CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 48

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz.

Wo are having a particularly quiet tima just now. there being very little doing that ii of much Many of the Riccarton trainers are doing no more than slow work with such of their teams as .are in commission. Even horses that are likely to be wanted for the Grand National meeting are being restricted to steady pacing. Thoss who have jumpers under their care are, of course, more actively engaged, and there is a litt'.e schooling to relieve the. monotony at the track. The rising two-year-olds' are also being- gradually worked up and some of them are now doing short sprints.. In a few weeks the juveniles will provide a lot of interest, but by that time there will be greater activity in ail departments. Riccarton stables are not, as a general rule, particularly strong- in jumpers,; but there is usually'a fair team in commission each winter.' It varies • considerably in strength from year to year, and there are frequently a few horses capable of playing a prominent part in important hurdle races, with an occasional useful performer over country to further assist when the visitors come along for the Grand National meetin"-. The jumping contingent available locally this season is all right so far as numbers go ; but considered from the point of view of quality, it is more or less an uncertain quantity. In the steeplechase department the outlook is decidedly unpromising. Daylight Bill has clone vcry < little sinco be * returned from Wanganui last month. Though a long way from being a champion, he was at his best a useful performer over cautery; but- it is doubtful if he will do much more racing-. In the absence of the grey Mr D. Rutherford will have a poor lot of jumpers this winter. Slcscal lias been schooled several times lately, but he shows a decided objection to some of the big fences. He may come right in lime, but he does not look at present as if ho would ever be a good steeplechaser, and so far as this winter -is concerned, his prospects seem almost hopeless A sister to Daylight Bill is the only other juniper in commission for the stable at present; but her prospects over hurdles do not look .good. Free might have been a useful member of the team; but she is on the easy list just now. A few weeks ago it looked as if Mr D. H. Roberts had a, chance of seeing his colours carried with

eomo credit; over country, as Kilmcny shaped well in his early schooling efforts. Since competing in hurdle races at Oamaru and Wingatui, however, lib has not progressed nearly so well in his education. lie showed a decided disinclination to face tho 6od wall one morning, running off repeatedly, and winding up by taking a similarly easy method to avoid a brush fence. Just at present he must be put on one. side as a very doubtful proposition. F. Holmes has not schooled Oratonu lately. He can jump all right, but does not look the sort for anything more than moderate company. The balance of tho local timbartoppers, including The Sweep, Mawson, and an unnamed Biackstone gelding, are in the hunting class, where they may turn out useful. Turning to the Hurdlers, the outlook ie a little brighter. Despite his failure at Wanganui, Art is a decent horse over hurdles. He is galloping very well, and showed up attractively when schooled last week. Bauian, in the same stable, is only a novice ; but so far he has shaped very creditably, and he may develop into a useful hurdler. Sartosta has evidently been improved by her two races at Oamaru, and she should pay her way next season. Hap Dha has been out several times lately, and on each occasion ho has fenced in bold style. _ He looks quite a good prospect, especially if he is not placed too ambtiously lor a start. Sport has done a fair amount of schooling, and shapes very promisingly. Thrax made a very favourable impression from the first time he was tried, and, though not forward enough in condition for the Grand National meeting, he looked like making a tip-top hurdler later in the year. Uniortimtely, however, he walked off very huno after jumping on Saturday, and he can probably oe counted out. His stable eompamon, Tannhauser, did not adapt himself to jumping so naturally as Thrax did, and his education may also have to bs suspended, as he did not move at all freely alter schooling on Saturday. It will be a matter for regret if these two Martian geldings are seriously amiss, as they represent much beiter class than is usually seen over hurdles in these parts. Trireme shaped well the other morning in his first school, and should be useful. Ogier, now an inmate of F. Holmes's stable, has not been schooled eo far, but I expect his trainer will take an early opportunity of trying him out. Summed up, it does not look as if any big cross-country races would be Avon by liiccarton horses this year, though some of the lesser lights may score in their own class. Art is at leasr a useful prospect for open hurdle events, .--nd it will be no surprise to find one or two of the novices showing up well before long in hack hurdle company. There will probably be a fair number of liiccarton horses racing at the winter meeting at Trentham next month. Art and Banian figure in hurdle races, and Oratonu in some of the steeplechases, while Flying Start, Battle Eve, Comely, Bomb, Jeannot, Melford, Sir Tarka, and Pyjama claim engagements on the flat. The South Canterbury crack, Crib, has also been nominated for hurdle races.

The Dunedin sportsman, W. Crossan, has sent Ogier to F. Holmes to be schooled over hurdles in the hope that the treatment will cause this disappointing customer to put more heart into his racing than he does on the flat. The pacer, The Bronzcwing, has also been placed in the same trainer's hands.

The Treadmill gelding Trireme has gone into F. D. Jones's stable, and will be got ready for hurdlo racing. He jumped boldly when given his first lesson one morning last week. Bonsign is another recent addition to Jones's team. The sister to Spccialform has not done much so far, but she should pay her way, as she can gallop fast.

R. J. Mason has taken Nones in hand again, with a view to spring engagements. She moved very short on Saturday, when doing steady pacing. It may only be a case of muscle soreness, which will disappear when she has done a bit of work, but there is an impression abroad that her joints have given Mason soma trouble in the past, and she may not stand too much hard work. Flying Start and Battle Eve are bowling along in good style, although they have done nothing particularly fast lately, and they should bo well forward for engagements close at hand. F. D. Jones has Comely and Bomb moving alonpr nicely, and they may race prominently in hack races at Trentham and Riccarton.

W. M'Donald allowed his two yearlings to run along a bit last week. The Boniform —Sea Queen gelding shaped well and locks like being useful. The Elysian—Lady Gwen colt is a well-grown youngster, but his knees look as if they might cause trouble.

Mescal was tried over a brush fence last Tuesday by himself, but refused to take it on. Later in the week Mescal. The Sweep, Mawson, and a Blackstono gelding set out for a round of the country. Mescal bucked over the first fence and baulked at the next. The Sweep led over two fences, but ran off at the second of the double. Going 1 on he showed the way over the sod wall and hurdlo. Coming to the last fence he and Mawson were together, just clear of the Blackstone gelding. The Sweep fell, but the other two finished up well. It was a fair bit of work.

On Wednesday morning- Art, Banian, Sartosta, and Hap Dha gave a good display over hurdles, the two novices, Banian and Hap Dha, showing np particularly well. On Saturday Art, Hap Dha, and Banian were out again and gave another smart exhibition.

Thrax, Tannhauscr, and Sport were schooled together on Saturday. Thoy started with the pony hurdles, but at the first obstacle Tannhauscr screwed badly, unseating his rider, the other pair shaping fairly well. On going back Thrax and Sport jumped in fine style, while Tannhauscr, a few lengths behind thcim was only moderate. They then took on three of the big hurdles. Tanhhauser's efforts were again disappointing, but the other pair got through the task nicely. On pulling up Thrax was lnmo in front, while Tannhauscr was soro behind. Tho yearling nominations for the Cantorbury Jockey Club's class races show a slight falling off compared with last year, but it is nothing to occasion comment. The totals for the various events arc: —Welcome Stakes 63, Derby 100, Oaks 50, Champagne Stakes 88, Middle Park Plate 81, Twenty-fifth Challengo Stakes 86, Twenty-sixth Challenge Stakes 114. Tho lists are thoroughly representative, tho principal owners in the Dominion having nominated.

Arrangements have been mado for the mating of Mr C. G. Dalgcty's mares next season. Warstep (Martian —Stepdancer) and her sister, Stardancer, will go to Solforino; Stepdancer (Stepniak—Pibroch) and Prim

(Pilgrim's Progress—Nantes) to Martian; Lady Disdain (Tho Officer—Oriflamme) to Bonny Glen; and Martino (Martian— Gipsy Maid) to Nassau. The other mare at tho stud, Nantes, who is in foal to Sanquhar, will not bo mated this year.