CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3455, 1 June 1920, Page 48

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observes.

Tho Riccarton tracks present a'• quiet appearance just now. Many ot tiie trainers are giving tneir teams a speu, preparatory to starting oh another season's rao.ng. There i 3 a lair number of yearlings m daily attendance, but their education is not sufficiently advanced to lend much interest to tneir doings. L'-uring tho past week, in fact, tho hordes being got ready for the Duned.n Jockey Club'a meeting have mor.opohaed attention. There are scarcely so many of them as I expected, but they make up a very useful team, which shouid get away with a fair share of the prizo money during the throe days' racing at Wingatui. Sir George Cifiord intended to send Nightraider and Checkmate to Ellersli© for Auckland Raoing Club's meeting, but with stt-inur transit stiil interrupted, ho had to cancel the arrangements, and' the pair will race at Wingatui. They have been responsible for some very attractive work on tho tracks. lb can be urged in Nightraider'a favour that he shapes like a stayer.

E. Scoull&r has taken Royal Star and ChaeroJiia. to Wingatui. He informed mo that ho accepted for both of them • on the first day, and he cannot understand the omission of their names from tho list. Royal Star is very well, and is a likely sort to pick up a stake. T. H. Gillett will havo tho biggesb Ricoarton team racing at Wingajbui, having four horses under his care. His crosscountry pair, Manawapango and Merry Lad, aro in great fettle. The former may win a race, though the journey on the first day may trouble .him. Bondage is in good trim, but not quite up to the best company, while Spyglass does not especially appeal. F. Christmas has taken a couple of horses south. Kilmoon moves very short in his work, but the soft tracks should suit him. As for Strayshot, she is only a moderate. Clean Sweep has been galloping fullv in his work, and he may pay his way on tho southern trip. J. B. Pearson's other charge is Wrestler, who appears to bo quite sound, but I have not seen him show much brilliancy in his work lately. R. W. King has taken King Star south. He has not done a great deal of jumping, but his performance at Oamaru showed thafc he was in good fettle. J. M'Combe will have Pyjama as his sole charge on th© trip. The Martian gelding has disappointed once or twice lately, and he is not the sort I would recommend for winter when the atmosphere is frequently heavy. R. Longley has Gaylight in rare trim at present and he looks like paying his way at Wingatui. He will be hard to beat in the Jumpers' Flat Handicap, judging by his recent track efforts, while his chance must be seriously considered in hurdle races. Coalition did nothing sensational prior to leaving here for Wingatui. but he was in good fettle for his southern engagements. F. Carmont schooled Master Strowan and Gang Awa' over the Ricoarton fences before leavirp for Wingatui. Both horses jumped well and they will have to bo reckoned with at the southern fixture. Gang Awa' is an unlikely starter in the Otago Steeplechase, but he will run late- in the meeting. Seadown broke down while racing at the Royal meeting, and he can be written out so far as engagements in;the immediate future are concerned. Waimai, Bonnie Maid, and Sunart are still held up at Riccarton. It is a particularly unfortunate affair for Sunart, who is improving with every gallop, and who would be hard to beat in the Raukawa Cup. if only he could be landed at Otaki. The Riccarton tracks are receiving some attention from the racecourse staff. _ The tan track is being stripped and it .will be converted into a sand gallop, while the old sand track will be sown down in grass. The schooling fences at Riccarton are now in order for horses being prepared for steeplechasing. The old post and rail near the entrance to the straight, has been taken away and replaced by a brush Doubtless the change was made because the post and rail was usually missed, most of the horses taking the hurdle alongside it. , . F Christmas has relinquished the training of Mr D H. Roberts's horses, and he will devote himself to Mr H. W. Brown's team, at present consisting of Arrowsmith, Kilrush, and Loyal Arch, with the addition of Kilmoon. Mr Roberts has transferred his lot to W M'Donald. Fiery Cross, Glendower, and Castellan will comprise the active division in the meantime. W M'Donald has been having a quiet time'lately, as Branckenfield, Some Kid, and Listening Post are on the easy list. Brackenfield may be taken up in time for the Grand National meeting, but the others will not be wanted till a bit later. Immense has finished h:s racing career, and he will in future do duty as a lady a hack The San Francisco gelding could gallop, but he had no special fondness for racing. Amythas is on the easy list at present, and lie will not be taken in hand again for a few weeks. Arrowsmith is a daily attendant at the tracks, but he is not doing any work, his tasks being confined to walking exercise. The imported horse looks ■• in. the best of health. „ . ... P M'Grath is handling a yearling gedlmg by Martian from Forked Lightning. He will bo raced next season by Mi- J. F. Buchanan J. M'Combe has a couple of yearlings in his team. One of them is by MartianLeading Lady, and the other Is by Boniform —Margarethe. Macduff has been blistered, and his new owner, Mr G. Fulton, has turned him out for a long spell, after which he will be got ready for hurdle racing. R. J. Mason is working his horses along

steadily" in view of spring- engagements, and it is reported that ho will leave for Sydney in a few weekn. Should h© make the trip hi? team will include Gloaming and Karo. both of .whom have got through a lot of strong galloping lately. Vespucci, a rising three-year-old by Varco, is another useful customer who can bo relied on to pay his way when tho time arrives for him to make his first appearance in public The Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting will be held on Thursday (fIU Saturday, and with exceptionally big fields, representing good class, there should be some fine sport. B. Jarden, tho well-known trotting trainer, about to retire, to take up farming, while it is rumoured that M. Edwards also contemplates going out of the sport.