CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 57

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bi I?bitz.

It" is stated that F. D. Jones, who accompanied Mr Stead's horses- to Sydney, has severed' his', connection with the Yaldhurst etable, and that he -will journey to Melbourne

to ride Maniapoto in his Victorian engage-

merits. -Uiccarton stablea are well supplied with two-year-olds this season, and from present indications there should be some interesting

raoas among the juveniles. E. Cutts has the biggest'' ertring, his -stable sheltering seven, all ,Jby Clanranald. Blazing Star, the Catherine "Wheel colt,- is not. likely to be seen out in the spring.- This- half brother to Treadmill lias >been blistered, and is not being perBevered with in the meantime, as he appears to want time. Gallantry, the Goldenleaf filly, promises' to be -useful, but Pretty Face, the daughter of Delusive, is small, and altogether ■ disappointing. Kirremuir, the filly from Madowla, has up to the present shown herself the best of the Chokebore lot, and she gives promise of proving a worthy relative to Quarryman and Glenowlet. At one time it was thonghi-that Snowstell, from Stronghold's dam (Safeguard), would be the crack of the stable, . but a severe kick and other minor troubles interfered with her preparation, and she is now backward. ' This is unfortunate, as she conies -from a family .noted for speed, and she~ may not do so well over the longer courses later in the season. Saiknaker, the Nautilus Shell colt, has been suffering from lameness, and is backward, but in any case I think he is inly a moderate. Golden Cairn, the Golden Crest colt, is built on similar lines to his brother Golden Vein. He has- just got ever the -effects oif a blistei, and! .•will not bo seen at his best till Jater on, when. I fancy he will prove rmore than useful. In addition to Sir George Clifford's teann. Cutiis has. 'one of his "own this year in a filly by Ifclson — Dudu. Though small, she shows a

lot of speed. - I think her owner would accept an offer for her, and she certaanly looks a likely Bort/All the Chokebore youngsters were broken.

in lata this year. A team that was taken in hand earlier was Hobbs 1 s, which consists, of five. The Sonlfc— Hotcherina filly is well grown, and is a good- sort. The Stepniak— Arline colt | is » muscular, powerfully-built youngster, and -I take -him to be particularly promising. ! The filly bj Stepniak— Gitanella (the latter a i sifter to Arline), is an unruly young lady, and X 'have no fancy for her. The Hotehkiss^—Garoiet, colt may only he moderate, but the Soult — Anna colt is a useful-looking sort, -

ancS I expect - to see- Mm turn out well.

M'Guiness's pair were also broken in early. Pearlie may prove iseefiil, ■ but Staars and Stripes, by Stepniak — StarsT^ot, "has had an interrupted preparation, and is backward. She promises, however, to "be a, pretty good filly later bn. _3?. Sheenan has two in hand. The colt by Castashore — Pleasure Seeker is a raking youngster, that -will probably "be benefited with age. The Ben Trovato — Greek Maid fiHy is email, and does not show the quality of her dam'; but 'she is a nice mov.er, and shows promise of being speedy. G. Murray Aynsley's lot comprises three. The Sant Ilario — Nantes colt is <well grown, but lie does not look one of the early sort, and we may have to wait some time before we see the beat of him. The. Bundook—^Myth" filly is small but compact, and ■she should raoe well early in the season. The Explosion — Sybil filly looks delicate, -and I do not fancy, her. Of W. Clarke's trio,; I like the Stepaiak— Sortie filly, Tatiana,

best. JEhis. sister to Oiioff is small,, but she

looks like coming early, and. I pick her to gallop fast. Enastikofi, by Stepniak— Ambush, should -be useful, and Apollonia, by Phoebus Apollo — Cuiralba, has just Seen broken in.

W. J. Taggart's pair are the Stepniak — La Heine filly and -the Sant n-ario — Savannah, filly", botn of whom may be useful. -In White Shield, by Stepniak— Corselet, W. Pine's stable shelters one of the best-grown youngsters at Riccarton. Ber connections have great hopes of h&i, but unfortunately she has been laid aside through a-n accident, and, ehevis, consequently backward. Turmoil, by Boyal Artillery— Whirlwind, is one of the loisr*setldnd,*like her dam, but I do -not think she' will ever be more than moderate. F. Holmes' s representative, tke Stepniak — Illusion colt* -was 'broken in late. He is small, and' is not likely to turn out high-class. J.- sf. M*Cracken's gelding by Good-bye — Foresight has improved of late, and is the makings of a Jieat horse. He is on the small side, "but he looks a racy sort, and ought to go fast. Culmination, by San Francisco—Stepfsldt, in C. Piper's stable, is a low ,set, powerfully-TDuilt filly, that gives promise of being a good performer. D. Roberts has two in hand, a full brother to Vardo, by Finland — Nerolr, and a filly by Royal Artillery — Nenuphar. Both are wail grown and promising youngsters, the colt in particttlar having an attractive style of galloping. The weather of lats^ias been so bad that the trainers have been ■unaole to get suitable ground to work their

juveniles, and most of them are somewhat

backward. To sum them up. I would take Kirriemuir. Culmination, the Soult — Anna colt, Stepniak — Arline colt, and Bundook — Myth filly as the ones that show most promise of earning distinction, early in the season. October 2.

The -weather has taken a decided turn foi the better during the last few days, and there sure inddoahons that ttc have got over tho wet spell. The trainers at Riccarton are taking advantage of the improved conditions and are ssnddng"their charges along in earnest m view of spring engagements. ~ The Geraldme Racing ChTb held a sttcceslful meeting on Thursday and Friday. The attendance was good, speculation tlhrough ihe t.-xtaJisator showed a slight increase over Last year's total, and -there was some interesting racing. Ca.!ibre, who won the Geraldine Cup, nad nothing left in him at the finish, and horseananship contributed in no small degi-ee to his success. On the second day he ran like a. Car, and at no pact o-f the race was he putting aay 12« into ibis work. His iShort spell at the stud has evidently made him unreliable. Clanburn ran a fine race in the Geraldinii

Cup, and if he had been more vigorously ridden before the straight was reached I think Sic would have beaten Cabbie As it was, many people thought he got up :n time, but in siicli

a close finish the judge might be left to know best. On the second day Cianburn faded out in the straight, after looking dangerous at Ihe home turn.

Do la Rey gavo another illusl.iat.ioii of his untarustworthines's at Geraldine. In the Cup he strode along very freely and just failed to see the journey cut, but on the second day he would make no effort, and was near the rear all the way.

Ability let his supporters down badly both, days at Geialdme. He h&d a good following in the Cup but he never looked dangerous, and in tho Welter Handicap on the second day h-e was nover able to make up the groitnd he lost at tho fitart. Even hart he got away well, 1 do not think he would havo had auy chance with Black Diamond.

The running of Black Diamond at Geraldine eamie as a surprise to those who saw him at A&hburfcomi, -where, on the second day, he failed badly against very moderate opposition. At Geraldine he had the assistatnee of Hewitt in bath his races, and he won them bot-h very easily. It will not surprisa me if Black Diamond turns out a very useful stake earner foaMurray Hobbs, as I do not think we have seen the best of him yet.

Veneer failed'badly each tims he met Black Diamond 1 at Geraldine, but an hour after his effort in the Welter Handicap on the second day 1 he was pulled out again far the Spring Handicap. He was always on© of Stepaside's nearest' attendants, and when the Stepniak mare swerved badly in the straight Veneer shot out aiid won with a bib to spare. The brother to Mahutonga is probably short of work, and his racing .may have, improved him.. If, however, his form m his iihxee races was consistent Black Diamond was about the best horse seen out a* Gea-aldine, judging by thn easy way he settled Veneer each time they met.

King's Guest smothered the opposition over five furlongs on the first day at Geraldine, but he failed badly over half a mile on the second day He certaimlj had a big weight, but he did! not show any dash, and I do not think he is too 1 reliable.

Tessera let backers down badly twice at Geraldine. On tho first day she rain wide at the home turn, letting MakarofE on the iuside. The three-year-old was we'll clear 200 yards from ihome,.but he did not finish generously and Tessera was rapidly over'ha.uhng him at the finish. R. King was blamed for his riding of Tessera, but no fault could be found ■with him on the second day, when Makaiaff a.gaiu "bea* Tessera by a narrovmaigia. If he were only a littil© garner- Makaroft would win some good races, but ; ie is too soft hearted to pay for following in decent company. In. both his raoas at Geraldine Makaroff was "very patiently handled by F. Thomson, who looks like developing into a decent horseman.

Though, r-o fast times were registered, the four trotting events at Gea-aldine provided soone interesting racing. The. most remarkable thing about them,, however, was uhe faihue of backers in selecting winners, some big dividends being returned to the- fortunate investors. Among the itr su'ccessf til performers I was most taken with Viceroy, a useful looking gelding by Prince Imperial. He rain v«a-y green, but I fancy he will be a good one later an.

J. Pine started off well as a trainer when King's Guest won the opening flat race at Geraldine; but the subsequent failure of the same horse and of Tessera and De Ia Rey os. both days must have 'cost his followers a lot of money.

L. H. Hewitt put up a good performance a<t the Geraldine meeting. Arriving at Lyttelton from Sydney on Thursday morning, he caught the second express, and piloted Black Diamond' lirst past the post in the last raoe oftbe day. On Friday he was again on Black Diamond when he won, these being his only mounts at the meeting.

Mr B. R. Macdonald, the popular president of the Geraldine R-acing Club, met with a nasty accident when his horse Agitator fell in the First Hunters' Hurdles on Thursday. He was rendered unconscious, and did not come round till the following afternoon. Latest advices conoerning him are of a horpful nature. Mr Macdonald is an especial favourite with the press representatives who attend the Geraldine meetings, and the scribas were not the least diligent inquirers after his welfare.

Four New Zealand Cup horses, in Calibre, Veneer, Clanburn, and Ability, competed at the Geraldine meeting, but none of theni showed form suggestive of Cup honours. Of the New Zealand Cup candidates that raced at Ashburton and Geraldine, I should take Bulawayo as the only one likely to distinguish himself in the Riccarton two-miler. The pony is a great favourite of mine, and it will not -surprise me to find him setting the cracks a big task on Cup day.

The New Zealand contingent returned from Eandwick on Thursday, all the horses looking in fine fettle after their exertions.

I learn from Mr J. C. N. Grigg that Golden Knight 13 not to carry silk before New Zealand Cup day. The son of Wallace is stall causing his trainer a little anxiety by reason' of occasional symptoms of lameness, but nothing serious is anticipated at present. The fact that Mr G. G. Stead has mot nominated any of his team for the leading handicaps at the Auckland summer meeting has occasioned considerable surprise. I have no information as to the reason, but a view which finds some favour is that, having just returned the previous day from a lengthy Australian trip, he overlooked the nomination day.

The outside of the grass track at Riccarton was opened twice last week, and several of the two-year-olds -were sprinted. The Stepniak — Arline colt and KLrrienruiT shaped paaticularly well.

Vere * Sina, Seal Rock, and Stregis were down from Yaldhurst on Saturday, and did useful work. Graduated Tax and Taxpayer were given a schooling task on Saturday. They both jumped well, Graduated Tax showing a lot of pace between the obstacles.

Latest accounts concerning Mr B. R. Macdonald, who was injured when Agitator fell at Geraldine on Thursday are not so encouraging. Mr E. Cutts's Dudtt, by Somnus — Fame, has foaled a colt to Nelson.

The latest move in the betting market points to Nightfall as likely to prove the j Yaldhurst representative in the New Zealand j Cup, and she is now favourite at 5 to 1. There is a disposition to back Mahutonga, and all the money at 10 to 1 is eagerly snapped I up; while Golden Knight is also being inquired about. Wagers recorded during the week include 500 to 7A Blythcmaid, 400 to 4 Mahutonga, 300 to 60~ Nightfall, 300 to 18 Paritutu, 300 to 15 Ghoorka, 200 to 25 Nocttiifonn. On the Cup and Stewards double | the principal wagers have been 1900 to 23 ' Nightfall and Machine Gun, 1100 to 8 Achilles | and Chivalry, 1000 to 10 Nightfall and ' Chivalry, 1000 to 6 Mclodeon and Crichton. I

Latest advices from Thursday Island state that tho London pcarHicll prices have improved about £20. Most of Ihe boats at present lakl up w ill be in com- , mission at an early date, [