CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2525, 6 August 1902, Page 47

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fkitz.

The final payments for the principal and acceptances for minor events to be decided at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting are not yet available, but it is unlikely that many will be withdrawn from the Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdle Race, and "Winter Cup. It is unfortunate that Kahuwai has been withdrawn from the whole of her engagements, as she has been freely supported in doubles to win the Grand National Hurdle Race. I have not yet heard why phe has been scratched. I have not seen The Guard at work — he only arrived on Saturday. He is apparently very well, as also is his stable companion Gobo. Cannongate has registered some capital work since he ariived, and he showed to advantage in a schooling task over the big fences, and no surprise need be expiessed should he succeed in winning. Cavaliero loolcs well, and he must be given a chance in whatever race he may rnn. It has been suggested that he is a doubtful starter in the Grand National Steeplechase, aud be sent for the Bracelet on the first day, and then harve a cut b* the big hurtTle race. "Moifaa must be given a winning prospect, as he is supposed to have improved a little since he last raced. I hear that the rumour that Mr S. H Gollen will ride Moifaa is incorrect, though it is almost certain that he will have a ride in some of the fiat races. Moifaa appears tc be in nice condition. Plain Bill ought to run a great race, but a ■Wellington friend, -who saw him running at the Hutt, declines to believe that he can possibly win. On paper, however, he cannot be ignored. Haydn is said to have a great proaiject in the Steeplechase, but -until I have seen him negotiating the schooling fences here, I cannot suggert how he may shape. Huku is shaping well on the flat, but he does not relish the big fences, and has frequently refused to face them. In r field he may fence correctly, but he appears to dwell toe much at his jumps. I have not yet s?en Frott and The Phantom, but The Swimmer is a most attractive fencer and mover. He is not a typical-looking crosscountry horse, but he gallops in most taking style. There are many who are sanguine that he may at least secure a place, if he doea not vin. Lochade has not yet arrived, but if several others stand up he ought not to -win on form. Rowlock ia sure to run well, as he is a rare jumper, and possesses a fair amount of pace. The remainder of the horses engaged do not appear to possess more than an extremely outside chance. So far as the "Wintwr Cup is concerned, Blazer is going wonderfully well, and I see no reason to asaurns why he should not successfully cover a mile. Ostiak is undoubtedly brilliant, but I do not fancy he will f.et far away from the Otago horse, who will have most of his opponents beaten in the first six furlongs. Cora Linn, Muscovite, "Windwliistle, Sie^e Gun. Cameo, JJnenificent, Somerled, Roaemerc, Djm Djin, Bill Perkins, and Good 'Spec «i-e those I have also seen working. This should prove a fine contest. The whole of the horses, -with scarcely an exception, arc doing well, nnd I fancj that backers will experience some difficulty in picking the winners. Regarding the 4-hree events far which the handicaps -r-cre pmblishecl on Saturday, seven of thoae in the Maiden Hurdle Rnce are a!-so engaged in the Giand National Hurdle Race. The weights allotted these in the respective races are as follows . —

Scottish Minstrel has goiip up 71b. Strathnairn -sib, Surrey 51b, Mars 3lb, and Battleaxe 2lb. The last-named ought, if he is in good condition, io run a great race, suid this fellow, Scottish Minstrel. Mar", _aud Strathnairn ought" to be prominent. Id the First Hnnters' Hurdle Hsice I do not see how either Waimara, Jibboom, Skobeloff, "Wet Blanket, Call Boy, The So'dier, or Slow Tom' can win. SkobelofF wculd. of course, possess a .great chance if he would only jump, but T should say that The Swimmer. Inchcapc, Hurricane, and PhaetolJtis may be dangerous. The Swimmer is also engaged in the Enfield Steeplechase, bo that h*> is in 'three races on the first day. This liOTse, Rowlock, Zither, Shylock, Doopey, Great ' Scot. The Master, and Apremcte eecxn -to be about the best.

Taking the events on thp first day in their proper order. I -fancy that the following hor3es may run ■well in their respective engagements: C.3.-C. Firat Hunters' Hurdles.— First Shot, R nrricaaie, and Plha-etonftis. Maiden Hurdles. — 'Battleaxe, Mars, and Strut haxaivn. Winter 'Cup.— Plazer, The Shannon, and Ostirk.

Grand Natinno.l Sterplec'iase — Cannongate, Tlie Guard, and Plain Bill. Tally-ho Steeplechase.— Zither, Maiarawa, aaid The Whip. Laches' Bracelet.— Roynl Conqueior Enfifld Steeplechase. — Shylock, Great Scot, and Doopey.

The horses left in the Grand National Steeplechase are as follows, aiid may be ridden by the undermentioned horsemen Th'p Guard, aged 'A. Hall), 13 2. Moifaa. 6vts (H. Moore), 12.8. Cuvaliero, aged (T. Ho ward i, 12.0. Gobo, aged (P. Johnston), 11.12 CamiODKate, 6vr« (J. Stewart), 1] 8 Plain Bill, aged (F. Cochrane), 110. Haydn, aged (S. Fergus), 10.9. Huku aged Hi Davies), 10.0. Roller, agrtl (K. Donovan), 10.D. The Phantom, aged, 9.35. The Swimmer (A. M'Kay), 9.12. Stray Bird (T). Moraghan), 9.11. Lochade. aged (R Etter). 9 11. Rowlock, aged (H. Orton), 9.10. Kohunui, aged (F. Lind), 9.8. Pipi, aged (H. Carr). 9.7 Awahuri, aged (*V. Kaylor), 9 7. Smithy, aged, 9.7.

Shylock. aged, 9.7. Rowlock (who came down heavily this morning), Kohunui, Awahuri, Smithy, and Shylock may not start.

The following horses and their probable riders nre still engaged m the Grand National Hurdle Race — Cavahero, aged (T. Howard). 12 9. Roya! Conqueror, 6vrs (J. Wilson), 11 13. The Guard, aged (A. Hall), 31.12. Moifaa, 6yrs fH. iloore), 11 9 Battlea.x°," aged CP. Johnston). 11 9 Waiwera, aged (C. Cochrane), 11 4. Haydn, aged (S Fergus), 11.3. Huku ag<*d (H. Davies), 11.2. Ca.nEongale, €yra, 10.11. Mars, aged fT. Stewart;, 10.7.

Long Tom, Gyrs (H. Dono\an), 10 4. Treshaui, 4yr« (A. Julian), J0 0. Strathnairn, aged (J Hall), 9.12. Roller, 9.9. Kohunni, aged (F. Lind), 9.8. Hotu, aged, 9 7. Scottieh. Minstrel sjrs (J. GritiWß),. 6»7»

Surrey, aged 9.0. Skobeloff, syrs, 9.0. Smithy, aged, 9.0.

"Winsome, syrs, 9.0. On the second day the Grand National Hurdle Race comes up foT decision, and ttiis is just about one of the hardest races- to lEfive anything like a close opinion upon. Oa-valiero, Royal Conqueror, Long Tom, Scottish Minstrel, Strathnairn, Battleaxe, "W.«,iwera, Mais, and Tresham have all been well supported. "The local horses are all well, and I look forward to witnessing a rare contest. The running m the Maiden Hurdle Race may throw some light on the problem, -but «t the moment I fancy that whatever defeats Cavaliero will win, especially if he is reserved for the race. After him I like Long Tom, Strathnairn, and Scottish Minstrel.

The acceptances, for the New Zealand Cup show that out of the 66 horses weighted, 21 have been withdrawn. It was already known that Cruciform would not be left in, but some surprise has been expressed when Mr-J. Monk's trio — Achilles, Ghoorka, and Exmoor — were mifc-sing from the list. The defection of Renown 16 not surprising, «nd nothing else of note has gone out. Yaldhurst is represented by Siege Gun and Romany Queen, whilst the Poritua stable, despite the defection of Achilles, Ghoorka. and Exmoor, still has thres engaged. Tortulla is now just about favourite.

There was a. good attendance p.t the annual meeting of the Ambarlev -Steeplechase dub on Friday, the weather enticing town and country people to pay a visit to the? old cTuV« course. A large number of fielders did a lucrative business, the totalisator returns only •amounting to £029. The racing vas somewhat uninteresting, all the events but one being easily won. The jumping on the whole was fair, though there were several falls, but fortunately only A. M'Morran was seriously injured, Chorister falling heavily with him when contesting ths Brackenfield Plate. He had pieviously had a spill when Harkaway fell in the first race, but this did not hurt him. On the second occasion, however, he sustained a dislocation of one of his shoulders, which -will prevent him riding at the Grand National meeting. Brab won the Maiden Steeplechase from Brass, who was interfered with by the riderless Harkaway, whilst Skipper secured the Hurdle Race, Apremete finishing second. The other six starters all stopped or were Tun off the Inarrow hurdles, the only one to be persevered with being Skobeloff, who finished a long way behind the other two. Doopey cantered home in the Brackenfield Plate, Chorister b?ing beaten when she fell. Scylla — who was making her first appearance, easily won the Maiden Hack Race, from Call Boy, and Doopey was again victorious in the Tally-ho Plate. He blundered nt the lost fence, but with the excellent assistance of his rider, who was pitched on to his ears, he recovered, and easily held his only antagonist, Komaroff. Hurricane only got home by a short head from Slow Tom iv the Hunters' Flat Handicap, and after Brab had refused and Brass hafl toppled over at the last fence Apremete went iv and won easily from Brab, Bro-ss finishing third. Th<> winner was protested against on the ground that a disqualified pcreon had assisted to saddle her up, but this was dismissed. Trcntham brought tihe racing to a close by easily defeating five others iv ike Farmers' Hack Race, Soveiejgn being second and Explosion third.

The ammal meeting of the Aahburton Troting Club was held on Tuesday evening, when there was a large attendance of members, the president (Or Donald 33TLean) in the chair. The report and balance sheet Tvere read and adopted. The election oi officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : — President, Mr D. M'Le*ui . \ ice-president, Mr James Small ; trenpurei, Mr "W. Sutherla.nd ; auditor, Mr "W. Simpson, secretary, Mr C J. Styche; commit1 ec— Messrs Robiirtson, Dardia, M'Conachie, Mullan, Lagan, Bishop, J. and R. M'JJonnell, J. lantherland, jun., Daniel M'JLendry, Denis M'Kendry, 0. H. Stephens, P. Devane. F. M'Cafferty, J. Shearman, and J. O'Grady ; stewards, members of committee, with. Messrs G. Gricc, jim, T. Hurley, and J. T^itzgeruM added. Twenty new members were elected, and several .genilenien were elected patrons, of thp club, includrug Messrs Grigg, iiuokley, and Studhohnc. The Chau-man statea that the club had obtained the usual two permits for the year. Mr T. Tarr, of Lincoln, on Tuesday suffered a. severe loss by the death of the well-known trotting mare Jes3ie Pr.hn. It is surmised that the daughter of Rathachild and Messenger Maid, whilst galloping jouikd the paddock, staked 'herself,, which disembowelled her. She was due to foal to Wildwood in pbout six weeiks. J*saie Palm was one of tire finest ta-otthig mares iv the Australasian colonies. From -a standing start, she had oovered and won a two-mile saddle race in iinin 43 2-ssec', whilst she had a harness record of 2min 20sec ior a mile.

The hunting season in South Canterbury was f brought to a close on Thursday .with .a largely- : attended aud very enjoyable steeplechase meet- , ing. The chief event was ihe Hunt Club . Steeplechase, of 20sovs, which -was .won com- . fortably by Mr S. Bigginbotham's eh g Liberal, by agod, 12.6 (ewaer). ■Mr M. , Orion's eh h Dugaid, aged, 12,8 (owner) was bccond, and ih Dnnnefct'ji Bellbird, aged, 13.12 (3owscy) third. Ten horsea staried. Mr A., Austin's Gamblei won both the Tully-ho and Pareora Stoeplechases, jumping feuithiasly, and btang well handled by S. Trilford, -and Mr F. S,mmons carried off the Malitary Race (with Wanganui) and Ladies' Bracelet (with 3adea). Tho Ash burton Coursing meeting opened on Fnday in fine weather, and sin enjoyable day's sport resulted. H^res were very plentiful. The coursing was tun on Mr Langlcy's pro- _ perty, and th" owner treatod tuo club very hftntUome'.y The following are the results — Fust xound lribh Twist beat Mamie May, Susie-Oo bt-nt Cedric, Maiekmg l«a.t Tauuhauser, Cruciform beat Bobs; Riot beat Hero Again, Pops beat Little Shamrock. Second round Susie-Oo beat Iridh Tvsifit. Cruciform beat Maf eking, Riot beat Pops. Third round Cruciform baat Susi-e-00, Riot a bye. Final . Cruciform beat Riot. It may prove interesting to stn.te th«t Jxahuwai was scratched for all her National engagements at 2 p in. on Saturday. After paying first forfeits, 33 horses remain in the C J.C. Welcome Stakes, 35 in the Derby Stakes. 27 an the Oaks Stakes (spring meeting), 43 in the Middiepark Plate (summer meeting), ond GS in the Eleventh Challenge Stak-e^ (autumn meeting).

G rand . Tyro Mile*. st 1b Baltioose .. .. 11 9 Murs .. .. 10 7 Strntknairu . . . 912 Scottish Minstrel .9 7 Surrey 9 0 SkoWloff .. .. 9 O Winsome ... 9 0 Ma. den Hurdles 1^ Miles. fit Jb 11 11 W 10 10 3 10 0 fl 5 9 0 9 2