CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 59

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

OBESVER

BY

The weather during the past week hat been decidedly unfavourable from a training point of view. A good deal of rain has fallen, and as a result the Riccarton tracks' are very soft, while horses with immediate engagements have not had >o

much fast galloping as their trainers would have liked. Most of our representatives at Trentham, however, have done a good deal of racing and they will not be badly >ff in condition for their racing this week. With 15 horses absent, there will be rery little doing on the local tracks during Ihe next week. On the return of the tourists, the W.imate and South Canterbury Hunt meettii.gs will claim attention, and judging from the excellent nominations they should be more than usually successful. Then the scene will shift to Riccarton. for the Christchurch Hunt and Grand National fixtures. F. D. Jones .eft here on Thursday, on his way to Sydney, where he will race Limerick, Young Lochinvar, Battlement, and Reonui in the spring. The quartet did a bit of sprinting before they left. The chief thing disclosed was that Limerick retained his pace, as b .• beat Young Lochinvar u couple of times comfortably. Limerick has not thickened out much since he raced in the autumn, and he may never carry much condition. L, all his races, however, lie has shown evidence of staying, and the Derby distance should not trouble him. Young Lochinvar, on the other hand, may be useful over short courses, without being in the best class. Battlement has wintered well, and in the meantime the most that cun be said for him'is that, being by Martian, be is likely to improve also that lie shouiJ stay. Reonui haa no form to recommend him, but he is a likely sort on appearances, and it will surprise me if he fails to pay his way. Jones’s four young horses were all in good health when they left, and they look quite a useful team. J. B. Pearson lias sold Clareinn, and the Clarenceux mare will do her future racing in Sydney, possibly on pony courses. She was shipped to her new home lost week, under the care of F. D. Jones. Count Cavour has been a much discussed horse during the past week. It was reported that he had jeen sold to an Australian sportsman for a big figure, but there was a hitch at the end and the • ca l l trough. The gelding was examined by two veterinary surgeons. Mr Kyle passed the gelding without comment. Mr Martin pronounced him “Sound with exception of bony enlargement inside o (i pock, caused by injury of old standing [n my opinion this will not interfere with |ne usefulness of the gelding." This slight injury, it may bo mentioned, occurred when Count Cavour was returning from

Auckland, after winning the Great Northern Derby a year and a-lialf ago. When Mr Martin’s certificate was cabled to Melbourne, it drew . suggestion from the prospective buyer that the price previously agreed on should be reduced by 1500gns. To this Mr J. S. Barrett would not consent, and negotiations were bgtken off. In the meantime, arrangements had been made in Wellington for a special box to convey Count Cavour to Sydney, and on the sale falling through, Mr Barrett decided to go on with the Australian trip on his own account. The Solferino gelding was therefore shipped to Wellington last Wednesday, and he has gone to Sydney with F. D. Jones's team. Jones will train him for the present, but T. H. uillett mav “go across- later. Mr Barrett nominated Count Cavour freely for spring handicaps in Australia, and he will have the best wishes oJ Dominion sportsmen for the success of his enterprise in sending h ; a crack to the Commonwer l h to race. News haa been received here that J. M'Combe won a race lact week at Victoria Park with Forgery, whom he took to Sydney early last month. The Paper Money gelding started at a very remunerative price. The Canterbury District Committee has recommended S. Trilford for a conditional trainer’s license. Mr E. 8. Luttrell is a frequent visitor to Riccarton during training hours, watching the work of his four horses. Bachelor, by Absurd—Procrastinate, is the only one of the quartet who has raced. He showed a lot of speed in two-year-old events this season, and he haa just resumed work. Beau Geste (a four-year-old brother to Scion) and the Bomform filly Bon Avis have been in commission for some time, and they are both doing well, while the rising two-year-old Streamer, by Paper Money— Tortnx, has shown fair speed. Beau Geste and Bon Avis are in the Winter Cup, and along with their two mates they have Australian engagements. If they go on all right they may go to the Commonwealth, but their owner realises that races are not easy to win there, and a decision will not be made for a few weeks, by which time more will be known about their ability. In the meantime H. Were has them looking well. Sun Up is in regular work again, but he is not moving so freely as usual. Red Wink continues to go on nicely in his tasks, and he seems to he quite sound.

There is, of course, the risk that lie will develop weakness again, but lie only has to train on to play his part in important races next season. He may be given his first run at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting. E. Scoullar has just taken Gold Brick in hand again, looking bright and well after his spell. Countersign, who has been hacked about the roads for a few weeks, is also in full commission. The imported mare Prophet’s Mark is working along steadily. She is a useful galloper who may be useful next season. T. H. Gillett has her working well, and slie may be raced at the Christchurch Hunt and Grand National meetings, but she will not be at her best for some time yet.

Owing to his wife’s indisposition C. Emerson has cancelled his proposed holiday trip to Australia. Footfall is working well, and lie should be ready to show good form at somO' of the Spring meetings. Wiakie’s Best is coming on fast, and he may be racing at the Grand National meeting next month. Mr G. D. Greenwood should have a strong team of two-year-olds next season. The latest to be handled by P. V. Mason is the filly Golden Armour, by imported Leighton from Sungleam, by Sutala from Boniform’s sister, Sunglow, the dam of Many Kittle. F. Christmas has returned from a trip to Hawke’s Bay, where he purchased Tuahine, by Lucullus—Persia, for Mr D. 0. Rutherford. So far Dr M. O. Louisson has not bad much luck in his racing ventures, but he is in no way daunted by his lack of success. He has a promising yearling, by Kilbroney—Mazurka, in preparation for next season, and recently he has had n commissioner looking for a horse in England. One has been secured, and he will be shipped to the Dominion immediately. He is a two-year-old colt by Poltava, by Polm lus from the Derby winner Tagalie. The Southland gelding Valdamo is to join J. B. Pearson’s stable. He has the reputation of being useful over hurdles, and he will be well placed in his ne.w quarters to have his quality tested, as Pearson has a number of jumpers in his team. Charlatan was schooled over nine fences on Thursday, and gave a good exhibition at a sound pace.

Vagabond and Radiac were companions in a school over five hurdles on Thursday. Radiac slipped into one of the obstacles, but this was the only blot on a good display of both horses. Most of the local trotting tracks are very soft at present, and the trainers are not doing much work with their teams. They will soon begin to get interested again, however, as the August meeting at Addiugton is not far off. W. J. Tomkinson has been laid aside with sickness for a few days, but he is well on the road to recovery. M. B. Edwards is handling a goodlooking two-year-old half-brother to Black Admiral. The youngster’s sire is Waverley, by Galindo from Thelma, the dam of Willowwood, Wildwood Junior, and Adonis, three successful sires. Imprint is booked for a trip to Addington next month. The crack Nelson pacer has put up some fine performances this season in Wellington and Auckland, but he has not been seen here, and ho will attract a lot of attention if he puts in an appearance, as he is one of the best pacers in the Dominion, judged on this season’s form. Native Chief has made a good recovery from the trouble which prevented him from racing at Auckland last month. The champion three-year-old is only in light exercise at present. Provided all goes well he should be a big winner in the best company next season. The pacer Surfboard, who showed useful form more than once this season, has been turned out for a good spell. Pedro Pronto is in steady work again, and if he keeps sound he should be a useful member of J. J. Kennerley’s team next season. The same trainer has Main Voyage and Charles Dixie going on well. Logan Chief looks in good fettle, but some of his recent performances suggest that lie has had his day. A brother to Shine Soon is working nicely with M. B. Edward's team. It is a big gelding and a good pacer. Jack Potts is in good order to start a preparation. He will probably be racing in August. . . , The two-year-old pacer Acre is building up in condition, and he should be useful next season. B Jar den is working a young pacer by Reaim. He looks like being good later on. High Jinks, a disappointing pacer who has been in R. B. Berry’s stable, is now under A. E. Messervey’s care. J Bryce has taken Great Hope in hand again. He looks in good health, and probably he will be racing in August, when Bryce expects to have Ahurin, Taurekareka, Money Spider, Whetu, and Ihe Australian Planet in action. Bryc- will make an early start to break in eight yearlings, most of whom claim Matchlight as their sire. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club was eld on Thursday. Mr J. Leslie presiding over a small attendance. The proceedings were very brief, the business being disposed of in less than half an houi Messrs V .R. Franks, R. J. Mason, H. J. Otley, W. F. Parkinson, P. F. Ryan, J. A. Holmes, C. E. Cross, and the Hon G. Witty were elected a committee, Mr J. 'ieslie having already been elected president and the Hon. G. Witty vice-president, unopposed. Mr H. F. Nicoll has a select stud at Ashburton, wher. lie breeds most of the fastest trotters raced by him. During the present season he has sold several pacers who have done well for their owners. Sea Pearl being the latest case. Mr Nicoll’s trainer, D. Warren, stated recently that more than £2OOO worth of stock had left the stud and that Mr H. F. Nicoll was ery pleased at the success they had achieved for their new owners. It is probable that Mr Nicoll will devote more attention to the breeding industry and tha his colours will not be so frequently seen in future. The Australian-bred nacer Dixie’s Pride will return to Australia next week. Although a good performer in the land of his birth, he has not raced well here, and J. J. Kennerly is of the opinion that the climate has not suited him. His place will be taken by a four-year-old from Ohio’s dam. The trotter Nelson Ata, who raced so well at the recent meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club, is to have a short spell. He has shown a lot oi improvement this season, and is likelv to do still better.