CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 50

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fuixz.

The sporting world is very quiet hers at present, but trainers are busy getting their charges ready for engagements ahead, foremost among which are tho fixtures tq be held during the Christmas and New year holiday season. The weather has been very favourable for training operations, a few odd sirowers of ram having sufficed to keep the tracks in rnce order. A good downpour would, however, be very welcome, as there has not been sufficient moisture to provide lasting benefit. Present indications point to a more than usually strong team from this quarter journeying to Ellerslie next month lor the summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club. On Thursday morning 11 horses were worked right-handed, E. Cutts sending First Flight, Don Francisco, Court-martial, Snapdragon, Adjutant, and Flying Start the reverse way; while R. J. Mason treated Emperador, Camulus, Bimeter, Banksia, and Sutala similarly. It may therefore be taken that these horses are possibles for the northern trip, ‘ while Battle Eve can be added to the Chokebore Lodge contingent, making seven in all, from which Sir George Clifford should bo able to choose a very useful team. Mr G. D. Greenwood’s lot does not look quite as strong; but Bimeter is a useful prospect, while Sutala gives promise of growing into a fine colt. 1 am certain, too, that wo have yet to see the best of Camulus, and if Emporador comes to hand quickly he may prove another useful member. There are several other trainers who are pretty certain to make the journey to Ellorslie, provided all goes well in tbe meantime. G. Murray-Aynsley is one of these. Warstcp will be one of his lot, while tho two-year-olds Spangle, Snub, and Gyp may also bo regarded as possibles. In conversation with R. D. O’Donnell the other clay, I learned that he also expects to go north. Nothing has been definitely settled yet, but Sauci, Moulu, Dinner Gong, Bonny Rigg, Wishful, and Bonny Dream are ball a dozen from which the Yaldhurst team will be drawn. Mr Harvey Patterson may send Fabrikoff and Silver Shield. Tho West Coast sportsman, Mr D. H. Roberts, also had the trip in view, and, even with Slogan amiss, he may be tenijited to send Kilmeny to take part in tho hurdle races. Should all these arrangements bo carried out, Canterbury stables have a very big interest in the summer fixture at Ellerslie. A good deal of interest is being taken locally in the programme likely to bo followed with horses from this quarter which claim engagements in leading events at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting. Warstop is in tho Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap; but I fancy the Cup will be her mission on the first day, with the Islington Plate and Auckland Plate to follow. Sir George Clifford has three in the Auckland Cup, hut it is by no means certain that he will have a representative at all on the day. I should doubt if Quarantine will be sent north, while First Flight may be left for the Islington Plate, Derby, and Auckland Plate. This leaves Don Francisco and Court-martial. The former has done nothing of note so far, and ho may now have to bo rested, as he showed signs of soreness after working on Thurclay. As for Court-martial, she looks too close to the best of her age, and I regard her as an unlikely starter. Camulus has not come ux> to expectations so far, and Mason may prefer something easier to begin with. Tannhauser, Thrax, and Flora Macdonald are generally regarded as unlikely to make tho trip. Summed up, it will be no surprise to find Warstep the only Canterbury representative in tho Auckland Cup field. Mr A. Hunt has sold Bee to Mr H. Taylor. It is understood the speedy little daughter of Martian —Lady Disdain may be sent to Australia, but there is a possibility that she may first pay a visit to Ellerslie, Coroniform, who has been turned out for some time, has been placed in commission again. His connections are sanguine that he will stand another preparation, in which case he should win races. Sutala boat Camulus in a five-furlong sprint on Thursday. The two-year-old is going on nicely, and with his fine turn of speed ho should win lots of races. Emperador has not done much yet, but he is hitting out boldly, and he may not be long before ho is in racing trim. Autunmus is being given sprinting work. Ho, appears to bo keeping sound, so his winning career may not bo nearly over yet. Flora Macdonald _ is_ moving along well in her work, and is improving with each gallop. She looks at present as if she would stand up and win a race shortly. Mescal, who hos been a disappointment since Mr D. Rutherford purchased him m tho North Island last winter, has been sent homo to his owner’s station for a spell. Sir George Clifford has sold the three-year-old filly Commerce, by San Francises— Safeguard, to tho Wellington owner, Mr M. Ellorton, and sho will in future be trained by H. Kingan. Tannhauser and Thrax, who have given their trainer a good deal of trouble lately, appear to be quite sound at present. If they remain so they will not be long in winning races, as they are a pair of useful gallopers, while they can both stay. Wise Bird has resumed work after a short spell, due to injuries received through contact with a wire fence. This filly has had a very unlucky career; but if sho can bo kept right now sho will win some good races for Sir George Clifford before the close of tho season. The New Brighton Trotting Club has received 22 nominations for tho New Brighton Derby, to bo decided next May. Amom? tho three-year-olds tengaged are several that have already shown smart form; but the response must bo considered somewhat disappointing after the efforts of the club to encourage class-racing. Tho Auckland colt Prince Akwood is the only nomination from outside of Canterbury. The Rakaia sportsman. Mr W. Morland, suffered a heavy loss this week through the death of the'pacing stallion Lord Chancellor. He was bred in 1906 by Mr M. Edwards, borne by Rothschild—CissioWood, the dam of Wallace Wood and Olive L, both well-known performers on local tracks, and of Silver Grid, a winner at the recent meeting of the Otahuhu Trotting Club. Though ho did not have a heavy racing carAr, Lord Chancellor wound up with « two-mile record of 4.40, made at Forbury. He gave promise, too, of making good as a sire, Grandee being among the winners he left in his early efforts at the stud.

November 31. There was a heavy fall of rain yesterday, which will prove immensely beneficial. It has left the training tracks wet and sloppy, but the grass gallops will provide capital going’ whenever available, while the regular tracks will dry rapidly. The trainers should not experience any further anxiety about hard tracks for some time to come, inasmuch as the ploughed gallop, which was recently harrowed with the heavy drag harrows, will benefit so much more from the rainfall. The Nautiform —Hcorthen filly, who has recently been ridden, is now bein~ exercised daily with the second division of R. J. Mason’s team. She is a well-grown and useful-looking filly, but her unshapely hocks tell against her general conformation. While working on the tan track tins morning the two-year-old Gyp in Murray Aynsley’s team fell. Beyond a good wetting her rider escaped unhurt, while Gyp appeared none the worse for the experience. Two members of W. H. Thomson’s team, St. Gen and Undo Dan, have been sent to their owner’s place at Amberley. Both have proved disappointing animals to date. The Treadmill —lnglcneuk gelding Treadfire, in A. M'Auley’s stable, has improved greatly in appearance of late, and now looks like developing into a useful horse. Mr D. Rutherford’s recent purchase, the own sister to Twelfth Night, by Menschikoff—Nante, is having her breaking education completed, and seems very amenable to her new duties. She is a shapely filly, and will probably be given a run in public at the autumn fixture. Warstep seems none the worse for her exertions at the New Zealand-Cup meeting. She moved very freely while galloping a mile on Saturday in imin 43 4-ssec. Kilmeny is looking in rare fettle. He is booked to journey to Auckland for the Christmas racing. Hie Martian filly Bee will accompany the son of Kilcfieran under the care of F. Christmas, as R. Longley will be at Dunedin with other members of his team. P. Mason has gone to Fcilding with a view to having a look over the batch of geldings by Advance which are to be sold there to-morrow. F. Shccnan has taken in hand an aiblelooking two-ycar-old filly by Nautiform — Athena. Salathiel is now a member of Moraghan's team. The son of Coronet is looking well after his enforced respite. Thelma, one of the most successful trotting brood mares in the dominion, her progeny including Willowwood, Wildwood Junior, Adonis, and Cameos, bos been mated with the Wildwood horse Driftwood.