CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 61

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

OBERHVER

The committee of the Ashburton County Racing Club has had several discussions latelv on racing dates, and each time with a different result. It was intended to race in July, after the Trentham meeting, but finally it has been decided to hold the meeting on Thursday and Friday. May 20 and 21. Saturday in that week is occupied by the Oamaru Trotting Club. This arrangement should result in good fields for Ashburton. Nominations will close on Tuesday of next week. The Amber ley Racing Club’s meeting, to be held at Riccarton on Saturday, looks like being a great success. Acceptances are not available yet, but large fields are assured, while the class represented is ahead of what might have been looked for had a trip to the country been required. The North Canterbury Racing Club will hold its Autumn meeting on Saturday of next week. The nominations are quite good all round, the West Coast contingent being strongly represented. Gloaming has left Riccarton for his owner’s station in North Canterbury. It may be taken as certain that Mr G. D. Greenwood’s champion has seen the last of a racecourse, and that he will now spend his days in ease. Maurihaupo’s career came to an end last week, on the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. He was a competitor in the Smithfield Handicap, and on reaching the straight he stumbled, breaking his near foreleg, and no time was lost in destroying him. In the early part of his career Maurihaupo was a smart performer. Lately, however, his form had been moderate, due probably to the fact that he had become afflicted in the wind, and it was not intended to persevere with him much further. The three year-old Philanderer was lame after racing on the first day of the South Canterbury meeting. The trouble has not beqn definitely located, but it looks as if be would require a spell. J. M'Combe returned from Sydney last week, bringing the five yearlings he purchased on the trip.

As a result of his successes at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, C. Emerson took first, place in the winning j-ckevs’ list, leading Roy Reed by one. The contest between this pair, riding in different parts of the Dominion, will create a lot of interest during the remainder of this seasoc. The Timaru Cup winner, Fresco, has been turned out, and he will be spelled for a couple of months, after which he will be started on a preparation for spring engagements, with the New Zealand Cup as his special mission. Fresco has improved a lot lately, and, apart from last weed’s success, he showed good form at Riccarton, where he finished fourth in the Great Autumn Handicap. Three good horses —Grand Knight, Royal Divorce, and Listening Post —were in front of him, and he was travelling better than any of them at the end. This is worth bearing in mind, as it was a very attractive performance from a New Zealand Cup point of view. Footfall and Paperchase have been on the easy list since Easter, aud they will continue their spell for a couple of months, after which they will be got ready for spring engagements. The two-year-old Paperchase showed plenty *of speed this season, and great interest will attach to Jier later, as she comes from a family who have required a bit of time before the best was seen of them. Starmist and Goldstep are now in regular work. Each of them was retired early in the season on account of an accident. They appear to be quite sound again, but only time can show if the mishaps have left any permanent ill-effects. Provided they train on, Starmist should win races next season; but it is in Goldstep that G. Murray Aynsley is specially interested, as he has an idea she will develop into a useful stayer with age. G. Murray Aynsley has four yearlings under his care. Two of them are by Archery, from Stardancer and her sister, Warlove, while the third of Mr C. G. Dalgety’s lot is by Thurnliam, from Nantvillc. The fourth youngster, bred and owned by the trainer himself, is by Paladin, from Disdainful. The four have been ridden and they are a promising lot. Miss Minerva failed to show much form at the South Canterbury meeting, but she was unlucky, especially on the second day. Something much better can be expected from her very soon. Deucalion came through his two hard races at Washdyke very well, and lie should soon make his reappearance as a winner. 11. Nurse has Rapier and Chickwheat galloping vary well at present, and both of them will be worth keeping in mind for the remainder of the season. Gay Queen is a very much improved mare, and further successes may be expected for her. Kilris has struck form again, and she should do well in engagements near at hand. There has not been a great deal of stir o-i the local trotting tracks during the past week. Interest centred on the Forbury Park meeting, and the horses who were i ot in the south were nearly all having rr. easy time. F. Holmes, jun., injured his back in the tall at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s mectl. g He has been brought home, but he will have to remain in bed for some time. The Southland-bred trotter, Lady Alva, has come on good deal during the last few months and now shapes like beintr a really good mare. C. Hammond's youngster by Brent Locanda from Cora Lynn is going on nicely in her training, and looks as if she would make a useful pacer. Bessie Logan has almost recovered from the splint that has been troubling her for some time, and she is moving along well in her work. She will not be ready for a hard two-mile race for some time, but she should earn big money next season. Harry Audubon looks well and, as usual, he is doing most of his work without hopples. He will require to show improvement on his best efforts, however, before he can expect to win a race. A big pacer by Brent Locanda from that good mare Lady Theckla is slowly on the improve, but some time will elapse before lie com.s to his speed. R. W. Franks is working the trotter Our Lad}'. She looks well, but apparently she is not yet ready for a severe twomile journey. The paeer Landlord is doing only easv work at present. He hit a knee the last time he raced and has not yet recovered. The two-year-old brother to Lady Joan looks like coming to hand early. He has only been to the track a few times, but he paces in good style without the hopples. A very interesting work out was seen at Addington one day last week between R W. Fraulis’s two-year-old by -«.ev de Oro from Lady Superior, and F. Holmes’s youngster by Re.v de Oro from locality. The youngsters, who went over a mile and a-half. are a credit—to their young e..re. rhey are well grown and though they pace in different styles, they can each muster a fair amount of speed. The Lady Superior youngster is rapid gaited and looks as though he would stay well. He is even tempered and has done a lot of work. The Locality two-year-old is built on somewhat lighter lines and has a low gliding action, which carries him over the ground without much effort.