CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 41

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fhitz.

There has been very little of interest in the work on the local tracks during the past week. Most of the horses have been away racing in various parts of the Dominion, and it will be some time before they all return home. The trainers who assisted at Oamaru got back on Thursday night, while those who were at Invercargill arrived on Saturday night. The West Coast contingent will not bo back for another week, there being still the Hokitika fixture to engage attention. I have not seen F. Christmas yet, but ho should be Back now from Auckland, as he has nothing engaged at Trentham, where H. Cutts has gone with the quartet who represented Sir Geerge Clifford at Ellersiie. In the meantime the horses which raced during the holidays hay© not done much work since they returned home, and chief interest in the track work has been provided by the horses who are being prepared for a trip to Trentham to assist at the autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Club. E. J. Mason has been keeping his team busy, his intention being to tako Thames, Lovesick, Missouri, Eleui?, and Indus to Tiei:tham. They look in good order, but I do not particularly fancy their prospects. The most promising member of the party may bo Lovesick; but shs labours uiid-si the disability that sho is a delicate mare, who does not travel well. No definite decision has been come to yet witn regard to racing Biplane ii> the autumn, though his name is likely to figure in some of the big events in Australia when the listt» close this week. In the meantime his tasks continue of an ea<v nature, and ho shculd be all right by Easter if it is decided to race him in Sydney, though it is doubtful if he can bo ready for the big meetings in Victoria, which will be done witn in two months. A. Outts has the two-year-olds Heathercote and Lionskin striding nlong in good style. They are a pair of smart gallopers, who may have to be reckoned with if they make the trip to Trentham.

F. D. Jones is bustling Majestikoff along with a view to engagements at Trentham. Sho will be accompanied north by Euripos, Comely, and Post Haste.

R. W. King ha.? Matty and Black Mark moving along, and his present intention is to race, the pair at Trentham. Margerine appears to have lightened up with recent racing; but otherwise she looks in good order for autumn engagements. G. Murray Aynsloy hae given Wardanoer some useful work lately, and the brother to Wnrstop has got through his tasks well. So, too, has the two-year-old Scornful. The pair will bo raced at Riccarton next month, and will then go on to Wingatui. Their stable companion, Disdainful, has not done much, but she looks in good health to commence a preparation for engagements later in the season.

Riccarton horses did well in all directions

ai the holiday meetincrs. Both tho stables represented at Auckland got a share of winning honours. The teams which went to the West Coast have nearly all done well, while those who took on the southern trip gathered in a good share of prize money. Mr G. L. Stead has purchased from Mr J. B. Reid the two-year-old colt by Kilbronoy—St. Sophia. He has been in work for some time, and is regarded as a useful sort.

Tho summer meeting of tho Canterbury Park Trotting Club, held on New Year's Day, was in every way highly successful. Heavy rain fell during" tho previous night and continued tiJl well into the morning, when it cleared off, the afternoon being fine. This was the only holiday attraction for Canterbury sportsmen, who mustered in strong force. The totatisator investments were £32,090,. compared with £26.320 10s Oil the first day of last year's two-day fixture. Tho track was not seriously affected by the rain, and evidence that it was in good order was provided m the Champion Handicap, 'in which Cathedral Chimes re gistered 4.25, a winning race record for Australasia. The racing generally was full of interest.

Proceedings opened with the Amateur Handicup, in saddle, which attracted a field of 25 unhoppled trotters. It was a good betting race, N. L. Price's bracket, Panama and Honest Injin, being a little bettor backed than Sherry, Lady Baggs, and Belgium Lad. They had not gone far before Sherry was out in front, but she broke six furlongs from homo. Precision then took charge, establishing a long lead, and he won easily by 50. yards, Sherry beating Gunpowder by 40 yards, with Culverden, Wild Night, and Valuation next. Panama and Lady Baggs were never prominent, while Belgium Lad did not trot solidly, though he showed a lot of speed. The winner, who went well all the way. is a good cut of a trotter by the imported horse Perajta. TJiere were 12 starters for the Templeton Handicap, two miles, in harness, and betting took a wide range, with Chaos, Nora Crcna, Lady Moth, Erin's Queen, and Silver Quick fancied in that order. Will o' the Wisp showed the way to Lady Moth and Nora Ciena in the early stages, and lie was still in front at the end of a mile, with Nora Crena, Silver Quick; Chaos, and Rorke's Drift handy. A little farther on Rorke's Drift was third, and lie won an interesting race by half a length, from Will o' the Wisp, with Nora Crena three lengths away, followed by Erin's Queen and Calton. The winner paced a very solid race,, and owed his success to his stamina. He has done most of his racing in saddle; but he may take a high place among the harness horses. Chaos did not perform up to expectations. The withdrawl of Erin's King left a field of 16 for the Champion Handicap, tho_ principal event of the meeting. Backers went very .strongly for Evelyn and Agathos, each of whom carried about twice as much money as Hardy Wilkes, who was third choice, while Mintson and Bryce's bracket (Cathedral Chimes, Sherwood, and Soda) divided fourth position. It was a very interesting race. Reggie Huon did not go on the mark, while Succeed and Brown Bell both lost ground at the start. Mintson drew out smartly, with Frandocia ,next, while Brown Bell, who quickly made up her .ground, was in third place at tho end of three furlongs, followed by Evelyn. At trie end of a mile Agathos was moving up fast, but a little farther on he. -faded out again. Mintson and Frandocia were still showing the way half a mile from home, where Cathedral Chimes was improving his position with a brilliant run. Minston led into the straight, but in a great finish Cathedral Chimes up to beat Mintson by a head, Frandocia being three lengths away, followed by Evelyn, Brown Bell, Sungdd, and Sherwood. Tho performance registered by the winner was high class. He did not gain much in the first mile, but over the second circuit he travelled at a rare gait, and he wound up by registering 4.25, a winning race record for Australasia. The merit of the performance will be better appreciated when it is remembered that the Canterbury Park track is not regarded as a fast one, even under the most favourable .conditions. Mintson and Frandocia paced right up to their best form. Author Dillon was a disappointment, while Agathos and Evelyn were in troublo a long way from homo. ' The Lyttelton Handicap (saddle) attracted a field of seven. Dillon Eddy was a sound favourite, Birdgcwood, St. Ursula, and Coldstream being fancied in that order, whilo the other three also had plenty of admirers. Blackford was the actual outsider; but he- was in front all the way, and won by three lengths. from St. Ursula, who boat Bridge wood by a dozen lengths, with Goldstrcam and Dillon Eddy next. The winner paced a solid raco and deserved his success, as he has been racing very consistently for some time. Dillon Eddy, the favourite, never flattered his backers. Nine unhoppled trotters, representing good class', took part in the Stewards' Handicap. Imperial Crown and Eruption, despite recent disappointments, claimed most attention from backers. Louie Drift and Treasure Seeker played up at the post. Lady Patricia led for half a mile, when she broke. Imperial Crown going on, and at the end of a mile he was well clear of Lord Roanchild, Rummy, and Truganini. A bad break settled Imperial Crown, and Lord Roanchild won easily, while Truganini beat Imperial Crown in the run home by three lengths. The winner went very solidly, and to this he otved his success, a remark which also applied to Truganini, who finished second;

For the Islington Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, there were 15 speedy performers in the field. Moneymaker wound up in a little better favour than A. Fleming's bracket (Willie Lincoln and Jewel Chimes). Eccentric showed the way for two furlongs, when Moneymaker closed on him, the pair being well clear of the field at the end of six furlongs. Eccentric was in trouble When the straight was reached, and Moneymaker won comfortably from Agathos, who finished with a late run. Brown 801 l was a length away, followed by Evelyn, Eccentric, and Adelaide Direct. The winner had the race well in hand at the end of half a mile. Matehlight lost ground at the start, and let his admirers down badly. Willie Lincoln and Jewel Chimes were never dangerous.

The Railway Handicap, one mile, in saddle, was contested by 21 good-ola-ssf sprinters. B. Jardine's bracket fHuon Patch and Birdwood) was a little better fancied than Elvino and Ngaiora. For threo furlongs Ngaiora was in charge, but Birdwood then went to the front. He was going well at the entrance to the straight, when ho stumbled and almost fell. Lord Dillon then went on. and won easily from St. Michael, who iust beat St. Ursula, with Ngaiora and Birdwood next. The

winner is a brilliant pacer, but not always solid. Several of the competitors failed to go off properly. A good field, numbering 13, took part in the Au Revoir Handicap, one mile, in harness. Trix Pointer was favourite in a good betting race. She was always well placed, and, taking charge at the end oi three furlongs, she won easily from Will o' the Wisp and Vice-admiral, with Agnes Chief and Tiranna next. Trix Pointer, a mare purchased in America by F. Holmes. deserved her win, as she has raced very unluckily during the last few months, having been placed several times.