CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 42

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observer, There has not been a great deal of stir at Tliccarton ■ during the past week. The horses with engagements at Ashburton wore stretched out on Tuesday, but the tracks have been quiet since then. The Camara and Wingafcai fixtures will ensure some interest in the training operations during the next week,or two. A little later the. efforts „of the yearlings will attract some attention; hut though there are about 20 of them at headquarters, their tasks have so far been of the mildest description.

F. D. Jones expects to leavo for the north in a few days with Bore and Charley. They will go first to Wa.nganui, but their future movements will depend on circumstances.. The original intention was to 30v.rr.CJ "on to Ellerslie for the. winter meeting of the Auckland Racing Oiub; but, as an alternafcTdj the two horses have had engagements mace for them at Otaki. Charley is a fair sprinter, who should bo seen to advantage under winter weights. Bore is an unknown quantity among steeplechasers. Ho has not dene much schooling, but in all his trials over the fences at Riccarton he has shaped well, whilo he has never galloped better on the. flut than he has of late. The only thing against him for long journeys is his wind trouble; but I have great hopes that he will rnee prominently. Biplane is once more a regular attendant at the tracks, after a short spell in the paddock. Though no definite information is available, the popular opinion is that R. J. Mason will take him to Sydney for spring racing. Fiery Cross, who has been in retirement for several weeks, has made his reappearance, but so far he has done little more than trotting exercise. He looks very rough at present. His trainer, F. Christmas, who was drawn in the last ballot, has been turned down as unfit.

The Birkenhead gelding, Kirkby. has arrived at Riecarton from tho North Island, and is now under tho care of T. 11. Gillott, who will get him ready to carry Captain «T. S. Barrett's colours in cross-country events at the winter meetings.

A. M'Anlay will shortly take in hand an 'Australian-bi-ed yearling, purchased for Mr A. \V. Rutherford, inn., by M. Hobbs at the Sydney sales. He is a chestnut colt by Flavus —Many Colours, by Medallion —Blue and Gold, by Grand Flaneur. The colt is a brother to -Flaxen, who was the best fchree-ycar-old of his season in Queensland, where ho won classic and weight-for-ago honours, while later in his career he also won races in New South Wales.

T. H. Gillott has taken Achilledcs and Roseyoar to the Marlborough Racing Club's meeting, where Xanthos and War Tax, who have been at Riecarton for some time, will also compete this week. Battle Eve had to forfeit his engagements at Ashburton, owing to going sore. This was unfortunate for his connections, as the Martian horse was very well, while lie is at his best with the sting out of the ground. Tremena failed to show her best form in tho chief sprint race at Ashburton last ■\yoek; but there was an excuse for her, as she had a recurrence of an old trouble, in the shape of a burst foot. Her stable companion. Braid, won the Lagmhor Plate in attractive style, and she looks like growing into a cood-olass sprinter next season. Comely, who pulled up lame after a gal-

lop about a fortnight ago, is still mending slowly. I am afraid, however, that she has nearly reached the end of her racing career. The most impressive performance at the Ashburton meeting last week was that of the imported colt, Gay Lad, in winning the Fairfield Welter Handicap. Though not a brilliant beginner, he was never far from tho front division, and by "the time tho straight was reached he had the race well in hand. Gay Lad's record now stands at three wins cut of four starts, and he looks a great prospect for next season. He has already won in decisive style over a mile, and there is little doubt he will go a lot further with a bit of age, for it has to be remembered that he is actually only three years old now. Provided he goes on all right I would not put tho best class of races beyond him next season. While Gad Lad did so well at Ashburton, another of Mr J. Grigg's importations cost backers a lot of money. This was Fleetha.ni, who was sent out favourite for tho Winchmore Hack Welter Handicap. He showed a good turn of pace, being up with the leaders at the home turn, after which ho dropped out, finishing last. 60 far Fleetham has* not realised expectations, but I would not condemn him for last week's failure, as he is not nearly ready yet. Among the maidens racing at Ashburton last week I would recommend Moorabbo as the most likely to earn distinction in future, outside of Braid. Moorabbe 5s a three-year-old half-sister, by Vasco, to Majestikoff, and she should develop into a smart performer. Majestikoff was, I thought, a trifle lucky to win the Ashburton Cup last week. Sho is, however, a very much improved mare, who has won six races and been placed in five others this season.

Adjutant ran a solid race in tho Ashburton Cup, and. just failed to catch Majestikoff, after having to go round a field on Ihe turn. Adjutant was in the top class a year ago. but he has gone through this season without a win. He has been kept on the safe side by tho handicappers, and ho has surely earned a little consideration after his run of failures.

Gamecock was expensive to backers last week. He wag sent out favourite for the Grove Farm Handicap at Ashburton, but he was never prominent at any stage of the journey. A year ago, after his win in the Canterbury dhampagne Stakes, he had pretentions to being a really good colt, but his form this season has been very moderate. He has frequently shaped well on the tracks, but, judged on some of his public efforts, he appears to have as little relish for "acing as some of bis relatives. Eainan out up badly in the hurdle race at Ashburton, in which he finished about last, while his stable companion. Art, occupied a similar position in the Fairfield Welter Handicap. Naupata won the Autumn Hurdle Handicap at Ashburton in good style. He should be capable of a lot of improvement yet, so ho may be worth keeping in mind for the events ahead.

Kilboyne gave a very disappointing- display in the Ashburton Cup, finishing a bad last. It is hard to credit tnat this was his true form. He was, of course, racing over a longer journey than usual; but as the race appeared to be slow in the early stages, he should h*ve been eaual to running on a bit further than he did.

Kaminoho is not sufficiently forward yet to run out a hard race; but he raced well at Ashburton as long as his condition lasted.

Matty ran two decent races at Ashburton, being second in the Longbeach Hack Handicap and third in the Grove Farm Handicap. She has been an unlucky mare this se<ason, her money-earning record being mado up of one win, one second, and five thirds.

Furling faded out rather badly at the business end of her raco at Ashburton. This is not . her proper form, as she has been galloping particularly well lately, and I expect to see her a winner very"soon.

The trotting trainer It. W. Franks was among those called in the last ballot who failed to nass the medical test last week.

The pacing marc Alice "Wood, by Wildwood —Alice Azmoor, died recently. She had a mile record of 2.22 2-5, but could not stay. She had several years at the stud: but Lucille, by Harold Dillon, was the. beet -of her progeny who has raced up to the present. Another pacinjr brood mare who has rust died is Blue Rose, by Rothschild —Wild Rose, a mare brought here from Australia by T. W. Price. Blue Rose took a mile record of 2.21 1-5. At the stud she produced Bluewood, a useful trotter by Wildwood Junior. Her death was caused by slipping a_ foal to Harold Dillon. The incidents arising out of the New Zealand Trotting Derby gave rise to considerable discussion at the meeting of the Trotting Association last week. The New Brighton _ Trotting Club wrote stating that its Judicial Committee had considered the driving of J. Bryce, driver of Queen Chimes in the New Zealand Derby on May 4, and found him guilty of interference, for which ho was suspended for the remainder of the meeting. Mr Williams protested that the board was. meting out differential treatment in respect of Canterbury clubs. The decisions of outside clubs were simply endorsed, but every decision by a club in Canterbury was keenly scrutinised and criticised. Ho took strong exception to remarks made by certain members regarding a decision in another case at the last meeting. Members expressed the O23inion that Mr Williams's remarks were uncalled for. Every case received full consideration. The chairman said it was impossible to prevent members expressing their opinions, even in regard to matters of fact. It was the board's duty to. see that clubs imposing disqualifications followed the proper procedure and adhered to the- rules. Mr Williams said that the board had no power to review tho club's decision in this case, ae the matter at issue was one of fact. Mr Kitchingham said that, while the board could not go into matters of fact, it still had power to review the punishment mctc-d out by a club. Ths chairman quoted the rules, and. said that it waa doubtful if the board, according to the rules, could even review the punishment. Personally he thought the recent amendment to the rules constituted a grave mistake. A motion that the evidence forwarded by the club should bo read was carried, an amendment bv Mr Williams that the club'e action should bo endorsed, as the board had no power to review the matter, lapsing for want of a seconder. Tho evidence was road, after which tho chairman said that the rule made i't mandatory in such, whatever the punishment of the driver, that the horse should be disqualified. That was the only point he wanted to refer to. Mr Kitchingham said that that portion of the rulo evidently referred to caees in which tho horse had won the race. Mr Williams moved that tho club's action should 1)0 endorsed. Mr Short moved as an

amendment that in view of the frequency of complaints of this sort the board should warn the offender. The chairman said that tho. board could take no notice of any complaint which did not come before it officially. Arising out of further discussion as to the extent of Bryce's suspension, whether it affected him. as owner, driver, or trainer, or in all capacities, Mr Denton said that Bryce had voluntarily withdrawn all horses trained by him during the remainder of the meeting. Mr Williams's motion endorsing the club's action was endorsed. Mr Short's amendment was taken as a. separate and subsequent motion, but was _ not seconded. Mr Nicoll expressed tho opinion that, as there were no previous offences of tho kind proved against Bryce during tho last 12 months, tho board should take no further action in the,matter. The subject was then dropped. ■ ■'"