CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 52

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

Observer.

T e Riccarton tracks are in nice order at present. The recent rains took the sting out of the ground and now the tracks provide excellent going. The near approach of the South Canterbury and Dunedin meetings has made a difference in the work, as the trainers are sending their charges along in useful tasks, though nothing of a record breaking nature is being attempted, most of the horses being so forward that they require only strong work to keep them right. J, M Combe left on Thursday for Sydney, being accompanied Py his wife and daughter. Though designed primarily as a holiday trip, the horses in the stable have also gone. Sunny Loch, Guanial, and The ('■heat will be raced in New South Wales through the winter, while the yearling colt Forgery, by Paper Money—Subterfuge, will be got ready for Spring engagements. It

would be no surprise if M'Combe sold some of the horses, but ho informed me on the eve of his departure that he would not pail with Sunnv Loch. F. D. Jones expects to leave for Sydney at an early date with several horses. Ballymena is sure to go and possibly Murihattpo and Gientruin. The team may also include a youngster for two-year-old races in the spring. Jones has two or these in work, and he gave them their first sprint last week. A. Wormald will leave this week for Sydney. Ho was to have piloted Mr R. Acton Adams’s jumpers, but I understand that they are likely to return to the Dominion for the Auckland meeting, the Australian handicappers having too exalted an opinion of them. Probably Wormald will ride Caravvcck in Australia. R. J. Mason has a big contingent of yearlings in preparation for carrying Mr G. D. Greenwood’s colours in next season's two-year-old races. They include a brown colt bv Absurd from Cheloina (dam of Prince Ferouz and Falladeen), by Llangvvm from Chelys; bay colt by Absurd from Oddity, by All Black from Conceit (dam of Egotism,), by Boniform from Lady Wayward II (dam of x.mperador)-; bay filly by Absurd from Lady D., an imported mare by St. Denis from Lady by Ladas; chestnut filly by Absurd from First Class, by All Black from Class (dam of Bon Ton. Eligible and 'J ne Toff) ; brown gelding by Paper Money from Ambuscade, .by Stepniak from Ambush, by Vanguard from Fairy Maid; bay filly by Greyspear from Sungjow (dam of Many Kittle), by Multiform from Otterden; and bay filly by Martian from Lady Lucy, by Seaton Dclaval from Hilda, 'by Musket from Ouida. They have been ridden, and they look a good lot. The two-year-old gelding Revel, by Gay Lad from Nantville, has joined J. Campbell's Riccarton stable. Zaragoza has returned from Auckland, but Mustard Pot will not be fit to come home for some time vet. R. W. K ing will make another start in a few days on the two-year-old Watermint, by Greyspear from Waterspray, the dam of Piiliewinkie and Sprinkler. ' After having a run in the M’Lean Stakes last October, and she was put aside, and she will now be prepared for early Spring racing. King will also make an immediate start on the yearling colt by Panmure from Cormorant, a sister to Nyland, by Finland from Parera. Mr G. Fulton appears to be well pleased with Chickwheat, by Buckwheat, purchased in Sydney as a yearling a year ago, as he brought another colt by the same sire last month, and this youngster has arrived at Riccarton. With Dame Straitlace and Count Cavorm on the easy list, Mr J. S. Barrett has no horses in racing order at present. This pair will be spelled during the winter, and will then be taken in hand again by T. H. Gillett «ith a view to spring engagements. Dame Straitlace narrowly missed the New Zealand Cup, and though her recent form has been moderate, she may come back in good trim for another attack on the C’up, a race in which Air Barrett has been very unlucky, as Foo Chow also carried his colours into second place. Count Cavorm paid his way this season, and he may be expected to develop into a useful three-year-old. In the meantime Mr Barrett is having Charlatan qualified as a hunter, and he is shaping well in bis jumping education. He is a five-year-old by Winkie from Divinia, by Sylvia Park from Mongonui, by Carbine from Moonga (dam of Seahorse), so he is bred well enough to be a good horse. Parody has made her reappearance on the Riccarton tracks after a short spell, but there is no sign yet of Cupidon, who is reported _to have shown signs of lameness after racing in Auckland. Boadicea looks in great fettle, and she has never been galloping better than she is doing at present. She should race well at the South Canterbury meeting this week. Winning Hit looks a- picture just now, and he has been galloping in great style. Palestrina has been hitting out freely in her work, and she may soon be among the winners again. Tarleton has resumed work, and the bold manner in which he has been going on the tracks suggests that he will be hard to beat- next time ha starts, in spite of the fact that he will be well up in the weights. Sprinkler has not been going at all well lately. He appears to be sore. W. M'Donald has Castellan and Fresco going nicely in their work, and they may pay their way during the winter Camel Amble is being schooled over the fences, in view of competing in hunters’ steeplechases. Carpentier looks in good order at present, and I am prepared to see him win a decent race before long. Some Kid is shaping up nicely, and though hr has not been in work long he may soon be earning money again. The South Canterbury Jockey Club has received a great list of nominations for the Autumn meeting, which will be held on Friday and Saturday. So far as the size of the fields is concerned, the postponement and the taking of fresh nominations was a great idea, as the club has now secured a, much larger response from owners. The acceptances are not available, but I should say it was quite certain the meeting would prove a big success. The two-year-cld jiacer Nelson Tasker, by Nelson Bingen from Sal Tasker, has left A. Cl. Wilson’s stable, and he is now a member of F. Holmes’s learn. He is one of the most promising young pacers ever seen here, and he attracted a lot of attention while he was working at New Brighton. He did so well for Wilson that it came as a great surprise when it was learned that he had left that trainer's care. F. Holmes, who devotes his attention almost exclusively to trotters and pacers, has had a big batch of two-year-olds through his hands lately. After being broken in they were turned out, but they will come in again in the spi'in- when Holmes will get them ready to race. They are a fillv by Logan Printer from Imperial Polly, a brother to Willie Logan, a half-brother (by Logan Pointer) to Fancy Boy. filly by Logan Pointer from Tit Bits, gelding by Logan Pointer from Dalwhinnie, and a filly by Great Audubon from Snowdrift (dam of Clonmel). These six are all pacers. In addition there are a couple of trotters—a filly by Norval King from Bonilene (dam of Bonny Logan) and a filly by Pelereta from Bonista.