CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 40

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Vir OpqifpvTfß Wo h.'tcl a heavy fall of rain at the beginning of last week. It lasted for three days, with only slight intermissions, and as a result all the local tracks received a thorough soaking. At Ric-carton there was practically no work for several clays, and a similar condition of affairs prevailed at Addington, as well as at oilier trotting tracks, the trainers basing to content them-

selves with road exercise. Though the downfall caused a break in the regular work, it was welcomed by the trainers, as all the tracks were very hard. The weather now appears to be settled again, and trainers of gallopers, pacers, and trotters will now be able to send their charges along in real earnest, in view of their spring engagements. In the meantime we have had enough rain now to last for several weeks s-o far as the racing community is concerned.

One drawback to the spell of wet weather we have just experienced is that, with nothing doing at the tracks, there is a decided shortage of news. We are, however, reaching the stage when interest will centre less on the training tracks than on the doing of the horses with the colours up. The Ashburton meeting, held last week, jjprved as an opening for the spring campaign in these parts. It turned out a

very successful fixture, the fields being of good average size, while the presence of a number of New Zealand Cup candidates and prominent three-,year-olds invested the racing with a good deal of interest. This week the scene will be shifted to Geraldine, where a number of fresh Riccarton horses

will be perfromlng, in addition to many of these which were seen at Ashburton. Next week’s meeting at Kurow will also attract some attention from this end, while a week further on there will be a big contingent of Riccarton horses at Wingatui. There will thus be no lack of sport during the next few weeks. -. Five New Zealand Cup candidates were

seen on the first day of the Ashburton meeting, three of them earning place money. Orange Mart was the first to make her appearance, in the Braemar Welter Handicap. She began badly, but finished on in good 1 style, to get third place, and she should soon be a winner. Warlove and Caverock had a great battle for the minor positions in the Tinwald Handicap, the former having a narrow margin in. her favour. She looks., a good prospect for this season, as she is not nearly ready yet. Two other Cup horses finished in the rear in the Tinwald Handicap. Foo Chow ran disappointingly, the only horse he beat being Eleus, but neither of them is wound up for a serious contest.

The Digger was making his first appearance in a hurdle race when he won at Ashburton on Friday. He lost ground at several of the hurdles, but his jumping was good for a novice, and he should be more than useful when be has had some mere racing experience over obstacles. Riccarton three-year-olds made an excellent showing at Ashburton on Friday. Palestrina, scored a very decisive win in the Braemar Welter Handicap, and, as she can bo improved a lot, she looks like playing a prominent part in some of the classio events later on. Winning Hit was never far from the front in the Tinwald Handicap, and he wen very comfortably, giving' promise of proving a very useful colt, although it remains to bo seen whether he

will stay. In this race Tatau Tatau was fourth, after being a trifle slow out of the barrier, and she is going to be useful. Kilderg showed some pace in tho Allenton Hack Handicap, but he failed to run on. He will do better shortly. Limelight- helped to set the pace from the start of the Trial Plate, and she. won with something in hand from Te Kuri, who finished well after beginning slowly. Blush was also running on at the end. She and Te Kuri should soon be winners, while Limelight should earn a lot more distinction as a sprinter. Meteorite was fancied for the Spring Handicap, but his chance was settled through getting into trouble at the start, though he ran a good race afterwards in the rear of the field. Altogether, the three-year-olds made a good showing', Palestrina and Winning Hit being the star performers. These two represented the best two-year-old form in the South Island last season, and they are among the bust of their age now. It is probable that the pair will meet in the Dunedin Guineas next month. The success of Sembric at Ashburton on Friday was very popular, in spite of the fact that she just beat the favourite, Pitprop, owned by the president of the club. The cheering which greeted her was in large measure a compliment to her rider, F. E. Jones, who has just returned to tho saddle, after devoting all his attention to trotters and pacers for some time past. The Southland owner, Mr W. Stone, was represented at Ashburton on Friday by Klaus, Roseday, and Silver Peak. The first-named pair finished last in their races, while Silver Peak was a moderate fourth. The southern trio will be benefited by a bit of racing. F. D. Jones is at present absent in Wan-

ganui with five of his team. He will be home again in a few days. Amythas and Mustard Pot look like doing Jones’s stable a lot of service this season. Grim Joke who was left at Wingatui after the Otago Hunt meeting, is home again, having gone lame. Phil May has developed lameness, and has been turned out for a spell. Tho following foalings have taken place at Air W. Deans’s Sandown Stud: —Vanna, by Charlemagne II —Savanna, a filly; Novoe Vremya, by Stepniak—Novus, a filly: and Lady Reina, by Merriwee —Lady Helen, a colt, all to Clarenceux. The trotting trainer, R. W. Franks, has been on the sick list, but he is again albe to take charge of his team. The trotter, Imperial Crown, has gone to Australia, where he will be used as a stud horse. The first acceptance for the New Zealand Trotting Cup has resulted in the defection of only Minston. Of the other candidates t hear good reports of many, but several, including Rota Peter and Gleaming, are looked on as doubtful starters, there being a feeling that Ihey will not got through the necessary work and remain sound. There are a few others concerning whose soundness there are uneasy rumours. The president of the Canterbury Breeders' and Owners’ Association (Mr R. J. Mnnro) at the last annual general meeting brought up the question of trotting stock at agricultural shows. It now is more than probable that something tangible will result from the president’s remarks, as Mr Kyle, representing the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, waited upon the president recently, to discuss the position. The Breeders and Owners’ Association has decided to contribute lOgns towards the class at Ihe November show for the standard bred trotting and pacing horses, and this sum has been increased to 20gns by contributions from well-known trotting stud masters. A meeting of the committee of the Owners and Breeders’ Association was held last week. II was reported that everything in connection with the benefit trotting meeting was progressing satisfactorily, and that admission tickets would bo on sale within the next few days. The following honorary officials have signified their inten-

tion of asisting on the day Judge, Mr A. Dickson; handioappers, Messrs H. Brinkman and F. C. Thomas; starters, Messrs H. Reynolds, J. H. Thompkins, and A. J._ Hastings; clerks of scales, Messr A. H. Noall and H. Goggin; number clerk, Mr G. Montgomery; clerk of course, Mr E. Holmes w;_hile Mr O. H. Piper, also offered his assistance on the day. Prizes amounting to ever £2OO have already been promised. Several of the leading local trainers intimated that they would start their Cup candidates in the Thacker Handicap, and Mrs Ailing!on wrote expressing her willingness to allow her horse, Whispering Willie, one of the Dominion’s leading trotters, to giye an exhibition of trotting. : ’ i __ _...