CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By F hit/.

The -winter meeting- of the Canterbury Park Plotting Club was held on Thursday end Saturday. The conditions on the first day were very unpleasant, a thick, drizzling rain being in evidence n ost of the day. The track was very sloppy, and fast times were out of the question. Pino weather was experienced on Saturday, but a particularly heavy frost overnight played up with the {rack, which was again very slow. Despite the unfavourable state of the going, the racing was very interesting, except in a few events. There was a falling off in totalisator returns on the first day; but Saturday provided an increase, the total' for the meeting being about equal to last year’s figures A big field of 24 unhoppled trotters lined up for the opening event on Thursday, the Ladies’ Bracelet Handicap. The bracketed pair, Sherry and' Match, carried most money with another bracket, Patard and Chocolate Soldier, second choice. Imperial Ann made most of the running, but in the h OlllO Patard boat her. Patard is a useful sort of a six-year-old, by Ard Patrick, a horse brought from Australia by Mr J. O’Brien, of Oamaru, Sherry trotted steadily, without showing much speed, and she go{ third money. It looked as if the track did not suit her. Match was going well in !he early stages, but broke, finishing in ourth place. It was a poor race. Scratchings were numerous for the Peninsula. Handicap, 10 being withdrawn, leaving a field of 16. There was a good finish, in. which Hannah M. bent Coldstream by a neck, with Albert Wallace six lengths away. The winner, Hannah M., lias been supported more than once, without success; out in this race she went very solidly. Coldstream is only a young horse, but looks like developing ;nto a good one. He is a brother to Gold Crest, but is much bettor mannered. The field 1 was badly strung out at tho finish, many of the competitors being unable to act in the mud. Tho chief event of tho clay, the King’ Qoorgo Handicap, attracted a field of 17 high-class performers, all of them having <Jono 4.39 or better. Bryce’s stable started Admiral Wood, Rena Pointer, and Muripata, tho bracket being first choice with backers, with Sherwood, Frandocia, and

St Ursula also well backed. Six furlongs from homo Admiral Wood drew out clear, and ho won easily by eight lengths from Princess Sherwood, who beat St. Kevin by rix lengths, with Frandocia, Rena Pointer, Steel Bell, and Sherwood next. The winner is a brilliant pacer, and a great etayer. This was his first win since being purchased by Mr T. Sheen last spring. He went wrong after the Nov/ Zealand Trotting Cup, but ho seems all right again now, and he should bo equal to further good efforts. St. Kevin paced well, but does not stay out a solid two-mile journey. Princess Sherwood paced a good race after losing some ground early Muricata, driven by her owner, Mr J. B. Thomson, got off badly, and was in tho rear all tho way. There were 14 starters for the Lyttelton Handicap, Branston and Captain Stanley being in most favour. At the home turn Branston had a slight advantage, but Captain Stanley gradually overhauled him. the judge declaring a dead heat. Young Tohu was 10 lengths away, with the others a long way back. It looked as if Branston won, judging from the attitude of rider, the well-known North Island jockey, A. Oliver, who rode a fine race. Oliver also piloted Branston in his only other success this season. So far Branston has not done much racing, but he is likely to make a gooo. horse. Captain Stanley paced a solid race, and will do better yet. Thirteen was the main for the Advance Handicap, Antonio being favourite. At tho end of half a mile Irvar was leading a bunched field, but at tho home turn Agathos Was showing tho way to Antonio, who won by about a length, with Irvar a poor third, and O. I. C. next. Tho winner, who is a half-brother to Muricata, has now won four races since going into Bryce's stable. Agathos paced a good race, but he seems an unlucky horse, this being the second time recently that he has been runner-up to a good one. O. I. C. met with interference in tho early stages, but was going on at ■the end. Lindetta and Sungod showed speed; but Makomako cut up badly. The Winted Oats Handicap, for unhoppled trotters, attracted a field of 13, Madam Shaw, Great Audubon', and Pactolus being best backed. King Capitalist camion the sceno with a great run over the last three furlongs, winning by three lengths from Madam Shaw, with Great iVudubon four lengths away, and Macwocd a poor fourth. King Capitalist is owned in Aucklrnd, and this was easily his best race here. Madam iShaw trotted well, but did not stay as solidly as usual. Great Audubon lost ground at the start, but trotted a solid race. Pactolus would not strike his gait. The Railway Handicap brought out £i~ dozen speedy milers. Ngaraima was favourite, but she would not leave the mark. John Dillon won a good race from Tamarisk, with Bingana, Franzalena, and Louie Drift close up. Tamarisk was disqualified for starting before his time, his rider, R. Reay, being fined £lO. The clerk of tho course called him off at the entrance to the straight; but Reay was in the middle of a bunch, and had no chance of knowing that he was being spoken to. John Dillon is a brilliant pacer, of whom we have not seen the best yet. Bingana ran a solid race, but was again unlucky. The day's sport closed with tho Au Revoir Handicap, for which there were 17 in the field, the bracketed Sceptre and General Wylie being rather better backed than O I. 0. 0. I. C. made a groat run over the last half-mile, winning by half a length from Lord Audley, with Kokemoer a fair' third, followed by Woodvere and Mountain Palm. The winner, who is a half-sister to Admiral Wood, has a great reputation in soft going, though she can also play her part on a hard track. On Saturday proceedings opened with the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, for which there was a field of 17. Agnes Chiefs was favourite; but she shaped badly. Schnapps was soon in the lead, and, though he skipped once or twice, he won easily,. He is a very ordinary-looking sort, and is never likely to take a high place. Galindo Belle, who finished second, is a three-year-old" by Galindo—Wild Belle, the dam of Dillon Bell. She is only a pony, but can go fact," though ehc has not won a race yet. George the Fourth, who was third, is a two-year-old by Prince Imperial —Kola Nut, dam of King Cole and Betel Nut. He is an attractive pacer, who should develop into a good one. There were 23 starters for the Progressive Handicap, the bracketed pair Maori Princess and Koromiko being in most favour. Maori Princess was out in front early, and she won easily by 10 lengths from Jessie's Dream, who beat Gay Wilkes by two lengths, with Lulu Child, Rudston, Amazona, and Franz Hanlon close up. The winner, who has not been long in work, after a spell at tho stud, trotted solidly, but without showing much speed. Jessie's Dream might have troubled her had she got clear early, but she met with a lot of interference. Gay Wilkes trotted a fair race, but does not look a solid sort.

Tho unbeaten Lady Haldane was a hot favourite for the Plumpton Handicap, for which there were 15 starters. The result was never in doubt, Lady Haldane winning easily from Princess Sherwood and Agathos. The winner has now won three races, and it is hard to say how good she is. She is by Lord Chancellor, whose early death was a matter for regret, as all his stock seem good. Princess Sherwood paced another good race. She has been most consistent since she went into Hendricksen's stable. Agathos mixed a bit at the start, but afterwards gave a good performance. Capriccio went well for a mile, but none of the others showed up prominently. Fifteen was the main for the Middleton Handicap, Captain Stanley and Flora Tracey being the favourites. Captain Stanley ran a peculiar race, showing great speed in patches; hut he did not go on solidly, though he finished fourth. Flora Tracey led for about a mile and a-half, but she tired at the finish. Over tho last half-mile Voter and Treasure Seeker had matters all their own way. Voter winning by three lengths, w : th ' True Spec five lengths away. Bench Boy was up with the leaders half a mile from home, when ho mixed his gait and fell back. Voter is owned on the West Coast, where ho has some good performances to his credit. Treasure Seeker trotted well, hut was very tired at the finish. True Spec went a good race, but spoilt his chance by breaking near the end. Galindo Lou showed a great hurst of speed over the last halfmile. Tho Sockburn Handicap, for unhonpled trotters, attracted a field of 11. Hardy Wilkes was a warm favourite, and he never looked like being beaten, and won by about 100 yards, after giving a vr-ry attractive exhibition of clean trotting. ITe is an Aus-tralian-bred horse by Marvin Wilkes, and though he has shown speed in earlier races, this was tho first time he had gone kindly. I think he will prove ono of the host of

our unhopplcd horses next season. The raco was a poor one, and Electrocute ran on into second place, though Paul Huon kept him on the istrctch at the finish. Fourteen was the main for the Stewards' Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, Colrnena being favourite, with Adelaide Direct second choice. When the straight was reached the field was in a bunch, with Frank Tracey, Sherwood, and Succeed all going- well; but in the run homo Tommy 0. smothered his opponents, while Adelaide Direct came with a iate run to gain second place. Tommy C. hae improved a lot this season, and is now a very solid customer. Steel Bell was running on at the end, and she finished third. Sherwood was unlucky, and ho was badly placed in the early part, and had to cover a lot of ground. Except right at the end, it was a fine race. There were 21 starters for the Telegraph Handicap, the American mare Queen Patch being favourite. Mountain Palm began smartly, and was in front all the way. He ie owned by Captain E. J. Lukey, who is now at the front, and was driven by his owner's father, who was associated with the trotting sport in Canterbury more than 30 years ago. Queen Patch went unsteadily hi the early stages, but showed exceptional speed over the last half-mile. She is a high-class mare. Young Tohu was third, after pacing a sound race. Sinoda went well for six furlongs, and then dropped out. The field was too big to give the back-markers much chance. The Final Handicap saw 15 at the post, with St. Kevin favourite, despite a poor showing in the mile and a-quarter event. Mint son and Dcsdemona were always out in front, and Mintson won comfortably, Bingana beating Desdemona in the run home. Mintson is owned by Mr T. Sheen, of Auckland, who scored with Admiral Wood on the first day. Mintson is a brilliant pacer, but some of his recent efforts have been moderate. Bingana ran one of his usual good but unlucky races. Stanley's Child went well, as did Princess Sherwood. St. Kevin paced a solid race, and was finishing very fast. There has been practically nothing doing among the gallopers this week. The Riccarton tracks are in bad order, and most of the horses have been restricted to road work. Emperador, who went lame at Wanganui, is walking soundly again, but it is doubtful if he will stand another preparation. P. M'Grath has reconimissioned Thrax, and will try to get another race out of the Martian gelding. P. Emerson is now training King Star, while he has just broken in a yearling by Bezonian—Sweet Angelus. Dan Cameron, who has shown a good turn of speed over short courses, will be tried over obstacles. He is heing qualified for hunters' events. The pacing mare Country Belle has slipped her foal to the American sire Logan Pointer.