CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 48

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bv Opc-KUVKB The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting contributed its full share to the success of the winter racing carnival woek. The weather was fine for the second and third days, and the track was in good order, though not particularly fast on the second day. The fields were of good size right through, and there was some excellent sport, especially on the concluding day. Racing opsning on Wednesday with the Improvers' Handicap, a saddle race for unhoppled trotters, Sol being favourite. There was a capital contest, ending in a win for Ben Bell, who showed no special speed, but trotted very solidly. Prater M'Millan was* one of the leaders most of the way, but he tirod at the end, and 'Grattan Chimes led into the straight, only to break a little further on, though she got going again in time to gain second money by a neck from Te Kuiti. The Sbuthern-bred Balnamoan showed a lot of pace, butJ@§E>oilt vis chance by breaking in the" last round. Our Chum and Malinga were the favourites for the Belgian Handicap, one mile and five furlongs, and they fought out Ihe finish. Our Chum winning by a neck, with Malinga catching him -fast. The winner is a solid pacer, who has improved a lot. He is a recent addition to J. Bryce's stable. Malinga went a sound race, and was unlucky in being twice second at the meeting. Legacy led most of the way, but failed at the end, while the veteran The Whip was prominent all through. Silver Shoe paced another good race. Nino high-class performers took part in the King George Handicap. The Aucklander, Asturio, was favourite, but he failed to leave the mark. The race was not very xtxcit'ng. John Dillon set out over the last vix furlongs with a lead, and he struggled •t>n to the end, but he was stopping fast. Cello Sydney Wilkes was always handy, and, putting in a challenge two furlongs from home, he won comfortably. Judged on hi.-; recent form, he has come back in good style, and, as he is a brilliant pacer, with good staying credentials, he should b 3 seen to advantage again this sea-con. Sympathy paced a. decent race in third place. Shervood went well for most of the journey, and looks like coming to his best form jhoitly. Admiral Wood paced hotter than he has done for some time, but Matchlight cut up badly. Schnapps and Guynemer were sorted out is the best of the 10 starters for the Lincoln Handicap in saddle. Over the last half mile they had the race to themselves. SchraDps winning by a few lengths, though Jt was only in the last 50 yards that he •irew away. Ho is only a pony, but ho us a very solid customer and a rare stayer. Gnynemer is a nice pacer who goes fast, hrxi ho cannot stay out a hard two-mile jonrney. Energy got third money, but Acre was little merit in the performance.

The Avon. Handicap, for unhoppled trotters, drew a field of 10, Reta IVter being a warm favourite. Bon Patch, from the limit, went right away, and stayed out tho journey to win comfortably. Ho is bred on American lines, being by tho great American sire Bon Voyage from Floradon. Tho maro was imported by Mr John Porter, of Oamaru, and Bon Patch was foaled after she arrived hero. He is a food trotter, of whom better things may e er.pected. He is trained at Oamaru by R. Logan, but was driven by A. Pringle. Reta Peter began slowly, but over the last milo she traveled in great style and finished second. Whisht was a fair third; but nothing ever looked like catching the winner. The Canterbury Handicap, a two-mile harness race, attracted a field of 12. Lord Minto, who had -won on the first day over a mile and a-quarter, was on the scratch mark, and he was a pronounced favourite. He made little impression for the first mile, in which he put in a bad break. Over the last part, however, he put in great work, and no wound up by winning decisively from Jack Arrah, who registered a good performance. Lord Minto is a brilliant pacer, and, having demonstrated his abihty to go two miles, he may be seen to advantage in tho best company later in the season. Dandy Chimes paced a oxcent race, but he is not realising expectations in harness. Rorke's Drift went well for most of the way, but failed to stay. A. Fleming's bracket, Erin's Queen and Dean Dillon, had most admirers in the Speedway Handicap, Trix Pointer and Chid being best backed among the others. The public picked ifc well, as Dean Dillon stayed on well and won comfortably, with Trix Pointer and Chid in the places. The winner is a brother to Granger. He is not altogether reliable, but he is a good horse when he is in the humour. Trix Pointer and Chid both improved on their first day's form. Author Dillon did not pace so resolutely as usual, and looked like going to a break more than once.

A field: of 17—the largest of the daycontested the Dash Handicap, one mils, in saddle. King Karri showed a great burst of speed in the early stages, and soon had a big lead. He was stopping at the end, but just lasted long enough to win by half a Length from the favourite, Silver Nut, who finished very solidly. King Karri was raced over two-mil© courses earlier in his career, but he has improved a lot in his speed lately. Captain Stanley, making his second appearanoa during the day, put up a good performance in third place. Friday's sport opened with the Midwinter Handicap, in saddle, for unhoppled trotters. The field numbered eighty Balnamoan being favourite, but he broke early and was never prominent. Sol and Wild Pedo had the race to themselves most of the way, Wild Pedo winning comfortably. It was bad luck for Sol to meet a horse of this class. Both of them had raced without success earlier in the meeting, neither going steadily, but they both bettered their handicap times by over lOsec in this event. Wild Pedo is not reliable, but he is a -very solid customer when he settles down. The Federal Handicap, one mile and five furlongs, provided a fine contest. The Auckland, mare Miss Rolfe was favourite, and she led most of the way. Owsr the last couple of furlongs, however, she was tiring, and Harold Direct, finishing very strongly, beat her by a narrow margin. Brcadalbane was always prominent, but he did not quite see the journey out. Silver Quick appeared to have good winning prosEects when she broke two furlongs from ome. The winner was formerly in R. W. Franks's stable, but he is now trained by E. Carlyon, having been purchased recently by Mr W. G. Deyell, the owner of Agnes Chief. Vice-Admiral, on the limit, was favourite for the National Cup, and a paced a fine race for a mile and a-half, when he retired. Than Erin's Queen took charge, but a furlong .further on Admiral Wood was in front. When the straight was reached Trix Pointer challenged, and, having the measure of her rival some distance from' the post, she won decisively. First and second horses are owned by Mr W. H. Norton. " Trix Pointer, who is an American importation, is a brilliant pacer who is now developing more stamina, and she can be marked off for further successes. Admiral Wood is on the improve, and looks like winning good races this season. Moneymaker paced soundly in third place, while Cello Sydney Wilkes was close up at the end. Matchlight ran another bad race. Ho was coupled with the first and second horses, who paid a rare good dividend. The running of Admiral Wood formed the subject of an inquiry, the chief stipendiary steward drawing attention to his improved form compared with the first and second days. The explanation offered was accepted as satisfactory, but_ the Judicial Committee expersed the opinion that the stipendiary had been justified in asking for an inquiry. There were seven starters for the Addington Handicap, for unhoppled trotters. Nelson Bingen was favourite. Ho went off well, but broke early, and his driver was kept busy to get him back to his gait. He eventually settled down, and trotted a fine race. Gradualy working his way to the front, he won oomfortably at the finish. There can be no doubt that he is a great trotter, and his fine style gains him fresh admirers every time he starts. Imperial Crown went one' of his best races, though he was beaten comfortably into second place. Beta Peter broke early, but trotted a brilliant second mile, and she is evidently ail that her admirers claim for her. Lord Minto was favourite for the Islington Handicap, but he appeared to be sore, and he never had a winning chance. The race was interesting all the way, but over the last bit Colenut drew away and won easily from the Auckland-owned pair—Lieutenant and Alf. M 'Kinney. Tamarisk failed to stay, and Capricio is not at hor best yet. The winner has been on the improve during the last few months, and is capable of moro than he has yet shown. The club's innovation, a mile and five furlongs race for unhoppled trotters or pacers, drew a field of 11, of whom four were pacers. Our Girl was favourite, and she was the only one who showed up with good prospects. She broke up near homo, and finished just outside the places. Gay Wilkes, who had started eai-lier in the clay, trotted more generously than usual, and won by a narrow margin, through the aid of a break on the post. Red Heather trotted well after a break at the start, which lost him the race, as he was beaten only by half a length. Nelson Bingen, penalised three seconds for his precious win, went •very badly. The race was quite a success, and I should say the club is likely to provide other similar events.

The Lightning Handicap, ono mile and quarter, provided the finest contest of the

whole meeting. Five horses came up the straight in a bunch, and Emilius just won from John Dillon, with Nancy Stair, Sympathy, and Dean Dillon in a bunch. Tho winner had not raced well for some time, but ho is a brilliant pacer, who promised at one stage of his career to improve on the deeds of his famous sister, Emmeline. Ho paced very solidly all the way. John Dillon went well, but he ran about in the straight, and this probably cost him the race. The Farewell Handicap, which brought the meeting to a close, attracted a field of 13 speedy milers. Admiral Hal wa3 favourite, but he was in trouble after half a mile had been covered. Then Strategy and Frank Tracoy were in charge, but Mintson cut them down, and won comfortably at the finish; It was his first success for over two years, but he went as well as ever. Frank Iraoey paced on well, and just stalled off Rorke's Drift, who finished very fast. Strategy went to pieces at the entrance to the straight. Before the close of the Grand National meeting last week the Canterbury Jockey Club took nominations for the New Zealand Cup. The response was highly satisfactory, the- list numbering 53, compared with 36 last year and 48 in 1917. Most of the best horses in the Dominion are engaged, but there are some notable absentees, including the horses which Mr G. D. Greenwood and Messrs Stead and Richmond have in Australia at present. It therefore looks as if the Commonwealth -trips of these two teams were to extend over the Melbourne Cup meeting.