CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 40

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz

All the Riccarton horses are back from their southern tours, where they picked up a fair share of tho prizo money. Some of them are in regular work, in view of engagements near at hand, while others are having tin easy time after their recent exertions. Tho hard tracks, left a number of them very sore, and a spell has become a necessity. li. Cutts returned from Auckland on Friday with Good Hope, San Sebastian, and Claverhouse. They look none tho worse for the trip; but they all raced badly. W. H. Thomson is back with Marc Antony, after an unlucky trip to Auckland. Tho Varco horse pulled off a shoe while contesting the Summer Cup. He injured his foot, and is lame, so that he may need a rest.

R. D. O'Donnell brought the Yaldhurst team homo on Friday, having had a very satisfactory innings at Ellerslie. He will leave, again shortly for Trentham, where several members of his team are engaged. Bimeter, Greenstreet, Thames, and Biplane were sent on to Trentham after racing at Ellerslie. Their trainer. R. J. Mason, came home for a few days, but is duo to leavo again early with the two-year-olds Tyne and Lovesick to strengthen his contingent for the Wellington Racing Club's meeting. M. Hobbs is still in charge of Air \V. G. Stead's horses, who are now at Trentham. Hobbs has been at Riccarton for a day or two, but will soon return north. H. Cutts, A. M'Aulay, and F. D. Jones will probably go to Trentham in a few days to assist at the Wellington . Racing Club's meeting; but nothing has been settled definitely regarding their teams. Bee looks as if she was causing her connections some anxiety. She usually moves in a short, scratchy style, but lately she has shown distinct signs of soreness, and it may be found necessary to ease her UJ). While in the south F. D. Jones had the two-year-old filly Xilmedy, by Kilbroney— Ena. placed under his care by ""Mr J. B. Reid. She is a sister to Killena, and looks a promising sort. li. Longiey has resumed work with Winter Cherry, but. Phil May and Love Token, tho two other members of his team, who went soro at Wingatui, will probably require a long rest. Arrangements have been completed for an operation on Findhorn, in the hope of curing his wind trouble. At his best he was a speedy galloper, and he would have won some good races this season had he remained sound, t

Tho Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting, which was held last week, was favoured with the best of weather on both days. With no counter-attractions, the meeting drew a very largo crowd, and those who attended were rewarded by witnessing some first-class sport. Financially, too, tho fixture was a big success, the totalisator investments being £49.855, compared with £47,647 last year. Proceedings opened with the First Amateur Handicap, in which backers sorted out Imperial Ann as favourite. She was out in front early, and was never again headed, winning easily from Happy Jack and Wallacena. Imperial Ann had no previous wins to recommend-her, but she ran second to Patard on the same course last June. She has improved since then, and is a decent sort of a trotter.

Neigh showed a lot of speed in the Templeton Handicap, but tired after going a mile and a-half, and hud to put up with third place, Albert Wallace winning by a length from Cora Dillon, who has proved somewhat expensive. There is no doubt about her speed, but she is very erratic. The winner did a lot of racing last season without winning, though he was placed four times, but this was easily his best effort. A high-class held of 11 took part in tho Champion Handicap, the chief event of tho meeting. Succeed went oft" smartly, followed by Hal Zolook and Sungod, and they held the lead for over a mile. Then Capriccio, Tommy C, and Cathedral Chimes improved their positions; but Succeed hung on well, winning easily by three lengths from Tommy C, who beat Capriccio by half a length, with Sungod and Cathedral Chimes next. Cdfchedral Chimes had his chance affected through some interference at the start, after which ho paced in good style. Our Thorpe went off well, but at tio stage did ho look like threatening danger, while Emilius gave an indifferent display. Tommy C. did not settle clown to his task at all well; but ho was going on like a good one at the end. Succeed had not won a, race for 12 months, but she had shown promising form more than oiipe this season. The Lyttclton Handicap was a ptood contest for over a mile, when Bridpjewood went on and won easily from Lady Ronctta and Mopey. The winner is_ a four-year-old by Broadieaf, a son of Itibbomvood. and ho is a good cut of a pacer, who will do even better before lone:. Lady Ronetta, the favourite, was unlucky to meet such an improved opponent. A good field o c unhoppled trotters contested the Stewards' Handicap. Our C.oldio, Bohemian, and Arcadian made the early running, hut Mayfield had their measure a long way from home, and ho won easily from Our Goldie, while Arcadian just beat Billy Parole for third place. Mayfield is a very fast trotter, and it was only a question of keeping him steady to make a good race a certainty for him.

A speedy lor. contested the Islington Handicap and after Dnnspey, Proud GirJ, and St. Michael had shown up at various strides. Biwdura wont on to win comfortably from Nutwood Junior, with Dnnspey third, and Annie Dillon next. The winner i* a four-year-old by Harold Dillon from I'.onny Jenny, an American mare with some smart form to her credit. Bundura is a brilliant pacer, who will do even hotter later on.

The Railway Handicap attracted a field of -useful milers, but it was a poor race. Woodverc being in front all the way and winning as she liked from Jack Ashore and Bloomfield. Woodvero is a five-year-old by Wildwood Junior, and she had shown her best previous form at Auckland, where she had a win and a second to her credit last season. Her dam, Miss Vera, is racing again this season after being off the scene for some time.

For the An Revoir Handicap Quineey Maid was rather hotter backed than The Whip. They both raced well, but The Whip never looked like heirrr beaten. He was in front all the wav, finishing four lengths in front of Qnincey Maid, who got nn- in the straight to heat First Alarm. The Whip was third in the same race last year when Succeed won. On the second day racing commenced with the Second Amateur Handicap. Scotfish Queen wa.s favourite, and she ran a good race, but Leo 801 l was soon out in

front, winning with ridiculous easo, lie is a six-year-old by General Lyons, and is a horso of nioro than average promise. A good iield of unhoppled t rotters took part in the Progressive Handicap. Arcadian and Faddy Lynd led for a mile, at which stage Wild Tree was within striking distance. A little further on Paddy Lynd broke, and Arcadian took charge, but ho was tiring half a mile from home. Then Gay Wilkes put in his claim, and he beat Wild Tree by two lengths, Arcadian being closo up, with Craibwood next. Guy Wilkes hits had a reputation for speed for a long time, and now that M'Lcnnan has got him to go steadily, ho is likely to win plenty of races.

Tho Park Handicap found tho Australianbred Playboy a little better backed than Moneymaker and Stanley's Child. Playboy made the early running, but retired at tho end of a mile, Capriccio going on in front. Our Thorpe then made a fast run, but did not sustain it. Going down the back Oinako moved up, and he was in front at tho entrance to the straight. lie tried, however, and Evelyn, going on strongly, beat him comfortably by a length, Sherwood being three lengths away, with with Stanley's Child and Moneymaker next. The winner's performance was very attractive, tho sister to Emmeline racing right up to her best.

Tho Park Handicap, for unhoppled trotters, provided an interesting contest. Imperial Crown led out of the straight, but prolco after going half a mile, when Lord ttoanchild ran to the front, being well clear of Miss Vera and Red Heather at the mile post. In the second mile Red Heather put in a strong challenge, but Lord Roanchild hung on to tho end, winning by half a length. Hardy Wilkes, who went unsteadily, but showed great pace in patches, was third, with Treasure Seeker and Truganini next. The winner is a fast trotter, but not a good stayer. Red Heather has been very unlucky this season, having been placed in four good races without winning. Quality was well represented in the Selwyn Handicap, one mile and a-half. Havoc went off with a big lead, but half a mile from home Colmena was in charge. The Australian horse looked all over a winner at the home turn; but Sungod got, up on the post, winning by a head, with Author Dillon two lengths away, followed by Don Caesar and Frandocia. Sungod can be classed as the mo 4 consistent performer seen out this season, as he hoe a record of four wins and six placed performances to his credit.

The Middleton Handicap was well contested most of the way. Imperial Crown and Nutwood Junior made the early running, but at the end of half a mile Cora Dillon replaced Imperial Crown, while a little further on Galindo Lou took third place. Going down tho back, Imperial Crown and Hannah M moved up, and Imperial Crown boat Hannah M. by four lengths... Nutwood Junior being third. Tho winner was due for a stake, as ho has proved very expensive this season. Elveno was favourite • for the Telegraph Handicap, but she did not begin well. Rearguard showed out from Imperial Tracey in the early stages, but Proud Girl was in front at the home turn, and beat Ncrdica by half a length, Sir Elmo being close up. Proud Girl only returned to the track this season after a year's spell, which has apparently done her no harm, and she should win further honours soon. The meeting was brought to a close with tho Final Handicap, for which Capriccio and Mintson were most in favour. Law Chimes and Red Mac led for half a mile, when Ben Dillon took charge. At tho entrance to the straight Mintson camo on tho ficene with a great run, and he beat Capriccio by a length. Law Chimes being two lengths away'. Mintson has a fine record in mile saddle races, and he has few equals in that department.