CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 45

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Obsebvbh. The Easter meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club was concluded at Addington on Wednesday. The weather was fine in the morning, but before the 'racing commenced a strong nor'-wester sprang up, making the conditions 'very unpleasant during the first half of the programme, when the wind dropped again. There was a very large attendance. Speculation was brisk, the totalisator investments being £52,944 10s, compared with £37.273 on the corresponding day last year, making 1 a total for the two days of £108,273:105, against £74,682 10b at last year's Easter meeting. The track conditions were nob good early in the day, on account of the wind, but they improved later. The principal event of the day was the Champion Stakes, the three-year-old classic, which attracted only three competitors, all fillies; but as they were the best of their age, they provided material for a highclass contest. Doraldina and Lady Swithin both looked well, but Jean Logan, who was laid aside with strangles early in the year, did not seem to be at her best. Doraldina was a strong favourite. Jean Logan began best, racing past the stand just clear of Lady Swithin, with Doraldina several lengths away. Doraldina made up her ground quickly, and she .was soon j?acinff behind Jean Logan, with Lady Swithin on the outside of the! pair. There wag practically no change in the positions for the first seven, furlongs, up to which point the 'pace was slow. Starting on the last lap the speed was turned on, but the order wad still the same three furlongs from homey Jean Logan was done with a furlong! further on, where Lady Swithin opened out a break of several lengths. Once in the straight Doraldina went after the leader, and, gradually reducing the gap, she goc up in the last stride to make a dead heat, with Jean Logan a little over four seconds away. In. spite of the exciting finish, the raco was disappointing, as it failed to provide a true test of the merits of the competitors over the full journey. After running the first furlong in 17 2-ssec, the next half-mile took Imin 16 l-ssec, and six furlongs lmin 54 3-ssec, while the last six furlongs were covered in lmin 40 l-ssec, figures which show clearly the increased speed over the second half of the journey. There was

a bit of a howl «a the horses returned to *he birdcage, the crowd being dissatisfied with M» way the race was run. 1". IS. Jones did not drivo Doraldina to the best *4<*tt*»(r*, but this was all I saw _to cavil at. F. Bjohaies sot a slow pace with Jean hogan, Meowing that this wa3 his only oliaooo, wh!|e D. Warren was content to keep alongside Jean Logan, realising that as long ajDoraldina was behind he had the boat of the position. It was a case of each driver doing the best he could for himself-, and . I .saw nothing in the way of unfair tactics at any stage of the race. The handicap events attracted uniformly large fields, and provided some exceptionally good sport. The star performance* of the day was accomplished bv Iteta Peter in the Trotters' Handicap. The brilliant young trotting mare, starting from scratch, gathered up her field very fast, and practically had the race won half a mile from home. When she finished third the previous Saturday she covered two miles in 4min 32 3-ssec, while on Wednesday she improved On that time by a second, her performance being the best that has ever been accomplished by an unhoppled trotter in Australasia. It was a very uninteresting race ■that Rota Peter won, Paul Huon. Theseus, Billy Parole, and Bon Patch all trotting well. Paul Huon and Theseus broke about half a mile from home, but they came on again, Theseus just beating Bon Patch for second money. Theseus was very unlucky ■\t the meeting, r>s he was second each day, improving considerably on his time. The imported horse Nelson Bingen was in the field, but he gave a moderate showing. Koraki wa.s favourite for the Harvest H indicap, and he trotted a fine race, m irred by a couple of bad breaks. He finished well and boat all but Marama Girl, who won easily, with the consistent Colonel Havelock third and Ben Bell close up. Marama Girl is an improving mare. Three South Canterbury horses, Guynemer, Miss Edith, and Rangitata. Lass, were the popular fancies for the Halswell Handicap, but they all failed to get, into the money. Oulmet was in front early and was never caught, winning comfortably from Legacy, while the Australian-bred gelding finished fast, six lengths away, just in front of Miss Edith. Rangitata Lass began slowly and never got near tlm front. The winner was trained and driven by A. Pringle, whose success was very popular. The Oxford Handicap, one mile, was contested by a dozen speedy saddle horses. Locanda Dillon, ridden by F. E. Jones, was favourite, but he went off on a tangle and never seemed to be pacing well. Retreat, the second favourite, was soon out in front witb Our Chum. They raced together for five furlongs, when Retreat drew otit and won comfortably from Frank Tracey, who beat Our Chum by three lengths. Retreat, who scored last month at Timaru, is a brilliant' pacer, who is not at the end of his improvement. The Otago horse Silver Shoe was favourite for the April Handicap, and he paced a solid race. It was a good contest till half a mile from home when Silver Shoe, Dandy Chime 3, and Miss Rolfe drew away, Dandy Chimes winning comfortably, while Silver Shoe just outstayed Miss Rolfe. The winner has been very expensive to his admirers for a long time. He can- go fast, but he is not reliable. In this race, however, he went soundly all the way. Earlier in the day, in harness, he broke up badly. The 15 competitors for the President s Handicap provided an interesting struggle, but Gold Queen was in front early and Stayed there to the and, winning by half ft length from Stockade, while two lengths urther back Rangitata Lass just beat Mintson for third place. Rangitata Lass put up a fine performance, V»vering two miles in 4min 33 2-ssec, thus qualifying for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. The concluding event, the High-class Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, attracted 13 brilliant performers. There was a great •race in a failing light. Birdwood, Chid Paul Default, Moneymaker, Gleaming and Agathos composed the leading bunch for three-quarters of the journey, when Author Dillon moved up fast, while Tnx Pointer put in an appearance at the entrance to the straight/ There was a fine finish between the last two New Zealand Cup winners, Trix Pointer . just beating Author Dillon in the last few strides. The winner was handled in F. Holmes's best style. Author Dillon registered a great performance, and as he has not been long in work, he should be worth keeping in mind for some of tho good races yet to be decided this season. F. Holmes was the most successful horseman at the Addington meeting, with three winner. E. 0. M'Dermotl and A. G. Wilson each scored twice, while F. E. Jones had a win and a dead heat. The trotter Paul Huon raced in the Trotters* Handicap at Addington on Wednesday in the colours of Mr J. C. Clarkson, who purchased the horse just before tho race was started. After the Oxford Handicap at Addington on Wednesday, several owners were called before the stewards to explain why they had not carried out the club's regulation which makes it necessary to obtain the consent of the officials to any change of rider or driver during a meeting. The owners concerned were reprimanded, and the stewards decided that future breaches would result in the offenders being fined. The Hawke'a Bay trainer, G. Jones, had five horses racincr at Riccarton, and he put up a great record, winnine five races and being second in two others. Mr J. S. Barrett, the owner of Foo Chow, lodged an objection with the stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club last Tuesday, on the ground that the clerk of the scaled had refused his rider, A. Ellis, a 51b allowano* ir. the Addington Handicap. Tho stewards upheld the action of the clerk of tho TCev'ffs. There seems little doubt, however, that Mr Barrett was right in his attitude. The conditions of the race stated that apprentfaes who had not ridden five winners should receive nn allowance of 51b. but thftso conflicted with the Rules of Racing, under which apprentices who had not ridden 15 winners were entitled to the allowance. B. Lowe, the rider of Satisfaction in the Addington Handicap at Riccarton on Tuesday, Wns for the remainder of ths 3«n*on for crossing. Sir George Clifford has had_ some bad luok lately. Roval Stag and his two-year-old rfster, Moorfbwl, went lame on the eve of fcbo veoent meeting- of tho Canterbury Joe&eT Ukrb, while Winter Wind wes deokWlfy sore after his raco in the Ohamrvwrne StaV*a. S«m© of our looal trainers are getting mtiAy for a fcrfp to Trentham, but the teams from f'hls cpmrteT may not bo so strong a« was hoped. Amythas will be the star, upd hfa meeting with Sosanoff in the Trenifiam Gold Cup is likely to arouse a lot •f interest.