CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 51

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

j By Fritz.

I notice that at the annual sale of yearlings in Auckland a number of Canterbury owners were once again to the fore, and many of our stables will be considerably enriched by the j addition of some fashionably-bred youngsters. Mr G. G. Stead, as usual, secured several, and I am' pleased to note that Mr George 1 Palmer, who has so far met with poor luck ! in his racing purchases, also bought a few yearlings. Though Dame Fortune has not smiled upon him during the past, she will probably recognise that Mr Palmer is going the right way to work, and duly recognise the fact in future. Mr Murray Hobbs is another well-known sport who has this season purchased a number of youngsters, and let us hope 'he will •discover another Lady Zetland amongst ,them. The publication of the- Wellington Cup weights has not so far resulted in, any horses 'being extensively supported. I hear that someone wanted to back Red Gauntlet for a small wager, but was not accommodated. - The defeat of -the laldhurst horse Savoury was not - welcome to local jaunters, and the fraternity, who do not usually fill their pockets fa- connection with Mason's charges, must have done, ie'markably' well. jßefore the" pony Reduction was taken to Auckland many of those who knew the pony well considered that it was throwing money away to pit him against -the Auckland lili-put-ians. Probably the northern ponies are not this season quite so good as usual. A well-Tared filly in Egyptsobel, by Gipsy Grand — Belle Clair, easily captureel the Grove Farm Handicap at the Tinwald meeting, and should be heard of again. Her dam, it will be remeir^sred, was one of the handsomest and 'speediest mares of her racing life; and though Gipsy Grand has not been particularly fortunate at the stud, he. too, was perchance equal to the best of his day. I Although the weatSer was extremely boisj teroUs at Tinwald on New Year's Day there f was a fair attendance of local sports, very few j townspeople attending, sport nearer home attracting their-Mttention. The meeting was concSucted •without the aid of a totalisator. but backers' wants were fairly well 'attended to by bookmakers. . The racing can scarcely be described, as exciting, but some fair contests were witnessed. As previously mentioned, Egyptsobel picked up the Grove Farm 1 Handicap, defeating very comfortably five othei's, of whom Miss Hamilton and Rose were ' the best. Gpld Bangle (by Gorton) just defeated Bouncing Bob in the Tinwald Cup by a neck. Bill Perkins filling third position. Silver Finch, a three-year-old Conqueror filly, defeated another filly _by the same sire named; Conqueress in the Maiden Plate; and the Saracen gelding Sahara won the Domain Welter comfortably from. Gold Reel, Bill Perkins^ and the penalised Silver Finch finishing behind' the The, only othei flat event — -the "Consolation Handicap — was secured by Rye,. defeating- Conqueress, Fairview, and four others. The Prince Imperial gelding Im< patient won both trotting races, very fair fields going , out in each event.. Electrine acted as • runner-up in each race. I notice that 'an Australian writer refers to the defunct Nelson. . The 1 old" horse was very much alive a few Says ago. As is generally known, the son of King Cole is sheltered at the Choksbore establishment. Suorting men here agree that the Hon. Geo. McLean selected a capable, energetic trainer when he appointed W. Macdonald. Canterbury owners were only moderately fortunate at the West Coast holiday gatherings. Ability, Magnificent, and Antigone were all supported in the Greymouth Cup, but Freeland defeated them all. Conal, thotfgh a winner, failed to win when well supported by his connections, and it is more than possible hf is not much, good". I hear that the owner of the Auckland Cud winner intends to establish a inocJarßte stud farm. I wish him every success, and hone he will raise an even better horse than Mahutongc. At the Amuri Turf Club's meeting on Thursday there was only a moderate attendance, a large number of bookmakers being present, but they did not appear to transact a remunerative business. Guard of Honour was too good for the opr>osition in the Flying Handicat>. Jibboom and Gew-Gaw filling the respective places. The last-named, however, proved successful in the Six-furlong Handicap, winning handily from. Cromarty. The nrize for the best jumper was awarded to Bay King. Military being second" and! Baby third." Guard of Honour was also successful in the Amuri Handicap, easily defeating Jibboom by four lengths, Cromarty in third place ; and Myrtleberrv appropriated tha Hack Race from Sorrowful. Cannonite was first past the post in the Consolation Handicap, but was disqualified for going inside a post, and the stake was awarded to Gfood Gift. Blnck Silt easily defeated Furlong, in the Mile Trot, but could -only get second to Rickety in the Two-mile Trot. Desrute +he unseasonable weather experienced by the Plumpton Park Trotting Club I during its recently-concluded three-days' meet- ! ing, the financial restilt shows a small credit i balance. The gathering referred to was continue^ on M^ond.ax_jylifin the racing on the

whole was not quite so interesting as usual. Considering the weather, there was a capital attendance, and backers were fairly successful in the somewhat small fields. ilerry Prince had no difficulty in winning the Templeton Handicap by 100 yards from Ngapara ; Allmount, who finished third, some distance away. Ladies' Bracelet contests usually draw a big field, but on this occasion only five went to tho post, My Lady easily taking the bauble; Premier Dick was second 1 , about 30 yards in advance of Satanella. Six horses contested the Lyttelton Handicap, Kohuri and Velvet being almost equally fancied. The latter passed Lazy Jack just before entering the straight, and, easily holding her position, she won by five lengths ; Kohuri a poor third. Imperial Polly did not experience serious opposition in the Hornby Handicap, the mare winning from end to end; Imperial Rose a moderate second, and Ngapara third. A good-quality field of eight were harnessed up for the New Year Handicap, Norice being selected favourite. At the half-distance this mare was pacing third behind Lancewood II and Elector; Royalwood and Verax well up. A little further on Lancewood II retired, and Elector went on from Norice and Verax. In the straight, Norice challenged Elector, and quickly getting the best of her opponent, she went on and won by six lengths, Verax about the same distance behind Elector. Norice was credited wnn. registering 4.46 2-5 — a fine performance on such ? day; but it is possible her time was a bit slower than the figures suggest. Five horses started for the Summer Handicap, Killarney winning with the greatest ease from Loyal, Ciss a hundred yards away in third place. A fine finish was witnessed in the Railway Handicap between Austrey aoid Nellie Moore, only a head separating the pair as they crossed the line. Austrey, at the half-mile, held a commanding advantage, but when well in the straight she was challenged by Nellie Moore, and a pretty, well-ridden struggle ended in favour of Nellie Moore, Wild Wave coming third. General Mac wound up the aay's racing by defeating Flora G. in the Telegraph Handicap somewhat comfortably, Carl, the only other starter, a poor third.

The meeting wag brough to a close, on Tuesday, a boisterous south-west gale blowing all day. There was a very good attendance, but the totalisator revenue was smaller than anticipated. Last year during two days, £8166 10s was" put through the totalisators, as against £9619 10s for three days this season. The racing was much better than that seen on the second day, and that the winners were well hidden is shown by the fact that only two favourites were successful in eight events. The result, consequently, was the payment of capital dividends, such as £9 16s, £7 14s, £11. £13, £5 Bs, and £10 18s. Only three 'horses went out in the Soekburn Handicap, Master Dudley comfortably silencing Merry Prince and Vancliffe. the pair finishing in th> order named. Governor L. quickly established a fair lead in the Ladies' Bracelet Race, and at the halfdistance he was .followed by Sunol and St. Louise. The last-named drew up to the other pair in the straight, and 50 yards from home secured the lead, finally defeating Sunol by a bare length. Governor L. an almost similar distance away in third place. Of the seven starters in the Pluinpton Handicap Verity was sent out favourite. With four furlongs oovered, Lancewood II was well away from Verity, Nabocklish. and Royalwood. Pass-ing the stand Lancewood II was still in front -from Verity,' with Royalwood in cldse attendance. Going round the back, Lancewood II resigned leading position t Verity, and, never bein°subsequently troubled, the latter trotted home an easy wmner by eight lengths from Royalwood, Cocoa-nut a poor third. Exchequer was set a comfortable task in the Advance Handicap, the gelding winning as he Hked from Edward R., My Lady well behind the second horse. An exciting struggle was fought out in the Middle ton Handicap between General Grigg and Velvet. Commencing lihe last four furlongs the pair were together, but shortly afterwards the former skipped a little, and lost some ground. Velvet, however, could not get far away froan her opponent, and a fine race up the straieht saw Velvet declared lihe winner by a neck, Vanforth finishing ten lengths behind the second horse. Ngapara comfortably appropriated the Progressive Handicap from Ingonyama. 12 lengths separating the pair, and Verax won by a similar distance in the Swift Handicap, Hettie H. being second and All Day, who raced prominently over the first few furlongs, in third position. . The Ay Revoir Handicap supplied a fitting conclusion to the gathering, investors being sadly at fault. St. Simon was made favourite, and although he paced a great r'st'ce, ha could not quite overtake Perewiti, who won by about a length, with Inglewood in third place. The stewards appeared to believe that A. Kerr, the rider of Inglewood, had interfered with St. Simon in the straight, as they disqualified him for the race and fined him 20s.