CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 59

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

OBRESVER

In the absence of a contingent of horses at Wingatui the track work at Riccarton will not provide much interest during the next week. The tourists number only a few more than a dozen, but they comprise most of the local horses who are really in active commission. There are others who are being got ready for the hunt meetings and the Grand National meeting, but their tasks do not suffice to give much excitement to the proceedings ut present. R. J. Mason will leave for Sydney this week taking a couple of rising two-year-olds, the colt by Limond from Waterwin"’*, .ad the filly by Absurd from Eulogy. J. M‘Combe has decided on another trip to Sydney, and he will leave this week with Forgery, his intention being to race the Paper Money three-year-old at the pony meetings.

F. D. Jones left on Thursday night with Zaragoza, who will be raced at the Auckland reetinjg. On his return from the north he will complete his preparations for the Sydney trip, on which he will probably start early in July. The two-year-olds Limerick, Young Lochinvar, and Battlement are practically certain to go, while Jones’s own youngster, Reonui, is a possibility. The North Island apprentice, T. Green, will probably accompany Jones.

Deucalion bled after a gallop last Tuesday. This is not a new trouble, and D. Campbell does not regard it seriously, as the big Demosthenes gelding is usually better after these attacks. He is in fine fettle, and he should race well at Wingatui. His stable mate, Moorland, is backward.

Sun Gp is very well at present, and he should show up in sprint races at Wingatui.

Carnot has made a good recovery from the trouble that affected him after the South Canterbury meeting, and he will have to be reckoned with in his engagements at Wingatui. Bonatic looks in better order as a result of his recent racing, and the Dunedin meeting may bring him more hurdle successes.

Sprinkler, who is J. Lindsay’s only representative for Wingatui, may not be quite forward enough to show his best form. Lady Clarenceux was to have accompanied him, but she is suffering from a recurrence of side trouble. H. Nurse has taken Chickwheat and Rapier to Wingatui. The former, in particular, is very well, and looks like paying his way. F. Christmas will have Jubilant and Oriflamb racing at Wingatui. The former is just coming back to form, while the latter is a 4 useful back, who will be at a disadvantage owing to a short spell. R. Longley has Ophir, Bonomel, and Sayonara under his care for the south trip. The two first-named raced badly at Ashburton, but Sayonara’s form was distinctly promising. F. P. Claridge has taken Tigerland, Whipcord, Gay Queen, and Kilris to Wingatui, but Tigerland will not race on the first day. He and Whipcord may be a trifle backward, but the other pair arc very well. Charlatan was allowed to drop out of the Otago Steeplechase, but he will probably be on hand for the second and third days, when the shorter journeys will suit him.

Tlk Harp may put in an appearance on the second or third day at Wiugatui. His knees continue to trouble him, with the result that he cannot be worked regularly, and for this reason the trip south is by no means certain. Count Cavour has made his reappearance on the tracks, and looks in the best of order to commence another preparation.

A two-year-old gelding by Sarto from Lady Stockwell is the latest addition to F. Christmas’s team. Cutts Bros, have recommissioned the two-year-old fillies Front Rank and Wild Work, but their tasks will be of an easy nature for some time yet, as they will not be wanted for racing until the spring; The Boniform gelding Hyperion has developed slight lameness in one of his shoulders, and G. J. Pine has found it necessary to give him a spell. This is a pity, as he showed promise as a jumper. J. B. Pearson has Sherlock looking in nice order for winter engagements. He only has to remain sound to pay his way, as he is a good jumper. R. Longley has eased Corinthic, Gay Life, Solfello, Heraldry, Kai Arabi, and Cultivation, most of whom will be spelled for a few months.

Mr G. Fulton has purchased a five-year-old mare by Polydamon from Shepherd’s Bush, by Marble Arch from Hotcherina. The mare, who has gone into H. Nurse’s stable, has done no racing. It is probable that Tarleton will be treated to a good spell. His form this season has been disappointing, as his money-earning efforts are four seconds and four thirds out of 25 starts. G. J. Pine is keeping his team going in view of spring meetings. Cyrene is doing well, also Paper Rose, who appears to have got over the knee trouble that affected her last spring. Paper Boy and Crossbow are a pair of promising maidens, each of whom has shown some speed. There are four yearlings in the stable, the Archery—Michaela colt and three by Paper Money, colts from Fair Fight and Fulica, and a filly from Martin.

R. Ellis has a team of half-a-dozen horses under his care at present, Will Oakland, the veteran of the party, is bright and well, with prospects of adding further to his record. Lytup has shown smart form lately, and looks like doing still better next season. Gold Silk has done nothing of note yet, but she is a well-bred filly, who should improve with age. A three-year-old filly by Greyspear from Oil Wells, and a two-year-old filly by Clarenceux from Babylon are both promising sorts. The latest addition to the team is a well-grown yearling colt by Sutala from St. Leaven, by Achilles from Lady Maorina, by Stepniak rom Reel. When Finora comes in, probably this week, Ellis will have a useful team with which to regard the new season. By the death of Mr Emerson Clarkson, which occurred last week, the trotting sport has lost another prominent figure. The late Mr Clarkson came to Canterbury about sixty years ago, and he was associated with the sport from its earliest days, chiefly as an official, though he was alpo interested in a few horses at that period. He was one of the foundation members of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, for which he acted as timekeeper for many years, while he also officiated in a similar capacity for other trotting and racing clubs in ‘he vicinity of Christchurch. He served on the New Zealand Trotting Association for several years, but he had held no official positions lately. D. Bennett has been a keen watcher of trailing operations at Addington recently. He intends to start as a public trainer as soon as he can find suitable quarters.

A. Cox is working a two-year-old gelding by First Fashion from Reta Rye. He trots in good style. Nelson Derby looks very bright and well, though he has not done much fast

work yet. He is expected to improve still further next season.

The trotter Wild Hebe moves very short in front, and is far from sound. He may race well, however, while the tracks are soft. A trotter ~y Nelson Bingen, trained by his owner, T. Atkinson, looks in good fettle to race. He is a very promising sort, who may soon be a winner. Bessie Logan is not making much improvement in her training. She has not recovered from the ailment '.hat caused her retirement some time ago.

Billy Whizz bears a well-trained appearance, and is doing most of nis work in saddle.

Minton Derby looks at his best at present. He may race well before he returns to Australia.

The Rey de Oro two-year-old. in A. Cox’s stable, is gradually learning the rudiments i his education. He is a quality-looking youngster, who may go either as a + rotter or a pacer. W. J. Tomkinson worked several of his trotters fast one day last week. Happy Rosa, as usual, trotted without a mistake, and was anxious to go .ich faster. Lady Alva had just been shod, and she failed to go kindly. Elzear, who looks well, trotted in improved style. The trotter Whispering Willie, who is now in Nelson Price’s stable, has shown great improvement lately, and he is quite sound. Partner will take some time to build up in condition, and he is not likely to race in the near future.

Gwenleigh, a recent winner at Ashburton, looks none the worse for her racing. She is a useful sort, who ma}' improve. A useful-looking two-year-old trotter, by Lee Norris, is being going 'teady at New Brighton under the care of G. S. Smith. Prince Pointer looks in great fettle. He appears to race best at Auckland, and he will probably make another trip north this month.

Talent is fast getting into form again, and he will be racing at S ldington this week.

Loganwood looks in capital trim at present, and he is pacing well in his work.

J. Clarke has a fine-looking three-year-old gelding by Great Audubon in work. He trots in a bold manner, and keeps well in his gait. Clarke has just commenced to educate a two-year-old filly by Nelson Bingen from the American maYe Miss Spear. The youngster, who is a sister to +he trotter Herbilwyn, is small, but ihe naces with perfect action. Kotuku Jack is doing plenty of solid work at New Brighton. He looks well, and he may race prominently next time he starts.

The three-year-old Actor, by Author Dillon—Marie Tempest, is one of the active workers at New Brighton. He is a good pacer, with plenty of speed. D. Robertscii is now working The Thistle as a nacer. He showed promise at this gait when first put in work, but did not race satisfactorily. Later he was tried as a trotter, but after showing great promise he would not go steadily in a race. Now * e is back at the pace, and his trotting experience may have benefited him.