CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 42

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz. The absence of several trainers at Trentham, assisting at the summer meeting of the- Wellington Racing Club, made things very quiet at Rjcarcton last week, especially when it is remembered that the Canterbury Jockey Club's summer fixture will be held next Saturday. All the horses are now homo again, however, apparently none the- worse for their exertions. They did fairly well, too, securing a share of the prize money; but one or two of them failed to race- up to their track form, costing ,local backers a good . deal of money. The summer meeting of the Canterbury

Jockey Club never attracts much, outside attention, and this season's fixture, to be held on Saturday, is no exception to the general rule.. There are a, few visiting horses in the list of nominations, and I understand that the North Island contingent will bo on the scene, but the fields will bo drawn chiefly from local stables. The acceptances will probably result in a substantial thinning put, as a good few horses figure in one event; but there is material for some interesting sport. The Middlo Park Plate is likely to attract a good deal of attention on Saturday. I expect there will be a small field, probably confined to two-year-olds; but the result should assist towards straightening out the season's juvenile form, which is a trifle mixed at present. Mr G.. L. Stead's colt Almoner made a big impression during the spring meotings in Australia, where ho won two races/ in good style. He failed in the Wellington Stakes, his only appearance in New Zealand; but excuses havo boen made for him, and he should show to much greater advantage over the longer course. His stable companion, Cyrisian, raced well at Trentham, and, with the advantage of all the allowances, he may prove a good second string. Most people, however, expect to find Almoner the bettor of the Yaldhurst pair. Sir George Clifford still has four in tho race. ' Long Range shaped moderately in the spring, but he showed great improvement at the summer meeting at Ellerslio, where his record was two firsts and a second. Ho did not meet the cracks, but his form was impressive. Since his return homo he has been bowling along most attractively, and he can be relied on to race well on Saturday; The list also includes a trio of maidens from the Chokebore Lodge stables, consisting of Heathercote, Lionskin, and Counterscarp. They can all muster up some speed, though they havo no public form to recommend them. Possibly Heathercoto will be a starter, leaving the other pair to take part in the two-year-old handicap. Canamana. does not appeal, as on form the Menschikoff filly is unlikely to stay six furlongs. Eleus is a useful galloper, a brother to Koesian;. but I do not fancy his chance here. His stable companion, Afterglow (Demosthenes —Sunglow), is a good sort, but not ready yet. Bondage has been galloping fairly well, but she may be troubled by ''the length of the journey. Altogether, present indications point to Almoner and Long Range as likely to provide tho principal interest in the Middle Park Plate. The better of tho pair may have to be reckoned with in other important events later in the season. Sir George Clifford usually has a big team racing at the summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club. At , this week's meeting, however, he will have nothing but two-year-olds to represent him. Adjutant, Brambletye, and Gamecock were engaged, but they were scratched soon after the appearance of the -weights. Margerine claims two engagements on Saturday, but it is understood that the Midsummer Handicap will be her mission. She is a solid customer-, who has the advantage of having won over the distance, and she will take a lot of beating, as she is very well. Wardancer is in great fettle at present, and has been responsible for some brilliant track work. He has only to repeat it in public to make him look like a winner before long. Unfortunately the brother to Ware'tep does not always do his best in public. Ascalaphus has done very little more than short sprints lately. He looks well, but his work does not suggest racing over long journeys. Red Book is working along nicely, and he may be seen to advantage shortly in better company 'than he has raced in lately. Spangle, looks well, but her track form has not been of an impressive character, and I do not like her prospects. Harlequin is hitting out freely in his work, and, despite a moderate racing record up .to date, he may yet turn out more than useful. He lacks brilliancy, but he is a good, stayer. Jeannot looks well after his recejit racing, and he is galloping more brilliantly now than I ever remember previously. T. H. Gillett has Merton and Achilledes in fine fettle at present. It will be no surprise to find both of them racing well at meetings near at hand. Belair is having an easy time, having shown signs of lameness, but the trouble is not regarded as serious. Disdainful is a popular fancy for the Craven Plate, but the Bonny Glen mare has not been showing her customary dash in her work. Her 'two-year-old brother Scornful is coming along nicely, and look? certain to pick up a stake before long. Nothing at Riccarton is galloping better than Winter Cherry. She will probably be tried over a distance shortly, and she will be hard to beat, as I feel certain she can stay. Daytime met with injuries to his near foreleg on the West Coast trip, and he has been on tho easy list for a few days. Fiery Cross looks none the worse for his northern trip, and he. is galloping with plenty of dash. His stable companion, Glendower, is also shaping well, and looks as if he would stay. R. J. Mason is keeping Biblane busy, and the orack three-year-old is sprinting well. He will probably go to Wanganui, where he is engaged in the Jackson Stakes and Wanganui Guineas. A trip # to Sydney may follow, but nothing definite has been arranged yet. The remainder of Mason's team is made up of norses below the class lie has been acoustomed to 5 but Missouri may piok up a race shortly. The two-year-old Onslaught, by Antagonist —Mad Whirl, has been gelded, and will be given a long spell. G. Murray-Aynsley has recently taken in hand a two-year-old filly by Bonny Glen— Martine. She is a shapely bay, showing much more size and substance than her elder brother, Glontanner. R. Emerson has had an addition to his team in a three-year-old molding by Menschikoff from Vivoca. an Australian-bred maro'bv Havoc —Virginia, by Nobleman. Don Francisco, who has boen on the easy list for a few weeks, is in work again, with a view to hurdle races later in the season. The disappointing three-year-old Sisyphus, by Treadmill—Delusive, has been gelded, and he will probably undergo another operation shortly. The English-bred horse Clarenceux, imported by Mr W. Deans, has been well patronised by brooders this season. Among his mates wore Aunt Sally (Royal Artillery —Gipsy Girl). Lady Wayward (Bill of Portland— Elusive). Judith (Martian —Hebrew Maid), and Wabun (fitcpniak—Ventoso), while Messrs M. Fricdlander, H. A. Knight, and J. Grisrg each sent several well-bred mares to him. Clnrenocux is by King's Messenger (son of King Monmouth) from/ Squint TI (son of Hagioscope), so that he

represents lilies which are not much in evidence in the Dominion. Mr W. Deans had tho misfortune recently to lose his brood -mare Afer, who became entangled in sonic barb wire and received such severe injuries that she had to be destroyed. Her foal, a good-looking youngster by Sarto-, is being reared by hand. Afer, who was a sister to Vladimir, had .-several foals to Sarto, among them being Barley Rigs, a three-yea'r-old who gives promise of developing into a useful performer.

Canterbury owners are well represented among the acceptance's for tho Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting, and I understand that they are all likely to make the trip south. Canterbury horses engaged in tho New Zealand Trotting Stakes do not look a particularly good lot. Rose Peters is a promising filly; but she has not gone on well lately. Lady Esma has not been in work long enough to have much chance. Peter Zimmerman was going well till he met with an accident, which has retarded his training. The - Ashburton colt St. Anthony is spoken of as a good trotter; but it is not long- since he was converted from the pace, which may handicap him. Mr J. Farrell's three-year-old pacer Guynemer, by Brent Locanda—Ferns, has not trained 011 satisfactorily. He is to be gelded and given a long spell. The trotting maro Olive L has just resumed work after a spell of about two months.