CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 52

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observer. The rain which fell early last week made the Riccarton tracks very soft, with the result that for a few days training operations were considerably interfered with. Most of the trainers contented themselves with walking exercise on the roads, while those who patronised the tracks were only able to give their charges easy tasks on the sand or the tan. Tne conditions now are greatly improved, and, provided the weather keeps fine, there should be some interesting work this week, as many of the visitors, in addition to local horses, will be racing on Saturday at the Christchurch Hunt Club's meeting. The stakes are not large, but owners will welcome the opportunity of giving their horses a race as a preliminary to tackling important engagements at the Grand National Carnival. This is a remark that applies particularly to the jumpers, many of whom will be benefited by some experience of the Riccarton fences. Altogether it looks as if the Hunt Club fixture will provide some fine sport. Gloaming and Parody left here last Thursday, and they were shipped the following day from Wellington on their trip to Sydney. where R. J. Mason will get them ready for spring engagements. Gloaming, at nine years old, may be a hard horse to get wound up for long races, but his clever trainer may have him right for short journeys. It is understood that Mason may go on to Melbourne after the big Sydney meeting. Mr A. A. Fooks has resigned office as secretary of the Ashburton County Racing Club, and the committee has decided to invite applications for the position. Mr Fooks has had a lengthy term as secretary, and he will be missed by the club's old patrons. Carawock and Star Ranger are a couple of recent arrivals at Riccarton. J. W. T.owe has them looking in nice order for their coming engagements. Maunga, who has put in an appearance for the Grand National meeting, hears a well-trained appearance. He showed good form when he ran second to Nukumai in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham. and he is a good prospect for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap Pending the arrival of their trainer, O. W. Coleman, who went back to Auckland after the Wellington meeting. .T. Roach has charge of Oakleigh and Royal Fame at Riccarton. Oakleigh’s recent form has been moderate, and though he is a great horse over the Riccarton fences, he does not look so well as he did last year. In the meantime both horses are doing useful work. The Auckland hurdler Boomerdav has got through some useful (asks since his arrival at Riccarton, and he has made a good impression. His Trentham form was poor, but he must he capable of better than that. His work will be followed with interest, as he is one of the popular fancies for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap. The Wairarapn trainer W. Garrett has Sir Rosebery and Weeta at Riccarton. but they have not done a great deal on the tracks.

Sir Rosebery has raced exceptionally well this winter, having- won three steeplechases, lie shaped budiy at Trentharn, but he is leniently handicapped in the Grand National, and if ho can negotiate tho country he is likely to play his part well. E. J. Ellis is now at Riccarton with Mr L. C llazlett’s team, including Pamplona. Galway, and Palencia, all of whom are in the Grand National Steeplechase, also the Winter Cup candidate, Ravenna. C. Christie has put in appearance, and ho will devote his attention to Lochelia and Cartoon during the next few weeks. A. M'Aulay has just taken Tarleton in hand again, and will get him ready for" spring engagements. The big Nassau three-year-old only has to go on right to be a good winner next season. After the Wellington meeting F. Shaw returned to Wingatui to superintend the work of his team, but he will be hack for the Grand National meeting. In tho meantime Prompter is at New Brighton, where he is being exercised under the care of his owner. Songbird is reported to be going on well under P. T. Hogan’s care in South Canterbury, and he may he given a race at the Grand National meeting. lie cannot be ready yet, but, it will be interesting to note how he shapes after his lengthy rest from, racing. T learn that Mr J. Origg has seven foals at Long-beach. A sister to Bachelor Gay. by Gay Lad from Ooronata, is reported to be a ne-at, filly, as is one by Gay Lad fro n the Martian mare Honesty, the dam of Liqueur and Integrity. A chestnut filly by Gay T.ad from Divinia is a half-sister to Charlatan, who won over country at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting. A colt bv Sa.xbv from an English mare is a particularly good-looking youngster. There is a well-groyn colt by Gav T.nd from Lassie T)oon, and also a colt by 8-axby from the English mare Heath bass, a sister to Pitprop. A specially attractive-looking youngster is a colt b-v Gav Lad from the imported mare Assertive, a, gr and daughter of Canterbury Pilgrim This ©olt is a very earlv foal, of medium size, and with all the appearance of being a smart galloper. News of the death of .Tames Among M‘Cracken will be read with regret by racing men in all parts of the Dominion. He had a lengthy career as a trainer. He was associated with the team of the late Hr D Rutherford, when the horses were trained at, Leslie Hills. Rater he resided at. R.icca.rton for some years, and always had a few smart horses under his care. He removed to Hawke’s Rev a. few years nro for health reasons While there he trained Desert Gold’s half-brother Croesus, also Arrh Salute and his brother, First Salute. Tt is only a, rouble of weeks since T learned that. health was quite satisfactory. His death was sudden rp bo A ddington track has been out of action for a few days on account of the rain and unless the weather improves rapidly it, will not be in good order for some davs yet. Probably some of the horses will be backward for their engagements novt month Alto Chimes. Snowshoe. Argus. CnV. and Man-o’-war. who were handicapped frw the International Handicap, of onemile. on the first d-a.y of the Afoft-rs',l itsu Trotting Club’s' meeting, are not eligible, the race being for horses who have done 9ruin Msec or better. Don Wild. Great B’ngen, Ha.l Junior, and Realm are said to be unlikely starters for the August Handicap, the principal event on the opening day at, Addington. A tier the August meeting at Addington, Nelson Price will rebnouish his position as private trainer to Mr O. Channing and Messrs Clarkson and Graham. He will commence as a public trainer at Now Brighton. Price, who has been in the business for a number of years, is a most oanable man, and he is certain to command plenty of patronage. The many friends of the New Brighton trainer Alf. Wilson and his wife will sympathise with them in the recent death of their only daughter. The pacer King Dillon is quite sound, and he is pacing well in his work at New Brighton. Onyx looks remarkably well at present, in suite of a hard season’s racing, and she should get some money next month. B. Edwards is not doing much fast work with All Bell, who does not appear to he sound, although he looks well. Blair Audubon is well forward, and is pacing in solid fashion in his work. R. E. Mills has Whispering Willie going at his best at present. The little trotter appears to be in perfect health, and he is quite sound. The two-year-old pacer Glenolg, in Nelson Price’s stable, is now being sent along in his training, and is doing well. Ouirnet has come on fast since last he was put into work. G. F. Robinson pot some good performances from him (his season, and indications point to further winning efforts early in the new season. _ The American trotting stallion Guy Parish has improved since his arrival here about a month ago. He seems to have thrown off his soreness, and he has built up in condition J. N. Clarke sent him along recently for about a ouarter of a mile, and the imported horse demonstrated that he had a great, turn of speed, in addition to trotting in a most attractive stvle. Guy Parish will do slut duty at New Brighton, and later on he will be put, in training.