CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 56

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Feitz.

The weather conditions .during the past week have been very favourable for training operations.- With so many horses away at Trentham, however, the Wellington Racing Club’s fixture is the chief subject of interest with local sportsmen. It is not often, in fact, that so many Riocarton stables are represented at a foreign meeting as is the caso,..in connection with the present Wellington Cup gathering, the result being that local news is very scarce. On the return of the various local teams from Trentham matters will liven up a little, as the summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be on us in less than a fortnight. This is usually a ; local fixture, visiting horses being extremely | rare, but it is very popular with our own people. There are- many people who regard it as the most enjoyable of the race meetings held at Riocarton. It provides a great contrast when compared l with the New Zealand' Cup meeting, with its big fields and crowds of people, but the racing is usually of an interesting character, and the gathering is more of the picnic order. Nominations for the summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club closed on Friday, and the list makes good reading. All the local stables are well represented, and there are also a few visiting horses engaged. The Midsummer Handicap, the principal handicap event, has attracted a good nomination, and there is reason to anticipate a more than usually interesting contest. There is still a big crowd of horses in the Middle Park Plate, .'but some of , them have doubtless been left in by mistake. At tbe same time, however, there is ample material to provide a good race. Canterbury horses made a very moderate showing on the opening dlay of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. Armlet was distinctly .unlucky in meeting such a smart light weight as Equitas. Armlet is galloping as well as ever this season, but she is well up in the weights, and is al- ; ways liable to bump against something de- I cent well down in the handicap.

The South. Canterbury Trotting- Club's j annual race meeting was held on the Wasihdyke course on Thursday. Since the last meeting the olub has laid down a new course of six furlongs, and' it provided fair going. There were good fields for most of the races, and the sport was of a very interesting character. Thirteen bookmakers were licensed at a lee of £lO each, and they appeared to do a big volume of business. Racing commenced with the Trial Handicap, for which nine lined up. Midnight, a four-year-old mare by Prince Imperial, was in charge at the end of three furlongs, and she won easily by six lengths from Vondey, who beat Little Chris by 50 yards. There were 14- starters for the District Handicap. St. Omen was soon out in front, and he made all the gunning. Delaney, ridden by M. Edwards, gradually overhauled him, and Just got up | in the last stride, a dead heat being signalled. Princess Mento was a fair third. Twelve was the main for the Timairu Handicap. Tracy Lovett was responsible for the pace, but at the home turn Bamboo was in charge. A bad break settled his chance, and Music went on and won by a dozen lengths, Bamboo beating Gladsome by 40 yards. Ferira was fourth, but he failed to show the pace which his

Plumpton running ihad prepared us for. A field of 15 lined up for the Ladies’ Bracelet Handicap. Bonnie Prince and Franzalena were a pair of strongly-fancied candidates, but they had the bad luck to get .mixed up in a scrimmage at the start, which settled their chances. Cabbage Tree was in front for a mile, when she was passed by Miss Doreen. Turning for home the leaders broke, and Pom Pom won by 4-0 yards from Cabbage Tree, with Princess May three lengths away. Nine turned out for the Washdyke Handicap. Pinewocd, Ferira, and! Bellwind were responsible for the early running, but Opihi caught them six furlongs from home, and won by six lengths from Ferira, who beat Pinewood by 40 yards. The Trotters’ Handicap attracted' seven starters. Violet M., Valraore, and St. Omer were in front all the way, Violet M. just beating Valmore by a length, with St. Omer a dozen lengths away, and Ivy Dean close up. The day’s sport was concluded with the farewell Handicap, for which eight horses lined up. Midnight, Pom Pom, and St. Cyrus showed the way to the straight, where Music dtrew

out and won by six lengths from Midnight, who beat King Lynn by a dozen lengths, with Pom Pom close up. Stepenfeldt, who broke down at the last Grand National meeting, is again in work, and may (bo seen out in Hurdle races later in the season,. “ '

Vinco, by Conqueror, is the most recent addition to Longley's stable at Rieearton. The Libyan has been taken in hand by P. Holmes after a few months' spoil, which appears to have done him good. Gravitation, who looks well after his season at the stud,, sprinted half a mile on Saturday in a manner which showed that he has not lost his brilliancy. Gwendoline, still sho vs signs of unsoundness, and I am afraid she is not likely to survive a severe preparation. All Guns is moving along in attractive style, and he should be a winner shortly. Nothing at Riccarton is going better than Prim. It will be a surprise to me if she dee not win a good race before the end of the season. -••