CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fbitz.

T^e locally-owned horses that were engaged at the recent meeting at Randwic't ainvecl back from Sydney on Friaay, after a very smooth passage. By the same steamer also carna 13 trotting horses, which will proably be seen out at the big meeting to be he.d during Carniva. Week. Chivairy, who was among the horses that returned from Australia last week, is a quiet tip in some quarters for the Stewards' Handicap, and, with only 7.11 to carry, he has certainly been given a good chance to distinmen himself. A year ago, when weighted at 7.10, he made most of the running, only succumbing inside the distance. So far as condition is concerned, hs should be pretty well thid year, but I ant afraid 'his wind infirmity has grown more pronounced, and though ho nray run prominently in the early stages, I <*aiiDt Ms ability to quite see out fiucft « solid six furlongs as the Stewards' Handicap promises to be. Unless ii 3"s a gcod deal better than he was last year, and I can sea no valid reason for anticipating this, he should certainly«-be beaten by Munjoct, who finished in front of him a year ego, after getting very badly away. One of the most improved horses t Ricearton just now is Blythemaid, who has come on very rapidly during the last fortnight. 1 expect to find her running pretty weil at the iVcrth Otago meeting, and, though I Jo not fancy her chance in the New Zealand Cup, it wil) not surprise mo to find her a winner at Ricearton next month.

Stepdancer is getting through some very ueefui tasks, and sho should be in nice order by Xew Zealand Cup day. She will probably *i>3 seen out at Oamaru this week, and her running there may provide a reliable lino as to her prospects in tho two-mile race. Owing to the absence in Wellington oi the light weight, F. Jones, who has been «n geged to pilot her in the New Zealand Cup, [ hear that J. M'Combe will have the mount on Stepdancer at Oamaru.

Mrtkaroff has been responsible for some serviceable work since his arrival at Ricca rton. On Saturday morning he covered a mile and a-half, in company with Letherim and Lapland. The trio finished close together, but Makaroff's was by far tho most pleating performance, as he was carrying a big weight, while the other two horses wero ridden by light beys.

Cross Battery's appearance has not been satisfying the critics during the last few days. She has clone a lot of fast work, and until lecently she was regarded very favourably, but an impression ha-s gained ground that, sho is going off. She may come round again in time for tho Canterbury Jockey Club's m-aetin-g, but I would advise backers to ba cautious about supporting her for the h-tewaids' Handicap.

Kirriemuir is galloping fairly well just now, fcui sho does not *ook nearly at her beu yet. She s'.ill chows signs of lameness, and, though sho may win races, she is never likely, front present indications, to etand the preparation necessary to enable her to show what sho js really capable of. The Ricearton two-year-olds aio bein-^ bustled aloi:g now. Appearances aie sometimes deceptive, and it may be best to wait till they are seen in public beforo expressing any definite opinions regarding them. At present, however, I am inclined to think that we have not got many champions among our two-yesr-okls. Probably the speediest, till she went wrong, was Guidwife, by Clanranaid — S?.feguard, and it was unfortunate for her connections that she should have gone amiss, aa half a mile may always suit her better than the longer journeys that will have to be negotiated later in tho season. Another promising youngster in Isim, by Pilgrim's Progress—Nantes, who has a-so been causing her trainer eoine anxiety of kte. Fcr the sako of Mr Dalgcty I hope the trouble is not bciious as the filly certainly looks like being a good stake-earner. Beforo tho season is much older it may be found that the best two-year-old -at Ricearton is Kirriemuir's brother, Glcncullooh. He was not going on so well as tome of tho others up till a week cr two a4>o, but he is now improving very fact, and though he may never be quite so good as his brilliant sister, I will bs veiv much surprised if ho does not win lot 3of races later on.

On Friday next general entries a-re tluj for tli a Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting, and on the same day a payment haa to ba made for the Xcw Zealand Cup, Stewards' Handicap. Welcome Stakes, D-erby, and Oaks So far as tho Cup is concerned, a careful study of the list makes it apparent that wo «ro very short of good performers over a distance. A very small proportion of those engaged can ba regarded as- fit for a pace in n decent Cup field, but this veTy tcaroty of high-class animals will probably induce many owners to make another payr..ent, and the result may be a big acceptance, a final derision being deferred til! rearer the day of tbo race. The Stewards' Handicap is certain to draw a good acceptance, aa there are plenty of hori.es engaged that may bo ba ; d to possess a first-class ihance of landing the rich prir<». Tho Welecni? Stakes never fails to secure a big field, ai.d this year's laco is not likely to be aii exception. The Derby and Oaks, on the other hand will probably dwindle down to small dimrPiisiom, though the- abasnee of an 7 hijrh-dass performers, taking recent running a«. a iMiido. may indu~c some owners to lea"c in moderates, which would otherwise be rescrvod for lets ambitious tasks.

A gcod Goal of discussion has been caused, during the last f<_w dayi, over an in-eidcat aiisitig out of tho recent meeting at Ohoky A protest was entered against the winner of the Hunter's Handicap on the ground that iho starter at the meeting- was a disqualified person tmd<?r tho Rules of Trotting, and therefore was not qualified to act. The stewards of the Ohoka Club wero to meet a night or twe ago fo consider tho matter, but I ha'-e not heard the result yet. A special meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association has been called for Wednesday io fonsiJ-cr this and other phases of the same cas?. Tho facts are that Mr J. L. Qarl, the cause of all the trouble, i 9 on the Forfeit List for a fnio of £2 due to the Trotting Association, but ho is not a disqualified person. Comment on the case may be deferred in tho meantime, but, having looked up the Rules of Racing and the Rules of Trotting, I iia<*e been unable to discover anything v/hich will prejudicially affect any of the horses or persons taking part in the Ohoka meeting. .The weallitr. iraj agswn fine ©a Wedjiesttaj^

wtfe-n the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting was concluded. There was a very large attendance — in fact, I do not remember to have ever seen so many people previously on the New Brighton course. The racing, tco, was much better than I expected would be the case, with the^big meeting of the Metropolitan Club so close at hand. Proceedings opened witn the Innovation Handicap, for which the field numbered eight. A hot favourite waa made of Ratawood, a neat-look-irg three-year-old colt by Wildwocd — Rita. He soon worked his way to the front, but Major Ro+hsea- was gradually making up his ground, and turning for home I thought he had the i n ce in hand. Half-way down the straight 'Major Rothsea. siruck Jriinself and faltered, and though he was catching Ratawood again, the latter lasted long enough to win by a head. In the meantime, at anyrate, Ratawood is not a high-class colt, but Major Rothsea is likely to bo a very gcod horse later on. JtSen Blackwood, who finished third, should be a winner soon. The Spring Handicap, of three miles, attracted 11 starters, Impatient, Hinau, and C«.rl being the most fancied. The race was a good one all tho way, but J. P.. taking the lead a mile from home, comfortably stalled off the late runs of Bill, Hinau, «>nd Impatient, who finished m that order close behind the winner. J. P.'s performance was a surprise pfter his pocr displays here recently The Ladies' Bracelet Handicap drew a. field of 13 starters. Mastei Leo. who was favourite, soon worked his way to the front, but he had to be shaicen up in the straight to beat Bugler, who finished very strongiv. Nine went to the _>cst for the Mace tSTemorla.l Handicap, the principal race of tho meeting-. E-'ectrician carried on the running for a time, but at the end of i mite Terra Xovar joined tho leader, the pair beicg followed by Master Poole, Berax, Withington, andi Myosotis, in close order. A little further on Terra Nova drew out clean, and easily holding his >wn to the finish, he wot by half a dozen lengths. At the home turn Myosotis looked sure to bo second, but €he collapsed below the distance — driven to a standstill — and a- great finish *ended in Electrician on* staying Berax and gaining second place by a neok. Cindus was a good favourite of the five starters for the- Brighton Handicap, but. sha had no cha-nce with Hinau, and Tea Tree. The latter led most of the way, but Hinau wore hini down in. the run home, and won by three lengths. There were eight starters for the Advance Handicap, Bell is being a hot fa-venmte, Clare wood made the running bill well into the second mile, when the favourite drew away, and won very easily. I fancy thai Bellis is likely to run again soon, as he seems a very useful sort. Sir Joe was favourite of the "nine stailers for tho Telegraph Handicap, but he stood on the mark. Elmwood was quickly in front, and he was never really troubled. There was a good finish for second place. Frederick getting the best of it from Mambrimo Dofl. with Ben Hu r and Prince Warbeck close up. The dav*s sport closed wi<th the Final Handicap, for which. Grey Echo and Dan Tracy were well backed. Dan Tracy was never dangerous, but Grey Echo ran a good race. He had, however, to strike his colours to Myrtle Girl, who led all the way, and jusi lasted long enough to win by a clear length. The recent spell of fine weather is beginning to be severely felt, and rain is now badly wanted, as the tracks at Ricearton are getting very hard. D. Moraghan's team has been strengthened by -th« addition of Lady Faulkney, who won the District Race at Ohoka. Ivanoff, Sir Percivale. and The Libyan ere expected back froia Napier to-rn<n-row v Sir Percivale broke down prior to the Napier Park meeting. H. Cutts left for Wellington on Saturday with Signalman, Olanchsttan, De Witte, and Goldbeater. They are all in fine trim, and the three o.d hordes should ~un prominently. T. Sheenan has suffered a severe loss by the d°ath of a promising three-year-old colt by Ben Trovato — Sporting Grove, who broke has leg, ar.d had <to be destroyed 1 . Lc'.herift, who is bearing an -"mpfoved appearance since his arrival at Ricearton, is getting through some useful tasks, but he seems to be a lazy worker. Roberts has Lapland looking in rare fettle at present, and he should pick up a race shortly. The two-year-o'-d Guidwife, afte* a week s spell on account of lameness, has resumed work, and is apparently all right again. Ricearton stables will be strongly represented at the North Otago meeting. The team- from this quarter booked for Oamaxu numbering 24 horses, s>s follows -—lng eneuk, Amboise, WiJliwaw, .C&prevna, Jol!y Roger, C'aymore, Stepdancer, Prim, SnowsteJ, Ccck.e-s-hell, Lapland, Waterahoot, Don Orsino, Mercy, Khpnia, Ambuscade, Jahangir, Itoyal Crown, Sea, King, Ilara*i, B ythemaid. Miss Deris, tictty Nell, and Paragon. Included in this lot are uinc •two-year-olds.