CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 47

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bt Fritz.

Of the seven hoises handicapped foi the Midsummer Handicap only four have had their engagements continued, those withdrawn being Gladsome, Lolah, and Gia.id Rapids. This is a poor lesponse, though quite as good as anticipated. Mr Reid, the owner of Gladsome, determined to give his fine filly a short respite, not because her recert running has loft her stale, as she vas never bette 1 " in her life, but because he considered that 9.12 wps after all a heavy burden, and he had no desire to knock her about. The defection of Grand Rapids did not com-e as a surprise. He wasnone too well treated, and, in addition, I hear that he is not in condition to start. Lolah may have a cut at other short°r-dis:a*ice events, as it is probable that a mile and a-half would not prove a suitable coarse. Of the four I Lke the prospects of.Cannie Chiel. Gladsome, it will bs remembered, was asksd to carry 10.6 in the Filly Stakes, a task her owner declined to set the filly, and her withdrawal, together with that of Brave Heart, who was second on the list, leaves Tessera top weight with 7.13. Only another four are engaged, Chryseis 6.7 occupying a box in the same stable as Tessera. It is said that Chryseis is the better of tiie pair, and if that is correct, Sir George Clifford should very nearly, win, unless Aello, the daughter of Iris, is as good as reported. If so, being a three-year-old, she should account for the other pair, both being a year younger. However, at the moment I wouldgsuggest that Tessera, on her Wellington form, nolds a winning chance.

After making the final payment 14 remain in the Middlepark Plate, oi 500sovs. It is scarcely likely that even one-half will face the barrier. Mr Stead apparently holds a mortgage over this event, as he has Tetamed the engagements c<f no fewer than six — viz., Machine Gun, Golden Lily, Silkwoim, Sevres China (Patron — Saucer), Rub.a (Stepmak — Madder), and Uranus (Castor — Cissy). The three last-named are untried, but either of the remaining three will prove a formidable opponent, and possibly frighten away antagonism. However, this is just the race where owners may have a try, as having paid so much it is as well perchance to see- the business out. S.r George Clifford is represented by Quarryman and Stronghold, Mr Turnbull by Boris and Novgorod, Mr Tennant by Stepchild, Messrs Austin and Easton by Purdey, Franks by a Seaton Delaval colt, and Messrs Ellis Bros, by Ouidaforrn. Mr Stead's selected can scarcely lose.

The nominations for the minor 1 events to be contested at the C.J.C. midsummer meeting are not nearly so numerous as was fairly anticipated. The principal short race of the meeting — the Craven Plate — has only diawn an entry j of ten, three being from Otago; whilst six are^ engaged in the Lyttelton Plate, eight in the Richmond Plate, and a like number of names appear in the Belfast Plate. The Hornby and Lmwood Welters have filled much better, but taken all round the C.J.C. have not received the support expected.

Gladsome is back again at her old quarters ?t J. Taggart's. It had been reported that Mr J. B. Reid had taken the filly from him a-.d handed hei over to R. J. Mason. This is not correct. It so happened that Taggart was taking horses to the coastal meetings, and as Mason was going to Auckland he took ehaiga of Gladsome, and looked after her until lftci the Wellington meeting At a meeting of the committee of the South Canterbury Jockey Club on Tuesday evening, it was decided to make inquiries regarding Rose's starting gate, to increasa the amount of stakes for the autumn xasetine to £690,

pnd to spend £50 on improvements to the couise (apait'fioin biu.c'uaigc). A geneial mct-t-mg will bo held on Febiuary 3 to adopt, anierdeJ. niles.

At r. me'i.ng held recently to consider Mr 1". Lascelle^'s appeal against the decision of the Estewaida of the KaiLoura Racing Club m distancing the br m Lady Babbie, syrs, for tha County Cup at the meeting held at Kaikoura on Boh ng Day, 1903, the committee of the Canteibuiy Jockey Ciub upheld the appeal and swarded the stake to Lady Babbie. The committee fuither decided that the deposit paid by Mr Lasceller should be refunded.