CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS

By FaiTZ. - With the weather continuing exceptionally fine, the trainers at Riccorton are finding: little difficulty in eeourinjr plenty of galloping ground. Horses -with early engagements are being kept right up to the collar, and from present indications they should bo well forward when they are called on to race. The Ashburton County Racing Club's meeting, the first of the spring fixtures, will take place in c- fortnight. The nominations closed on Saturday night, and they are in every respect highly satisfactory, both in the matter of numbers and quality. If we can accept the Ashburton lists as a guide, I should say we are likely to have some particularly interesting racing at the various country oourses this 6eason. The Amberley Steeplechase^ Club's meeting was held on Thursday in perfect weather. The favourable conditions at.tracted a- large number of visitors" from Christchurch, many of them going out in motor cars, while the. special train was also well patronised. "Viewed as an outing — a pleasant day in the country, the gathering was a thorough success. So far as the olub's finances were concerned, the result was also satisfactory, as the slight falling off in totalisator receipts was more than made up by the bookmakers' fees. From a racing point of view, however, fit was a failure; in fact, I cannot remember ever attending a, meeting where the sport was much worse. A start was mad© with the Maiden Steeplechase. There were only two starters, and Pacific, despite an unsightly knee, never left the is?ue in doubt, winning by a quarter of a mile. Wanganui gave a wretched exhibition of jumping — very diff-erreirt from what one has grown to expect from the Elworthy hunters. The Hunters' Hurdle Handicap attracted four starters, bat at the first 6eno« Zenda, Ben Fortune, and Roan Banner ran oil, leaving Xga-rara to go on by himself. His rider, however, having broken a stirrup-leather, did not seeni very anxious to continue, the result being that Ben Fortune, who had been taken back to the hurdje, got on terms «ix furlongs from home, and won easily by six lengths. There were nine starters for the Kowai Hack Handicap, and Love Wisely, for some stra.nge reason, was served up a red-hot favourite. He was one of the leading division in, the early stages, but ho faded out in the straight, Popgun bearing Castout by two lengths, with Love Wisely three lengths farther baok. Pretty Nell A\as loft at the post, the display given by her rider (D. Price) being unworthy a horseman with a first-class reputation. There was some further fun — the Braokenfteld Steepk>ohaae. The field was confined to three. Passing the stand Deersiayer, usually a very safe jumper, came to grief at a hurdle. At the next fence Wahine tried to run off, and Circus Girl, who waa following close behind, collided with her, the result being that both jockeys were dig--

lodged. Wahine .went off for a gallop ~hv herself, but Swinburne held on to tb« reins of Oircus Girl. He made no effort; to continue, however, and it transpired later that the saddle was broken. In the meantime Cahili remounted Deerslayer, and woni by half a mile from Wahine, who was caught among some trees, and completed the course without further mishap. Seveni lined «p for the Hunters' Flat Handicap, in which Paoifio led alt the way, and wont by two lengths from Pallada, who beati Popgun by three lengths. The horseman-* ship displayed in this race waa not ell first} class. There were four starters for thei Waipara Hack Handicap. Roan Banner And Farley -Grove made the running till the straight was reached, where Roani Banner was beaten, ajid Pretty Nell, shoot* ing out, beat Farley Grove by two lengths 1 ,, with Ru&pehu a lengtTr away, third. AH the conclusion of the race the stewards were called together to inquire into Pretty, Nell's two performances. They took fch«* only course possible in the Waipa-ra Hack] Handicap by paying: out on the winner;but not being satisfied with her display] at the «tart of &c Kowai Back Handicap; they decided to report the crronmstanceg to th© Canterbury Jockey <31ub. A field of -five lined up for the Final Steeplechase.* Wahine fell at the first 'and Ngarajca.at thai' second fence. The other three went ong together till about a mile from home, when! Deerslayer showed signs of tiring, leaving? Wanganui «,%d Thunderstorm together ir«, the lead. Two fences from home- Thunder^ storm came to grief, and Wanganui ■ cams home at his ease>" a hundred yards in front) of Deerslayer. ' Wanganui was ridden byj W. O'CorineU, and he rave a fine exhibition of fencing, in marked contrast to his * display in Cahill's hands in the first race.i The Farmers* Hack Race brought out aj. field of eewn. Kalulu shot to the front! very early, and ifemainei} (there -to thef finish, beatinjr Castout by thres lengthey witi Royal Bsoner three lengths fartben back. . Hazard's lead 4ttg oplit during tha race, turn! the saddle slipped, Ik G. Kinja getting a oasty fall. So ended a day fulf of eicitinpf incidents, though not remark** able for interesting sport. Hazard, who was racing at Amberley lasti week, » a_ good-looking four-year-old b» ■ SmA Ilario. He is vary green yet, bun before fehe season is much older he mayl - be earning distinction in more pretentious cooapany 'than, he met last week. ' W. O'Conneil rode four winners at tbej Amborley Sfeeepleohase Club's meeting: — twoj steepleebasee, one hurdle race, and one flat? race. • V The Amberley Steeplechase Club had spent about £70 in improvements durinfij the past year. The totalisator house had been shifted, hocse-boxes erected, and et refreshment booth built. W. «T. Tagjjart left for Sydney on Thunff day, with Cross Battery And Sfeai Kinpri I understand that st the conclusion of the Australian Jockey's Club'e meeW inj' they will probably be faken ove< to Melbourne for the - meetings at Oauljj field and Flemington, but this will, I expecw depend on how they shape at Randwick. • At the Grasslea. stud Sfr E. J. Watt* Biortey B»ee, by The Cardinal— Barley, hai foaled a colt to Royal Artillery, and will this season visit Boniform. At Mr J. F. Buehane,Ti's Kinlooh stud^ Little River, Grossip, by Wallace — Caroline* has foaled a filly to- Martian, and will agai£ be mated with the same horse. Mr C. Machell has purchased- Leeside,and he has joined M'Donald's team. The- highly promising filly Discipline, by. Treadmill — Madowla, who won her only} two engagements last season-, has gone Jtmies, and has been thrown out ,of trains ing. She will -probably be sent to the stud and meted with danxanald. There wag no more promising Derby candidate at Riccarton, and it is a. piece of* bad luck for Sir George Clifford to lose the service* of such a capable filly. Flrtaway'a burst hoof is (going on eati^« factorilv, and she is doing light exercise. The hurdler Oasis has joined Moraghan'g ' team, having been purchased by a, patrod of his stable. L. G. injured one of his legs wheni he fell from Hazard at Amberley on Thurs-t day. He is able ' to walk with the aid] of a stick, and he should/ eootn be ail right! again. I learn that King has abandoned! the idea of going to Sydney to ride Mr Nicoll's borse*, Cross Battery and Seal King. W. Mulilns, the caretaker at Ricoarton* Is laid up with & severe attack of pleurisy* Munieet's two-year-old' brother, C-rons-tadt, has sprung a curb, and has beepj eased in his work. The filly by Stepniale — Demeter ib suffering from a - similar. trouble. Pilot Is Booked, to leave for Sydney^oti September 1? to take part in cross-country; events at Randwick. He looks in fine} fettle, and is bowling along freely in his tasks. Miss Misohief has wintered well, and sh4t 13 doing good work in view of the Ashbur* ton meeting. At the Stonyhurat etud Sir George Olift ford* Glenowlet, by Olanranald — Madowla^ has foaled a colt to Treadmill.