CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 58

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

Observer.

The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting will open next Tuesday. The weather has been unfavourable for training lately, and the tracks are very soft. Riccarton recovers very quickly after rain, however, and with a • fewdays of fine weather the course will be in good order for next week. In other respects the meeting promises well. Already there is a good sprinkling of visitors on the scene, some of them attracted by the chance of a preliminary race at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, and others arc booked to arrive this week. Fields will be well up to the average in every department, and the meeting promises to be very successful. The racing at the Christchurch Hunt meeting on Saturday was full of interest, and the form may have an important bearing on the Grand National meeting, to which it acted as a curtain raiser. Maunga won the Homeby Steeplechase like a good horse. It was his first appearance over the Riccarton country, and his third start in a steeplechase, but he tackled the fences like a veteran. He never looked like making a mistake, and the style in which he cleared the kennels double was a treat to witness. After being in a handy position all the way he joined the leaders six furlongs from ho. re, and over the last half-mile he had the opposition well beaten. Peter Maxwell was alongside I ; m when they entered the straight, but Maunga experienced no difficulty in shaking off last year’s Grand National winner. It was an impressive performance, and he now looks like having a great chance of success in the Grand National next -week. ' Peter Maxwell ran a good race in the Homeby Steeplechase. He jumped well throughout and though he had to be content with second place he beat all but the winner very comfortably. It was a very smart "performance, and it was only the presence of Maunga that dimmed his Grand National prospects. _ Charlatan got too close in to the first fence in the Homeby Steeplechase, and only scrambled over, losing a lot of ground. After that he jumped in his best style, and the manner in which he made up his leeway over the last half-mile must have been highly pleasing to his admirers. He must not be left out of the Grand National calculations. . , Vice-grand ran a fair race in the Homeby Steeplechase, but he never looked like a winner. . , Isla Bank was prominent all through the Ilomeby Steeplechase till he ; fell at the second last fence. His rider, H. MSweeney, had one of his cars badly torn, necessitating hospital treatment. Frenchman was one of the leaders lor more than half the journey in the Homeby Steeplechase, but he was hopelessly beaten at the kennels double. On this form he can have no chance in the Grand National. Pamplona need not be further discussed in connection with the Grand National after his display in the Ilomeby Steeplechase. His jumping was good, but he was always well back. Kipling’s display in the Homeby Steeplechase was -in keeping with some of his other recent efforts. He seems to be out of place in a good field. Bonena was responsible for a smart performance when he won the Longbeach Hurdles. He had four Grand National Hurdle candidates behind him, and none of them can have much chance of reversing positions in the big race next week. He did not put in an appearance till half a mile from home, and he stayed on in fine style. _ Peneus ran a good race m the Longbeach Hurdles, and he may pick up a stake before long. . . . . Kapuna was going well in the earlj stages of the Longbeach Hurdles, but he failed to stay. „ , Coastguard tailed off at the start. of the Longbeach Hurdles, and his effort was very disappointing, as at no stage did he look like getting near the front. Mr Ebb Hay, a well-known resident of Banks Peninsula, made an auspicious entry into the ranks of owners when Magna Charta carried his colours for the first time in the Brabazon Handicap. The big three-year-old was one of the leaders from the start, and he stayed on to win handsomely. On this form he will have to be seriously considered for the Winter Cup. It may be unwise, however, to rate this perforniance too highly, as he was favoured with a good position at the barrier, a great advantage in a big field. At the same time Magna Charta has speed enough to secure a good position, and he can run out a mile well. The only present regret concerning him is that he is a troublesome customer at the barrier. Royal Game finished up with a fine run over the last two furlongs in the Brabazon Handicap, and he may win a race at the Grand National meeting. Solferite ran a sound race in the Brabazon Handicap, but the final hundred yards found him out. Tuahine was running on strongly at the end of the Brabazon Handicap. She is at her best under winter conditions at Riccarton, and she may improve on this form before long. Soltoe was showing up prominently at the finish of the Brabazon Handicap, and his winning turn may come soon.

Chickwheat was not far behind the placed horses in the Brabazon Handicap. It was an exceptionally fine performance, as he was chopped out at the start, and had a lot of ground to make up. The Hawke’s Bay mare Hathor let her admirers down in the Brabazon Handicap. She had every chance, being one of the leaders all the way to the straight, where she faded out. It was not a good Winter Cup trial. When Maunga scored in the Homeby Steeplechase lie was ridden by R. M’Sweeney, who won the Grand National on Master Strowan 10 years ago. He was out of the racing game for some time, and he is only now coming back into prominence. His success on Maunga was very popular, and he was accorded a great ovation when he returned to the bird cage. M’Sweeney deserves great credit for his riding. He' was suffering from injuries to his thigh received when Goodform fell in the Lawford Steeplechase, and after the Homeby Steeplechase he was conveyed to the hospital, where several stitches were put in the injured limb.

The. South Canterbury hunter The Babe put up an attractive performance when he

won the Kennels Hurdles. He was always in the picture, and he outstayed the opposition at the end. He is a half-brother to Mainspring and Night Raid, and as he jumps country well he may prove the best of the family.

Rangiawaio, the favourite for the Kennels Hurdles, met some interference at the start, and the ground he lost may have made all the difference between success and failure, as he was staying on well in third place. Calluna, one of Mr C. F. Vallance’s team, jumped badlv in the Kennels Hurdles, and he was well beaten half a mile from home.

Gay Jim looked a winner when he took the lead at the last jump in the Kennels Hurdles, but his condition gave out in the run home, and he had to be satisfied with second place. Later in the day, in the Hunters’ Plate, he made the opposition look cheap as he cleared out from the field in the straight. Gay Jim is a five-year-old by Gay Lad from Silverina. a mare brought here from Australia by Mr Harvev Paterson.

Royal Fashion came to grief at the first obstacle in the Konnels Hurdles when in the lead. Her rider, J. T. Humphries, landed on his head and appeared to get a nasty fall, but he escaped luckily with some bruises about the nock and shoulders. He did not ride again during the day, deeming it wiser to have a rest. When Bandolero and Good Form fell at the first fence in the Lawford Steeplechase the race was reduced to a match. and Peter Marion always looked a winner. He outjumped Night Raid at every fence andthen outstayed him on the flat. Peter Marion won a point-to-point steeplechase in South Canterbury, and he -is a useful sort of a hunter.

The Dunedin owner Mr J. M. Samson started a couple of his two-year-olds in the Maiden Stakes. Miss Trillion showed great speed for half a mile, but she lacks stamina, and it was left to Wreath of Myrtle to come on and win. He is a good sort by Leighton from Europa, by King Mark from Temeraire, a Dreadnought mare, who will be best remembered as the dam of Audax, a Birkenhead gelding, who was a very smart performer over country.

Scoff, who filled second place in the Maiden Stakes, is a good-looking two-year-old by Paladin from Disdainful. He has plenty of speed, but unfortunately he is touched in the wind, so that his racing career will be restricted.

Beaming was one of the outsiders in the Flying Hack Handicap, in which he finished with a great run to win an exciting race. Kalos, who filled second place in the Flying Hack Handicap, was responsible for a much more meritorious performance than was generally recognised. He was squeezed out at the start, and he had a long gap to bridge after the field settled down. Had he begun right he would have won easily.

The imported colt Hoylake is on the improve. He ran a sound race in the Flying Hack Handicap, and he should soon do even better. The Southland mare Cassolette carried her weight well in the Flying Hack Handicap. She has a lot of pace, but a sixfurlong journey under present conditions is her absolute limit.

Beau Cavalier showed slight signs of lameness after working a few days ago, and since then, though apparently sound enough, he has not been set any severe tasks on the tracks. Kawini looks a very fit horse for his Riccarton engagements. A year ago he ran second in the Grand National Steeplechase after meeting with an accident on his arrival at Riccarton. He should be a better horse this year.

Tuki has done exceptionally well since he has been at Riccarton, and he has many warm admirers for the Grand National. Crown Coin, a recent arrival at Riccarton, bears a well-trained appearance, and he will have to be reckoned with in some of the big jumping events. The Southland steeplechaser Scamp has made his reappearance on the track following on an easy time since the Wellington Stetplechase, in which race he ricked a shoulder. He appears to be quite sound while doing steady work, but he is not quite right. His trainer is determined to take no risks, and it is possible he will miss all his engagements at Riccarton, in the hope that he will come back next winter a better horse than ever.

Starmist was lame after working one morning last week, and she is now having a rest. The trouble is in the shoulder, and unless she makes a complete recovery very soon, she will be retired to the stud. F. D. Jones left last Thursday on his way to Sydney with a team of five horses, consisting of Limerick, Battlement, Arikiwai, and the two-year-olds Roscrca (Rossendale —Medley) and Tariff (Polyinestor —Protection). They have all done a lot of useful work during the last few weeks, and they are in excellent order to finish off their preparation for early engagements. Limerick has improved out of knowledge since the spring, and now looks a high-class horse. He has a good record behind him, but I am prepared to find that his best deeds are to come. Battlement has raced well on each of his previous visits to Sydney, and he may again prove himself on this occasion. Arikiwai should win races, probably early in the trip, as he is very forward, but I doubt if he is more than a useful sprinter. As for the two juveniles, they look a likely pair, and even if thev fail at Randwick, they will be in good fettle when they return to the Dominion. Jones’s Australian trip will be confined to Sydney this year, and at the close of the- Australian Jockey Chib’s spring meeting, early in October, he will return home, in time for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s November carnival.

While Jones is absent in Sydney, George Reed will be in charge of his home team. Arikiwai’s two-year-old brother (Toawai) and the Redfern colt, of the same age, will be kept in active commission. The Shillinglee and Orby’s Pride two-year-okls will be stabled, but they will not do any work until Jones returns home. Reed is also training Philanderer on his own account, in addition to the Gay Lad— Snapshot gelding who was recent!.," placed under his care, so that he has now fairly got into the racing game again, with every prospect of doing well. Martian, who was destroyed about a. week ago, was New Zealand’s most successful sire of recent years. He had a brief racing career, during which he won

the Challenge Stakes at Riccarton and the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham in his first season. The following spring he went to Sydney, and won the Randwick Plate, beating Australia's best at weight-for-age over two miles and a quarter, returning home to capture the Canterbury Cup over the same distance. It was fitting that he should thus demonstrate his high qualities as a racehorse over this long journey, as it was in that department that he made his great mark at the stud. He sired two-year-old winners, but his progeny nearly all did better with age, while it was as a sire of stamina that he was pre-eminent. This was demonstrated by his successes in long-distance events. He had six winners of the Canterbury Cup. six of the New Zealand Cup, three of the Auckland Cup, and four of the Trentham Gold Cup, these being the four long races in the New Zealand calendar, while his other important winners make a long list, which may be still further increased later on, as he has some good representatives about yet. In Australia, too, he made a name with a Melbourne Cup and a Metropolitan Handicap, in addition to many weight-for-age successes. The stakes won by Martian’s stock in New Zealand exceeded £280,000 and his Australian total was substantial. So far, he has left no worthy son to succeed him at the stud, but his daughters have made a great name. The spell of wet weather which has been experienced here lately lias interfered greatly with the operations of the local trotting trainers. The Addington track has been out of action, and trainers have had to content themselves, in the main, with exercising their charges on the roads. As a result, many of the horses ..ho are to race at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting, which opens on Saturday, will be very backward. If the weather takes up now, the track should be in good order for the meeting, but this will not make up for the lack of suitable ground for the horses on which to finish off their preparation. In other respects the meeting promises well, as fields are likely to be large, with a good sprinkling of visitors to add to the interest, J. Bryce’s four candidates for the Trotting Cup are all doing well. Great Hope has shown no signs of soreness, and Acron also appears to be quite sound. Kohara has not done a great deal of work, but. he does not require it. Ahuriri looks a picture, and he should be readv for plenty of fast work later on.

J. J. Kennerley has the Australian pacer Kyana looking better than at any time since ho came to the Dominion.

Parkwood has been pacing well in his training. So far this Australian horse has been a disappointment here, but ho may make amends early in the new season.

Audominion has rarely looked better than ho does at present. He seems to be quite sound again, and he has done some great work, but be is on a mark from which success is difficult.

. F. G. Holmes is devoting a lot of attention to St. Maura, and she should race well in early engagements. ’The speedy and improving pacer Trimmer looks bright and well. He may be seen to advantage over two miles. Nourmahal has trained on well since last she raced, and this useful trotter may show improved stamina this season. Napland shows signs of coming back- to form. When at his best ho is a high-class trotter, but he has not raced well for a long time. W. J. Tomkinson has the trotter Budget Galindo looking in capital order, and another stake may soon come her way. The Auckland pacer Glandore has done his recent work in saddle, but his vagaries at the barrier are greatly against his success.

The trotter Todd Bingen looks well forward. He has shown a lot of improvement in his training, but he may require more racing experience before ho is at his best.

Young Blake is carrying much more condition than is usual with him. In the past this speedy trotter has always appeared to be on the light side when raced, but Tomkinson has him looking big and well. In the meantime, his gait appears to be faulty, but he may get over this when he has .done more work.

The four-year-old pacer Author Wood, by Author Dillon —Lady Wildwood, has furnished a good deal during the last few months. He is built on stouter lines than most of his sire’s progeny, and he should develop into a really good two-miler. Locanda Mac has wintered well, and he should be at his best for early engagements.

B. Jarden is devoting a good deal of attention to Acre. This young pacer has not been long in work, but he has come to hand very quickly. C. Donald has made another start with the trotter Judge Hancock, but the American stallion is not likely to race for some time.

Waitaki Girl is in great fettle, and she may get some money at the approaching meeting at Addington. N. C. Price has Taurehareka and Albert Logan in capital order for early engagements.

Peter Bingen has resumed work, but ho is backward as a result of a recent snell.