CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 54

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Feixz.

The Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting was held on Thursday and Saturday, and was the most successlul fixture ever held on tho course. The first day’s racing was got off in dull and cold weather; but the sun was shining on Saturday. On both days the fields were very large, the average for the whole meeting being over 18 starters per race. The sport, too, was of an exceptionally interesting character, the best 1 can recall at any meeting held by this club. With the receipts from totabsator and other sources also showing an advance, the financial results will be good, so that the meeting turned out well from every point of view. Proceedings opened on Thursday with the Ladies’ Bracelet Handicap, a saddle race for unhoppled trotters. There were 23 starters, Paddy Lynd being a warm favourite. Eric Child was out in front soon after the start, and he won easily by 50 yards from Campaign, who beat The Clogs by three lengths, with tho favourite a head away, followed by. Chocolate Soldier and Lady Godiva. The winner is just a plodder, and I do not think be will ever be a good one. Taken all round, it was a poor field, save in numbers. The only one likely to bo heard of is Paddy Lynd, who showed a good turn of speed after getting off badly. 1 cannot help thinking, however, that the system of having green trotters handled by amateurs is a bad one, as all chance of getting the best out of them is spoilt by incompetent handling. Eighteen was the main for Inc Peninsula Handicap. Princess Perfection was a little better backed than Jimmie Woodser, none of the others coming in for much support.. Jimmie Woodser was soon out in front, with Neigh, Cromwell, Princess Perfection, and Rose Gauntlet handy. Rose Gauntlet was done with at tho end of a mile and a-quarter, while Cromwell retired at the entrance to the straight. The other three kept in close company to the end, and it was only in the last 50 yards that Princess Perfection shot out to beat Jimmie Woodser by three lengths. Neigh being a length away, with Cromwell, Darkness, and Maid of Darragile next. The winner is by Prince Imperial from the Rothschild mare Perfection, and is thus a full sister to Imperial Perfection, who showed good form in the New Brighton Derby. There were 15 starters for the King George Handicap, Our Thorpe being a little hotter backed than Pearl Child. It was a very fine race to watch. Jack Ashore and St. Kevin did not go off the mark, but the others were in close order right througn the journey. Tommy C. and Little Kauri had most to do with the pace-making, and when Little Kauri retired six furlongs from home Eashiomvood and Persuader joined Tommy C. When tho straight was reached Persuader was in charge, but after a great battle Our Thorpe beat him home by a length, Frandocia being another length away, followed by Tommy, C., Little Jib. Sherwood, and Dillon Bell. Tho time was slow. Our Thorpe winning in 4min 43sec, though handicapped at 4.36. The dead track was partly responsible, and for the rest I think the explanation is to be found in tiio fact that the first mile and ahalf was run without any pace on._ Our Thorpe won two races at Addington in November. and was also successful at Canterbury Park on New Year s Day, so ho has had a good season. I feel sure we have not seen the best of him yet—in fact, I am disposed to class him as the best horse in flie Dominion at the present time. A field of 17 lined up for the Lyttelton Handicap, Harold Direct, Ellawood, and Lyndhurst being backed in that order. They had not. gone far before George Hard was out clear. Harold Direct gradually overhauled him, but broke five furlongs from home. When ho settled down again he put in good work; but he stopped at the end, George Hard boating him by two lengths. It looked as if Harold Direct could not have lost but for breaking. George Hard, who is a brother to Dcrringcotte, had not won a race since- Boxing Day, 1912, when successful at Ashburton, and! then, as now, he paid a big dividend. Scenery, who finished fourth, is a promising three-year-old by Belle Tuc. There were 17 starters for the Advance Handicap, Disappear, Proud Girl, and Kokcmoor being tho favourites. A 1 Franz, Kokemoer, and Disappear were in front for half a mile, when Disappear retired, having broken a blood vessel. The other pair went on to tho straight; but A 1 Franz bad something in reserve all the way, and he von by two lengths from Succeed, who beat the fastfinishing Lady Tempest by a similar margin, with Kokemoer, Mountain Rose, and Prince Poole handy. Tho winner, who is by Franz from the imported marc A 1 F., had a great reputation in his early days but did not always race up to it. He was gelded some time ago, and he may now prove more reliable. In this race, at any rate, he performed very solidly. Twenty unhoppled trotters lined up for the Winter Oaks Handicap, Harold Wilkes and Theseus being the prime fancies. Harold Wilkes was soon in charge, but at the end of a mile and »- quarter he .gave way to Arcadian. At this stage, however. Electrocute had practically caught the field, and ‘the race looked all over. He was in front just after passing the half-mile post, and he won as lie liked from Arcadian, with Benmore finishing fast in third place, followed by Hiroki, To Kuiti. Chub, and Theseus. Tho winner registered a fine performance, in covering tho two miles in 4min 44 4-ssoc on, a dead track. He has been a very profitable horse to the connections, and looks good for a lot of racing yet. In a field of 16 Bingnna was a warm favourite for the Railway Crown Prince, Lady Tbeckla, Mintson, St. Kevin, Dalwhinnie, and False Alarm being evenly hacked among the others. Bequest made tho running for five furlongs, when Hie field closed up. Dalwhinnie had her head in front at the onrtance to the straight; but Mintson ’hen shot out, and won by two lengths, while Dalwhinnie had to be ridden out to boat the fast-finishing Bingnna, who was very unlucky, as he got jpto some trouble early. Mountain Rose, fit. Kevin, and Buff followed tho placed horses. The winner is by Papanui, by

Wildwood —D.1.C., his dam being the speedy Mint, by Wilkin from Mistletoe, who is a rarely-bred mare by Newland’s Hambletononian from Blue Grass Belle. The day’s sport concluded with the An Revoir Handicap, for which there wore 27 starters, the bracketed Kokcmoor and Belroy being in slightly better favour than Texas and Elrosa, When the field settled down Arbiter was showing the way to May Dilion, and these two wore still out well clear at the end of six furlongs. Then Arbiter compounded. There was a big bunch with a chance at the entrance to the straight, and six of them went past the post almost in line. Radiant Morn got tho verdict by a neck from Young Tabu, who beat May Dillon by a head, with Texas, Wallace Junior, and Stanley’s Child almost on terms. The time was posted at 2min 17sec; but this was wrong, and it was corrected to 2min 22sec next day. On Saturday proceedings opened with the Ladies’ Bracelet Handicap, in harness. Twenty-two horses went out, but Puddlor, an aged gelding who was making his first appearance, fell while doing his preliminary, and broke his hock. Maud Tracey was a hot favourite, but after being bandy for half a mile she dropped out. V ermilion then went to the front, and won by eight lengths from Wild Elm, who bent Tiranna by a length, with Little Tim, Irvar, and I'ranchise close up. Vermilion, who is a four-year-old by General Lyons, looks a decent sort. Twenty-seven lined up for the Progressive Handicap, for unhopplcd trotters. The bracketed Sweet Nut and Rio Grande came in for most support, Whispering Willie being second choice and Admiral Drake third. Dio Grande led for half a mile and then retired. Cousin Jennie then went to tho front, and though passed at tho mile post by Franz Hanlon, she came on again over the last couple of furlongs, to win by two lengths. To Kuiti was 50 yards away, just in front of Groat Audubon. The winner is a good stamp of a trotter. She is only a four-year-old, so she should have a lot of improvement in her yet. Great Audubon started slowdy, but showed a fine turn of speed over tho last half mile, which he was timed to do in Imin lOsec. The Plicnpton Handicap attracted a field of 11, Emilias and the bracketed Lady Tempest and Calm being practically equal favourites. Emilius and Tommy C. broke up badly at tho start. Calrii soon took charge 'from Stanley’s Child, Pearl Child, Childsdale, and Lady Tempest. They raced without much change for nearly a mile and a-half, when Pearl Child was done with. Two furlongs from homo Stanley’s Child broke, and Childsdale, catching Calm in the last few' strides, won by naif a length, with Persuader four lengths away, followed by Lady Tempest, Denver Huon, and Huon Drift. Of this lot Denver Huon put in a great mile and a-half, but did not stay on. The winner was successful over a mile and a-quarter at Forbury last mouthy and I think he can be marked off for further successes before long. He is by Blackchild, who has had a few good representatives lately. Sixteen was the main for the Middleton Handicap, Scenery being a little bettor backed than Harold Direct. In the early stages No Shenanaghan and Lady 'Lyons were in command, hut Harold Direct was in front more than three furlongs from homo, and won comfortably by three lengths from Gee Whizz, with No Shenanaghan 10 lengths away, followed by Sungod, Lyndhurst, and Benmore, the last-named shaping remarkably well after a bad break at the start. Tho winner has been a consistent performer lately, his record being three wins and two seconds out of five starts, and he looks like going on yet. The Sockburn Handicap attracted nine high-class unhoppled horses. Master Raymond being rather better backed than Treasure Seeker and Electrocute. After Wild Tree had led for half a mile. Treasure Seeker took charge. These two were in close company most of the way, and at the entrance to the straight they had Electrocute and Rcdchild in hot pursuit. Tho four fought out a desperate finish. A few strides from the post Redchild appeared to have the race won; but they flashed past in line, and Reclchild was last of the four, Electrocute beating Treasure Seeker by a bare head, with Wild Tree a head away, a head in front of Redchild. It was the best finish I have seen from unhoppled trotters. Electrocute is very consistent, and though he broke , more than once lie got into his stride with no waste of ground. Twelve speedy horses contested the Stewards’ Handicap, over a mile and a-quarter, Mintson being rather better backed than Our Thorpe and Crown Prince. The early pace was set by Bequest, who was joined by Lord Dillon and Little Tib half a mile from home. At tho entrance to the straight tho field was in a bunch. Then Eccentric and Little Tib drew away together. They were both very tired at the finish, but battle Tib struggled home by a length. Mountain Rose was three lengths away", and then came Mintson and Fashionwood. It was a very popular win, as Little Tib’s trainer, J. Messervcy, has had no luck for a long time. Twenty-two horses turned out for the Telegraph Handicap, with The Whip rather .better backed than the bracketed Texas and Elrosa At the end of half a mile The Whip was in front, and he beat Proud Girl comfortably by two lengths, with Prince Poole finishing fast in third place, followed by Troubadour, Kirwee, Galvanita, and A 1 Franz. Tho winner has always had a reputation for speed, but ho has improved a lot, this being his best effort to date. The meeting was brought to a close with tho Final Handicap, for which the field numbered 21, Frandocia and Beilis being the favourites. Glandalough jumped out smartly and never gave anything else a chance. She. won comfortably by two lengths from Frandocia, who took second place two furlongs from homo. Bell Metal • was close up, third, followed by Frank Tracey and Miss Advocate. Tho winner is one of tho most brilliant marcs in commission, but she had a very bad reputation till recently for her behaviour at the starting post. June 7. A filly by Danube- Nautiloid is the latest of Mr G. D. Greenwood’s yearlings to be broken-in. Snowrakor has been schooled during the past week by herself. She jumped slowly, though safely. Peg has resumed work after resting for a few weeks on account of lameness. Tho two-year-old filly Nones, who has been oiT the easy list since completing her autumn engagements, is again in commission, while B imksi a has also rejoined Mason’s active division after resting since her return from Wanganui.

With a number of the trainers absent at Wingatui .and the tracks very wet on account of recent) vain, there has been, very little stirring at Ricoarton during the past week; but things will liven up again soon. The report of tho Programme Committee

of the Canterbury Jockey Club, -which has been approved, recommended that the New Zealand Cup conditions should be the same as last year. With regard to the Grand National programme, the committee recommended that the stakes of the Hunters’ Hurdles, Hunt Club Cup. Avonhcad, Sumner, and Redcliffs Handicaps should be increased to 200sovs; that the distance of the Hunt Club Cup should bo reduced to miles and a-half, and the distance of the Grand National Hurdles increased to about two miles and a-quarter over nine flights of hurdles. Iho committee also recommended that the first race on each day of the Grand National meeting should be started at 11.30 a.m.