CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 47

CANTERBURY DOINGS-

By Fbvtz.

There was not a big crowd at Mi Stead's sale on Wednesday, and the few buyers present were disinclined to pay much for the various lots put up. The auctioneer stated, in his opening remarks, that Mr Stead had made up his mind to sell, and those who desired to purchase would have an opportunity of buying some of the finest thoroughbreds in the colony. Prices were low throughout the sale, and it would seem as though Mr Stead made a mistake in not widely advertising the fact that he would unreservedly sell. Amongst the visitors were Sir G. Clifford, Messrs W. Clifford, C. G. Dalgety, G. Gould, A. Boyle, H. A. Knight, C. P. and G. Murray-Aynsley. J. B. Reid, M. Hobbs, J. Cresswell, E. Cutts, G. M. Watson, T. H. Lance, P. Herman, W. Franks, M. EvsTns, W. F. Indcr, V. Harris, J. Holmes, H. J. Tick, P. Campbell, G. Palmer, D. H. Lewis (Auckland), Acton-Adams, W. Blackmore (Wellington), and Learmont (Melbourne). There appeared to ba a feeling that the sale merely meant a wceding-out process, but this idea was dispelled as lot after lot changed hands at absolutely absurd prices. The champion Menschikcff, who holds no less than four records over various distances, was bought by Mr T. Morrin, the well-known Auckland studmaster, and we have apparently seen the last of the brilliant son of Stepniak on the tuff. At COOgs he was cheaply pur- j chased. When Cyclamen, a shapely two-year-old daughter of Gipsy Grand and Corolla was led into the ring, Mr Stead stated Chat he would give lOOga for her as a brood mare on or before September 1 if her purchase was dissatisfied with her. The only bid tendered for the Auckland Cup winner St. Michael was 200gs, but the bidder declined to complete his declaration, but he was afterwards gold to Mr H. A. Knight for the sum named. Knight Errant, Evelyn Wood, Grand Rapids, Romany Queen, Orloff, and Siege Gun failed to attract speculation. Mr Stead announced [ after the sale of Grand Chain that he could , not give any more of the horses away, and for the remainder of the lots he reserved the 1 right to place a reserve upon. them. The result of the announcement meant a sudden silence around the ringside, and, with the exception, j of old Marion, no 'sales were affected. I San Remo, purchased by "Mr Mach#ll" ■ at the Yaldhurst sale for IGOgs, was quickly resold to Mr Carrington, of Gisborne, at £225, and the horse was shipped to the north on ' Saturday. | When Skobcloff was led into the ring the auctioneer suggested thai the horse oughf to ' make jumper. R. J. Mason at once called out that ho wou'd take lf>o to 5 from, the purchaser of the horse that he wou'.d win the npxt Grnud National Ilurcl'o Race, uncl wh"n I Mr C. G. Dalgety securer! the horse the. v.-ager ! v.'as accordingly made. Syeakins to Mr Dalgety, the auctioireei su^jested, when St. Michael, came into the ring, that he had botinx purehass the Auckland Cut> -winner, as it -would never do- to have Skobe!ofr b«.tcn by him. Mr Dalgety, however, declined to purchase the b;g fellow. Mr G. if. iVatwn, ol Ashbitrton, gave 21?"; for the yearling: gelding by Lord Russtyn from Tjßily Gertrude, o>i Wcdne^cby. TTs h:»s rincc becu offered n considerable advaace, bnt no business resuiJLe'2. MKoofhiimS will •n£(Hrentlr b* errm -fsfy

chance of tiring something good at the Wellington Park stud establishment. He is on the small side, perhaps, but Mr Morrin will j be well satisfied if the son of Stepniak and I Pibroch succeeds in assisting to produce j horses as good aE himself. Whilst racing at j Auckland he struck himself, and though he I has never walked lame, he has done-but little 1 work since he returned. He is a horse with a grand constitution, and has never been sick or sorry in his life. He should fill out into a handsome sire. " The Gipsy Grands Have not done much yet," said Mr Pyne when offering some of that i horse's stock at Yaldhurst, '" but there is. no reason why they should not improve as the horse gets older. Traducer and Musket were not appreciated during the early days of their stud life." When the Hon. H. Gonrley and Mr Calcutt . took their scats at the meeting of the Trotting Association last Wednesday they were welcomed by the president, the two gentlemen suitably replying. The question of allowing a lady to drive in bracelet events came before the association on "Wednesday, but when it was pointed out < that all competitors, according to the rules, must wear white pants and top boots the rej quest was declined. ! At 'a sale of blood stock at Pyne and Co.'s Tattersall's Yards on Wednesday, bidding was ' not brisk, only four lots being disposed of. These were: — High Peak, by Johnny Faulkner — Vanity, 40gs, Mr G. Gerard; White May, by Gorton — Mayflower, 20Jgs, Mr F. Harrop; Bealey, by Apremont — Queen Bee, Mr T. Mortimer, Invercargill, 24$gB; Fulmen, by Castor ■ — Hilda, 105gp, Mr E. Hankins. Glenaladale | was not offered. Somerled, after being passed '■-in et 130gs, could have been disposed of at ! 200gs, but the offer was not accepted. It is understood that Fulmen goes back to Mr Boreland. It iff a wonder that someone did not secure this horse as a Eire. Few horses in the colony ever stood so much hard work, and considering the soundness of his legs and great 1 staying power he ought to sire at least good sound horses. His breeding is unimpeachable, and the fact that he has stood a preparation and competed in four New Zealand Cups makes the son of Castor and Hilda a wonderfully fineconstitioned horse. The Plumpton Park Trotting Club received very good nominations for its autumn meeting, and there is every prospect of the club j holding a most successful gathering. I The South Canterbury Jockey Club's meet- ! ing will be held on Wednesday and Thursday I next. It is understood that as Mr G. Dowse was unable to watch the running of a number of the horses engaged at Timaru, Mr Henrys compiled the weights for the first day. The racing should prove interesting, and perchance the following horses may secure their respective races: — Maiden Plate, Ordnance and Narcissus ; Dash Handicap, Pallas and Rosemere ; Autumn Handicap, Lady Lillian and Terrapin; Welter Handicap, Magnificent; Flying Handicap, Lady Medallist ; Selling Race, Single Event and Lapidary. Mr W. H. E. Wanklyn is stiil unable to attend to his duties. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Autumn meeting was brought to a close on Wednesday, the weather being all that could be desired, the attendance good, aud the sport witnessed has probably never been better on any course. After Sir Hector had I won the Juvenile Stakes he was led on to fife j lawn, where Mrs Harris, wife of the president of the club, decorated the horse with the reel ribbon, chee>-s being given for the horse, his owner, and the trainer. Whirlwind II easily got home in the Pony Handicap from the scratch pony Phoenix; Mignonette third; 50yds separating the placed horses. Lady Dudley defeated Glenroy by half a dozen lengths in the , Ladies' Bracelet; Minus finishing thir'J. The Juvenile candidates were sent away to a flying start, and after a few attempts they were got away. Sir Hector and Wild Agnes got off together, but the former quickly took possession, end without being approached, tho son of Electioneer and Tracy Belle won easily by eight lengths from "^ild Agnes, Miss Beldon being fully 20 lengths away. What followed his first day's success by winning the Easter Handicap as he liked, nothing having a pos- ! sible hope of defeating him. General Grigg 1 and The Heir got away slowly, and were never dangerous. Victory II paced a nice race, but could not keep with What, who got to the end of the journey in the fine time of 4min 46sec. Though this time is not equal to what i has been done on the track before, it is possible that What is just now the fastest horse l in the colony. Boldrewood got third place. Satinwood won the Advance Handicap by a dozen lengfns from Carrie D, Little Princess finishing third. Burlton appropriated the Autumn Handicap comfortably from Robex. ; the latter being followed home by Gleniti, and \ The Needle easily annexed the Progressive , Handicap, St. Simon and Dusk filling the respective positions. Bellboy won the Telegraph Handicap by a head from Harold C, Valour coming third, and Albert only just succeeded in keeping away from the penalised What, Monte Carlo, finishing third, in' the last race of the day. What paced a great race, covering the mile in something under 2min 20sec. The Canterbury Jockey Club's Autumn meeting -was brought to a- conclusion on Tuesday last, the- weather being fairly fine, but the attendance was somewhat poor, even for a second day. The racing was wonderfully good, however, several of the finishes being particularly cloec and exciting. The amount of speculation failed to bring the two days' receipts up : to the sum handled last year, the shortage being i £5. Four were saddled up for the Peerswick | Hurdle Race, Huku being made favourite. He was ridden by Mr W. Gray, who, in return for j I the mount, guaranteed Mr C. P. Murray-Ayne-ley the amount of the stakes. Mr Gray had ; accepted a fair wager that he could ride Huku, and had he won he would have been a fair winner. However, after Larboard Watch had refused the second hurdle the other three went on in tho following order — Roller, Huku, Vanquish. Huku had had enough of it at the half distance, and he soon fell away, whilst Vanquish ineffectually tried to overhaul Roller, who led all the way and won just as he liked. Huku may have been feeling the effects of his fall on the first dsy, but Roller won so easily as to suggest that he might have won had his opponent stood up on the first day. The contest for the Autumn Nursery resolved itself i into a' match between Vladimh and Golden j Vein, the latter defeating the Dunedin colt by i half a head. The winner got the best of Ihc start, whilst Vlidimh did not get atiy too ; well away. H* came out of the ruck half-way uj the running, and opposite the stand he was just in front of Golden Vein but the ' Clanranald colt come again and won as stated. > Stepson, who is a big-, strapping colt, finished . third and. Cerise and Blue close up fourth. Windwhißtle only -just succeeded in putting j down Antigone in the Yaldhurst Welter, Lady Dundas coming next. Ayrdale was maue favourite,, urincipallj .owing to the withdrawal : of his stable companion. Red Gauntlet, but he I was never with the leaders. Only eight started for tho Great Autumn Handicap, and Skobcloff \?na inf-tsJled a- &lightl> better favourite than j Dundas. the Cii&fcebore pair, Casnie Chiel and Clans la<l»la, else being well supported. Dondas at once w-nt to tba front, and at the halfdistarits it looked as though he wou'.d not be cr.ught: but b*."~}zs -3 mile ha' 7 been covered Glcustcda!*. i.niler pu?!*hnicr.t. get tc the puiiedm Cu;j i&rinner, and"wbcn the pair turned into the eirfigfctf Dundas had had <-i:ccga. GlcnasaoVi» tfaps warn cd. in front of Fr.. % <n«n

and Skobeloff, Cannie Chiel, who was last a mile from home, also making a forwaid move. Fulmen made a fine run in the straight, but he could not quite get up, and Glenaladale got home by half a length, with Cannie Chiel two lengths away third. The last-named, with his known speed, ought, one would think, to have been kept nearer the leaders, as he was asked ; to perform as almost impossible task. He was fully 50 yards behind Dundas six furlongs 1 from home. In fact, he was ridden in exactly I the same way as he was at Dunedin. Cruci1 form was, of course, far too good for Teroelet ! and Capetown in the Tenth Challenge Stakes, the filly running home as she liked. Red ' Gauntlet, sent out favourite for the TempleI ton Handicap, easily scored, West Guard and [ Cora Linn filling the respective places. This j was a fair performance on the part of the j Dunedin colt. Imperator won the Addington j Plate by a bare margin from another two-year-I old in King Stork, the winner being sold to I "Mr Machell ' for 50sovs. The Final HandiI cap provided a great finish between Terrapin and Lady Lillian, tho former just getting up and winning by a aeck, whilst Cora Linn again ran into third place. A feature of the racing ■ was the success of Clanranald's stock, four . races falling to his progeny during the afterI noon.