CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 40

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By "Fritz. October 29. If the great demand for accommodation received by Qtir hotelkeapers can be accepted as a guide, there is little -doubt that the number of people who -will pay ■Christchurch a .visit during the next week will constitute a record for jSfovember week. The races of course are not wholly responsible ■for the expected influx, and thousands are sure to attend the opening o£ iie exhibition, and all will have their visit well repaid. The pile of 'buildings now 'almost completed and known as the Industrial Hall will be official} declared open by the Governor on Thtirsday next, and this function ■will .fittingly commence the ensuing fortnight's holiday. Where all' the visitors are to he ied. is comparatively simple, but sleeping quarfera will 'bs difficult to obtain. "On Saturday the C.J.G. will open its Jubilee Metropolitan -meeting, and .should the weather hold good, Cuj) clay, even though the date is an awkward one for local tradesmen, should see the CJ-C,con-vincing ground taxed to its utmost to ;provide accommodation for the crowcl which is sure to be there to witness tlie decision of the 1500eov-s race. Somehow, in working out the piobabilities of this year's contest, one' cannot help one's thoughts travelling back -to olfitrme contests, and one is apt to attempt a com: parison between the past and present. Frequently it has been said that this or that field will be particularly weak, but the race has never quite borne out lihe gloomy prognostications of those who are for ever insisting that oxu thoioxighbreds are sadly deteriorating. lit will only wetuy my readers "to even attempt to lay before them a short history o£ the -racs aiiice Tasman won the first Cup by less than a hencl from Nonaense. Pzobably the New Zealand Cup has been responsible for the breakdown of its full share of our best horses, and it is rot the race itself that curls up their tendons, but the 'ammer, 'amnier, 'ainnier of % severe preparation, without) which no anisaal

could hope to successfully enter the -contest. Even, when they have pulled through the trying ordeal, how often are they again to the fore, and how often does a horse last long enough to undergo a severe preparation ? Not many, as a glance at past records will show, and this season at least two horses whose prospects were second to none have had to be withdrawn just when their owners had every reason to believe that the desired stake might come to them. A greatei blow to backers than the breakdown or Record Reign has never occurred in the history of tha race, and Sant Ilario's withdrawa} was a-lmost as bad. . But these misfortunes, as Mr Stead reminded me whon referring to the matter, are one of the privileges of owners.

At the' moment eleven horses are engaged in the Cup, and backers have apparently had thoir peace of mind or pockets considerably disturbed by the fluctuations of the betting market. lam afraid backers axe very much like a mob of sheep, and frequently blindly follow the slightest lead offered by any animal who presumes that he knows something. On Record Reign's withdrawal Tortulla was installed favourite, but when Malatua' executed a fair gallop on Saturday morning, the son of Malua was at once lifted to the post of honour. Strathnairn accomplishes a decent gallop one moraingr and backers must immediately, seoure a little 'about him; then Dundaß- improves a little on Strathnairn's time, and bookmakers are kept busy attending to' local and foreign customers, the latter of whom are quickly rniormed of all that transpires, and, like, some of cur patent medicines, at once attempt to "touch the spot," usually with the same, amount of success. Ideal — nothing but Ideal — waa the opinion uttered by many a- week, ago (they had heard something from someone who knew somebody who had slept in the same house as a boy whose second cousin knew Stewart Waddell's uncle). Again, one is mysteriously called, aside" and informed in a whisper to be sure to get a bit about Tortulla — a good thing my boy. . Then you axe told how your friend discovered the good thing — " Beat Advance by a length, old man; is that good enough?" You agree. that it is, and pass on to another button-holer, who knew Dan O'Brien when ho ■was a. boy, ana Dan says that the Maluas want age, and so on to the one who candidly asks you for your opinion — "because you newspaper men ought to know." I answer all that a newspaper anan can do. is to suggest probable winners^ — horses thai, are fit to make a showing — and sometimes he is fairly successful. "My word, I wish I had seen your tips before I backed, the brutes I did, ' someone will tell you ; but -when the tipster's suggestions are not successful the tale is very different. ' "I had a fancy for Billy," remarks a punter, "and told Harry and Sam about it— didn't I, boys?" (appealing to his friends), ''but we followed your tipresult, missed a big dividend."

As previously remarked, the meeting opens on Saturday next, and as this is the last opportunity I shall have of placing my views before my readers (except through the columns of the Daily Times), I shall endeavour to show what animals may run prominently. I a-ra writing be it remembered, previous to final payments being made for the Cup, Welcome, Derby, and Gaks Stakes, .which fall due on Wednesday next, when acceptances for the Riccarton Welter Handicap, Ladies' Purse, and Spring Hurdle Race are also due. Taking the programme ifor the first day in the order of running, I shall first touch uopn the Spring Hurdle Kace. Cavalierio, the top-weight, is one of the finest horses at Riccarton, and remembering his capital display behind Occur de Lion and Totpina at the National , meeting, when he was suffering from a bruised heel, I confidently expect to see the Auckland horse run a' great race. Torpina is also very-- well, and Whetu maybe, is worth watching, his dual success at Napier being easily attained. My selection is as f ollowa : — --Cavalieric 1, Torpina 2, Roller 3. Tho entries for the Maiden Plate are not due •until Wednesday, and though I know several useful animals will be included in the list, it is useless attempting to make a selection now, so I will pass on to the 'Riccarton Welter Handicap. Several of those handicapped are also engaged in the Stewards' Handicap, but at present I like the prospects of Tsaritsa, Hermosay and Cora Lynn. ~- NEW ZEALAND CUP. Tortulla only arrived on Saturday, consequently I have only had an opportunity' of seeing her once at work with Advance. She appears to be thoroughly fit and well, however, and I see no reason to doubt her ability to defeat pretty well everything else engaged. Though this mare did not defeat a wonderfully good field at Wanganui, she could only win, a-nd this she did easily. The spring is generally regarded as a bad "time for mares; but Spade G-\iinea, Rosefeldt, and Lady Zetland have led ■ the way, and Tortulla may follow in their footsteps. Though other mares have not won, tney have run well up. * "~ Malatua has been gradually improving, but •until Saturday morning the son oi Malua. had not been driven along over long distances. It has "been- rumoured that his wind was not what- -it -might be; that he had materially lightened, and that the work accomplished by him is scarcely that generally considered necessaiy in anticipation of a severe struggle. There ■was some 'gsound for the last two-named contentions, ''perhaps, but on Saturday Malatua effected a bit of a surprise. He was then associated with Dundas in a mile and a-half gallop on the grass, the pah maintaining a solid pace throughout, finishing together, though Malatua appeared to be holding his companion. This was an undoubtedly fine -working gallop, and many* watches stopped at under 2.40. On time this performance was the best registered at Riccarton since Multiform put up the record of 2 35|. But lam not inclined to view the position sl from a time standpoint,- as the -course was wonderfully fast, and the pair were assisted by a strong wind behind them down the straight, the full reverse force of which they did not feel owing to- the tree shelter. The merit of the performance, again, cannot be accurately gauged unless it was known what weights were carried. Probably Malatua carried fully a stone less than his Cup burden will be, whilst Dundas seemed to be carrying his full quota.. Of course there is no denying the fact that Malatua, who should stay out the journey equally with Dundas, possesses a fair chance. But if Dundas tries lie will be with Malatua every yard of the journey. That is my opinion, though I would not select Dundas, as he has repeatedly failed. Fulmen has improved a good deal since- he arrived here, but he will require to come on a great deal to win. Hankins is sanguine that .his horse will run creditably, and his past performances in the race suggest that he is, at least, able to get the distance. - Miss Delaval is a handsome little lady, with ■whom I am not in love for this journey. She 'has been ■doing well, and galloped a nice journey on Saturday in company with Djin Djin, for whom she appeared to be ioo good. The last-named was scratched at 9.15 this (Monday) morning. Ideal has thickened out a great deal since she last laced here, and also presents a hard, ■vvell-trained appearance. I look to her to run a' capital race, and shall be Burprised if she is not well up w.ith the leaders at the finish. In company with Renown, she covered a mile in lmin 47sec on Saturday, fair going considering that she finished under a pull. Skobeloff I know little of, as ho is trained privately at Faldhurst. All I know is that a well-known backer haa supported him, and s?L.ea this gentleman, enters .the. ring it ia

usually, though perhaps wrongly, concluded that he knows something. Of_ Strathnairn (who has registered ~,several> sterling gallops during the week;, Materoa, and Huku I prefer the first-named. Huku was sent out to cover the Cup journey on the grass on Saturday; but, unfortunately, the full distance was not traversed. Setting out in company with Whirlwind, for six furlongs, Huku was jomed by Sara, at that point, ana Hawthorn chipped in six furlongs from librne. The three came home almost in line, the distance being covered in 3min 30sec It was afterwards discovered that Huku had not completed the full distance. However, adding on a few seconds to his time, it will be conceded that the Cup horse put up a fine gallop, and if time were reliable the son of Vanguard ought to be a hard horse to beat. Looking at tho ! whole of the circumstances attaching to the trial I cannot recommend him. Whirlwind ! was pulling over him over the first stages of I the journey, and Sara should not be able to ( live with a, Cup horse, even over the last ten ; furlongs. Huku finished gamely but slowly, ; the last four furlongs occupying 57sec. The ' following may constitute the field, with the probable riders : — ( st lb ! Mr D. O'Brien's b h Malatua, by Malua —Faithful, 4yrs (W. Brown) 8 9 Mr D. Gordon's blk m Tortulla, by Torpedo — Honeysuckle, syrs (C. Jenkins) .. 8 4 Mr J. b h Fulmen, by Castor I —Hilda, 6yrs (R. Derrott) '. 713 I Mr J)."M'Leod's b f Miss Dolaval, by Sea- [ ton JDelaval — Campania., 4yrs (T. Taylor) 7 12 Mr M. "Hobbs's eh g Dundas, by Perkin j Warbeck II — Reverie, syrs (T. O'Brien) 7 11 Hon. J. D. Ormond's br m Ideal, by Dreadnought — Mount Ida, syrs (J. Gallagher) 7 5 Mr G-. G. Stead's br g Slcobeloff, by Step- i niak — Pibroch, 4yrs (L. Hewitt) . . . . 7 2 i Mr V. Harris's eh g Strathnairn, by Blair- | gowrie — Abydos, 6yrs (W. Holrnas) . . 7 2 : Mr C.-P. Murray-Aynsley's blk g Huku, j by Vanguard — Spray, syrs (J. Pire) .. 6 11 It will be seen that I have liot included: Djiu , Djin and Materoa. After carefully reviewing ' the prospects of the various candidates, 1 ara inclined to the opinion that the places may be filled by the following trio: — Tortulla, Malatua, and Fulmen. The next race on tho card is" the V\ r elcorne S Stakes. Mr Stead appears to hold a strong * band. At present, ilaidhurst has three '■ youngsters- engaged, and this powerful stable '' may encounter most opposition from the North * Island-owned Indian Queen and Calibre, Nominations for the Shorts are not yet due, so I must go on to disouss the probabilities f of the Stewards' Handicap running. This ; race is undoubtedly a particularly hard one ! to umavel. Blazer has skipped over the jour- S ney in most approved style, and the southern | sprinter should be dangerous. Old Goldspur ! will most assuredly prove- a particularly hard • nut to crack. He is shaping nicely, and his ! known smartness at the barrier is alone worth I a, great deal. Boreas and his companion Ostiak j I have not seen; but Benzoin i 3 looking and j going well, and I have a regard for Jupiter, | who accompanied Goldspur m a six-furlong • gallop on Saturday — neither being ridden out. I Paladin was never better in his life, and St. j Denis gallops with great freedom. This is a dangerous pair. Chasseur has not yet come ( under ■my ken, neither has Formosan. Her- \ mosa is one of the most improved animals m \ training, whilst Pampero is considered by J j£>me Sound judges to possess a first-class pros- I pect. Garmoran is galloping well, and with. the minimum weight on his back he may run - better than many believe. Of the lot, probably the winner -will -spring from the following . half-dozen: Goldspur, Blazer, Jabber, Paladin, St. Dems, and Herrnosa, and to still further narrow them down, I would name the | three placed horses as under:— [ Paladin 1, Blazer 2, St. Denis 3. The Ladies' Purse will bring the first day's racing to a conclusion. In the probablo absence of Strathnairn, Cameo should be seen to advantage. The meeting will be continued on Monday. The result of the Juvenile Plate may be largely determined by the running in tho Welcome Stakes, so far aa the two-year-olds are concerned, a-nd of the three-year-olds engaged Renown stands out by himself. The Derby Stakes should be won by Renown. On the third day, Wednesday, the Canterbtiry Cup, one mile and three-quarters, may be fought out between Advance and Renown, and the former will require to be at his best to shake off the attentions of the three-year-old. The Oaks, contested on the same day, may fall to Mr Stead by the aid of Isniene. I expect to see the much-im-proved Clytie run well. I shall .probably be able to refer to the last day's events next week. The Christchurch Racing Club, ,on Friday, ! settled on the programme to be decided on December 13 and 15 (Jubilee week). On both days there will be a race foi- two-year-olds, valued at 45sovs each; two handicaps, of.6ssovs and 70sovs respectively, run over a mile and a mile and a-quarter; two sprint events, of the value of 50sovs each ; two Welter Handicaps, of dosovs each; and a Farewell Handicap, of the value of 45sovs'. It is probable, thai the meeting will be held on the Plumpton Eark ground, though such has not yet been decided upon. The trotting mare Floirio recently met with an accident, with the result that she has lost the sight of one of her eyes. The proposed amalgamation of the New Zealand Metropolitan and Canterbury Trotting Clubs still hangs fire.Probably the following horses may succeed in appropriating some of the events named at the Plumpton meeting on November 2: — Trial Handicap, Michael Malone; Pony Handicap, Lady Evelyn; Sockburn Handicap, • Flowerwood or Rothschild Boy; Progressive Handicap, Principal; Selling Handicap, Michael Malone; Plumpton Handicap, Tracy Belle: Electric Handicap, Honest Jack; Dash Handicap, Holhs H. To add to the four days' flat racing at Ric* carton ths trotting portion of the sporting community will have the pleasure of witnessing what promises to be four days of first-class,, sport, two at Punipton, and two at the New Zea-~ land Club's new giound. 'liie great and convenient improvements recently effected on the latter ground will surprise and please all who j pay it a visit, a-nd the Plumpfcon authorities have got their enclosures and track in firstrate order. - - The meeting of the Ashburton Club last Wednesday was g success m every way. The weather was fine, and the track, . though holding during the early -hours, improved greatly as the i afternoon wore on. The totalisator receipts ! amounted to £1163, as against £LIOO at the last Spring- meeting. There was a record attendance, and the sport as a whole x^'oved thoroughly enjoyable. The stewards inquired into the performances of General power and Dusk in the FairfLeld Handicap, in which the former was favourite, and the latter lost a great deal of ground in the first half-mile. The explanations received were considered satisfactory. ' Day, rider of Narrangansett in the Dash Handicap, was cautioned for starting before receiving the woid. Blueston© secured' 'the Maiden Trot from the breaking Lana Belle, and Gamble did not meet with strong opposition in the District Handicap. Tracy Belle, who dropped a foal recently, and consequently I looked big, trotted probably the race of her • life in the Laghrnor Trot, covering the two miles in 5.20 J. Evidently her short respite ' 'from woik and her matronly duties have con- J siderably improved her. After Macaroni had j annexed the Winchmore Handicap from Ambi- \ tion^Flgwer.wpod took .the AshbiutoaJEiot from

Principal and Sloman, both of whom trotted well into the respective places. Flowerwood registered 5.22 for two miles, a fair performance. The lecently-imported Veto appropriated the P'airfield Handicap from Dusk and Toronto, and Wafferton wound up the day's sport by taking the Dash Handicap.

A special meetmg of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held on Thursday afternoon. Mr G. G. Stead occupied the chair. On the motion of Mr R. D. Thomas, seconded by Mr Charles Louisson, the rules made at the special meetmg held on October 11 were confirmed. Copies of the rules, when printed, are to be supplied to members.

At a meeting of the Geraldine Racing Club Committee on Thursday night, a preliminary balance sheet was read, showing a credit balance of £80 on the last spring meeting. It was agreed to hold an autumn meeting, without a totalisator, next year, at a date to be fixed, and to call upon the old racecourse trustees to send hi their resignations m writing, so that new trustees may be ax>pointed.

Miss Button has lost hei chestnut hunter Pippin, which, when crossing the Hinds on Tuesday, reared, fell back, and broke a bloodvessel, with a fatal result. Pippin had been entered in seveial classes at the Ashburton show, to which he was on his way when he met his death, and had also been entered, at Ihe Timaru-* show.

During the hearing of a horse-racing case at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court- on Thursday, Mr Beetham, S.M., said that whenever a racehorse was concerned in a case there was usually a. great of lying, and the question v/as on which side was tha balance of lies. At a later stage, Mr Byrne said that it was difficult to believe evidence on oath in horseracing- cases. "So I find," replied Mr Beetham.

At the Christchurch S.M.. Court on Thursday, L. XJ. King sued. H. E. Barnes, claiming £30, money owing. Mr Bryne appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Kippenberger for the defendant. Mr Byrne stated tha the amount was claimed by the plaintiff, who was a jockey, for expenses and for riding defendant's horses in races at Greymouth, Reefton, Kumara, Holntika, and New Brighton, and the scale of charges was in acordaiice with the scale allowed hj the New Zealand Racing Conference. The plaintiff gave evidence regarding his services rendered in racing and exercising horses. The defendant stated that the plaintiff hac! not been engaged solely by him, as he had also been employed by othei* horseowners to ride in races and exercise horses. The defend? had offered £10 for a win in a hurdle race and £5 in a flnf rase, and the plaintiff had accepted it. The defendant had-never agreed to pay for a losing mount. The plaintiff was not engaged for any stated length of time, and there was no agreement that witness should pay the plaintiff's expenses. The plaintiff was not bound to ride the horse ; he could ride any horse in any race. He had received expenses when he travelled foi witness. John Sullivan ga^e evidence to the effect that the plaintiff had ridden foi him and had not been paid for riding a losing mount. He had never paid jockeys for riding a losing mount. Mt Kippenberger contended that, as there had been a special agreement between the plaintifS and the defendant the New Zealand tuif rules did not apply, and that the plaintiff was entitled to claim only £1, the balance owing to him by the cleiendant. Mr Byrne having replied, judgment was given for the plaintiff for £1 and costs, in addition to the_£2 defendant had admitted owing. October 30. Fufeuen executed a fair gailop this morning over a. mile and a-half, and if he gets another rousing gallop, and should happen to stand up to the collar, he will be extremely dangerous, though I believe that Tortulla will win comfortably. She is wonderfully well, and gallox^s in taking style. Tortulla is the local favourite, and but little money at 3 to 1 is available.

Materoa was Fulmen's companion this morning, but the pair did not gallop within 30 yards of the full mile and a-half.