CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 48

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observer. The most important event of the week was the announcement that the Railway Department had decided to remove the restrictions as far as they referred to goods traffic, commencing this week, and to resume tho normal train service next week. Tho special feature to racing enthusiasts is that horses will now be carried on the trains. The announcement came very opportunely on the eve of the closing of tho Geraldins acceptances. As a result of tho restoration of railway facilities this fixture will be well patronised by Iticcarton horses. The Kurow meeting will also benefit considerably, while it is a great relief to trainers to know that they can get their horses to Wingatui for the Dunedin Jockey Club's fixture, and, which is equally important, that they can return home without delay at the conclusion of the meeting.

On the way back from Wingatui there will bo an opportunity for owners to race at Ashburton, while at the end of next month ihe North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club will hold a meeting at Rangiora. It is possible, however, that these two fixtures will not benefit from the resumption of railway transit to such an extent as the earlier meetings. Coming at tho •end of the circuit, many owners may have had enough, racing for their horses as a preliminary to the Canterbury Jockey Club's November carnival. This remark will apply with greatest force to the good horses, and there should be plenty of competitors, though not of*, the best class. From present indications there will' be a very strong contingent of Riccarton horses racing at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting next month. As usual, local stables are well represented in the two-year-old and three-yea.':-old events, while the best of our old horses will also go south. The present season is proving very wet. so far, and as a' result the Riccarton tracks are decidedly heavy. Rain, fell steadily on Sunday and during the greater part of Monday, giving the ground another, heavy soaking before it had fully recovered from the previous downpour. The ploughed track was open for work at the end of last week, but it is again out of action. Trainers will welcome a decent spell of dry weather to finish their charges off for important engagements ahead. (5-av Lad has been responsible for some useful work lately, and as he gets through it all in :?ood style he has lost none of his New Zealand Cup admirers. He is a gross horse, who leqTiires a lot of work to fit him for a hard race,, but up till now ho has answered all requirements. His ninefurlong gallop on Saturday was a very satisfactory effort, as Flight Commander, who joined in six furlongs from home, was soundly beaten.

Heathercote is going on nicely in his pre- . paration. He has not been further than a mile yet, but he is in the best of health and looks certain to pick up some good stakes this season. His stable companion, Onslaught,, is being kept to short sprints, and appears to be doing well. Of the - three-year-olds in the same team, Rpyal Stag is going best, though Miss Mimic has more pace. Macduff and Nightraider are also, moving along freely. Provided they 1 remain sound, this quartet should win some decent stakes. Punka and Tortrix have not been set any specially severe tasks so far, but M. Hobbs has them in good order, ready to send along at their best during the next few weeks. Wardaneer is standing up to plenty of good work. Ho shows no symptoms of unsoundness, and he should be pretty well by New Zealand Cup Day. The three-year-old filly Warlove was off the scene for a few days as a result of a poisoned leg, her second mishap of the kind in a few weeks. The interruption in her preparation was very unfortunate, but she is affain in work, and she-' will have to be reckoned with in the Dunedin Guineas. Though Some Kid did not go to Geraldine, there is nothing wronjr with him.He was cased in his work when it seemed unlikely that railway transit would be available. ■ , . , Link-up is hitting out freely in her work, and she should win a race early in the season. I do not know how she will stay, but she can muster up a lot of pace. J M'Combe has Bon Spec looking well He has : done a few half-mile sprints, and he moves along as freely as ever. Tremena, who was off the scene during the greater part of last season, is again shaping well on the tracks. She has built up into an exceptionally fine-looking mare. "A few of the Eiccarton two-year-olds are bcirinning to shape attractively in sprinting tasks, and the next week or two should provi'cjo something of interest so far as the juveniles are concerned. It is too early to suggest that there are any top-notchers amontr them, but one or two appear able to muster up a good turn of speed. The win of Rose Pink atOtaki has directed a bit of attention to her chance in the New Zealand Cun, a race in which she finished second to Sasanof last year-. This week's racing should be interesting from a Cup point of view, as quite a number of candidates will be racing at Geraldine, Wangnnui, and Avondale. The crack pacing mare Adelaide Direct, who is in foal to Harold Dillon, is to be shipped back to her owner m Australia this week. The pacer Dinna Ken, who gave promise as a threo-year-013 of becoming a great performer over two miles, was destroyed a few days ago. He injured his back som<> time ago. and it had become apparent that he would never recover thoroughly. M. Edwards contemplates taking a team north for the Auckland Club's meeting npxt month, while B. harden has a trip to the West Coast in view for the Greymouth Trotting Club's fixture. Author Dillon is now a better favourite than Matchlight for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, while Albert Cling and Trix Pointer are at the shortest price among the pthers.