CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 58

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Friiz.

T'ho tracks at Riccarton aro gradually drying up after the recent rain. The plough has not been available, however, and it can probably be counted out till the springy In the meantime the sand track provides decent going. The tan has settled down nicely with the soaking it received; but it is a trifle thin in places, and a few more loads of tan seem necessary before it can bo considered a really good track. W'.h this exception, the work done in connection with the tan track has been well carried out. Empcrador, Binioter, and Corrio returned home on Friday after competing at the winter meetings at Wanganui and Auckland. The veteran Medallist, who has been at Riccarton for a good number of years, was shipped to Wellington on Wednesday. It is reported that he will bo trained at Trentham in future; but as he will be 13 years old in a few weeks, his final retirement from the turf must be near at hand. He has been on the down grade for some time past. The English filly Week End, in F. D. Jones’s stable, is fast losing the lumber she carried when she was first put into work, and she is me ring along nicely in her tasks, which have so far been of an easy nature. Kilmeny is again in light work after a (spell extending over a few months. He cannot be ready for the Grand National meeting, but an effort will be made to prepare him for some of the spring hurdle races.

Warstep, Snub, and Gyp, who have been on the retired list for a few weeks, have been taken up again, and are being ridden daily, preparatory to stronger tasks, in view of spring engagements. The two-year-olds San Sebastian and Harlequin have rejoined the active division at Chokcboro Lodge. They are likely to prove useful performers next season. The sovcn-year-old mare Troon, by Glenapp —Argon, gave a fair display over the pony hurdles on Wednesday. Moddito and Snowraker jumped the two pony hurdles and then did a circuit of the bigger obstacles on Wednesday. They shaped carefully, taking no risks At the obstaclesDaylight Bill was given a turn over the steeplechase fences during the week, but his effort was patchy, and not nearly up to his best form. Cast Iron was given his first lesson over the Riccarton steeplechase fences on Thursday. After jumping the brush fairly well, he slipped and fell at the first of the double. Ho took the second of the double all right, but ran off at the sod wall. The performance was not altogether impressive, but it was a promising effort so far, at least, as two of the obstacles were concerned. El Gallo’s four-year-old brother, who has recently been broken in. has joined A. M'Aulay’s team, and ho will bo got ready to race in the colours of Mr A. W. Rutherford, jun. Don Francisco, who was gelded recently, has been sent homo to his owner’s place for a spell. Ladrone, with White Cockade as a schoolmaster, jumped the pony hurdles in good style on Tuesday. The same pair took on two of the big hurdles on Friday, when Ladrone’s showing was only moderate. On each occasion White Cockade jumped well, as might have been expected. The Ashburton Trotting Club held a record meeting last Thursday. There was a big attendance of Christchurch patrons, who had two special trains provided, both of which were needed, while local sportsmen also mustered well. The totalisator investments (£16,094) were the record for the course, the previous best being £14,138 a year ago. These, figures are well ahead of tho Ashburton Countv Racing Club’s best day. The fields were'very large, averaging just under 17 for each race, while the class Was the best ever scon on a country course in Canterbury. There was some groat racing, and a special feature was provided by Our Thorpe.’ Ho failed to win the Ashburton Trotting Cup, but in finishing third ho registered 4.34, which easily qualified him for nomination in tho New’ Zealand Trotting Cun. The starter (Mr H. Reynolds) fined H. E. Baines, driver of Kelso in the President’s Handicap. £lO for boating his bell, while A. G. Wilson was fined a similar amount for the same offence with 801 l Metal in the Winter Handicap. The Ashburton Trotting Cup, the principal event on tho programme, was confined to horses that could do 4.44 or better. It drew a field of 17 horses, tho best lot

I have seen brought together on the Ashburton course. Backers -were divided in their allegiance, and at the finish there was not much to choose between Our Thorpe, Emilius, and Calm, who were supported m that order. It was a fins race to watch In the early stages Bonny Jenny headed a bunch, in which Prince Poole, Stanley fi Child, Proud Girl, Antonio, and Succeed were prominent. At the end of a mile, however, Bonny Jenny was done with, while Succeed also dropped out. Antonio retired five furlongs from homo, where Stanley’s Child and Tommy C. were fighting for supremacy, and it looked a certainty that they would fill the leading places. At this stage, however, there was an additional interest in the race, provided by Our Thorpe, who could bo seen threading his way through the field from the back. He cut the opposition down in groat style, and there were loud cries in his favour before the straight was reached. Fleming drove him right out, but ho could not reach the leaders, finishing six lengths behind Tommy C-, who was a length behind Stanley’s Child. Though beaten, Our Thorpe paced a fine race, covering the journey in time which was officially quoted at 4.34, though more than one expert timer, who clocked the horse separately, made Flem-~ ing’s champion go even faster. The result, so far as Our Thorne was concerned, gave great satisfaction to followers of the sport. He is generally recognised as one of the best two-mile horses in the Dominion, and there would have been a lot of disappointment had ho failed to qualify for a nomination in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Tommy C. ran right up to his best form, though Stanley’s Child held him comfortably over the last quarter. Stanley’s Child was bred in North Otago, where she is still trained by R. Logan, who well deserved his success, as he is a liberal supporter of meetings in all parts of the South Island. He had the marc in fine trim, and she paced a solid race, being evidently well suited by the Ashburton track. At the recent meeting at Canterbury Park she paced solidly in the race won by Childsdale, and appeared to have a good chance two furlongs from home, when she struck herself. Persuader, who has been racing very consistently for .some time, gave another attractive exhibition of speed. Ho paced over the last six furlongs just behind Our Thorpe, his effort being right up to the best he has ever accomplished. He is an ungainly customer; but there can bo no doubt that he is a good one, while ho is just the sort who may improve a lot more yet. Proud Girl ran a good race, while just behind her came Huon Drift, who finished up in fine style. Calm raced badly, and is probably too sore at present to show his best form. Emilius once more let his backers down by refusing to strike his gait at the start. He has misbehaved in this way in his last three races, and as he has been heavily supported on each occasion, ho must be growing expensive to his admirers. Pcarlchild, Goldwood, and Frank Tracey also broke up at the start, while Vermont capsized her driver. Denver Huon went off all right, but I did not notice him at all through the race, and he was certainly never in a winning position. June 14. White Cockade, with Phamosa as companion, had his first schooling over the steeplechase fences on Saturday. He ran off at the second jump of the double, and afterwards at the brush fence, but it was ?[uite a useful effort for a novice. Phamosa who is a hunter in F. D. Jones’s stable) gave a good display. Snowraker, Moddite, and Troon wore schooled over the pony hurdles on Saturday. Moddite, Ladrone, and Snowraker then jumped two of the big hurdles, when Snowraker was pulled off, Troon following the other pair over two more obstacles. Moddite showed considerable improvement, jumping much faster than usual. Snowraker also shaped well, and Troon gave a good display for a beginner. Ladrone, on the other hand, showed no great liking for the game. Dovvnsteepy and the brother to Di Gama were allowed to stride along for a few furlongs at three-quarter puce on Saturday. M'Aulay is anxious to give Downsteepy some strong work with a view to seeing it the accident to his shoulder last spring lias left any permanent ill-effects. Warstep has thickened out during her spell. Siio looks lusty and in fine heart to commence a preparation. On Saturday morning she was trotted a couple of circles in the middle. Her stable companion. Gyp. has furnished a lot since she was last in training. The two-year-old Treadfare was on the course on Saturday for the first time after a spell. He will be in active commission again shortly with a view to spring engagements. 'me two-year-old Reveller, by Nautiform —Hilarity, is tho latest addition to W. M’Donalcl’s team. The outside of the course proper at Riccarton was open last Tuesday afternoon for yearlings; but the notice was short, and only the Chokeboro Lodge youngsters were galloped on tho grass. It was again available on Saturday afternoon, when a large number of tho juveniles were given a sprint. Nothing moved better for a furlong than Disdainful, by Benny Glen— Lady Disdain, who was easily too good for Warstep’s brother, Wardancor. Several of Sir George Clifford’s lot shaped well, among them being Winterbourne (by Martian —Neva), Wrestler (by AntagonistElusive). and Masterstroke (by Treadmill —Madowla). Mr Knight’s gelding. Royal Rain, by All Red —Grand Rain, also showed up to advantage, and this half-brother to Kilrain may be a good «ort with a bit of age on him. Several ol the youngsters wore not bustled along, being too backward yet. 1 should say that tho yearlings at Riccarton this season will prove quite up to tho average when the time comes for them to race.