CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 40

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observes,

The nominations received on Friday for the New Zealand Cup number 55, or two more than were attracted last year.. Much heavier lists have been associated with, the two-mile race on some occasions, but it is an average response, so far as numbers are concerned. In the matter of quality, too, it ia just about the usual. There is, of course, a lot of rubbish, and half the horses nominated could be struck out without in any way prejudicing' the prospects of the race. This, however, is & comment that can be made on every New Zealand Cup list. Owners like to flatter themselves,, if only for a few weeks, that they possess something worth a nomination in the big two-mile handicap, though they may wel* come the first opportunity of dropping out. Turning from the rough stuff, there, is ample material left to furnish a good field in November. It is not often that the best three-year-olds are nominated for the New Zealand Cup, which provides a great contrast, In this respect, to the Melbourne Cup. This year, however, seven young ontes are engaged,, and though Humbug, Winter Wind, and Moorfowl are notable absentees, Delight and Right and Left are Included to represent the top two-year-old form of lasb season* Four-year-olds make a feold phoT^

jng, there being 21 of them. Amythas heads the list ~in this . department, Glen Canny, Affectation, Rose Wreath, Arch Salute, Starland, and Nightraider being other likely sorts, but some notable horses of this ago are missing, among them being Surveyor, Rossini, Royal Stag, and Sunart. The older division includes some good porformers over long journeys. Sasanof and Vagabond are previous winners of the race, while Sunart, Johnny Walker, and Rose Pink havo been placed. The Australianbred Tenterfiold (second in the Australian Cup), Royal Star, Oratress-, Kilrush, Bonnie Maid, Dusky Eve, Battle Song, and Nobleman are a few other olcL horses with staying credentials. Altogether there is room for satisfaction over the Cup list. Riccarton trainers are now devoting their attention to the horses they have in preparation for spring engagements. Amberley will.set the ball rolling in four weeks, and will be followed by the Ashburton, Geraldino, Kurow,. . and Dunedin meetings. There will therefore be plenty to engage attention from now on. Apart from the older horses, the two-year-olds will provide plenty of interest. So far, the youngsters' have not been seriously tried out very far, but during tho next few weeks trainers will be anxious to get a line as to the prospects. There are plenty of two-year-olds in local_ stables, and they appear to include some" promising youngsters. Amythas is bowling along freely in his sprinting tasks, and he looks like being a star again this season. Ho is booked for .a trip to Wanganui next month, to take part in the Eclipse Stakes. Arrowsmith has not done much work lately. He has . had a dose of physic, and he is now enjoying a bit of a spell. Sir George Clifford has sold Checkmate to the Southland sportsman, Mr W. Stone. Mr F. S. Easton, the owner of Amythas, has sent a two : year-old filly by AbsurdLiquify to F. D. Jones to be trained. She looks a. srood sort, though she is backward.

W. M'Donald has his team going on nioely, but Brackenfield may bo the only horse ready for early engagements, as Fiery Cross, Somo Kid, and Listening Post are still a long way from ready. Cutts Brothers have Royal Stag in regular work, after a spell, due to going amiss in the autumn. Being a gross horse, who requires a lot of galloping, doubts are. expressed as to his chances of standing a preparation. F. D. Jones expects to have Mandrake in work again shortly. It is intended to try tho Hymettus gelding as a jumper. The three-year-old colt. Winter Wind, is getting through -plenty of smart sprinting tasks, and he shordd be in good order for spring engagements He is accompanied in a lot of his track work by Moorfowl, who shows great brilliancy, and it is to be regretted that hir wind infirmity is likely to restrict her to sprint events. Wartone, the three-year-old filly by Solferino—Warstep, is moving along nicely in her work, and G. Murray Aynsley should havo her well forward for early engagements. She has done no racing: yet, but she looks like payincr her way this season. The pacer, John Dillon, has been sold to fwo South Canterbury sportsmen, and he wil,l be trained by F. E. Jones. Following on the win of nvx at Addington last week, Mr E. L. Barnes, her breeder, disposed of two younger relatives at auction. Mr F. Holmes, for a client gave 210;rs for a two-year-pld sister, - and Mr B. Jarden paid ISOgs for a yearling brother.

Mr F. Hickinbottom's trotting: mare, Esma foaled a filly to Harold Dillon early last week.

After a postponement from the previous Fridav, the Metropolitan Trotting Club was favoured with fine weather on Monday of last week for the conclusion of the August meeting-. So far as overhead conditions were concerned, in fact, it was one of the best dayu of the recent carnival. The track was heavy at the commencement of the racing, but it improved and was in good order for the concluding events. The meeting, taken all round, was one of the best ever held on the Addington course, and but for the track being rendered heavy, there would have been some very fast times. The Midwinter Handicap, for unhoppled trotters, a fair' race, but the favourite, Merry Birigen, always appeared to have somethings in reserve, and he won easily, trotting without a mistake and showing marked improvement on his first day's effort. Merry Bingen, who is by Nelson Bin gen from Alpha A. the dam of Gay Wilkes, is owned bv Mr J. A. Sligo, of Dunedin, but is trained at Oamaru by J. M'Lenmm. Succory crave A. Butterfield a busy ride. He is difficult to manage, but he was held together well and finished second. Patard went a solid race in third place. .Sally Dillon failed to strike her gait, but Parkficld trotted solidly, though he was done with a long way from home. The (Lightning Handicap drew a fine field of 17 -speedy milers, who provided a great contest. Rorke's Drift was always well placed, and he came home fast over the last furlong, winning by a narrow margin from Joyful and Matty's Boy, with Our Chum close up. The winner has done a lot of racing, and has retained his form well. Early in his career he gave promise of being a gieat stayer, but he is not so good over long journeys now. Joyful settled her chance, by a couple of bad breaks, but she finished •well. Matty's Boy got a good position early, but he failed at the finish. Bryce's pair, Xavier and Trooper Dillon, were the popular picks, but they were done with early. Eight high-class per formers took part in the National Cup, and betting took a wide range. In the early stages it looked as if there would be a poor finish, as the front markers got a big break,. but over the last half-mile the field bunched, and there was a fine finish, Author Dillon just winning from Eimilius, with Sherwood, Albert Cling, and Moneymaker close up. Author Dillon was quite the hero of the meeting. On the first day he won the mile harness race, while on the second and third days he won the chief two-mile events. He started from ecratcn each time, and the crowd was quick to recognise the merit of his performances. B. Jarden deserves great credit for turning out Author Dillon in such fine form, and ho drove the champion very judioiously in each of his races. Emilius was the unlucky horse of the meeting. On the first day he finished third in the chief two-mile event, while on each of the other days he was second. Emiliug appears to be quite sound, and he must bo kept In mind for events ahead. Albert Cling paced a solid race, and it looks a 3 if ho is getting back to his best form. Trix Pointer was not racing at her best, ,and General Link also went badly. A field of 11 contested the Federal Handicap, but it was not as good a race as was Expected, Legacy winning comfortably from 'All Bell, with The- Whip & fair thirdv

Legacy steered clear of tidtkbie <£ tho journey and stayed well. All Bell would have been much harder to beat bu'i for a bad break early, when he interfered with The Whip. Under the circumstances theso two raced particularly well. Peter Mao went oft' at a gallop, but paced in 1 1'aro stylo onco ho settled down. Ho looks a sure winner the first time he goes right. The Heathcote Handicap, lor three and four year olds, attracted & field of niuft. Onyx was early in. front, and she stayed on in good style, winning desisively. Sho is by Logan Pointer from Cameos, a fast pacer in her day, and a near relation to Wildwood Junior and Authoress, tho dam of Author Dillon, Onyx was sold a few months ago. She is an attractive pacer, but is under suspicion for unsoundness. Peter King Avent a solid race in second place, and looks like being useful, Copa do Oxo Junior began fast, but met with some interference. Saint & Bell performed indifferently, while Charms, who- was favourite-, broke up at the start. Tho Adding ton Handicap, for unhoppled trotters, drew eight of the best in- their class. King Capitalist was favourite, but ho never looked like a winner. Bluewcod was one of the leaders all the way, and he won rather easily. Bluewood was a promising young trotter, who failed to go on. He improved a lot last season, however, and he now looks a good prospect. Reta Peter lost somo ground at the start, but she finished on in great style in second place. Whispering Willie began slowly and was passed by Reta Peter, but once ha settled down he showed a fine' burst of speed. Theseus went badly. Electrocute trotted well, but spoilt his ohance by breaking more than once. Eight useful performers took part in the th©, interest being well sustained to tho finish. Sympathy, who had raced badly earlier in the day, paced a solid race, and just beat Asturio. Sympathy did a lot of racing lasfc season without a win. Asturio lost some ground at the start. Over the last half-mile he came very. fast, but he seemed to shirk his task when the winning post was almost reached. Silver Nut N went fast in tho early stages, but he had nothing left in reserve at the end. Partner was a hot favourite, but he raced disappointingly, fading out badly when the pressure was on, There were 10 starters for the Farewell Handicap. All Bell was favourite, but he faded out at the finish, after having every chance. Chid was not prominent long, but he came home fast and won decisively. It was a surprise to see this non-stayer running on so strongly at the finish. Albert Cling put up another good race, finishing very lost. It is to be hoped he will go on well in his Cup preparation. Hal Junior, making his first appearance at the meeting, looked too big to bo at his best, but he paced soundly all the way. Mr W'. C. Webb, whose death occurred at Upper Riccarton last week, was bern in Berkshire, England, in 1834, He commenced his racing career at the age of 14-, with his stepfather, Sam Scott, at Ascot Heath, and about eight years later transferred to John Day, who had charge of the Danebury Stud for a time. Subsequently he went to France, as head lad to T. Jennings, who trained the horses of Count Lagrange. Ho came to New Zealand in 1862, bringing a shipment of horses, among them being Traducer and Mermaid, who were destined to have a great effect on tho breeding industry in these parts. Mr Webb trained Mr Henry Lance's horses for a time, winning the Champion Race with Ladybird. He afterwards started training at Ricoarton, and had a very successful record. Among the good horses he had through his hands were Knottingley, Belle of the Isle, Trump Card, Le Loup, Danebury, Ruby, Springston Enchantress, and. Diadem. Some of these horses carried his own colours, while others were trained for patrons, who included Mr W. Harris and Mr G. 'G. Stead. Quite a number of men who afterwards became famous as riders and trainers learned a lot of their business under Mr Webb, among them being R, Ray, P. Butler, and H. Goodman. For many years Mr Webb was licensee of the Busb_ Inn Hotel, Riccarton, which he managed in exemplary fashion. He had been living in retirement for a long time past. He leaves a family, one of whom is Mrs F. Holmes, wife of the well-known Riccarton trainer.