CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2692, 18 October 1905, Page 56

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Br Fkitz,

A general meeting of the Canterhuiy Jockey Club was held on Thursday, when arlaiigements were made for holding the Jockey Cub ball during the carnival week.

We have just got through another week of broken weather A good deal of rain has fallen during the last few days, but as a high wind has prevailed all the time, the ram has not had much ill effect on the tracks. Trainers, ihereiore, have not been so seriously irconvemenced as would otherwise have been th-e case.

We should be able to form. a. good idea by next Friday as to the prospects of the New Zealand Cup meeting, as on that day payments are clue for the principal races and nominations for tte rumor events to be decided auriLg thi November racing carnival. Ar. opinion prevails in some quarters that the ne,d ior the New Zealand Cap will bo smaller t!h;ui usual, this id-ea being uggestedi by the brilliant form oi the Yaldhurst representatives', and. the reluctance which it will probably induce on the' part oi other owners to meet the wearers of the yellow and black livery. I ana not quite prepared to share this view, however, and while i expect to se-e a good few drop out of the two-mile race, I wiL bo surprised ii the- list is not stilt a lengthy one after Friday's payment. Is would" not bs hard to pick out p. large number now in the race that ca.n have no passible chance, and their defection will in no way affect the prospects of & good contest. Of the Ricca.rton-traiiied lot nine have sported silk this season, and Golden Knight and Stepdanc-er are the only ones I would care to name as having any chaoice at all. Tirole, Calibre, Gay Spark, C.anbum, Veneaf, and Ability may be written out 'at once in my opinion. lilythemaid's form at the Giand National meeting was suggestive of further successes, but 1 cannot fancy her for a race like this. Quarryman, the remaining Kiccarton representative, has not raced sinc-o he finished second to Vladimir in the Great Autumn Handicap; but he is doing wall, and he may prove the best of thei lot tiained on the convincing ground, though, he has plenty of weight, and on foim should be beaten by -a good few of those he will have to m-eet. Considerable interest centre 9 round Mr Stead's intentions. The general opinion is that he will rely on Nightfall, reserving Noctuiform and Sungod for the Derby. Whichever one h. starts will, it is pretty certain, be a waa-m favourite, and I think the best of the opposition will find it hard to shake off the all-conquering boy in yellow. Of the outside candidates, Achilles, Mahutcuga, Paritutu, Melodeon, and Buiawayo are pretty certain to remain in, and the&e, with the best of the Canter<yury-trained lot, .should eiuiure a gcod race. The list will also contain the names of a good few with more moderate prospects of sxicoess than those named, and -altogether there ia reason to hope for a big acceptance on Priday. This field for the Stewards' Handicap will be considerably reduced by Priday's payment, but at the same time, after the rubbish ha-j been weeded out, there should be a strong leld left. Machine Gun, Munjeet, and Solution remain the prime favourites with doubleevent backers; but it is generally admitted that -Mv Henrys never made a better handicap, so that everything points to a first-class acceptance. The prospect with regard to the Derby aiid Oaks are not so hopeful. The unusually strong hand held by Mr Stead in ihe threo-year-old division this- season is likely to result in. the number of " live" opponents to the Yaldhurst team being very small. As to tihe Welcome Stakes, however, it is rear scnable to look for a large crowd surviving the payment, as local stables are well represented with two-year-olds, and a lot of visitors are also expected to take part in the juvenile race. I have it on the authority of our leading ppncill«r, who is in a good position to form a reliable opinion, that betting on this year s New Zealand Cup has been unusually quiet. In Other years backers have been tempted into taking long prices about " rough 'uns," but this year tdioy apparently think that it is useless looking for anything "to defeat ihe more fancied candidates. The re-cent successes of the Yaldhurs't horses have evidently prepared a lot of backers for the prospect of seeing Mi Stea"d practically sweep tho board of the leading prizes at the coming meeting. Mar J F. Buchanan has purchas-ed Gladsome Lodge from Mr J. B. Eeid, and his trainer, W. Pine, -will take up his quarters there shortly. W. J. Taggart has been in occupation of these stables for some time, and as he has. a .'airly big string under his care, he will probably find some difficulty in securing suitable accommodation elsewhere.

The New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting was concluded on Wednesday in fine weather, and there was a good attendance. Racing commenced with the Innovation Handicap, for which the field numbered four. Fidelity went off in front, but at the end of a mile Duly Elected caught him. A little farther on Duly Elected broke, and as he continued to go xinkindly during the rest of the journey ha was easily beaten at the finish. Gertie M. and Grandchild showed' no pace, anc l their driveis were reprimanded by the stewards. The Sm-ing Handicap, of three miles, attracted eight starters— Lena Belle, Black Piince, and Verax being fancied in that order. Wildflower and Black Prince were in front at the end of a mil*, closely attended by Lena Belle, with Van Diem-an, George L. 11, and Verax prominent among the others. A mile farther on Lena Bells took the lead; but Van Dieman, George L. 11, and Verax were going so well that they looked as if they would be dangerous. In the lass bit, however, Van Dieman and Verax faded out, and George L. II finished two lengths behind Black Prince, who was 10 lengths behind Lena Belle, the latter winning comfortably. It was a good race to watch, but the back-markers were set a great task, as Verax would have had to average 2min 24sec to the mile to have been up with the winner Tho Ladies' Bracelet Handicap introduced a smart novice in Quartz, a four-year-old mare from M. Edwards' s stable, who made a runaway race of it. The Mace Memorial Handicap provided a good contest. There ■were nine starters* and Sir Hector went off at a smart pace. At the end of a mile, however, ho only Had a slight lead from General Lincoln, Vestina, and Vickery. Entering the last lap General Lincoln was on terms with Sir Hector, the pah being just clear of Vickery and Vestina A little farther on Vickery joined the two leaders, but Sir Hector was far from beaten, and at the back he drew away a?ain. General Lincoln faded out in the last bH and finished 10 lengths behind Vickery. who suffered defeat by Sir Hector by two lengths. Ten went to the post for tha Brighten Handicap. Highlander, Girl, and Victor Huon were the leaders in the eariv stages, but when Highlander faded out Carl went on, and eventually won easily from Victor Huon, who was all out to beat St. Simon for second place. Thurlow, who looked very big, refused to leave the mark. There were only three starters for the Advance H&adicaPn and when AUmount and Myosotis

played, up at the start it looked a certainty for Duly Elected. After losing a good few seconds at tho start, however, Myosotis settled down in good style, and, catching Duly Elected a long way from home, he won with a lot in hand. The winner is a nioelooking three-year-old colt by Huon, who will be heard of again before long. In the Telegraph Handicap the southern horse Two-ur soon overhauled the horses in front, and won. very easily from All Day, who appears to be a light of other days. The day's sport was brought to a close with the Final Handicap, for which the field numbered seven. General Mac went off smartly ; but at the end of two furlongs ho- fell, and Almond, who was close behind him. also came down, but fortunately no one was hurt. Valentia led past the stanil, but his driver appeared to have a good deal of his attention centred on Almond, who had regained his feet and continued in the race without a driver. Half a mile from home Sir Hector and Onward passed Valentia., and Sir Hector eventually won eornfortal^ly from Monte Carlo, who beat Onward comfortably ia the run Home for second place. Mp.chino Gun is a legulav attendant at tho BiecaTton tracks, but he has not b"en given any severe nasks. He looks well, though a trifle on ihe big side.

About 30 local horses will be away at Wellington and Opmaru this week, so that inatteis will be very quiet at Riccarton. Next week, however, they should bo pretty lively, p.s, in addition <o our own horses, we shall soon have the first of the visitors for the Cup meeting. T. Sheenan intended to take his two-year-old filly by Ben Trovi^o — Greek Maid to Wellington, but she has contracted influenza and lia-s been thrown out of work.

Golden Knight gave Caliljre a decisive beating ove-r a mile and a-ha.lf on the trial grzss track on Thursday, covering the distance in 2min 42=.:c. GcJden Knight finished well. The performance was very creditable. He^ still shows lameness in the knee when walking, but it does not seem to affect him when galloping. On the same morning Quarryman>, vith the bes? of the weights, defeated Signalman over a mile and a-quarter in 2rmn 13sec. Both horses are very well, and I fancy Signalman will bo hard to beat at Wellington this 1 week.

The batting market is very quiet at present. There is nothing to record in the way t.f straight-out betting on the Cup, though a fair amount of double business has been tran»» acted, chiefly at long prices.