CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 41

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz. The summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club was" held at Riccarton on Saturday. For some reason this fixture has never attracted the attention from outside owners that is forthcoming for other meetings at Riccarton, but there was a fair contingent- of visiting horses on this occasion, including five from the North Island and two from Otago, in additon to a few from various parts of Canterbury. These with representatives from all the local stables, made up good fields, there being 60 competitors for the eight events comprising the programme. The racing was not particularly exciting, but it was fairly interesting from start to finish. Proceedings opened with the Trial Stakes, for which the field numbered eight. Glendower was favourite, and he never gave his supporters any uneasiness. He was in the middle of the field in the early stages, but from the time the straight was reached he had the opposition well beaten. Ho ran homo a very easy winner from Thames, with Carol Singer a moderate third, and Rosevear next. The winner has not always raced up to track form; but he is a good sort, who has never been so well as ho is now. I am prepared to see him win in better company and over longer journeys. Phil May showed a lot of speed in the middle part of the race, but stopped very badly at the end. I doubt if he is a good one under pressure. Post Hast© failed to show up at any stage, but tboro was an excuse, as he was bleeding when he returned to the enclosure. In a field of six Majestikoff was made a little better favourite than Redowa for the Hornby Welter Handicap. The favourite got out badly, but soon joined King Star and Achilledes in the lead. On reaching the straight Majestikoff ran to the front, and, stalling off a late run by Redowa, she won with very little ' to spare. Achilledes had every chance, hut his effort over the last couple of furlongs was feeble. King Str.r met with bad luck in tha straight, and never got clear again. The winner is a well-bred mare bv Delaware (Seaton Delaval—Stepfeldt). her'dam, Ladv Majestic being by Majestic (Trenton Bonnie Rosette)_ from Ladv Melton, by B'i! of Portland —Litigant. '.She did her "early racing for Messrs Delargey and Davison, beinp purchased recently bv Mr EI. A Knight, for whom she look- lik* proving a great bargain. She stays well, and will win again. The old-established Middle Park Plate attracted five starters, representing four ><«■« The race was robbed of somo

interest by the withdrawal of Long Range, whoso form at Ellerslie entitled him to a high place among the season's two-j-ear-olds'. He has been galloping well lately, but he is to have a short rest in preparation for autumn engagements, and his meeting with the other crack juveniles should ensure interest in the Canterbury Champagne Stakes. In his absenco the Yaldhurst colt Almoner was the sole representative of good two-year-old form, and he was made a strong favourite. Mortham, the only threc-ycar-old in the field, showed a fino turn of speed in the early stages, leading his younger opponents for half a mile. Then no dropped out, finishing last, but his performance was creditable as a demonstration of speed. Eleus was in closo attendance on Mortham all the way, Almonor and Heathercoto being handy. Almoner was doing his best at the distance, but he stayed on in fino style, beating Eleus decisively. Eleus was handicapped at the finish by his rider losing a stirrup; but the performance of the winner was attractive, as be was giving a lot of weight to the others of his own age. Hcathercote met with somo interference insido the distance; but he is evidently just a useful colt. Afterglow began slowly, and_ after showing, somo paco faded out again. Sho has not been long in work, and is likely to see a much better day. The winner's time, lmin 12 2-ssec, was a record for the race, the previous best being lmin 13scc, to the credit of Emperador and Biplane. Almoner was bred by his owner, being by Boniform from Cassock, a member of the Nightmare family, which- has given New Zealand so many good performers, including Nightfall, Noctuiform, Midnight Sun, Bon Revo, Bon Ton, Formless, Eligible, and The Toff. In the spring Almoner won twice in Australia, and there is no doubt that ho is a good colt. He comes from a line noted for stamina, and in this respect I should say Almoner will act up to its best traditions. Ho is, in fact, the most promising Derby colt seen this season, and, if all goes, well with him. he "will be given a chance fo earn classio honours in Australia next season. The Monk, a brother to Almoner, had a great reputation, but he met with fatal injuries at Trentham two years ago when making his first appearance in a race. A field of seven contested the Midsummer Handicap, among them being two North Island competitors, Multicipal and Rose Pink. Backers sorted out Wardancer as favourite on the strength of attractive work on the tracks, for his public form was not impressive. When half a mile had been covered he worked his way near to the front, and, taking charge at the entrance to the straight, he won with a bit to spare. Multicipal, who was second, had a lot of ground to make up in the straight. Ho finished strongly, and I pick him as a winner very soon. It was only in the last t few strides that he headed Rose Pink, who ran a good race. Spanglo appeared on the scene at the homo turn, and finished solidly. She is evidently better in a race than on the track. Harlequin did not run on so well as was expected, but this may have been the result of making too much use of him in the early stages. Red Book was troubled -by the length of the journey. Margerine was prominent for over a mile, and then dropped out, it being the worst race she has run lately. The winner, a brother to Warstep, has always been a useful galloper in private. He looks exceptionally well at present, and he may do even bettor before the season ends. * Torfreda, the two-year-old sister to Hymestra, was backed down to a very short price ln the Lyttelton Plate. She showed plenty of pace, but was never far in front of Lionskin, who won easily at the end. Lionskin, who is by Kilbroney from Counterfeit, is not a big one; but she is a smart galloper, . who looks as if she would develop into a good three-year-old. It will be no surprise if she stays. Tor-' freda, on the other hand, may never be more than a sprinter. Sir Fanciful, who finished third, is a half-brother by Rokeby to Winning Way, and ho looks a useful sort. The others finished in a bunch. Scornful will bo improved by the race, while Starlike shoud also do better later on. Euripos was first choice for the Craven Plate in a good betting race, but he began too slowly to have a chance with Daytime, who was in front all the way, warning decisively. The win did not come out of turn, as it was his first success this season, following on a third and six seconds. Battle Eve ran a fair race, but Disdainful .showed no dash at any stage. Merton was in close attendance on Daytime from the start, but the pace proved too solid for him. Ten fair hacks contested the Halswell Handicap, Majestikoff being littlo better backed than Luff. This pair had the finish to themselves, Majestikoff winning with a bit to spare, though Luff was going on strongly at the end. Polonius was third, registering a fair performance. Kimbolton showed pace in patches, and but for losing his position in the middle of the journey he might have been dangerous. General Petain finished well, and is on the improve. For the Post Handicap Winter Cherry and Subterfuge had most friends; but Acbilledes beat them comfortably. It was his second appearance, and he finished much more soldily than in his earlier effort. Subterfuge- just secured second money. Sho :s t>n unlucky mare, as she ha/3 been rumler-up six time since, she opened 'the season with a win at Ash burton. Winter Cherry lost a lot of ground at the start, but finished well. Kilrush ran a fair race, showing a good turn of speed. Sir James Carroll was among the visitors to Riccarton on Saturday. Though he had attended Grand National and New Zealand Cup meetings it was the first time he had witnessed a summer fixture. It is probable he will have something in training hero before long. Pie has a yearling filly at the Eldcrslie Stud, by the imported horse Sunny Lake from Araj to Uru, and she may be placed under the care of F. D. Jones, who did well with her half-sisters, Kilrea and Kilal'a, both bv Kilbroney. W. M'Donald has taken Malvoliu in' hand again for a spell. Ho has the -imported horse Gay Lad moving along nicely, and he should win races later in the e?nson. F. Holmes has had Master Florence, a five-yoar-old by Bunyan—Scotch Thistle, placed under his care. He did some racing in the Auckland district without much success The hurdler Bnre is moving along in fine style, and lie looks as if his wind had been improved by his operation. Later in the year he will bo tried over fences, but in the meantime he is booked for hurdle engagements at Wingatui. Several of the old horses in the Chokebore Lodge stables have been on the easy

list lately, but they will bo moving along again this week. It is not certain whether Sir George Clifford will race them at Wingatui or Wanganui this month. Multicipal, Torfreda. Roso Pink, Arihia, and Preface will probably go on to Wingatui for the Dunedin Cup meeting. Biplane has done some good sprinting lately. He will probably leave shortly for Wanganui, but from a recent conversation I had with R. J. Mason I do not think ho is likely to visit Australia again this season.