CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 56

CANTERBURY DOINGS

Bt Fbitz.

The weather conditions during the past ■week have been a decided improvement on those experienced earlier in the season, and there has at last been some legitimate excuse far believing that we -were in the middle of summer. We have had a oucc-es-sicun of warm days, the only drawback being the prevalence of strong north-west winds. Training operations at Riccaiton have, as a consequence, proceeded without interruption, and with the summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club so close at hand trainers have welcomed the favourable conditions, as they have been able to give their charges the fast work necessary to lit them for engagements which will have to be undertaken early. Forfeits for the Middle Park Plate, and nominations for other events to be decided at (lie Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting, on February 1 and 3, closed on Friday, and the result can fairly bo regarded as highly satisfactory. As a rule we do not look for the presence or many visiting horses at this fixture, local stables usually being loft to fight the various events out among themselves. On (ho present occasion, however, there seems a prospect of some outside competition in quite a number of races, and altogether, apart from the fact, that the nominations arc larger than usual, the meeting looks like proving one of the most successful summer gatherings ever held at Riocarton. Twentythree horses have had their engagements in the Middle Park Plate continued, and though many of them arc probably there thi-ough oversight, I can see material for a bettor field than usual. All the leading local stables are it presented. Sir George Clifford ha s left in four, and while Counterfeit, Aut-umnus. and Winning Way have incurred the maximum penalty. Winning Way has a breeding allowance, while Blown Owl can claim full allowances — maiden and breeding. Air G. D. Greenwood has Gnome (a winner in the spring). Canute, and Valido. The last named is an imported threc-vear-old by Vele.s-Slave-away, who, in aedition to maiden and brooding allowances, has a further concession for being sired north of the line, blinking Ins total allowances to 221 b, unless lie happens to win at Wellington. Messrs W. G. and G. L. Stead can roly only on Bon Ton. whose, form sc far has not been high grade. Other local horses engaged are May Dalrymplo, a sma.it galloper, and a recent winner, and -Staidancer, who showed promising form in November. The balance of the list is made up of outsider. Several of them I would write out at once as not likely to enter an appearance, but it is evident that Air K. J. Watt’s Royal Scotch, Mr Hi gliden’s Neircnc, and Air W. E. Bidwill’s Imagination are to bo regarded as live candidates, as each of them has boon nominated for a handicap on the first day, Royal Scotch figuring in the Craven Plato and Imagination and N’eircne in the Filly Stakes. This is pleasant news, and, with the prospect of the Aliddle Park Plate field numbering about nine, including three North Island representatives wo can look forward to the most intciesting contest which that race has provided for many years past. Turning to the other races on the programme, it is interesting to note that they have all filled well, a matter for special congratulation being the fact that there are 15 in the Alidsummer Handicap, the mile and a-half event. The two-year-old handicaps liavc also drawn very large nominations, there being 19 in the Richmond Plate. - Several Ashburton horses figure in tiie lists, while horses from further afield include Odessa. Turna, Aema, Routine, Parable, and John Bunyan. Altogether, it looks a.s if we were in for a first-class meeting. Mr AI. T. APGrath. the Afaslerton owner, who recently returned from a stay in Australia extending over several month*, was a visitor to Riccarton during the week, and. in pursuance of !hi« expressed intention of looking round for a few more horses to take hack to Melbourne, he made two purchases? One of them, tho four-year-old Pua.ka, by St. Ambrose— Neroli, does not appivil to me as

a wise speculation, as his form lias been very moderate. The other horse secured, Palsettia, by Pallas-—Poinseitia reads like a more promising sort. She

can muster up a great turn of speed for half a mile, and, being under pony height, sho may be just the right kind to make a big name among the lilliputians in the Oomnionwealth, where there, is a good opening for smart ponies. The two-year-old Trireme, by Treadmill Chryseis, who was lecently operated on for roaring, is hack at Choke-bore. Ho looks well, bur. lias not done much work yet, f.o it will bo some time before any opinion can be expressed concerning tho result of the operation. Recent results, however, have suggested that this method of treating roaring is a distinct success, tho victory of Undecided in the Wellington Cup being a notable proof of its efliicacy.

Madam Aladcap is running about in one of the Ghokebore paddocks, and I understand tho daughter of f’lanranald—Aladowla will shortly bo sent to Stony hurst, where she will commence stud life next season.

Though Sir George Clifford has so far experienced a successful season with his team, he has had his share of reversals and disappointments lately. The latest occurred last week, when the threc-vear-old colt Antagonist went wrong again, this time so seriously that it is feared his case is hopeless. The son of Sou It—Alisa Annie, who has always been eomewhat under a cloud, showed signs of lameness in tho spring, and after a spell he was recently put into work again. He hud been restricted to light tasks, but one morning during the week he pulled up very lame, and I do not like his chance of racing again. Antagonist only started once in public, but the manner in which he settled the pretentions of a smart field in the Middle Park Plate a year ago showed him to bo a particularly brilliant felt. Few people, however, really know just what a fycat galloper he was. I doubt if a faster horse was over quartered at Cliokeboro, or. for that matter, at Riccarton. At any rate. I have never heard of another that <culd have equalled one sprinting task lie

was responsible for some time ago. The mishap to Antagonist materially weakens the Chokebore team for the autumn campaign. With him in commission the stable locked like winding up the season in brilliant stylo, and even yet, if no more"“accidents occur, the season’s record should bo substantially increased during the next few months;

While at Riccarton during the week I had a look at the Vasco-Madder yearling colt. After his purchase by Mr Highden at the Burnside yearling sale last November it was found that his jaw was badly injured as the result of an accident. The colt was placed under the care of Mr H. Tinker, the well-known veterinary dentist, and under hia treatment a lirst-rate cure has been effected. So well lias the mouth healed that only the closes;; scrutiny discloses any sign of the trouble. A pleasing feature in connection with the colt s recovery is that he never seems to have fallen away in condition, which now, at all events, is all that could be desired. Ho was being ridden for the first time when I saw him, and he took very kindly to the novel conditions Ho is a well-grown, and in every way an attractive colt, and his career will be watched with interest, as, apart from his early mishap, many will be anxious to see how the change of sires will work out with a mare that has been such a consistent success when mated with Stcpniak. A meeting of the Owners’ and Trainers’ Trotting Association was held in Tattersail’s Hotel last week, Mr W. E. Simes presiding over a very large attendance. The Chairman reported that the deputation appointed at the previous meeting to wait on tho Metropolitan Trotting Club with reference to the reduction of stakes in the programme for the club’s February meeting had been received by the club, which could not, however, see its way to curtail or change its programme in any way. It had assured the deputation, however, that the deficiency of the stakes at tho coming meeting would be added to the stakes at the May meeting, and that in future the stakes at the club’s meetings would be increased. In reply to a question, the Chairman said that no definite reason had been given for reducing the stakes. homo time ago the club had a deficit of £6OOO, but it had reduced that amount by £3OOO. The report was adopted, and the thanks of -the meeting was to resuscitate the sleeping who had formed the deputation. The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to resuscitate the slocpinn Owners’ and Trainers’ Association. A letter was received from Mr Ronald 0. Duncan expressing approval at the proposal to revive the association, and suggesting that in the future tho social side of the association should be catered for, and that club rooms should be procured if possible. On the motion of Mr L. B. Hubbard, seconded by Mr T. O. Fox, it was resolved that the name of the association should be the South Island Owners’, Breeders’, and Trainers’ Association. The question of electing a secretary and fixing his salary was left to the incoming committee. Officers for the present season were elected as follows: President, Mr W. E. Simes; vice-presidents —Messrs R. (>. Duncan, L. B. Hubbard, and A. M. Loasby; committee—Messrs W. Kerr. M'Millan, W. Price, R. lies, R-. Allen, G. King, J. Young, M. Edwards, K. Smith, T. G. Fox, C. M’. Threlkeld, and R. Munro; treasurer, Mr G. King. Mr Simes stated that he would put one of his auction rooms at the disposal of tho association for future meetings. A vote of thanks was accorded him for his generous offer. At a committee meeting held after the general meeting, Mr J- Tomkins was elected secretary.

On the following evening the committee of the association met, with Mr W. E. Simes in the chair. The Secretary reported that the membership had reached 150. It was decided to circularise all owners and trainers, with a view to their becoming members of the association. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr M'Cullough, of Tattereall’s Hotel, for hie kind nets in providing a room in which to hold meetings. The question of club rooms was held over to a future meeting. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Simes for providing accommodation for future meetings. I understand that a very large contingent of trotting trainers and horses will journey to Dunedin from Christchurch for the Forbury Park Totting Club’s meeting. Arrangements are being made for holding a meeting of owners and trainers in Dunedin during the progress of the fixture ftn the interests of the recently-revived Owners’ and Trainers’ Association.