CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 50

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bx Fritz.

Wo have just got through another week of fine weather, which has enabled the trainers to push on with their charges, without any interruptions. The tan track at Riccarton has not provided good going, as it holds too much water to be suitable for a winter track; but the sand has been in great order lately. There has been a considerable amount of schooling, and we certainly have a bigger team of jumpers than usual, even if the majority of tfiem do belong to the moderate class. The Treadmill gelding Taskmaster has developed a habit of breaking blood-vessels, and as one of his legs also shows signs of weakness he has been thrown out of commission, and will not be persevered with. The necessity for this course is very disappointing to his connections, who deserved some reward for the great patience that has been displayed with the old gelding. T. Stewart has severed his connection with Sir George Clifford’s Stonyhurst stud, where he has been stud groom for a number of years. I understand he will be succeeded by J. M’Ginnis, at one time a prominent trainer, but who has been employed at .Stonyhurst lately. With his wide knowledge of horses, he should bo an ideal man for the position. Canute, by Charlemagne ll—Lady Helen, has been sold by Mr G. D. Greenwood, and he was shipped to Sydney on Thursday. Sir George Clifford has sold the four-year-old Glenlinnan, by Clanranald—Lady Annie, to the Melbourne sportsman, Mr S. A. Rawdon, and lie will he shipped to his new home by an early boat. On his day he is a useful customer, hut ho has a very unenviable reputation as a horse that only docs his best when he likes. His new owner has good reason to like Clanranald’s stock, as he purchased Broadsword and Sharpshooter a few years ago, and did particularly well with the former. The Glenapp mare Troon is back at Riccarton after a short spell at her owner’s place. She met with a few slight scratches while being taken off the train, but will soon bo all right again. Silver Blaze is getting through a very solid preparation. Of his jumping there has never been room to complain, while he has been galloping in great style. He looks like playing his part well in some of the cross-country events at the Grand National meeting. It is evident there was nothing serious about Tannhauser’s recent lameness, as he is now bowling along again as soundly as ever. The wound on .Sunbeam’s shin, caused by a kick at Hawke’s Bay, bears an ugly appearance, and "may, take some time to heal. It will have the unfortunate effect of preventing the gelding from being schooled, so I suppose he can be marked off, so far as jumping events are concerned, for some time to come. Parable has been schooled a few times over the pony hurdles, and is beginning to show more aptitude- for the game, though she has still a lot to learn. Encore has come on a lot since he came to Riccarton, and it will be no surprise to find M'Aulay winning good races with him next season. Martius, who will race next season as a gelding, has built up a lot during his spell, and he should develop into a good four-year-old. Derrett has also taken in hand the imported mare Flower of the West and Madama, who look healthy, if a trifle on the. light side. They should bo a useful pair later in the year. A rising two-ycar-old colt by Varco— Volodia has just been taken in hand by E. Scoullar. Volodia, who is by Stepniak— Waimate Maid, was a speedy customer, and her youngster, though small, is a promising sort. Two of the Chokebore contingent, Merry Trick and Don Francisco, have shown signs of lameness lately. On breeding lines they have a lot to recommend them, as Merry Trick is a sister to Counterfeit, while her mate is by Treadmill—Madowla, and it will be a matter for regret if they will not stand the necessary work to fit them for racing. Mr D. Rutherford’s recent North Island purchase, Mescal, was schooled over hurdles on Thursday. He ran about a good deal, hut this was probably owing to the fact that it was his first, .experience of jumping by himself. A more serious drawback, however, is that he makes a hit of a noise when - galloping, and I am afraid he is touched in the wind. Nightwatch is in easy work at present, and shows no signs of unsoundness; but it remains to be seen how he will act when he has to take on severer tasks. Flora Macdonald is going - on in the right way just now. It is to be hoped this mare will remain sound, as she should be capable of winning some good races'. Warstep is being hacked about the roads, and will soon be in regular Work again. Her elder sister, Stardancer, will probably be retired to the stud. Quarantine is moving along nicely in the easy work that is being allotted him. He has built up into a fine home, and seems quite sound. His full brother, Stevedore, is very forward, and will bo given a chance to earn distinction at the Grand National meeting. Teviotdale is in regular work, though ho continues to show signs of soreness. Though the New Zealand Cup is still four months off, owners are already lookingfor horsemen. I hear the Wellington jockey M. M‘Donald has boon secured for Spccialform, while he may also pilot her sister, Formnal, in the Stewards’ Handicap. The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club has launched out on a now mm m connection with its classic races. For some years nominations for yearlings have been taken in September, but in future they will not close till the autumn, thus following the practice of English and Australian clubs. This change may not please some Now Zealand owners who breed their own hprsos, but it will be a fine thing for the increasing number who patronise the Australian yearling "’sales. In the. old days, when clubs'were in need of funds, the early closing of entries was very useful, hiit there is no such need now for the practice to ho continued. ‘ The monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held on Tuesday. The following programmes were approved :—Amherlcy Steeplechase Club, Geraldine Hunt Racing Club, Wai-

mate District Hunt Club, Christchurch Hunt Club, Geraldine Racing Club, South Canterbury Hunt Club, Christchurch Hunt Club, Ashburton County Racing Club. The removal of the disqualification imposed on W. SI. Lloyd by the South Canterbury Jockey Club was approved. The transfer of the bay filly Occasion from E. G. Robertson to J. On* was approved. A grant of £lO 10s was made to the publishers of the New Zealand Turf Register.

An important addition to the Dominion’s thoroughbred stock has been made recently in the shape of four English-bred fillies, which are now quartered at R. Derrett’s stables at Riccarton. Their importation is the outcome of an arrangement between Mr G. Palmer and Mr W. H. E. Wanklyn. For some years Mr Wanklyn has advocated the introduction of fresh blood, both in marcs and sires, in order to maintain the standard of New Zealand horses, and before Mr Palmer left for England an agreement was arrived at that ho should purchase young mares for export, as opportunity arose. During the last few years thoroughbred values in England have increased very considerably, largely owing to the activities of European and South American breeders. The demand for marcs is particularly keen, a fact that is demonstrated by the big prices "which are paid for them when they win selling races, by comparison with the sums realised by colts in similar circumstances. For this reason Mr Palmer has experienced some difficulty in securing as many suitable young mares as ho would like, at a reasonable cost. He had booked steamer accommodation for a second shipment of six, but found himself without the animals, and had to cancel the order for space. The four fillies which are now at Riccarton still bear some evidence of their long voyage, two of them being very low in condition, while they all suffer in appearance from lack of the attention they would receive in a racing stable. They will, however soon get over those drawbacks, with a return to good and they should soon be looking in the bes\of order again. Heather, who will rank as 'a four-year-old here at the beginning of next month, is a dark chestnut of about 16 hands. She os badly off for condition, but when she fills out she should be a handsome mare. She was bred by Mi- S. B. Joel, and has never raced, being quitted on account of the large number of young ones her owner had coming on. She is by St Denis or Bachelor’s Button from Guidwife, by Surefoot-—Brose, hv Scottish Chief—Titbit, by Weatherbit—Theresa, by Touchstone. Bachelor’s Button, who is accepted as the sire, is by Winkfieldi, a son of the unbeaten Barcaldine. He commands a stud fee of 98gs, and ho is one of the most promising young sires in England, bis Inst hatch of yearlings averaging 260 gs. Guidwife’s sire, Surefoot, is best known in these parts through Sir Foote, a highly successful racehorse and sire in Australia, Sir Foote’s dam being a halfsister to Surefoot. Heather has an infusion of blood that has been very successful in New Zealand. Her grand-dam, Brose, is by Scottish Chief, whose daughter, Scottish Lassie, was the dam of Clanranald. The second of the imported fillies is unnamed, and is rising three years, being by St. Denis—Lady O. by Ladas—Sit. . Cecilia, by St. Serf—Melody, by Tynedale. St. Denis is by St. Simon—Brooch (half-sister to Collar and Sceptre), by Blue Green—Ornament (sister to Ormonde). Ladas, the sire of Lady C., is by Hampton, whose mares are greatly prized at the stud. St. Denis was a good racehorse, and though he started his stud career in a modest way, he has forced his way to the front, his last lot of yearlings averaging 463g5, while he now commands a fee of 98gs. The filly under notice thus boasts a pedigree that is full of the most successful lines, with St. Simon figuring at the top and bottom. She is well- grown, with exceptionally big hone, and seems certain to attract a lot of attention. Lady Veles, also rising three years, is a, light chestnut, with two white fetlocks and a white blaze on the face. Like the other two fillies, she has plenty of size to recommend her, and when she puts on a little more condition she will attract a lot of attention, as she is a particularly fine mare. She is by Veles —Ladv Redcar. by Ian —Lady Carlton, by Jolly Friar or Carlton- —Sabrina, by Lord Lyon—Atonement. Veles. who is best known here as the sire of Valido, is by Isinglass—Velleda, by Robert the Devil —Idun, by Rosicrucian. Veles was a good racehorse, while his sire, Isinglass, by Isonomy—Deadlock, was the champion of his day. He is the sire of John o’ Gaunt, who is one of the most successful stallions in England at the present time. The fourth of the importations is Shebeen 11. another rising three-year-old by Veles —Ballyhut. by Aborigine—Ballycastle, hv Bird of Briarht Riband. by Marconi. This filly—Freedom—Blue Riband, bv Prince—is not so big as the other three, and is a trifle light in the bone; but she has a fine middle piece, and is altogether a very evenly-made fillv. The four fillies will be offered for sale during Grand National week, and even if they never race, th«y should prove valuable additions to the breeding stock of the Dominion, as they introduce lines of blood Quite distinct from those now available here. July 13. • The North Canterbury and Oxford Jockev Club held a sports gathering on Sat-urdav, the programme including two steeplechases and' two hurdle races. The fields were, small, and the quality of the performers decidedly moderate. In the First . Steeplechase Tim Dnolan was the only one to get round, the other three starters sticking up early, though the fences were by no means severe. I was not altogether impressed with Tim Doolan. He jumped all right; but I have an idea he may not have done enough fast work to fit him for a hard race. The Second Steeplechase wont to the hunter St. Ehvvn after a safe display of fencing. Of the other four starters, three refused at the first and second fences. Ohakea was the only one to race with the winner, and he tired at the finish. Ohakea is a Vladimir gelding owned by Mr G. L. Stead This was his first effort over country, and when seasoned he should he useful among hunters, as ho has a lot of pace. The hurdlers were not a good lot. Corrie was the best of them. She was making her first appearance' over obstacles, and created a very favourable impression. She jumps cleanly, and has the further recommendation of being a decent stayer. Merrit Valet was a competitor in one . of the hurdle races, but gave a .poor display. Later in the day lie won a welter race on the flat in good stvlo. Silver Shield and Veritas loft for Wellington on Saturday night, -while Tim Doolan and Ohakea went north to-night. Mr J. R- Charlton, who _ committed suicide by taking poison during Friday night, was a well-known veterinary surgeon, who had been in practice hero for a number of years. He was honorary official to

the Canterbury Jockey Club and all the local trotting clubs. He was specially interthe sulky driving his own horses in races. He had a high professional reputation, his knowledge of veterinary science being very wide, and some of the loading owners and trainers were among his warmest admirers. The trotting horse Manclarene was in a bad way a few days ago. He had a severe attack of inflammation, and his condition at one time was serious. But he is now recovering. Parable was schooled over hurdles this morning, and gave the best display of jumping she has yet been responsible for.