He thinks it will Ust him souir time. Sheenan told me the other d.iy that he had now given up r.-cc riding, but if his hand gets all right he may change his mind. At prettent he ould not vory well ride. His accident has hurt Kin wiist, and he cannot close his hand yet. He thinks, however, he will eventua'ly have the full use of hi« hand. Nich das (not Necklace), a chestnut colt, is the horse I)*n Roberta has got down from Mr Knltjht's station. He is a bit on tho leg and nofc over muscular, but one that looks likely to become fast over shoit courses when Dan gets him built up a bit and some strong work knocked into him. Free Holcnos has .Tack in trainine again, aud that horse does not look so bad at all. He may win a race or two for Free later ou. Bisley usually comes out of an afternoon now, and ho is going on very nicely, and looks like a colt that will iu.ee well l<vter on He should be able to win a f»ir race towards the back end should he fail to do so earlier. Solano usually accompanies Skirmisher in his work, and he is one of the toaraway sort that is hardly likely to last over a long journey. He travels pretty fast over shoit distances, though. There appears to be something a bit wrong ■with Mhinstay, but I do not know what it is. He is not actually lame, but he dies not look well in his coat, and he hai a dead-and-alive appearaucc about him. Sir George CliffonApvas on the course on Saturday afternoon seeing his two-year-olda sprinted. All three went vi-ry well, but 1 strongly suspect that Dalliance will prove the smartest of the trio in the spring. Cutts seems to think that Matchwood wiU be the best racer, but he will not come until Ute. He is a big, growing colt that will not perhaps show his best foini until a three yearold. In fact it is often profitable to keep colts of his stamp until they are three-year-olds ere a serious attempt be made to string them up. Liberator has commenced to work again of an afternoon, and he moves freoly enough in halfpare woik just now, however long ho may continue t) do bo. Safeguard is being pushed along in view of tha Hawkci's Bay Guineas. Perhaps she may not be perfectly fit for that evei^, but she is progre/»sing all right in her work, aud racing at Hawke'a Bay can do her no harm for the metropolitan meeting, provided she escapes accident until that fixture comes round. The station St. Goerge has been very bad. It was said ou Saturday that be was nearly dead, but I have heard nothing regarding him bince. Mr Hill the " vet." was called to him. B)gengang, the own brother to Vogongang, looks liko a colt that will race well when he gets fairly wound up. He is a lazy sort of colt that will require a deal of riding in his races. Georgie Sharp bolted with "Tiny" Radcliffe in the centre of the course the other morning, nnd it was something of a treat to see "Tiny" pull her en to the sod wall in tho schooling couutry. She would not take that obstacle, however, though Tommy Stewart did force her over some natural country when he had her out after the hounds on oue occasion. " Titty " R»dcliffe, though he has been a considerable time with Tommy Stew.irt, is still about the smallest horseman at Ricrarton, anil would now reg lire to cairy a good bit of dead weight to ride 67. He rides work well, though, and ho is one of the most promising light weight! seen at Ricearton for some time. My tips for Timaru are : Welte-' Handicap, Chaos; County Plate, Fire Kin*; Timaru Cup, Lovfi&hot 1, Vogengang 2, Mlvenpcc 'i ; Trot, Felix; Flying, Marino; High-weigut, Wanington or Speculator. There are a lot of homes engaged at the me«ting I know nothiDg of, however. Much Ado is going down for the Hurdla Race, aud m she is real well at present &he may go near winnirg.