CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 41

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By £• kit/ The Easter meeting of tho Nov/ Zealand Metropolitan Trotting- Club was concluded at Addington on Saturday. The racing should have taken place on Wednesday, but heavy rain made a postponement necessary. It was a wise decision and a very fortunate one, as it turned out, tho weather on Saturday being ideal. The track was heavy in the early part of the day, but it improved later, and it was very fast for tho final events. The racing- was much better than on the first day, the contests being consistently good. Proceedings opened with tho Halswell Handicap, for which there were 17 competitors. Tho Australian-bred Sir Fulham was made a good favourite; but though he paced better than on the first day, he did not go solidly, and had to put up with third place. Irvar was, soon out in front, and won easily from tho unlucky Icicle, who keeps running into a place, but seems unable to win. Irvar showed a lot of promise early in his career, and, though he then had a bad spell, he is coming on again. He is by Young Irvington from Ardzigular, by Viking—Mercy, by tho thoroughbred Stonyhurst from Pride of Lincoln, to whom trace so many of the best New Zealand performers. Eleven unhoppled trotters lined up for the Harvest Handicap. The Otago-owncd Parkfield was favourite, and he trotted a solid race till entering the straight, when he made a mistake, letting Red Bell to the front. He was got into his gait again •quickly, but was just beaten on tho post. The winner, Red Bell, is a well-grown horse by- Jay Beldon from Rcdmirc, tho dam of that great trotter Redchild. Red Bell has not been in work very long, and his gait is far from perfect. Ho is, however, an improving sort, and, as he is a good stayer, ho may be expected to show a lot more improvement. Wild Tree finished up third, but did not trot at all solidly. Albortoria went well for a mile and a-haif, when she stopped very badly. James Madison showed pace in patches, but did not go steadily. Gay Wilkes shaped badly, and was evidently fooling the effects of a recent accident. The withdrawal of Admiral Wood, St. Kevin, Moneymaker, and Oinako'loft a field of eight for tho Metropolitan -Handicap. Brown Bell, who recently wont into J. Bryce's stable, was a little better fancied than Emilius. The em-priso of the betting was the small amount of support accorded to Author Dillon, there being only two horses in tho field with fewer admirers. Stanley's Child did not leave the mark; but the others raced in close order for a mile, when Brown Bell broke, while Our Thorpe and Sungod faded out, Emilius, Adelaide Direct, and St. Ursula going on in the lead. A little farther on Author Dillon moved up, and he took charge when the straight was reached. He was stopping again at tho end, but appeared as

if ho was eased. As it was, ho just lasted long- enough to beat Emilius, who wont a solid race. Adelaide Direct was five lengths away, stopping badly at the end, and she did not raco so well art on the first day. Author Dillon's two performances at the meeting stamp him as one of tho best young horses in training, lie has an easy action, -which enables him to get over the ground without much apparent effort, and he is a great stayer. St. Ursula raced well, and she may win before long. Our Thorpe gave a good display, racing up to his field in fine style, and while his condition lasted he travelled as well as anything in the race. There seems a big chance now that he will come back to his beet form.

The Trotters' Handicap provided a good contest among the unhoppled brigade, despite the fact that several of the competitors were not at their best. There were II starters, five of whom fought out every inch of ground from start to finish, with frequent changes in tho positions. _ Imperial Crown looked liko a winner in the straight; but Galician came with a strong run and won on the post. The winner is by Galindo from Monica, by Wildwood— D.I.C, so that ho comes from the same family as Admiral Wood and Peter Mac. Me is a good trotter and a great stayer. Imperial Grown, with the worst of the luck, trotted a line • race. He has been a difficult horse to manage; but Price now has him going well, and further improvement may still be expected. Eruption trotted solidly, and there seems room for th'i belief that ho will yet realise early expectations. Lord Roanchild went well, but stopped at tho end. Paul Huon and Hardy Wilkes, did not go steadily, while Red Heather, who is a long way from biti best, did not show any of his speed.

The Champion Stakes, the club's initial effort with a three-year-old classic race, was a big success. There were seven competitors, all but one of whom had previously, won, and they were, a really fine lot. Peter Mac was favourite; but Birdwood and Acushla. Machree ™ lso came in for solid support. Dinna Ken did not get off well, but the others left the mark in good line. Birdwocd took up the running from Vice-admiral and Paul Default, and ho set a solid pace for a mile, the others, except D'inna Ken, being in close order. Half a mile from home Birdwood broke, Trix Pointer, Acushla Machrce, and Peter Mac going" on in front. Trix Pointer stopped a bit at the finish,- and Peter Mac just got up a few strides from home to beat Acushla Machrce. The winner was bred by his owner, Mr A. E. Ives, and is one of the first batch of foals sired by the American horso Petereta, who promises to be a great stud success. D. 1.0., the dam of Peter Mac, is by Young Irvinigton from Flora, by Berlin from a mare by Tribune, a eon of Traducer. D.I.C. is_ one of the most successful brood mares in the New Zealand Trotting Stud Book, among her progeny being Monica, Miss .Florrie C, Papanui, 0.1. C., Admiral Wood. Peter Mao had previously shown that he was a good pacer on hard tracks, and he enhanced his reputation in the classic race by demonstrating that ho was equally at home on holding ground. The Champion Stakes quite overshadowed the remainder of Saturday's programme, the contest arousing a lot of enthusiasm. The success of the race should induce the club to give further encouragement to events of a similar character. There were 13 starters for the President's Handicap. Jolly Girl, from Brvce's stable, was favourite, and she was well placed in the early stages, only to fade out at the end. She is not an attractive pacer, and she put in a couple of bad breaks. General Link began well, and was never headed, winning with a bit to spare from Whispering Willie, who finished fast, and just beat Dayspring for second place. The winner is a useful sort, who had previously done his best over shorter courses. Whispering Willie, the only trotter in"the field, went a solid race, and he can be marked off for a stako belong long. Dayspring paced soundly without the aid of hopples. Dillon Eddy was. fancied, but gave an indifferent display, as did Sir Fulham. Granger and Bundura paced well; but Huon Drift did not leave the mark.

Fifteen speedy inilers lined up for the High Class Handicap, and they provided a fine contest. Lord Dillon showed the way for half the distance, when he faded out. Quincey Maid and Lady Teddington then took cha,rge, but in a fine finish Childsdale beat Don Caesar by half a length, Eccentric being a head away, with Quincey Maid close up. Childsdale is a fine pacer when all right, as he can stay jxs well as going fast. Don Ccesar registered a fine performance, and is apparently much boter than his training work indicated, while Eccentric went up to his' best form. Tamarisk got a bad passage at a critical stage.

A field of nine contested the Farewell Handicap, St. Ursula and Minston dividing favouritism. It was a. fine race all the way. Bacchus, Stanley's Child, St Ursula, Glendalough, and Minston was the order at the end of two furlongs. Over the last bit Stanley's Child drew away in good style to beat Glendalough, with St. Ursula next, just in front of Bacchus. Mr R. J. Munro's trotting horses- were offered at auction last week, but it was a poor sale, the only horse disposed of being Eorko's Drift, at ISOgs. Mr F. Amos disposed of a big draft of trotting horses during the week, but prices were low. The stallion King Tracey failed to elicit a bid. B. W. Franks was unable to handle his team at Addington on Saturday, being confined to his bed. The sale of the brood mares in the estate of Sir George M'Lean passed -off very quietly. A clearance was effected, but prices were only moderate. Mr G. D. Greenwood disposed of a number of horses at auction last week. Mr I. G. Duncan took Ribble at 120 gs and Nones at 380 gs. both marcs being probably secured for the Waikanae Stud. As P. Holmes is duo for military service, he has placed Kaminohe with H. Ellis, who has also had Tyne added to his team.

M. Hobbs has taken a big contingent north for the meeting's at Trentham and Awapuni. It is understood that G. Jones will then take, over Mr W. G. Stead's horses. I learn, however, that Kilboy will remain in Hobbs's care.

Sir George Clifford's team for Trentham will consist of Adjutant. Good Hope, and Brambletye. They will be accompanied by Gamecock, who is only engaged at Awapuni.

11. W. King will go north with Bee, Zuland. Matty, Spangle, and Black Mark, the present- intention, being to race them at Trentham and Awapuni.

R. J. M'.ison will have Bimeter and

Thames racing at tho Wellington Racing Club's fixture.

Fiery Cross is booked for Trentham, and the popular opinion is that ho will run well.

Mr G. Fulton has decided to give tho imported filly Love Token a rest for a year. Winter Cherry will be kept going, and special attention will be paid to her education in jumping off. If she gets over her trouble at the barrier she will win big races. Art will probably bo sent to Auckland to contest tho Great Northern Hurdles Handicap in June. Mr Whitney's team, consisting of. Rose Pink, Pall Mall, Mount Victoria, and Houmania, arrived from Wellington on Sunday, and went on to tho West Coast on Monday.