CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 43

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

Observer.

The past week has been very quiet at Riccarton, a, condition of affairs due in some respects to the absence of a number of horses at Trent ham assisting at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. In tho meantime, some of the trainers are busy preparing their charges for the limit meetings at Timaru and Waimate, but- their | work has not been particularly exciting. ! Manawapango has been getting through j useful tasks. His jumping is as good as I ever, and with all his weight he will have | to ho reckoned with in the South CanterI bury Steeplechase. | Golden Prince was schooled last week, j but though he is «. proficient fencer there is a doubt as to his condition, also as to whether he will remain sound. Kauwhero and Kingbolt have improved a lot in their jumping lale'ly, and now I look nromising sorts for hunters’ hurdle races. Actinia, a half-brother to Golden King and Mythology, shapes exceptionally well in his education as a hurdler and he looks like being more than useful.

Indus has taken kindly to steeplechase fences, and he should soon bo a winner among the hunters. There appears to lie some doubt whether he is eligible for tho Pareora Hunters’ Steeplechase at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting. The race is for horses that have never won a ‘"stake” of the value of XOOsovs, and the question is whether this debars a winner over that amount on the flat. Runwell, a Deerstalker gelding, who has not raced yet, shows promise of making a useful performer in hunters’ steeplechases. Maaama has been galloping well lately and he may be seen to advantage in flat races early next season. The Treadmill mare. Briar Patch, has made her re-appearance at Riecarton, but as she will be 1 Z years old next month she does not look a good racing prospect. Gamecock has been getting through a lot of useful work and he looks in good fettle. If he could get the necessary schooling he might have to be reckoned with in important jumping races, but unfortunately he will not have the shcooling hurdles in the open. Foo Chow is bowling along in great style in his work and so is Krlmoon, who may pick up a stake shortly. Ited Ilind is very forward and it looks as if she was destined for some racing at the Grand National meeting. O. Emerson has returned from his .Australian holiday, and he is a regular visitor to the tracks during working hours. The Canterbury contingent did fairly well on the first and second days at Trentham, but some of the failures proved expensive to local backers. Economist let his admirers down- twice, but liis turn will come shortly. The Ashburton gelding, General Petain. was well supported when he won on the first day, when Falstaff showed promising form by finishing third in the same race. This is an improving horse, who will take high honours yet as a hurdler. Romance was a disappointment on the first day, but provided a. reversal of form when he won on Wednesday. Urgency’s success was no surprise and his half brother to Malaga looks like being very useful over a journey later on. The young Ashburton sportsman, Mr G. H. Grigg, is to be sympathised with in losing the services of Brown Linnet at Trentham. The injuries she sustained 1 when she fell on Wednesday have finished her racing career. She was only a six-year-old, and she had only started twice, her form leading to the view that she was likely to develop into something" pretty good as a steeplechaser. The members of the Commercial Travellers’ Association will assist the Breeders’ and Owners’ Association in running the Benefit Trotting Meeting which is to be held in a little over two months at Addington, in aid of the Lewisham Hospital Building Fund. Messrs J. W. Trist and G. S. Simpson, president and secretary of the Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, visited Wellington last week and interviewed the Trotting Association regarding several questions of importance in the interests of the sport. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has secured an exceptional list of nominations for the August meeting. They total 719. or practically 30 for each race, so that there is a promise of record fields at Addington next month. There is a strong contingent of Auckland horses. In addition, the Sydney trainer, W. J. Tomkinson, who is due here with a team this week, has eight of his horses freely nominated. At one time during the training operations at Addington one morning last week there were four two-year-old trotters on the track, all of them claiming engagements iii the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Forburv next season. A gelding by Our Thorpe from a George M. PaJchen mare was backward, but looked a useful sort. He is in A. Fleming’s stable. ,T. H. Wilson had a quality looking filly, on the small side, by Harold Dillon from a Rothschild mare, who showed some speed. A. Cox had a well developed filly by Nelson Bingen from the American mare Neeratte, a. speedy sort, bur erratic. D. Bennett was also out with a Great Audubon gelding, the pick of the quartette. He appeared to bo more seasoned than the others, and there was no question about his speed. A. Fleming has the pacers General l ink and Don Wild looking very well, and they may get some money at Addington next month A. Cox has the trotter Red Heather working along steadily. If he stands up to the necessary work, which is doubtful, he will be raring at Addington in November. The North Island pacer, Ball in. who has been here for a couple of months, is having a short spell. Locand* Dillon, a good stake-earner this seer-In, is in lusty condition, but he may not be ready to show liis best form over two miles next month. The race track at New Brighton is undergoing a process of ton dressing, which should prove most beneficial. The champion trotting marc. Ref.a Peter, is in steady work at New Brighton. So far she has not been tried out seriously, but she is getting through her work in a satisfactory manner. Her fetlock appears to be quite sound, but it remains to be seen if it will stand the strain of a Cup preparation. At the. annual meeting of the New Brighton Trotting Club the report of the retiring president stated that the season 192122 was not so successful financially as the previous season. Members were no doubt aware that the stringency prevailing had been a great factor in the decreased returns. Owing to this fact many contemplated improvements had to he postponed. but members and the public could rest assured that their interests would not he overlooked in providing the necessary accommodation when the conditions of the counfcrv and the finance of the club" improved. The following officers were elected: —President, Mr E. 11. James; vicepresident, Mr G. Scott, jun. : treasurer, Mr Cl. Pengelly: committee-Messrs W. 11. Denton. W. J. Hopkins. A. J. Harper, J. Johns. B. MKenna. T. H. Ker. W. E. Thompson, J. Westemian and Captain A. W. Owles; stewards—Messrs W. H. Denton. W. J. Hopkins. A. J. Harper. .T. Johns, T. H. Ivor, B. M Kenna. W. E. Thompson, .T. Wesferman and Captain A. YY . Owles; auditor, Mr G. E. Way.