CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 46

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

03SERVEB.

First acceptances for the principal races at the Grand National meeting, together with nominations for the minor events, were taken by the Canterbury Jockey Club on Friday night, and the response by owners leaves no doubt that there will be plenty of competitors in all departments at Riccarton next month. The withdrawal of Snake. Tigerland, Pamplona, Royal Abbey, ltanui, Young Thurnham, Manawaponga, Sturdee, Signature, Vociferate, and leaves seventeen horses in the Grand National Steeplechase, compared with twenty at the corresponding period last year. The four top-weights hold their ground, but outside this quartet it is rather disappointing to find only two horses in the field with over 10.0, five of Pie other eleven being on the minimum. The position in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap is much more satisfactory. Twentyseven horses remain in, an. increase of live over last year. It is a good list apart ftom numbers, the nine horses at the head of the handicap being among the acceptors. The most noiable withdrawals, m fact, are Roval Abbev, Snake, En Route, and Mandrake. It looks like being a strong field. As for the Winter C’up, there are twentyeight acceptors, compared with thirty-two last year. The withdrawals include Loughrea, Surveyor. Royal Star, Strategy, four of the top-weights, but the other end of the handicap has provided a big list of defections, fifteen horses on the minimum having retired. Those left in make a useful field, though not equal in quality to that of some former years. The best evidence on this point is that eleven horses still figure on the minimum, and ten more range up to only 61b over the lowest weight. All the minor events have filled well, the total nominations being 412, compared with 397 last year. Some _ of the open flat races show 7 a decided falling off, but a particularly pleasing feature about the list is that the jumjing events have all attracted plenty of nominations, foreshadowing some interesting contests among the hurdlers and steeplechasers, while there is still ample material for good fields in the flat races. The Christchurch Hunt Club lias received a very gratifying response from owners for the meeting to be held at Riccarton on Saturday, August 4. The Kennels Hurdle Handicap (for hunters) has attracted only nine nominations, but every other race on the programme has filled well, quality as well as numbers being strongly in evidence. There are nineteen horses in the Hornby Steeplechase, twelve of them being Grand National Steeplechase candidates; twentytwo in the Hurdle Handicap, including sixteen who are in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap; and twenty-six in the Brabazcn Welter Handicap, among- them being twelve candidates for the Winter Cup. The remaining events have ail drawn good lists, and altogether the meeting promises to be in the nature of a dresa rehearsal for the Grand National fixture. The Riccarton tracks have been very heavy during the past week, and though the trainers with horses engaged at meetings near at hand have be-en compelled to get in a lit tie work, the conditions have been against anything really fast. There are signs of an early improvement in the weather, and with a prospect of better tracks trainers are looking forward to sending their charges along during the next few weeks. Mr J. Bull’s throe horses, Omahu, Ruddy, and Martulla, arrived from the North Island last week. All three have been nominated for the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting. Omahu jumped four hurdles on Thursday and gave a good display. The Southland trainer A. Gerard has put in an appearance at Riccarton with Isla Bank, who is engaged in the chief cross-country events at tiie Grand National meeting. F. D. Jones is slowly recovering from an attack of influenza. He will leave for Sydney next week with Murihaupo. Ballymena, Urgency, and Zaragoza, all of whom appear to be in good fettle. Mr G. D. Greenwood’s two-year-old colt by Shepherd King—Lady Avialri was shipped to Sydney last week. He did a little work at Riccarton after being broken in, and was then turned out at his owner’s station, where lie remained until it was decided to send him to Australia. I learn that. R. J. Mason has disposed of Vespucci in Australia, and the Varco gelding will probably be raced in Queensland. An exceptionally heavy list of nominations has been received for the August meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. There is, in fact, a danger of too many competitors to provide ideal racing, and making allowance for only a fan- proportion going to the post there will be plenty of horses available for the meeting. There is a fear that many of them will be backward in condition on account of recent weather having interfered with training operations. This may have the welcome effect of reducing the size of the fields, but with favourable conditions during the next few- weeks this trouble will be minimised. A pleasing feature about the nominations is that practically all the best performers from local stables are engaged, while tiie presence of about a dozen North Islanders wiR «dd to the interest in various events. One of the most, interesting fields is that engaged in the Heathcote Handicap for three and four-year-olds. Acron, Logan Chief, Ahuriri, Bonny Logan, and Great Bingen represent the best class among this season’s three-year-olds, while the younger division includes Taurekareka, who won the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton last month. The three-year-old pacer Ahuriri is a surprise nomination for the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting. He won the Sapling Stakes as a two-year-old, and this season he captured tho Waikato Trotting

Cup. A tew weeks later he finished third iu the Great Northern Trotting Derby. II was subsequently io-uncl necessary to throw him out ot work on account of an ailment which, it was feared, would prevent him from ever racing again. Apparently his case was not so serious as was anticipated, and the fact that he has been nominated for the approaching meeting at Addington suggests tfiat lie has made a good recovery. Ahuriri was a brilliant young pacer, and it is to be hoped that all is well with him, as horses of It is class can ill be spared. A. Cox has a promising two-year-old by Nelson Bingen—Commander Bell in bis stable. The youngster has not done much during the winter months, but he is fairly forward and he is a good sort. The American trotter Gineta, who is owned in Auckland but trained here by A. Cox, has built up a lot lately, and she should race well next month. It is very doubtful if the Australian pacer Realm will stand another preparation. Happy "Voyage looks very well, and it is to be regretted that the August meeting at Addington will mark the end of the champion pacer’s racing here, as he is to return to Australia, to do stud duty. The pacer Snowshoe seems to have thrown off his lameness. He looks on the big side, but he is evidently pretty well, and he should race well next month. The young trotter Worthy Bingen bears a well-trained appearance, and he may be expected to show improved form very soon. Oakhampton, Reliance, Whetu, and Jimmy Richmond have gone north to race at the Poverty Bay Trotting Club’s meeting.