CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 37

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

! , Bjt M. Quab. Tho only move of any importance -which has been made during the past week or so is the backing of Altair for the New Zealand Cup, and tho best price now obtainable about the thiee-year-old is 100 to 7, at -which price St. Cyr, Altair's stable companion, is also quoted. So far as I can ascertain Altair has not been ' supported by the stable, and somehow I have an idea that the move is probably the result of a desire either to back the whole of Mr Stead's horses, pr to lay the three. Very little money is obtainable about Multiform, although ha is ostensibly easier in the betting market. St. Cyr has also been laid almost to the full extent of the local bookies. St. Paul's win in the Avondale Cup, for which event the St. Leger horse was well supported here, has had the effect of tightening his price in tho betting. Of the locM,lly-tcp.ined horses Starahot has been goirig nicely, as also has her stable mate, Bloomer. The latter does not appear to thrive any too well, and her trainer tells me that he lias now tried turning her out instead of stabling her. The new treatment may have the desired effect, but I have no fancy for her over two miles, and at present I do not .favour Starshot's chance. Goldleaf is going well, and if Cutts can get h?r to stay there is no doubt about her speed. It will surprise me if she should turn ' out good enough to credit Sir G-eorge Clifford with a win, although no victory would be more popular. Epaxilet is naturally a big horse, and most people appear to think that he might race better if a bit lighter. I can scarcely subscribe to this opinion, as in nine cases out of ten the big muscular horse has more chance of succeeding than the animal too finely trained, especially in a long race. Of course a great deil depends upon a horse's constitution. The well-known Riccarton trainer, H". Lunn, always runs his horses big, and E. Cutts, R, Mason, M. Hobbs are inclined to this view. On the other hand, nearly two-thirds of the North Island horses are brought to the post in much finer condition than are the local horses. As an instance of this most racegoers will recollect that the Hon. J. D. Ormond's horses that visited Riccarton previous to S. Waddell's appointment were remarkably finely trained. This by tho way. Epaulet is very well, and if the brute caies to try he must have a chance. Seabrook, on the other hand, has suffered a great deal from influenza, and whatever chance Mr Harris's horse might have had rnay_ be considerably affected by his ailment. Dundas could, scarcely be better, but so far I have no fancy for her. Of the Lonsdale Lodge trio I still prefer Peerago to either Malatua or Heritas. Malatua always struck me as more likely to make a sprinter rather than a stayer. He is a big, somewhat leggy horse, whilst Peerage is a lowset, strong horse, and his conformation certainly suggests thai he ought to stay. Heritas' moves along nicely, but if O'Brien is to win the next N.Z. Cup my opinion is that Peerago is the one to do it. Secruin is travelling in fair form, and she ought to beat a good many of those engaged. When making my selection at the time the weights appeared I exx>ressed an opinion, that Multiform and Tirant d'Eau were a pair that would take a lot of beating, and still expressing that opinion I will leave the subject for the present. I hear on good authority that the dam of Whario will bo sent down from Wellington to South Canterbury on a visit to Euroelydon. % The Maggie M. case has not yet been settled. It will be- recollected that the S.M. suggested thvt tho matter should be referred to arbitrat tion, and named a date for a report to be made to him. Several attempts have been made to settlo the case by arbitration, but from one cause and another tkis method could not be [ adopted. On Thursday last the hearing of the caso was continued before the S.M., and after | loKgthy evidence had been tendered, Mr Bishop I reserved his decision. I Swordfish should arrive here to finish his 1 Cup preparatioai aboxit the 15th of next month. i At a general meeting of members of the 1 Christchurch. Hunt Club the report of the committee, which has been published, was adopted. An interim balance sheet submitted showed a credit of £180. The master reported that the land available for hunting purposes was gradually decreasing, bid that the operations ' during the season had been restricted, .partly ! through drought and i>arlly owing to certain paddocks, which had formerly been hunted over, being closed for cropping purposes. Ali together tho harriers had been used 16 times, and tho drag pack on eight occasions .Mr A. Lyou was reappointed master. It is reported that Altair will be sent up to Napier to race in the Hawke's Bay Guineas. Should he win he would have to carry 7.10 in the New Zealand Cup. Screw Gun, Benzoin, and St. Lucia, «Yaldhursl two-year-olds, were on the course last week, and all look in splendid health. St. Lucia ia a fhua ftlly_» and ought tfi fea fiMgrf*

and Screw Gun is also a big, strong, handsome colt. They were only cantered. Multiform, Altair, and St. Cyr were sent along at about half pace at -Riccarton last week, and all three moved with great freedom. Sir G-. Clifford evidently possesses a colt of undoubted promise in Glenogle. He can scarcely fail to win if he trains on. The 'i'imaru Trotting Club's programme for 1 Anniversary Day comprises seven events, two of £30 each, two of £25, one of £20, and two of £15. The secretary is instructed to request tho Hon. W. Hall-Jones, member for Timaru, and patron of the club, to use his best endeavours to get a totalisator permit for the meeting. A large amount of wagering eventuated here ov r the Avondale meeting, the pencillers having the worst of the argument. The Australian Jockey Club's meeting was also made the medium of a fair amount of speculation. Levanter's wins and the forward running of animais sired by New Zealand-bred sires has naturally caused some favourable comments. I notice, however, that whenever any horses sired by Trenton, Carbine, Thunderbolt, and other New Zealand-bred ones manage to win, few Australian papers credit this colony with being the land of their birth. There is still some prospect of a strong club being formed in mid-Canterbury, and a general meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club was held on Saturday night to further consider the matter of totalisator permits. A telegram was read from the Colonial Secretary, in reply to a renewed request for permits, saying that consideration of the question of totalisator permits hade been postponed for the present, pending the formation of a new club on extended lines. Mr Alexander, who had just returned froMi Wellington, and who had interviewed the Colonial Secretary, reported th*§ Mr Carroll had said that two permits had been granted to Ashburton, and that ho would see about the club's request. Mr H. Friedlander reported that the Canterbury country clubs' representatives had written to the Colonial Secretary and the Chairman of the conference, and laid the situation beforo them. On the motion of Mr H. Fried- J lander, seconded by Mr Cox, it was decided to | send the following telegram to the Colonial j Secretary: — "Surprised to receive your wire of 16th. Mr Alexander informed club that you told him in the presence of the member for the district, Mr Wright, that Ashburton had two permits, and that you would see to them at once. Will you kindly explain why the matter is still delayed? Mr Graves, representative of the Ashburton Racing Club, will wait upon yovi on Tuesday for a reply." A copy of this telegram was also sent to Messrs Wason and Wright, asking them to support it.