CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 44

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fhitk.

The Mothvcn Racing Club was fortunate last Thursday in securing fine weather for its second totalisator meeting, which attracted a largo attendance. Some alterations have been made since the fixture hold a year ago, among them being the enlargement of the birdcage. The secretary was provided with an office under the grandeland, but this was not an ideal arrangement. By next year it is hoped that ho -will be quartered inside 'he birdcage, the intention being to double the floor spaco of the building now used as a jockeys' and ■weighing room, besides . providing a top storev from which the stewards can view the 'racing. The course was in decent order, though the club would clo well to have the track cleared .of stones, which wero very thick in some parts clown the back stretch. The fields were of fair size, but the racing did not provide a great deal of excitement, there being no particularly close finishes. It was, however, a successful fixture, and the club seems on the way to taking a prominent place among our country raeii:g institutions. There wore six starters for the Mount Harding Welter Handicap. Golden Prince was favourite, and he never looked like being beaten, as he was out in front all the way. Gallupin began slowly, but easily beat the others at the finish, where Bomb was just in front of Spyglass. Golden Prince has come on a lot during the past couple, of months, his record in his last six starts being five wins and a third. Ho was sold after his Methven win to Mr J. Parsons, the owner of Oxenhope, and be has gone into S Trilford's stable. Up to the present Golden Princo his raced only in moderate company, but he is an improving customer, who should pay his way against stronger opposition. It would be interesting to see a high-class performer by Menschikoff. There was a big field of 14 for the Springfield Trial Plate. Backers picked out Tantalus as favourite, and again they were well on the mark. As a matter of fact, the first five horses Home finished in the order of backing. Tantalus was soon out in front, and though _ he lost a lot of ground through going wide at the turn, he held the lead to the end, winning by a good margin from Donnata, who was suocessfu l at Hororata. Matty, who was a fair third, is a smart galloper, who should be worth watching during the holidays. She is a sister to Mnrtyre, Marsa, and Spangle, and a half-sister to Prim and ArtilJerie. Just behind the placed lot came lan Hamilton and Charley. The winner, Tantalus, is a very speedy colt, which is not at all surprising, as he is by Treadmill from that fast mare Flitaway, but he dors not stay well at present. The unplaced lot included Dollv Hamilton, a five-year-old sister to Bill Terry, but she was not ready to race. Backers went strongly for Wardancer in the Methven Cup; but. he did not run up to expectations. He was well placed at the. home turn, but, did not finish on at all well. I am afraid he must bo included in the. list of horses whoonly do their best occasionally. Bellshiro was always one of the leaders; but. when ho shook off Glnn Helen at the end of seven furlongs he was tackled by Ogier and Wardancer Over the last, furlong Ogier wove Bollshire down. Tie finished very gamely, his performance being far ahead of his recent efforts. Tfc was especially pleasing tifter his display less than a week earlier, at, BTororafca, 'where be cut up very badly. In "nlerval he war? treated to some Rwimminir exercise, which evidently did him good. Provided ho will do bis best, should win more races for Mr Crossan this season. Pyiama was a little better favourite thnn Ohudio for the Vicwmont Handicap, but they both faded out over

the last couple of furlongs, lan Hamilton winning easily from Formola. The winner is a promising three-year-old, and halfbrother to Bill Terry. Sir Hamilton, and Master Hamilton, his sire, CTonstadt, being a brother to All Bed, by Stcpniak—Madder. Cronstadt was a useful galloper, but he has not had much of a chance at the stud, where several of hk sisters havo clone well, Pose Madder, Mungista, and Ukraine having produced good performers over longjourneys. The Publicans' Purse was a closo betting race, live of the six competitors being backed; but it was a poor contest. Bill Terry worked his way to the front soon after the start, and before half the journey had been covered he had his opponents in serious trouble. He was ridden by Hewitt, who was also successful on the gelding at Hororata. British Rose finished well, but ho is too slow in the early part of his races. Peronilla did not got out well, and never looked dangerous, while Countess Tolstoi stopped a long way from home. Backers went for a recovery in the Mount Hutt Handicap, in which Bcllshiro, Bon, and The Finn* were backed in that order. The Finn gave trouble at the start, and eventually got all the best of the despatch. He was soon in front, but was beaten when the straight was reached. Aaland then took charge; but ehe had to be shaken out at the finish to beat Bcllshiro. The winner appears to bo on the improve, and she stays on better now than she did earlier in her career.

The two trotting races at Methven attached largo fields, but the sport was not high class. In the Drayton Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, Nora Crena was favourite, with Capsicum second choice. The race was a contest between Nora Crcna. and Dainty Dillon, but the favourite stayed on the better of tin? pair, and won easily at the finish, Salcombe being a moderate third. Nora Grena is a four-year-old mare by Kothsohild —Noreen. She is not a big one. but she is a clean-gaited pacer, who looks like being good. Her dam was. «t more than useful mare, who won a lot of races in her day. Muriel Star was made favourite for the Farmers' Handicap, but sho could only finish third, being well beaten half a mile from home. She is a highly-br"d mare, being by Harold Dillon from an imported dam, Muriel Madison; but she has not come up to expectations so far. Taasy M., another well-backed candidate, gave an indifferent display, and so did Trilby Child, driven by J. Brycc. The winner turned up in Merivale, a six-year-old mare by Calindo, who has done some good work at Now Brighton lately. She was in front nearly all the way. and won comfortably at the end. Lord Minston was second, after pacing a sound race. J. Smith drove Lord Minston. and lie just missed bringing off a double, as ho also handled Nora Crena. Lord Minston is a four-year-old by Lord Chancellor from Princess Minto. a Prince Imperial marc who is a half-sister to Noreen, dam of Nora Crena.

The New Brighton Trotting Club will hold its summer mooting on Saturday and Monday. The chief event on the first day is disappointing, as all the baokmarkcrs have gone* out. evidently waiting for better things during the holidays. The other races have drawn large fields, and there should be some really good sport during the two days. About 30 horses from Riccarton stables are engaged at the Dunedin Jockey Club's summer meeting, and from inquiries I have made most of them may be expected to make the trip south, together with about a dozen horses from other parts of Canterbury.

R. J. Mason will bo the first of the local trainers to make a start with, his holiday touring team. His present intention is to leave for Auckland on Thursday with Bimeter, Greenetreet, Thames, and Biplane. They all look in good heart, Biplane being much more finely drawn than when he raced here last month. It is on the cards that Nones will also be racing during the holidays. She claims a couple of engagements at the Manawatu meeting, one being in the Palmerston North Stakes; and P. V. Mason may go north with her. After that she might even go further, as she still figures in the Royal Stakes at the Auckland Racing Club's meeting. R. D. O'Donnell will leave for Auckland on Thursday with the Yaldhurst contingent, consisting of The. Toll', Wishful, Kocsiau, Bon d'Or, Ample, Redrock and Plymouth. In conversation with Mr G. L. Stead I learned that no definite decision had been conic to regarding The Toff's Auckland Cup engagement. The Cup field did not look like being particularly strong, he said, and he was disposed to lot the Derby winner take his chance in the two-mile race, though ho made no secret of the fact that the race he had specially set his mind 0:1 was the Great Northern Derby, in which his chief opponent would be his brother's gelding, Sasanof. The meeting between this panover a mile and a-half will bo one of the star events of the eeason, provided they are both well.

W. If. Thomson will also get away to Auckland on Thursday with Marc Antony tinder his charge. The son of Yarco has not done a great deal of severe work since the New Zealand Cup meeting, and he may be a trifle backward ; but ho looks well for the engagements ahead of him. Thomson will be renewing his acquaintance with Ellerslie after a lengthy absence. Nearly 31 years ago he rode Ricochet to victory in the first contest for the Groat Northern Foal .Stakes, and four years later he won the Great Northern Derby on Tirailleur, that being his last visit to the Auckland Racing Clubjs coj*rse. He will carry the good wishes of a big circle of friends when he takes Marc Antony north. If. Cutts will be the last of the Cantorbury trainers to leave for Auckland!, his intention being to start next Saturday, with Flying Start, San Sebastian, Good'Hope, Claverhouse. and Full Speed. It is not a first-class team to take on such a long journey, and the prospects do not look particularly bright, though a minor race may be nicked up, I notice that someone hits boon backing San Sebastian for the Auckland Cup, but this does not seem good business, as on makinrr inquiries a few days ago I learned that some difficulty was being experienced in securing a rider. I should say it was by no means a certainty that the horse would fulfil his Auckland Cup engagement.

Countess Tolstoi hns been racing badly this season, and sho dons not appear to have over recovered! from a mishap that occurred to her last season, when she. injured some of her muscles through being pushed on to tho rails at n southern meeting. Her owner-trainer, W. IT. Thomson, hns now decided to race her no more, and sho will be mnf«d wiHi Boniform.

Mr H. CassicEy'a mare, Kiltcss, is at pr

sent enjoying a spell, in the hope that she will bund up in condition. She is a speedy galloper when she is light, ■ but she has given her trainer a lot of trouble lately. G. Murray-Aynsley is spelling the two-year-oid iilly Wanna, by Martian —JNantes. She is a promising sort, but she met with a slight accident some time ago, and a rest seemed advisable.

It is probable that Findhorn will be operated on alter tiie holidays, in the hopo that ho can be owed of his wind troubles. A. M'Auley has the two-year-old filly by Boniform—-Grand Rain in regular woik. She looks a good sort, and she should pay her way later on.

W. H. Thomson has just commenced to work the two-year-old colt by Boniform— Achilla, but he will not -"be ready to race till late in the season.

R. Longley's imported fillies, Love Token and Winter Cherry? are moving along nicely in their work, and thoy look certain to pay their way before the end of this season They will probably 'be raced at the Dunedin and Oamaru meetings during tiie holidays. F. D. Jones has his two Hymettus geldings striding out well in strong work. Ho far thoy have not been further than three furlongs, but they show a good deal of promise.

The local trotting- brigade will _be widely distributed during fho holiday season. Several trainers will go to- Auckland, returning in time for Canterbury Park, others will do the West Coast circuit, and a few will visit Gore. Ashburton will bo the chief attraction on Boxing Day. and a good meeting is assured, though the nominations are not so largo as last year. At New Year Canterbury Park will provide two days' sport, which should be of a high class, as owners have responded very freely. The chief event, which is worth £IOOO, has attracted 15 horses, representing the highest class in training.

J. Eryce's big team of trotters and pacers will bo racing all over the Dominion during the holidays. He will take several horses to Auckland, returning- after two days for the Canterbury Park meeting. One of his assistants will go to Gore, while another will do the round of the West Coast meetings.