CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 63

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Feitz.

Favoured by the fine weather, the Ricoarton trainers have been busy with their yearlings during the week. As previously . stated, we have a very large number of juveniles this season, and most of them have .now been handled. So far as the older horses a.ro concerned, there has not been much doing at Riocarton, the majority of the trainers having been away at the Ashburton meeting. Many of tho boirses that competed' there will be ratting in the near future at Oamaru and Dunedin, where other local owners will also be represented A study of the nominations for tlhe tw ; o events at the Dunedin meetins; leads to the conclusion that while there are a good number of cross-country' horses about in the southern districts, thoy are not a very high-class lot, most of them being veterans of -the hunting type. Dorando, who is trained at Riccairton, is an exception'. He is a novice to dross-country work, but tlhe style in which he shaped when he won the two 'hurdle races at the Easter meeting art; Riocarton left room for hope that he may developo into a highgrade performer, quite tap to Grand National company. In the hurdle races numbaira are also highly satisfactory, tbouig'h here again it is difficult to pick Out any prospective champions. However, it may be unwise to take a too pessimistic view of tho position. It v would be quite cheering' if we could discover one or two top-notcbers to represent the south against the North Islanders at the Grand National meeting.

The Ashburon County Racing: Club's meeting, Which was held last week, was one of the mosti successful fixtures I have eveir witnessed at Ashburton. There was a vary large attendance on the first day, including a.ni /uinuiSTially strong contingenti from Christehurch. 'On • the second day 'the crowd was not so large, but specula.tion was even brisker than on the first day. Tho totalisator investments? for the meeting were £11,508 10s, compared." with £6183 last year, when, however, bookmakers' fees brought in substantial additional revenue. Taken all round, the racing was very interesting, and' there wleire some very close finishes*.

The Ashburton meeting served to introduce to notice a fresh aspirant for starting honours in the person of Sir R. E. Harley A few years ago Bob Hair ley was one of the best and most popular amateur ridetrs in New Zealand, and he scored many due cesses over hurdles and fences, not only in events confined to (gentlemen riders, but in open races as well. Now, like- many men who fro racing-, lie has conceived lan idea that he is cut out for the duties of a starter. Unlike the majority who get this notion, he showed at Ashbui-ton that in his case the idea was justified. In the final event on the first day the Grove Farm Handicap, he let the field away in straggling- fashion, and spoilt the race. This, however, was his only bad start during fcho two days, 'and, taken all round', Ihe acquitted himself with great credit. He got Ids fields off! in good line, and with a minimum of delay. If we can take his Ash- j burton form as a sample of what we mjxy ! look for in the future, we have discovbred a starter destined to make a big name all over ithe Dominion, provided he cares to offer his services to the clubs. Good star-

tors are very scarce, so that Mir Hai-ley's appearance in the role is doubly wdkxame. His experience in the saddle probably assists him, and it seems to mo the jockeys acted as if they had confidence in him.

Routine, who won the Ashburton. Cup, created a bis: surprise, as she was the absolute outsider of the field. She is an eight-vear-old mane, having been bred in 1902 by the Hon. J. D. Ormond, and is by Sir Lancelot from Queen of Trumps, the dam of the grey mare Trumpery, who was killed while talcing part in a Grand National Hurdle Race a few years ago. Rou-tine-had mo previous book form, to recommend hen- for such a race. She won a hack race at Feilding on April 1. 1907, but though she has done a lot of racing since thou, I can find no trace of her having won. In the Ashburton Cup she showed pace and stayinsr power, and heir effor* •roos quite attractive. On the second day, iin the Autumn Handicap, she showed fractiousness at the post, this being, so E learned, her customary practice, though there wa»9 no isign of it* on the first day. After getting off very badly, . she ran % sterling iraco, and finished third. After witnessing her second day effort I was satisfied their© had been no fluke about her win on the previous day. When she gets (off decently she can always be relied on to make a good showing in any .irdlun-a-rv field. . Crosbie won a double at Ashburton, and bra record now standi, at six wins out of his Last! seven start®. His defeat Avas sustained in the Autumn Plate at Ricca.rton, won by Montiform. 'As showing how Crosbie" has come on since then, howevo:|. it, is worth noting that True Knight befit him on Easter Monday over a mil© at even weights, while last week, over six furlongs, Crosbie 10.5 won easily, with True Knight 9.2 unplaced. Crosbie, who is by Lupin from a Vanguard mare, is a strongly-built colt. He has a good turn of pace, whicin should always enable him to get a good position in his race, and I am prepared to find him performing well next season in good sprinting company. I understad he cost Mr Hobbs £25, so that he lias proved a irare bargain. Gold Coin, who ran two. good races at Arihburton., is a likely sort of a fillv. by Calibre or Golden Knight from the Australian mare Aiumini, by Patron,— Agiato. Gold Coin has pace, and looks as if she mitrht stay fairly well next season. _ .Stepmetier ran well each day, and in his class he is very useful. He changed hands on the evening of the first day. and won next diav for his new owner. He; 13 a five-year-old. bv Stepniak, his dam. Demeta, "by Wallace—Eleusis, being a haltsister to Delusive, the dam of the crack two-year-old Counterfeit.. . Armstrong goes on improving, and he is now a verv useful sort. At the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting he got a bad start, and seemed unlucky to bo beaten. That this was an accurate sum-, ming up of the position was demonstrated at Ashburton, where be won each day in impressive style. He showed' plenty ot pace, and as he carries weignt well he should! lbs worth keeping an eye on in metropolitan company next season Cronstadt was strongly fanoied for tho Ashburton Cup, but got mixed up m tno tapes, and lost some ground. Ota the second day he was also slow off the mark. 1 do not think, however, he could have won either day on the showing he gave, even U It© had got off decently. At his best this brother to All Red is very useful, but he m a veTy unlucky horse. * Canterbury showed good form in the Ashburton Cup. He has come on a lot during the last few months, and I quite expect to see him win a good race before long. One would expect him to be useful, seeing that he is by Pilgrim's Progress from a verv speedv mare in Suzannah, who could go as fast" as' most horses when she was racing. „. Friwolliti won tn-e Lagmhor Hate in good stvle, but her form on the second day, combined with that of some of the; horces who finished behind her. showed that the Pallas—Pleasure Seeker filly is no more than ordinary. She does not take tne eye as ever likely to do much good. I saw several two-year-olds racing at Aehburton, and one or two of them may do well later on. Mere, by Calibre—Jadestone, the dam of Explosion, -is a likelylooking colt that should turn out well wnen he has had a bit of racing. Trramphator, by Martian—Clymen-3, is a well-built colt but was not in racing trim. He took my fancy however, as a. youngster full of promise'.' Amalgam, by Golden Knignt— Aiumini, is another likely sort, and Mettle, , bv Calibre—Walda, by Perkin Warbeck ll—Chiara. by Cuirassier—Ouida, is bred on lines which are attractive enough for anything. " Mademoiselle Ixe. created a favourable impression when she won the Trial Handicap. She showed a rare turn of speed, and gave the impression that she was worth keeping in mind 'for the sprint events later on. She is a three-year-old filly by Stepniak, from the Australian mare Mias Dalrymplo, by Pilgrim's ProgressKate Dalrymple. I took a'fancy at Ashburton to Meroedo, a four-year-old gelding by Welbeck—Nautiloid, by Musketry—Nautilus. This halfbrother to Pilgrim's Way can go fast and he may develop into a useful horse if given a chance.

■ Sea King has more than once shown a partiality for the Ashburton course. m the Grove Farm Handicap, on the' first day of last week's meeting:, he dashed off in great style, getting all the best of the start, and was never troubled'. On the strength of that effort he was solidly backed over a mile- on the second day. but faded out a long way from home. Perhaps the explanation of his poor showing was that he does not like battling his way. I have always held the opinion that he is not a fighter, though a brilliant galloper when ho has fno conditions of the race made to suit "him. Kohinoor was one of the sufferers from the bad start in the Grove Farm Handicap on the first day at Ashburton. On the second day. in the Wakanui Handicap, ho (rot off well, and ran a great race, jinly just failing by a head Last season Ivohinoor, who is by Royal Fusilier—Bijou, a pedigree with speed on both sides, was very near the front rank of our two-yoar-olds. He has grown into a fine-looking hori?e. and he should be capable of some useful performances in the best handicap company, though I doubt if he will ever earn high distinction except over short courses, say. up to sewn furlongs, but shorter for choice. The Cornet was finishing l well in this Grove Farm Handicap on the first day at Ashburton, and the effort evidently impressed the handicapper, as he raised him on tli© second day, asking him to meet Sea

King and All Guns, who had jus* beaten him, on very unfavourable terms. Th,< Cornet was always near the front in tfa< Autumn Handicap, and though Kilte lookec like beating him a hundred yards frorr home, ha came again gamely and won by a little less than a length. The Cornet. who was formerly owned by Mr A. Boyle{ chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club, was sold some time ago to a West Coasl sportsman. He showed some pace when trained at Riccarton, but has evidently inS proved a lot since going to the Coast, and ho can now be classed as a very useful little horse. He is by the St. Leger house Hand* some Jack, his dam, Orchestra, by biough—Melody, being a sister to Melo 5 * dious dam of the Australian sire Wallace* I should say The Cornet will not have t<J| wait long to win another race. Miss Sylvia, who won the Wakanui Han* dicap at Ashburton, is a nice-looking marel by Sylvia Park from Misfortune, a mare who does not appear to be in the Stud Book. Mies Sylvia has won in differenfi parts of the Dominion, and over shord courses she is decidedly smart. Mum-lira, by St. Ambrose —Flame, co:nM tinues to run pretty well, but without success. He is coming on nicely, however,;, and I do not think we have seen the besfti. of him yet. He "would be a good sort_to : own, but I do not know if be is in tfiai' market. Bombastes, who won the Disposal Han* dicap at Ashburton, is a 10-year-old brother to the Great Autumn Handicap winner,' Palaver, by Apremont—Flatter. H* changed Hands for £ls after the race, and is now at Riccarton, under the care of B. Longley, who is likely to have soma" trouble, I fancy, to do much good with him. •. As usual the trotting events at Ashburton . attracted good fields. On the first day Restoration just beat Bold Maid after a good finish. The winner is a ing gelding by General Lyons, who looks - like leaving useful stock. On the secondi day there was another fine finish, Momess a three-year-old sister to Aberfeldy, taking"* the honours. Both the winners were handled by J. Brankin. Among the beaten', ones I took a fancy to Princess Tracey and Empres Eugenie, a pair of two-year-old* by Prince Imperial. ■ At the meeting of the committee of the; Canterbury Jockey Club held last week the programme of the South Canterbury Hunt meeting on June 5 was approved. Thai North Canterbury Jockey Club reported that upon further inquiry H. Donovan's disqualification had been cancelled. Tha* following licenses were granted:—Trainers?- I —G. A. Pine, E. T. George; jockeys', &M Wood; apprentices', A. M. Groat. ' The* following transfers were approved:— J J Grigg to W. H. Gray, Silver Bullet; "WQ I Walters to A. H. Bennett, filly by Soult—H I Erey Roe; J. Lynch to Jemes Hill, Hierv. ' : arch—Senga filly; W. Dunn to Lance Wood, Monorosae. The Programme Com--mittee recommended that the conditions ot I the New Zealand Cup should be the soma I as last year. With regard to the Grand I National meeting, the committee recom-t M mended that the Jumpers' Flat Race and 9 Winter Cup should be transposed m the •; order on the card, being more convenient I far the purposes of luncheon, and that: the? I added money to the Woolston Plate sho-old ' be increased to 120sovs, the second to re* oeive 20siovs and third lOsovs out of that I stake. This alteration would not the winner's hack qualification. With these --' exceptions the Grand National programme would be the same as last year. The re< port was approved. Thj annual meeting of the Ohoka and Eyreton Jockey Club was hew recently M# F. Beker presiding. The balance-shee£ showed a credit of £250. The anunal rao« meeting was fixed for October 5, and it waj( decided to offer £SOO in stakes. were elected as follows:—President, Mr W$ : Chapman; vice-presidents, Messrs F. Beker. 1 J. Bailey, M. J. Dixon, and T. Sullivan;' honourary treasurer, Mr J. M'Grath; judge-, ' Mr W. Cunningham; starter, Mr HL ; Thompson; handicappers, Mr J. E. Henrys and Mr H. Brinkman; clerk of the course, Mr W. Murphy; timekeeper, Mr R. "Walt laoe. Last year's stewards were re-elected,, and Mr J. H. Power was elected chairman: of committee. In recognition of Mr Fi' Belter's services to the club he was elected: a life member. A vote o.f condolence with' the family of the late Mr T. Burgess was passed. The Canterbury Park Trotting ■ Club has* altered the dates of its winter meeting to! Saturday, May 27; Thursday, June 1; and Saturday, June 3; the Minister of Internal Affairs having represented Jhat the dates} originally selected cover too long a" period of time. i

A meeting of the Ashburton Trotting* Club was held last week, Mr H. F. Nicolt presiding. A letter was read from th« Under-Secretary granting a totalisator pet* mit for the club's meeting on June i 5 an<l 16. A letter was received from Mr C. Purnell ore behalf- of the Ashburton course trustees, granting the use of thtf trotting track for the club's meeting. Mis J. C. Robertson, M.R.C.V.S.,- agreed to ad as hon. veterinary surgeon to the club. lij was decided to forward the following remit' for consideration at the New Zealand Trot-. ting Association's Conference, to be hel<J at Wellington in July:—"That trotting clubs 'be compelled to submit dates of theiij, meetings to the conference for the ensuing" season. ' The Chairman explained that ha had been appointed on a sub-comimittea that had been set up in Christchurch re< cently for the purpose of presenting a testk monial to Mr P. Selig, the president of the, New Zealand Trotting Association., who wa? about to make an extended trip to Aus-; tralia. Reference was made to the good; work which had-been carried out by Mrj Selig, who had beerf mainly responsible fotf raising the status of trotting, and had there* fore assisted in no small degree in making! the sport more popular with the public, fij was unanimously decided to vote fiye( guineas towards the testimonial. May 15.Eunis and Do ran do were schooled overt fen© big fences at Ricearton on Saturday, jumping two circuits in good style. Do* rando shapes remarkahlv well for a novioel Eurus. who is galloping well _ and 1 gettins} through a solid preparation, is a difficult horse to ride, but L. Hegarty, who has taken service with W. Clarke, appears to manage him all right. Corona is expected from Ashburton duiv iner the week, to bo schooled again, after which he and Burns will be shipped t<S Wanganui for the winter meeting there. The Australian-bred mare Edna May, who arrived at Ricearton recently, hai gone into F. Holmes's stable. Unfortu* nately ehe has an infirmity in the wind* Another recent addition to Holmes's teams is a useful-looking gelding called Good Faith. He has been hunted, "with I&yi

Enfield hounds, and is reported^ to be fencer He is engaged in the Jplechattvent. at the Buncdin Jockey R eat them to a spell. They have both m a fair amount of racing lately, ana KS& fas ~Sf feftwil they're going liancer, the yearling My by M£ Pnl^lcert^ Sfeh and otherwise hurt her mouth, biie Seticallv right again, and waa on the ~+"• sKanelv filly, showing lots ot quality, 1 like most of Martian's stock, she is youngster.