CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 33

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By M. Quad. Explosion was scratched for the New Zealand Cup at 10.45 last Monday. A tjrotting match which caused a considerable amount of interest took place at the Sheffield Domain last week between Mr H. Potten's (Coalgate) mare Coalgate and Mr F. Walshaw's brown horse Bruce, for a stake of £11, weight 12.0, distance one mile and a-half. Coalgate, ridden by C. Harrold, led from the start and won easily. Bruce waa ridden by Mr W. Hewitt. Altair is looking in fine health, as also is St. Cyr. The former haa been nominated for the Auckland Cup, but St. Cyr has not been entered. O'Brien'a trio, Malatua, Heritas, and Peerage, have been aojninated, fgs the Auckland Cur,

Other Riccarton animals nominated for the northern Cup are Starshot, Djin-Djin, and Epaulet. A special meeting of the South Island Trotting Association was held on Wednesday evening, when a resolution dealing with a portion of the evidence in a case which is now sub judice in tho Magistrate's Court was adopted. The nominations received for the Stewards' Handicap, Juvenile Plate, Metropolitan Handicap, Jockey Club Handicap, and Curragh Steeplechase show a distinct falling oS in numbers compared with previous y. ear 3, as the following table will show: —

SUMMER MEETING. Middle Park Plate 35 26 45 37 37 23 30 Champion Plato .. — — — — — 14 25 The entries are less in every case, the Metropolitan and Jockey Club Handicap showing the greatest decreases. On the other handy, the Middlepark Plate and Champion. Plate, to ba tun at the Summer meeting, show an increase, the latter especially so. Multiform has bften entered for the Champion Race, but in nothing else. Mr Stead has no less than eight engaged in this event, whilst he has named seven in Middlepark Plate. It will be noticed that Altair has not been nominated for the Metropolitan Handicap, which, by the way, is run on the same day as the Derby. This year the handicaps for the annual meeting of tho Ohoka and Eyreton Jockey Club have been compiled by Mr Henry. He appears to have got through his task fairly well, considering the mixed lot of horses engaged. Powder Monkey and Beggarman are the top weights in the Hunters' Flat Race, with 12.5 each, Jib having 21b less. Powder Monkey should be able to defeat the other pair, and may win outright. Zola at 12.2 reads well, but I do not know how he is. Valetta 11.8 and Rainbow 11.12 should run well, and Brorabie is not badly treated. Powder Monkey is my choice. Epaulet has received a heavy burden in the Ohqka and Ksreton Haadicap, being asked to carry 9.13 over tho mile. At first sight he would appear to be badly treated, especially as Haria is only asked to carry 8.8. Epaulet is a, great weight-carrier, and despite the difference in poundage, I think ho will defeat Haria. Bloomer at 8.6 is fairly well in, but she is just a trine uncertain. Sequin 8.5 ought to run well, so also should Aloestis 7.7. This mare is very fast over a mile with siich a weight aa this. I have no fancy for Lapidary 7.6 or King George 6.7. Epaulet, Bloomer, and Alcestis ought to provide the wimer. Epaulet 11.12 will probably encounter most opposition from Crusader 9.12 in the Mandeville Welter Handicap. St. Ouida may run well forward in this event, as also should Rangefinder. Crusader and JSpaijlefc are the pair I prefer. Lapidary occupies pride of place in the District Welter Handicap, and he should very nearly win, unless Camel' 10.0 is well. In the Flying Handicap I like nothing better than Ben Farley 7.12. The Spinner does not read any too well treated at 9.7, Crusader 8.11 and Bold 8.8 both seeming to have a chance. Ben Farley should about win. The first of Worthington's progeny came upon the scene on Saturday, in the shape of a fine foal from a thoroughbred mare. Epaulet is going remarkably well, never better. He seems to revel in his work, and if he keeps his condition and remains sound until Cup day he will worry the best of iis opponents. Those who know best assure me that Epaulet has not been really well for a long time, and even when he ran in the Cup last November he was not expected to run the race he did. His owner makes no secret of his opinion that his horse will probably run the race of his life next November. Mr Harris has stuck to Epaulet, notwithstanding repeated failures, and perhaps his faith will be rewarded. Mr Harris is reported to have accepted a fair wager about his horse, and if Medallion's son were successful a fair addition would be made to his owner's banking account. I am informed on the best authority that Tirant d'Eau is doing all that is asked of him at Hawke's Bay. News was received here on Saturday that St. Cyr was heavily backed for the Cup on that day in Auckland. I saw Multiform last week. He is a picture of health. Some spirited wagering has taken place in connection with the double — Cup and Stewards'. Dundas has been freely supported to win the sprint event, coupled with the favourite selections in the Cup. Blazer is a popular pick, Boreas being also well supported. Starshot is looking and going very well, and plenty of good judges at head quarters consider that she is the equal of Lady Zetland at the weights. I question this, but the opinion is not expressed by one lierson, but by many. The mare is undoubtedly galloping with great freedom. Even so, and despito the favourable opinion expressed by so many as to her prospects, I cannot at present believe she is either tho equal of Lady Zetland or will win the Cup in November next. Dundas is galloping in great style. Melusina has been mated with Musketry. The latter has filled out a lot since I saw him last, and he seems likely to have a fair number of decent mares put to him. Djin-Djin appears to be quite sound after his spell. The Ground Committee of the C.J.C. has relaxed the rule to the effect that two-year- j olds were only allowed to gallop once on the j course proper. I Culverin is once more in commission. Goldleaf is pleasing her trainer. She is in i nice condition, and Cutts should have her \ about right at Cup time. Hermosa seems to be improving a great deal. She should soon return Hobbs his purchase money. I Black Cloud has foaled to Clanranald. 1 Swordfish is not nominated for the Metropolitan and Jockey Club Handicaps, much to the distress of those who have supported the i horse for the Cup. At a general meeting of the Tinwald Racing Club on Monday last, at which some 25_ members were present, and Mr Gates occupied the chair, the following resolution was carried unanimously: — "That the members of this club will assist in the formation of a new club, independent of either the Tinwald or Ashburton Racing Clubs, and will hand over all properly, funds, and assets to such new club, provided that an understanding be made to hold one race meeting each year at Tinwald, on or about New Year's Day, for not less than five years." News conies from Wellington that the Colonial Secretary has been interviewed by Mr Graves, representing the Ashburton Club, and that Mr Carroll suggested that Mr Graves had better see Sir G. Clifford on the point, and urge that a permit should be granted for the Spring meeting on the distinct promise that tho Ashburton Club will be reformed before the season closes. Mr Carroll declines to take notice of the reqiiest of the Tinwald Club to have a race meeting on the Tinwald course once a year, as he considers that the Tinwald body is now out of court. I hear that a well-known firm of bookmakers intend to publish a reply to the pamphlet by "G. G. S./' entitled "The Totalisator: A Defence." The annual general meeting of the Cheviot Raging Clijb jffts hs& in the T«w» Hall,

M'Kenzie, last Wednesday night. There was a large attendance of members, and Mr W. Robinson presided. The Chairman stated that the honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr J. S. Young, had resigned office in April last, and referred to the lo«a the club had sustained through such resignation. Several members spoke in the same strain, and it -was unanimously decided to record on the minutes the club's appreciation of Mr Young's efforts and its sincere regret at tho loss of his sendees. Mr J. H. Boyce was elected secretary. The report and balance sheet were read and adopted. Seven new membora were elected. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: — Patron, Mr A. W. Rutherford; president, Mr W. Robinson; vice-presidants, Mosars B. -D. Giles, W. Macfarlane, and T. Chapman; starter, Mr E. C. Wilson; clerk of the course, Mr B. Martin, clerk of the scales, Mr H. Penberthy; handicapper, Mr J. Boyce.

V 4vo aa ao »o ay ao Stewards' Handicap 38 45 43 47 44 38 36 UTenilo .. .. 35 38 40 46 32 31 29 ietTopoliian .. 37 38 38 35 35 36 25 '.C. Handicap .. 50 52 66 52 53 50 39 jurragix Steeplechase .. .. 7 10 13 9 16 10 7 167 183 190 189 180 165 136