CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 48

CANTERBURY DOINGS

By Fritz.

Owing to the heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday the New Zealand Metropolitan Club decided not to go on with the meeting on Saturday — a course of action meeting -with the approval of owners and trainers. The meeting "will be begun on Wednesday, and continued «n the following Friday and 1 Saturday, The nominatiens received for the Christchurch Racing Club's autumn meeting comprise almost ail the available suitable horses in training about- here, and the fixture should be a most successful one. A committee meeting of the Ashburton County Racing Club was held on Saturday. Mr J. M'Leod wrote accepting the position as honorary veterinary surgeon. It was decided to grant the use ol the totalisator to the Ashfccxton Trotting Club for its au'tunm meeting. It was decided to forward suggested amenclaiient to the Rules of Racing to the secretary of tho New Zealand Eacing Conference, and special stewards were appointed to watch, the

lacing at the club's autumn meeting. The Ashburton Trotting Club has decided to issue 20s and 10s tofalisator tickets at its autumn meeting, only one dividend to be paid ■where there are less than seven starters in any xaee.

The New Zealand Metropolitan TroMing dub's- meeting will bs commenced, on Wednesday," when tine following horses may prove successful in "their respective engagements-: — Initrodtictoiy Handicap, Birchniaxk or Craigaxusky; Autumn, Handicap, General Grigg or liogan; New Zealand Handicap, .Vestina or Specialist; Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, "Woodburn Chief or Premier Dick; Advance Handicap, Graigarusky or Globelia; Dash Handicap, Birchmark or Master Poole; Speedwell Handicap, Veracity or Specialist ; Express Handicap, Lily C. or Logan.

The two bangles for the Metropolitan Trot-

ting dub's meeting are now on view. The trophy for the harness event has a centra cluster of one sapphire and nine diamonds, ■with, a sxqb.ll scroll of sapphires and diamonds on either side, the whole mounted on a knife edge of burnished gold bar. The- cluster is made so that it can be screwed off and placed on a plain .knife-edge brooch. l*ho saddle bangle is composed- of six fine rubies, supporting a sappmre and diamond cluster, all in coronet setting, on two knife-edged bars of burnished gold. .

April 24. - .A. oold. Taw morning ■welcomed CSixistchurch ibis morning, and as the hours wore on and the Scotch fog failed to ma-terialfly lift from the ram-sodden earth, sportsmen began to- fear that the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey dub's autumn meeting would be anything but pleasant. However, though old Sol never managed to show his bright face- duaring^the whole day, the lowering clouds retained their moisture, and the large number of visitors appeared "to thoroughly enjoy: the afternoon's sport. It ■was feared by many that the course would be something more than holding, but considering the heavy rain that fell on Friday night and Saturday, it proved to <be in. very good condition under the circumstances, _as_the various times registered will show. North Island sportsmen ••were present in force, and the "West Coast " of tliis island contributed a fair proportion. "The -double machine — the- Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps forming the races"" selected — was well patronised; but the machine itself might very easily be improved. The recording angel's figures are much too small, and unless one is close to the instrument, they cannot all be deciphered. Morecver, though it matters not to many, it would be just as well to show the total amount invested.

Mr "Geo. Clifford's pair. Golden Vein and To-morrow; Vladimir, and Mr G. G. Stead's Machine Gun and Savoury, ■were the prime fancies, coupled with QuarryTa*.n and Cannie Chiel (Sir G-eorge Clifford's) *tnd Savoury. Favourites had their numbers frequently hoisted by the judge, which dees not displease the majority of investors, but •with»l»the racing was very interesting, and the management of the fixture all that could be desired.

The feature of the gathering was undoubtedly the meritorio-ua performance registered by Machine Gun in the Great Easter Handicap, in •which, the son of Hotchkiss and Rubina carried the burden of 10.4 to- victory. This fine horse put up a record that will probably stand as a ■weight-carrying achievement for many a, long day. Mr Stead's champion was generally considered to favour a shorter and harder course, and. it was thought his p-rospects were not enhanced by the state of the going; but the quid nuncs were all wrong. Machine Gun held a- position in the middle of the field until well in ihe straight, »nd when he was asked for an effort he slipped past his opponents in great style, and the about, "Machine Gun wins!" formed a possibly surprised exclamatory utterance as the big fellow took charge of afiairs. Gncorka, who iras absolutely last as the field entered the -straight, put in a fine latfe run, but Machine Gun had only to be shaken up ever so little to enable the judge to- hoist his number on top of the roof. Ghoorka. ran a particularly good; race, as also did the Dunedin-owned filly Ailsa* She did not look at her best as she left the paddock but was amongst the leaders all the way, and registered a gallop good enough to win nine out cf ten.

In the Great Easter Handicap Petrovna cut «ut the running for five and a-kalf fuilongs, but the distance proved her greatest enemy. Vladimir appeared to hold a great chance below the distance, "but he died away cvec the last half furlong, as did Golden Vein, one of the fittest hoises stripped for the fray.

The Mohican jumped slowly in the Kildare Hwrdle Race, but Tjis pace served him well after -the last hurdle had been, jumped, and he iron fairly comfortably from Kongoa, who mad© the running for a mile and a-haW. Tupara was first over the final obstacle, but he tired in the Tun home and finished' third." Magnificent was left at th«r post. aEd Nikola, after bolting once round, had no chance.

The southern colt Crichton -was sent out favourite for the Autumn Plate, but though he ran a fine race Royal Crown, who occupied a rearmost position until well in the straight, jfusfc managed to defeat him, whilst Blytheniaid filled third place. Two hundred yards from home Redstart was in front, but failed over the last .bit of the journey. The six'Champa'gne'candidaVes were all saddled up, Mr Stead being" represented by Munjeet and Sungod. and Sir Geo. Clifford by Gay Spark and Glenowl-et; the Hon. G-eo. M'Lean "fay Alexis, and Mr Prosser by Marguerite. Mxinjeet bolted out of the slips and was never caught, G-lenowlet and G-ay Spark in second and third positions. Of the sextet I would select Slingod as the youngster likely to have his name inscribed as the-winner of a valuable prize.

Signalman quickly raced to the front in the Epsom "Welter Handicap, and then it was all over, as he simply played with the opposition, ■winning- comfortably from Antigone, who finished fast and defeated Koputai for second place. Largesse almost immediately, took charge of

ih-e Russley Plate field, and was never seriously threatened. Euclid finished strongly, a=? plso did Vardo, but neither cou d make any impression upon the winner.

Tessera simply romped over her antagonists m the Gmicr&ck Race, and was subsequently sold to Mr Nelligan for 105gs, half of which goes to the owner of the second horse. Te Taiaha and Beau Seaton cut out the running at s. strong pace in the Sockburn Hanchcap, but had to give way to Calibre and Tirole in the stiaight, the last-named securing the slake troin Calibre, with Beau Seaton m third place.