CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 50

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz.

There has not' been a great deal stirring here during tiie past week, interest having chiefly centred in the racing at Trentham, or the doing's of tiie Trotting and .Racing Conferences. The fine weather has dried up the Ricoarton, tracks nicely, and trainers have been pushing their onarges along, in view of the Grand National meeting, which is now close at hand. There are indications, too, that it will be a record gathering in many respects. At the beginning of the jumping season there were the usual gloomy predictions concerning the moderate calibre of the horses available for the big races over hurdles and country; but the racing at all the meetings held so far has been excellent. There is no need just now to trouble about arguments as to how they compare in the matter of class with tho best of other years, but there have been plenty of hurdlers and steeplechasers to provide large fields and good sport. The jumping has been more than usually good, while mishaps to the competitors have been surprisingly scarce. As a result, there is a very strong contingent of jumpers available for the Grand National meeting, with bright prospects of negotiating the obstacles —a very different outlook from tho ones wo have previously 7 had, when tho early winter form has made it hard to pick out many horses with a sound chance of getting round the Grand National Steeplechase course. The weights for the principal events at tho meeting having made their appearance, there will be plenty for tho experts to discuss during the next few weeks. With the form pretty well disclosed at the meetings held during the last few months, the handicapper’s adjustments could bo pretty well anticipated in most cases. There arc, of course, a few surprises, but in the main Mr Henrys has not left a great deal of room for adverse criticism. In the Grand National Steeplechase ho appears to have formed an exalted opinion of Captain Jack, in placing .him on tho same mark as Peary and Bercoia. When they met in the Great Northern. _ Peary gave Captain Jack 101 b and a boating, while ho was conceding 171 b at Trentham. At the same time, it can bo said in favour of .Captain Jack that his jumping credentials are superior to Peary's, and as he has evidently come on lately,' he is not likely to lack admirers at Riccarton. Jackman is another horse that has come into favour since he finished second at Trentham, while there seems to bo lots of people who fancy Tho Spaniard. These, howevpr, are by no means the only horses that arc being discussed, there being a strong opinion the big cross-country race is very open this year and with tho prospect of firm going, it is realised that Trentham form may bo altogether upset. So far as the Grand National Hurdle Handicap is concerned, the popular fancy takes a very wide range, there being a feeling abroad that tho hurdlers are not a. brilliant lot. The local horse Kilmeny Ims been, one of the favourites ever since the nominations appeared, but I cannot help thinking ho has paid a severe penalty for his two successes at Easter, when he brat a very 7 moderate lot. Grey King has also been pretty highly assessed, 'when his recent form is carefully gone into, for he has .accomplished nothing of special note so far. Both these horses, however, will probably continue to bo fancied, in the absence of any performers- of marked ability lower down. Morning, who won in such gond_ stylo last year, has not been crushed, while To Onga, despite his Trentham failure, is also being freely dis-

cifßsed. Royal Arms is voted a likely sort lor the rare, and has come into favour since iiis creditable showing at Trentham. The Winter Cup is generally admitted to be a great puzzie. Riccarton stables are represented by several fancied candidates, including l annhauser, J hrax, Stevedore, and Slogan ; but among the North Island contingent are several smart, performers, and the race looks as if it wouid be hard to win. In the meantime, the most interesting thing is that we seem certain of representative fields in the three big races. The Awapuni trainer, J. T. Jamieson, has engaged four boxes for the Grand National meeting. G. Hope has arrived from Southland with the veteran True Blue and Prairie Fire, the latter being by Pilgrim’s Progress, from a Johnny Faulkiner mare. Glcnfinnan, who has been sold to the Victorian sportsman, Mr S. A. Rawdon, has been shipped to Melbourne, where he should pay his way. Like many of Clamanald’s stock, he is a very sound-legged horse. Gnome has got through a lot of solid work lately, and he appears to be thriving on it. It will be no surprise to find him racing prominently in the near future. P. M‘Grath has Tannhauser and Thrax in fine fettle at present, and these two Martian gelding's are likely to play a prominent part in early spring events, even if they fail to land any of the flat races at the Grand National meeting. The three year-old Stevedore has built up into a nice horse, and he is pleasing in his track work just now. He hit out in good style over a mile the other morning. His four-year-old brother, Quarantine, who was a great disappointment this season, also looks well, and if he remains sound he should yet do something to justify the opinions of -his admirers. Cutts has had Autumnus shod after a good spell in the paddock, and will make an early start to get him ready for spring engagements He is quite sound at present, and if he goes on the right way he will be a valuable member of the (Jhokebore team next season. This stable has been out of luck for some time j but the rising two and three-year-olds seem to be a likely lot. Silver Blaze-gave another of his finished jumping displays over the big fences during the week. Ho is in nice order, and it is quite on the cards that he will prove a dangerous opponent for the North Islanders in some of the cross-country races next month. Daylight Bill fenced well over the country on Tuesday. He bears a thoroughly-seasoned appearance, and should be capable of a good performance next month, though, I fancy, the Grand National journey is a bit beyond him Kilmcny is jumping and galloping in great style at present. He was schooled over the hurdles on Tuesday with Mescal, and was too good for his companion, who made a lot of noise. Aynsley has Warstcp looking well, and she will soon bo in regular work for spring engagements. Her stable companion, the two-year-old Marsa, is already pretty forward, and has been responsible for a few brilliant sprints. Canterbury stables were renresented at Trentham on Wednesday by Silver Shield, Veritas, Tun Doolan, Ohakea, Rhino, Terry Flynn, M*go, and Fritz, but the only one to show up was Fritz, who finished third in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase. ' Air H Piper is about again after seven weeks in hospital. He is now oh the road to complete recovery, and expects to be in his place at the starting barrier at Riccarton next 1 month. J. Bridges has just taken in hand a gelding claiming Stronghold or Ivanoff as his sire. Mr J. H. Tompkins, starter to the Metropohtan Trotting Olub, has been appointed to fid a similar position at the Oamaru trotting Club’s meeting in October.