CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 58

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

Observer.

R. W. King went north with Aberfeldy at the end oi last week, to take part in important jumping events. Tho programme will open at Wanganui with the Century Hurdle Handicap, after which the Quin Abbey gelding will go on to Auckland, where he is engaged in the Great Northern Hurdle Handicap and the Great Northern Steeplechase. It is probable, however, that the hurdle race will prove his mission, as it may be considered inadvisable to take on a mixed programme with a young horse who shows such promise as a hurdler. Aberfeldy is very well, his two races at South Canterbury having done him a lot of good, and he performed brilliantly in a school oyer four hurdles last week. I. Tilson will ride him on the northern trip. Mr J. S. Barrett has sold the three-year-old gelding Satrap, by Paladin from Persian Lilac. The sale was effected through Mr T. S. Roulston, of Hastings, but the name of the buyer and the price have not been divulged, but probably the figure was over 2000gns. It is known, however, that Satrap is destined for Australia. Satrap won one race as a two-year-old, and he was successful last spring in a mile race at Ashburton. He came into greater prominence, however, when he ran second to Agrion in the New Zealand Derby. After a temporary loss of form, he came to his best in the autumn, winning the New Zealand St. Leger and the Great Northern St. Leger, while he was second in the Trentham Gold Cup and the Awapuni Gold Cup, Star Stranger beating him on each ocasion. Fie has shown that he can stay, and he should do well in Australia next season.

Assurance was allowed to forfeit his engagement at Ashburton on Saturday. He is suffering from kidney trouble, and he will be given a rest for a few weeks. Oriflamb accompanied Aberfeldv in a school oyer four hurdles last week, and played liis part well in a brilliant display. He lias had plenty of speed ever since he was put into training, and it is honqd that stamina, will come with age. lie looks an excellent prospect for minor nurdle events.

Royal Land and Gay Queen gave a good exhibition of jumping over four hurdles last Thursday. Royal Land is very fast on the flat, and he should pay his way as a hurdler, while Gay Queen is rapidly coming back to her best form. J. B. Pearson is working a hunter who shows a deal of promise. He is by Kilrain from a Euroclydon mare, and he showed great proficiency as a jumper when tried over four hurdles last week Count. Cavour has made his reappearance on the tracks after a spell, and he will be started soon on useful work in preparation for spring engagements. He appears to have made a complete recovery from the mishap that occurred to him when he fell in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, and he looks in good

The three-year-old filly Quarterdeck has resumed work, and it is hoped that there wil be no recurrence of the lameness which necessitated her retirement a few weeks ago. G. Murray Aynsley is busy breaking in a couple of Arrowsmith yearlings, a colt from Orange Blossom, and a filly from Contempt. Limerick is a regular visitor to the tracks but he is doing only light exercise. He is in the best of health. His two-year-old half-brother Roscrea. bv the successful Australian sire, Rossendale is doing exceptionally well, and as he appears to be quite sound there is room tor bright hopes concerning his future prospects. If he continues to go on all right he may be in the spring team for Australia. Arikiwai is another who mav take on the Sydney trip. So far his tasks have not been strenuous, but he is in nice order to commence a season’s preparation.

Toawai, the two-year-old brother to Ai ikiw ai, by Paladin from Watersprav baa 3 °' n ? d *’• P’ J . ones ’ s active brigade’ Alter being broken in he was given a long spell, and he should be all the better for this patient policy. Chickwheat has got through a lot of useful work lately, and he is gradually getting into good condition. There is ome trying him as a juniper later

■ G i R eed is working a four-year-old gelding by Saxby from the imported mare Shebeen 11. He is backward, but he is wellgrown and a promising sort. A- four-year-old gelding by Thurnham from Madrid is a recent addition to F. D. Jones s team. He has done a bit of work already, as J. Boyd had him in hand during Jones s autumn trip to Sydney. I • V. Mason has a yearling colt by Arrowsmith from Sungleam among his team at present. The youngster is a half-brother to Golden Armour. His dam is by Sutala from Sunglow, a sister to Boniform, by Multiform from Otterden, the dam of Martian. Hoylake looks in excellent health, following on an easy time for more than a month. J?his imported horse has not been a great success so far, but he may do better when tried out over longer jour-

Maitarma, who has been a regular attendant at the track lately, has been started on a preparation. £n the meantime, he is doing only easy pace work ie Is ln llea l tsi y condition. lhe steeplechaser Charlatan has been causing his connections a good deal of anxiety* for some time past, owing to mishaps, and he has been thrown out of work. No further attempt will be made to train him for the coming winter’s jumping events. -Mr J. S. Barrett was greatly disappointed at losing Charlatan’s services, as he is keenly interested in jumpers, and it would be no surprise to find him purchasing a horse to take Charlatan s place in his team. The yearlings which are included in different teams at Riccarton are claiming a good deal qf attention from their trainers at prestent. Some of the more forward youngsters will soon be striding along at a strong pace. There are one or two who give promise of bein" more than useful. °

There is not much excitement on the trotting tracks at present. Most of the good horses are having a bit of a rest after a season of hard racing, W. J. Tomkinson has taken Concliff in hand again, and' will get the speedy Aus-

tralian horse ready for another campaign. It is probable we have not seen the best of him yet. The trotter Young Blake seems to be in his best form. He is doing well in his training, and he goes very steadily. Curfew Boy is getting through plenty of useful work. He may not be raced again this season, but he will be worth keeping in mind when next he is started. The pacer William the Great is having 'a snell. He trained off some time ago, and he will not be seen again until next season. The pacer St. Filan is again in work at New Brighton. He is by Logan Pointer from Innisfail, a high-class mare by Rothschild from Ruahine. He was only a moderate, however, when raced previously, and he is not likely to improve. C. Tasker has taken Billy Whiz in hand again, but he seems too unreliable to win another race. High Jinks is now being trained by Nelson Price at New Brighton. He was given a fast work-out in saddle last week, and went well. H. 1 rost has broken in a two-year-old sister to Rey Logan. She is a wellgrown youngster, built on stouter lines than her relative. J. Lorgelly is persevering with Brigand, but~the American stallion is too unsound to show his best in a race. T-he pacer Rey Logan, who has not raced well for some time, is now being trained by his owner at New Brighton. Talent is coming on well after his spell. He may be raced at the Oamaru Trotting Club s meeting this week. Acron looks big and well. G. S. Smith has not given him much fast work lately. He has sobered down, and now goes generously in training, but he is a different proposition in a race. If he would only do his best in public he would b'e a big stake earner. Darknite is working well at Addington, but he is on a tight mark, from which winning will be difficult. F. J. Owen has the trotter Rosie Nelson going very well in her work. She is a useful trotter who should show some improvement very soon. Sirella, who has raced well this season, looks at her best. She is such a good stayer that she always has a chance over two miles. The Blenheim-owned pacer Vikota is working very satisfactorily. She is a soldily-built mare, who looks as if she would stay, though her best efforts in the past have been in short races. Pageant is well forward in condition, and as he has shown that he can stay he should win over two miles. Locanda Mac has gone into C. Tasker’s stable. If he remains sound he should win a race before long. The Auckland pacer Direct Morning, who raced below expectations at Fort r y Hark, was left with D. Bennett when J. Shaw returned home. It is probable that Shaw will be back for the winter meetings.