THE C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 50

THE C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

The .acceptances and general entries received in connection with the Canterbury Jockey- Club's._.autumn meeting suggest that there is every m-ospeot of the- club expexi- ; encing a ' successful gathering. Splendid acceptances have -ieea received ior th& two principal handicaps on the programme, and ; although xi final payment is due on the 31st- , • dnst for each of these races -very few oi I those at present claiming engagement are . likely to drop out. Judging by the market on -both-rao4s Air G: G- Stead holds a. strong band, for : the . double, and Dame • Rumour states that Martian is the best oi ; flood goods for the faster, and not unlikely to land'the-double for the -yellow-and-b.ack . colours. Grand Rapids is hardly so much -in request at .-present as h& was .some tew days back,"but -there is .a strong probability , 4nut Martian is a rod 1 in "pickle ior the, T'Easter, and -Grand -Rapids Tod No. 2 for,, -the =second-.leg of the doußle. JEhere is ft j 'great Sain- of giiesswoik attached to • making a selection of Martian, but- the com- < ' irission -"which was in -'the -market- for -the jEnglish-bred son of Martagon did not get j all the money required. It is said that Mr ; Stead is not -a backer of horses, but there . is little doubt that his stable has a large i army of followers, and apparently some of . them are ill receipt of early and excellent j information. In endeavouring to locate , the probable winners there is this much to ■ bo said, that it is known by public performances of what the majority of those engaged are capable of, and the unknown quantities j have to be act least as good, and a little better, before their numbers can "be hoisted j as winners. If Martian is a fair horse his j weight should not prevent him winning any-,; thing he may start for, and the probability i is that his mission will be -the Easter Handi- . cap and Challenge Stakes, while Grand.' Rapids may be found carrying the colours . antt confidence of the stable in the Great Autumn. Since our recent \ meeting at Winga-tui all our local j horses have - been progressing favour-,; ably in thsir work. The most afctrac-i-live work put up at Wingatui has been com- j piled by Red and Canteen, and "each of these horses should make a bold! > hid for victory. There is, however, a " but , in connection with Canteen's chance, and ; that is he will not "be able to give away ; any ground .at the start. Should he leave the ~ mark -with come of the dash 'he has exhibited in the early part of his career—; notably, when he liurried away .with -Canine _ Chiel in the C.J-C. Jockey Club Handicap, won by Palaver in- lmin 41 4-ssec, -he should; • prove an extremely difficuli horse to "beat, ; as; he is in "better order at present than ihe '■ fcas been since he enrolled liimself as «. ; .winner of the New .Zealand Cup. Eed^ Gauntlet 3ias always been ma exceptionally i good -track horse, ,and h& has not deterio-.j rated in that respect. At present be is ", looking better and bowling along in great) fetyle in work. Pampero would probably ; give a great -account ~.of himself if he were smartened up by a couple of goes under } silk, but track form suggests that both he \ and Vladimir should be ..beaten in the race by Red Gauntlet jind Canteen. Our other , representatives — (Kremlin and Petrov.na — j •have already left fcr the scene of action, t and the former was reported to- have worsted ' *he mare in a gallop. But before discard- ] ing Petrovna hei r T>rilliant form in last year's ,, race should not be forgotten. " Lady Lilian 1 and Welbeok have "improved greatly during ] the nast few days. Field Battery and Full j , Cry "are entitled to weighty consideration j on their best form; but, ±o sum up, what-i ever beats Mr Stead's selection should 1 about win, and the places may be filled as follow : — Stead's "best" 4 ..- rtt «• ~. 1 " Canteen ... ■*-, — ... ... ... 2 Red Gauntlet -... 3 The Endeavour to anticipate the placings in the Great Autumn does not look such • a difficult task as that which the short race . presents, but still it is open enough to give , careful punters plenty of food for consideration before finally placing their coin. As in the Great Easter, , Mr Stead appears to JhokL the key to the situation, and the "stable -form in the short race should throw j a good deal of light on the 12-furlong event, j Should either Red Gauntlet or Canteen < succeed in winning the Easter, their chances j in the Autumn would thea be greatly discounted, and fhe following may be found -handy at the finish: — •

Grand Rapids ... ... r.. »~ ~. 1 Canteen ... v . »., — 2 Bulawa-yo ~ 4 The acceptances or * ne nrn>«r events on the first day's card have not yet fallen due, and the following selections will be followed! by -final selections made nearer to the meeting : Hurdles — Catherine Gordon 1, Phaetonitis 2; Champagne Stakes, Golden Lilyj. •Epsom Welter, Blackstone: Hussley Plate, Malakoff ; Sockburn Handicap, Blazer.