CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bx F hitz.

It is quite apparent now that there will be no lack of fiorsos next month for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s carnival. With payments clue on Fr.day for live of the leading events, and entries for the minor races, enough evidence was forthcoming to convince anyone that the approaching meeting will bo a big success. When the previous payment was made for the New Zealand Cup, 55 horses were left in. This number has now been reduced to 17; but none of the withdrawals can cause much surprise. Pavlova, who has been scratched for all engagements, has been racing badly of late, and it is evident that she is not in form; while Banksia is dead. The others to go out are Colonel Soult, Kooya, Potoa, Mummer, Three, Sunbird, Sir Alba, All Ready, Xanthos, Fair Rosamond, Slogan, Plunder, Fender, Step, and Bronk Delaval. I anticipated the absence of most of this lot a few weeks ago, following on an analysis of the nominations for other races at the meeting. The 17 horses still standing their ground include all the candidates whose claims have boon at all favourably discussed lately. This remark could, in fact, be made even w r ere the list considerably reduced, lor there are still a few cligibles whose chance of success is extremely remote. Out of the 17, the only one who has not raced this season is Marc Anthony. Ho has done a lot of good track work, but as he is always galloped by hijnself, there is nothing to provide a line to his ability. Recently he had to bo spoiled on account of a slight mishap, but ho is all right again. All the same, though I think ho is a useful colt, a less ambitious programme might have boon advisable to commence the season. The big events could have been tackled after a few successes in minor races. Ricoartoii stables arc also represented by Warstep, Snub, Spocialform, and Ardenvhor. They are a handy quartette, who seem likely to play a prominent part in the race. F. Tilley’s stable is still represented by Bonny Helen and Rinaldo, both recent winners, who must be very dangerous. Blackall has run fairly in some of his engagements this season, though he has not won; but he is being steadily supported; so it is evident his admirers are satisfied about his staying ability. Indigo is a proved stayer, and for that reason he is entitled to respect, despite bis moderate form lately. When it comes to racing over two miles ho will be going on when some of those who have defeated him lately over shorter courses are beating a hasty retreat. Maniaroa, Tangihou, and Midnight Star are a trio of useful horses on the minimum, as they all show fair promise of seeing out the journey. Sinapis is a stayer, but she has done nothing lately to draw attention to her chance. Goldstream has no special form to recommend him, and I would write Palisade out on account of the distance. The field will be quite up to expectations, even if a few more horses arc retired before the day of the race. The Stewards’ Handicap promises well. Out of 55 horses handicapped, 19 have gone out, but the 36 still left in include nearly all the best sprinting talent in commission. That the sprint race will provide a fine contest I feel quite certain; and it will be quite as hard to win ns usual. A feature of the acceptance list is the number of smart three-year-olds still holding engagements. The Welcome Stakes should provide plenty of interest. The 23 juveniles still left in may all bo regarded as live candidates. Egypt and Hyttus represent good North Island form, while Disdainful and Thestius are a pair of South Island winners who can go fast. There arc plenty of promising youngsters among the others, and altogether the two-year-old sport looks like being very good this season. There are still 16 in the Derby, and 13 in the Oaks; but a few of them are probably there by mistake. All the same, there is material for two fine contests. Ricoarton stables are very well represented in both races. In the Derby there are Adjutant, Battle Eve, Flying Start. Ardenvhor, Nones, Xanthos, Snub, and Pyjama; while in the Oaks the local contingent includes Nones. Gowanbrao, and Margerine, with Bonny Dream to represent Yaldhurst. The visiting competitiors will bo scarce, and will probably be confined to Desert Gold for both races, with the addition of Soadown in the Derby. Scadown is still eligible for hack company, but if ho is as good as report credits him with being, he will play a prominent part in some of the big events tins season, though I would pick him as more likely to be a sprinter than a stayer. My own idea about tbs throe-year-olds is that Desert Gold and Nones will prove the star performers. I have hoard that Desert Gold has grown into a fine three-year-old; but she will need to bo good to boat Nones, who is a brilliant galloper, with every suggestion that she will stay.

Three Now Zealand Cup candidates wore racincr at the South Canterbury meeting', but, Sncoialform was the only one to win, and she appears to hold the other pair quite safe at Riocarton. She outstayed Ardenvbov over a mile and a-quarter, and it looks as if the Martian colt was just a useful colt and no more. Palisade failed

badly each day, and the idea of troubling about him for a two-mile race seems to bo hopeless. I should say seven furlongs was the length of his tether in decent company. / Aerial was responsible for a decent performance in winning the Jockey Club Handicap at Timaru on Thursday. He jumped off smartly, running the first half-mile in 4Ssec, and won easily, none of his opponents getting near him. He has evidently come on since he raced at Geraldine, where he failed to run the mile out. Aerial is by Sant Hario from Mount Somers, by Marquis of Zetland —Beauty Sleep, by Medallion —Siesta, by Traduccr —Hammock. Mount Somers is inbred to Hammock, as Marquis of Zetland is by Perkin Warbeck II from Reverie, by St. George—Hammock. Spccialform made her first appearance for this season at the South Canterbury meeting. On Thursday, in the Jockey Club Handicap, she diet not get going fast enough to have a chance-over a mile. She showed improved form on the second day, when she won the South Canterbury Handicap in decisive style, going right away at the end of a mile and a-quarter. The Boniform mare went into M'Aulay’s stable at Riccarton some time ago, and her work has boon chiefly confined to sprints, as she has rarely been galloped fast over more than half a mile. She seems to thrive on the treatment, and she will bo seen to advantage again over even longer journeys. She is still in the New Zealand Cup, for which she has incurred no penalty. Martins won the Flying Handicap at the South Canterbury meeting on Thursday in very attractive style, and he can be marked off for further successes in good company before long. Ho is a determined galloper, who should be improved with the racing he has had this season, and it would bo no surprise to find him winning a race at Riccarton next month. He figures in the Stewards’ Hambcap, a race in which he finished third last year.