By Fritz.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 46

By Fritz.

The publication of the weights ior the Great Easter said Great Autumn Handicaps has drawn, pointed attention to the near. approach of th« Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn fixture, one of the best and most enjoyable gatherings ever held at Riccaiton. Mr Henrys has asked Advance to carry a very heavy weight in. the Great Easter Handicap, but even with 10.13 th.< son of Vanguard should be extremely dangerous over seven, furlong*. He is, oi course, a. wonderfully brilliant horse, and although ha suffered two defeats at the Wangsnui meeting his Cup downfall was pardonable, and Machina Gun is something more than fair. Still, Achilles defeated him comfortably at Riccarton, and as Advance failed to do so I prefer the prospects of Achilles in the C.J.C. race with, 6lb les to carry. Machine Gun is, of course, not engaged in the race under notice, but he forma a reasonable collateral basis as betweep Advance and Achilles.. There is this to be said, however: when Machine Gun vsnt down to Achilles ha was making his first public appearance, and he probably did not show Ms best farm, good as it was, but when he met Advance at Wanganui the Yaldhursl colt had received some successful experience at Wangatui,_ together with a- little sea travelling, » combination which undoubtedly did him much good. Taking these fact 3 into consideration, I would still prefer Achilles to Advance in the race to be deciffed next month. Cruciform, who won the race last year with 9.9 on her back, pat up a great jjerformance for a, three-year-old ■'filly, and she~has now been raised to 10.4, 3lb less than the weight apportioned to Achilles. Ths latter has to carry 271b over his weight-for-age and Cruciform 201b, the colt consequently having on this basis to give Cruciform 7lb. If the latter can be brought to the post in the sam» trim in which she landed the stake last season, covering the distance in lmin 28 3-ssec, sh» should be dangerous; but this is- scarcely probable, and I prefer the prospect of th» colt. Orloff at 9.7 should run well forward, but it is possible that he will have a cut at the longer race. Pallas 9.4 has besn running *eally well during the last few months, and if he is specially trained for this event lie should make matters very interesting, as also should Oitialc with the tune weight. The two last-named horses and St. Denis, who comes next on th» list with 9.0 opposite his name, are a particularly small- trio, and it would not be- easy to select the better of the three. So little has been seen of Pampero lately that no fair idea. can be gained as to how lie will shape under B.l*. which is only 13lb more than he carried to ths* front in the race two years ago. If in. anything like form Pampero ought to prove himself one of the most dangerous horses in, the race. Welbeck 8.11 is an improbable starter, whilst Canteen, has been withdrawn. Of Vladimir and Westguwd, with &.10 each, I prefer the latter, as I fancy sho is the more reliable of the two, though the southern horse is undoubtedly fast. The full sisters, Petrovn* and Tsaritsa, come next on the list, with 3.6 and 8.5 respectively, and it is anything but easy fc select the better of the twain. The latter, I fancy, is not too partial to a sevenfurlong journey in the company she. will have to meet, and with a strong pace set from end to end I fancy .she •will be oeaten ? and amongst those in front of her may he .her Bister. Red Gauntlet vat 8.4 reads somewhat attractively, but he would possibly prefer a shorter journey; whilst old Blazer 8.3, on his most recent running, would appear io be a light of other days'. Such a weight would have bevn a veritable luxury to him a short time ago, and if he can be brought to the post at -a.il well he should, make matters interesting. Porirua 8.8 and Oingo 8.3, are a speedy r&ir, and Ghoorka, with a pound less, is said to have gTeatly improved of late. At the moment Ido not much cars for either of them, and Windwhiatle 8.1 is another whom I think will be defeated by some of those above her. Evelyn, "Wocd 8.0 may perchance form the Yaldhurst selected, and, if so, he is sure to be dangerous. Lady Lillian 8.0 eeenied to go off a little at the Dunedin meeting, but if she is all right on the day and this race is selected as her task she should defeat more than defeat her. Cora Lynn 7.13, in. the .same form as she displayed last in this event, when she finished second to Cruciform, ought to run a great race, but I do not regard" her prospects as .rosy. Cannie Chiel at 7.12 is well treated, and if he were the Cannie Chiel of a year or more ago he would be picked oufe as. a fair investment; but he seems to have loab his brilliancy since he has been trained and raced ever long journeys, and, despite his favourable treatment, I must discard him. TheShannon reads nicely at 7.11, and Go.den Vein with a pound less is not badly treated, as compared with Porirua. Fleka 7.8 is a fast horse, but I have 'ifctle respect for Motor 7.7 over this distance. Muscovite 7.6 is gradually improving, and he ought to be a- hard horse to defeat if he goes on all right Exmoor 7.6 is &_ representative of the Porirua stable, and he is sadd to be equal to taking this stake to the north. Of the remaining fifteen horsea engaged, twelve of whom are put in at the 6."7 minimum, but little need bs said. Few of them have the slightest hop© of defeating the more heavilyweighted division, and I look to the animals handicapped at 8.0 and over to secure the race. The heaviest weight carried to victory (9.12) was borne by Boreas-, Cruciform coming next with 9.9, whilst Saracen holds the time record— lmin 28sec. On selecting a dozen, one of whom may prove the winner, I would take Achilles, Pallas, Ostiak, St. Denis, Pampero, Weetguard, Petrovna, Blazer, Oingo, Lady Lillian, Muscovite, and Exmoor. Cruciform leads the way in the Great Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 10.5 against her name, and good mare though, she be I do not expect to see her carry such. a heavy load to victory, and it is quite possible she may not see the post at all. Achilles 10.0 has not yet been asked to publicly race over 12 furlongs, and though I have no doubt that hs can get to the end of such a journey, weight of lead may prevent him scoring or even starting. OrlofFs Dunedin victory and subsequent capital form displayed by him in the Waneanui Cup, which many affirm he should have won, has lifted him to 9.8 in the race under discussion, and even with thi3 load he may run. a very fine race. Should he win undei his flattering impost he will equal Merganser's performance in 1893. Pampero 8.13 Bhould be able to cover the distance well within himself now, and I must say that I like his chance. Palla3 8.12 is gradually being extended in, his journeys, and if he it not troubled with, the mile and a-half circuit he will require all the beating his opponents can give him. I have no doubt regarding his ability to stay, and: I look upon him a> one of the mosf da£geroii3 horsea in the race. Welbeck 8.12 is not himself, and may be withdrawn, a fate which. ha=i already overtaken Canteen. Porirua 8.5 should be a dangerous horse, as he can stay fairly well, and Cannie Chiel 8.1 has been given-* fair opportunity to break a long series of placed performances over a distance of country. In almost all his recent essays ihe son of Clanranald ha"; been very Mo>v to begin, but ne naa invariably finished welt. I like his prospects, and, though l^ria-pia finished in advance «i

Win afWingatuithe difference in circumstances may after the -result, though I do not see' how Terrapin can bo discarded. Lady Lillian at 7.12 reads as fairly treated, through Cannie Chiel and Terrapin, and I should not be in the' leaEt surprised to see her triumph. Motor 7.11 has run some very fair races over a similar distance as ihe GTeat Autumn journey, and , ■with such a nice racing weight he should be j prominent. Vladimir 7.10 is generally credited with the possession of staying ability, but until he has done something justifying that assumption I cannot well select him. Oingo 7.8 is j another who would probably be favoured were a few furlongs cut off the race, but I like the prospects of The Shannon at the same weight. Golden Vein 7.8 may do better than, many believe, and there is no reason why he should ■nob stay. GhoDrta 7.8, lam informed, will not be troubled with the distance, but I do not like the chance of Bed Gauntlet 7.7 over a mile and a-half, and do not quite see, brilliant though he is, why ke .should be asked to give weight to General Symons 7.3, -who has already shown that he cai gallop 12 furlongs. Lazaretto 6.7, of the remainder, strikes me as possessing an outside cha_ace, lind if Sirius, Calibre, aud Glenelg are ever likely to win, now is their chance of them being in (at 6.7. Orion*, Pampero, Pallas, Porirua, Oannie Chiel, Terrapin, Lady Lillian, Motor, The Shannon, and General Symons are the ten whom I fancy. A .heavy Bor'-wester considerably minimised the -enjoyment of the large number of visitors, attending the New Brighton Trotting Club's '•'medang on Thursday. The totalisator investments amounted to £3011 10s, as against £2787 on the second day of last year's meeting ; but +*/• total for the two days showed a decrease -of .£lB7 as compared with last 7031* returns. Pioud Qhild got to-the head of the innovation Handicap field, half a mile from home, and comfortably holding Mystery, he -won by a length ; Dcphne 20 lengths away in third place. Mystery fared better in the Pony Handicap, howerer, winning by -a dozen lengths from Para- . disc, with Botany next. Archangel might have ' been, dose up had he kept down, as he held a fair position half a mile from the 'chair. Harold C. and Victory II wer« the selected favourites in the order named in the Brighton Handicap. At the half-distance Nellie Moore and Harold C. were together, with Victory II within striking distance. Nellie Moore broke,. and Harold C. went out in the lead ; but he tired, and Victory II took charge just before entering the straight. From this out the race was all over, the last-named winning by & couple of lengths from Collector, who finished & dozen lengths in advance of Harold C, with Yelox close up next. Honest Jack and Flora G., who finished in that order in "the Ladies' Bracelet, returned their respective supporters iihe fine returns of £10 12s and £8 18s respectively, the pair starting comparatively friendless. Faithful was second but was disqualified forgetting away before Ids time. The seven starters in the Avon Handicap were all supported, the actual favourite "being the winner, X*dy Eetfoid, who secured the stake by a length and a-half from Wild Eose ; George L., who broke, in third position. The pony I'ushlight annexed the Advance Handicap as he liked, holding command the full journey, Hlflock finishing second and the fa-ourite, Black Child, third. "Faithful made some amends for bin. disqualification is the Bracelet by appropriating the Telegraph. Handicap as he liked, ■winning by -eight or nine lengths from Sweet , Maria, with Bushman third. The gathering *^as. brought io a -conclusion by Fairy Queen beating Orphan, by sxx -lengths in the Final Handicap, Coral Hue filling the unremuneratjve third place. .Mr/Bucklacd'-S team of seven trotters, including- Fritz, have arrived here, and all look well. A fnll-broUaer io Fritz accompanied his illustrious relative. Good Spec, who was sold for a mere song during the progress of the C.J.C. summer meeting, has more than returned his purchasemoney at the Greymouth meeting. The Alford Forest races -were held on St. Patrick's Day. The attendance, despite a strong nor'-wester, was good. The Alford Forest Cup was won by Wtraing, -who alto secured the Sprinburn W«lter Handicap ; but he had to go down to old Cannonsnot in the Stavelty Bracelet. The latter also won the Ladies' Purse. The annual meeting 'of £he Cbristhurch Hunt Club vos held at tho Canterbury Jockey Club's office last week. Mr F. D. Neave presided, and there teas a moderate attendance. The report stated that the past year had been fairly successful, the harrier pack having been hunted on 24 occasions, and having accounted for 21$ brace of hares, while the drag -pack gave followers good runs on many occasions. The number of hounds in the kennel consisted of 15 couple of old hounds and three couple to enter this season. In addition, there were seven couple of puppies. Reference wae made to the services rendered to the club by Mr A. Lyon, the late master, for the past 15 years. The annual sports were held at Ptumpton in July, in conjunction with tho farmers' lunch, bat, owing mainly to bad weather, resulted in a loss cf £17 Is 3d. The thanks of the clnb were due to Mr G. G. Stead for a trophy, in the shape of a Challenge Cup for a Point-to-point Steeplechase, to be run during the coming season. Mention was made of the services rendered to the club by tha farmers, without whom the members would have very little sport, 'and the thanks of the committee were accorded them. The balance sheet showed that-the receipts for the year, including a balance of £117 18s 7d from the last year, amounted to £537 5s 6d, the principal items being subscriptions £171 2s and donation from Canterbury Jockey Club £200. The expenditure was £478 89 Id, the master's salary accounting for £325, and ihe year closed with a credit balance of £58 lCs lOd. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Mr E. H. Rhodes, M.H.R.; vice-president, Mr F. D. Neave; sscretary, Mr J. D. Hill ; treasurer, Mr C. Palairet; committee—Messrs A. E. G. Rhodes, G. Clarkson, G. Pnhner, G. L. Stead, T. Bassett, P. ActonAdama, G. Gould, D. Westenra, X Ueave. W. N. Bond, W. B. Clarksoa. jun., and W. H. P. Woodzoffe ; Qualification Committee— Messrs T. Bassett, W. N. Bond, J. D. Hall, W. It. P. Woo&offe, D. Westenra, G. Gerard, H. B. Parkinson, A. Lyon, C. Palairet, and P. ActonAdams. Messrs G. Palmer, J. D. Hall, W. H. P. Woodroffe and the master were appointed a sub-committee to draw up conditions for the Point-to-point Steeplechase for Mr G. G. Stead's Challenge Cup. Two new members were elected.