CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 54

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By

Observer

With a number of trainers engaged at the Geraldine meeting, there was not so much work as- usual on the Riccarton tracks at the end of last week. Things will be busier again this week. A few of the trainers will have horses for Kurow. but most of them will make the Dunedin meeting next week their chief interest.

A number of Canterbury sportsmen left last week for Sydney in order to be present at the 2\ustralian Jockey Club’s meeting, which opens at XRandwick on Saturday. those who made the trip included Messrs G. A. Kain, H. A. Knight. A. Louisson, and Dr M. G. Louisson, who "il J‘t° r ® es racin g at the big fixture. I 1 • I- Claridge has several horses engaged at Kurow on Saturday, but it is probable that his stable representation will be restricted to Rascal and one of the maidens, Homecoming or Speakeasy, lhe Kurow track should suit Rascal admirably, and I expect him to race well in the chief event. H. Nurse has accepted at Kurow with Charmeuse, but it is by no means certain that she will make the trip. She would be hard to beat at her best, but a mishap, though not serious, kept her off the tracks for a week. W. Stone should get some money at Kurow with Painkiller and Tray Bond, if he goes south with them this week. The three-year-old Standard Rose, who ran third in the maiden event at Ashburton, has gone on well since then. He was allowed to miss the Geraldine meeting but he should make a good showing in the Novice Plate at Kurow. His owner, Mr A. Cambridge, -resides in the district, and for that reason I expect he would be better pleased to win than elsewhere. It will be no surprise if C. Emerson develops this colt into a good winner later on, as he is a very attractive galloper, liable to improve a lot with experience.

The Riccarton contingent for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring meeting next week is likely to:number about thirty horses. They are a very mixed lot, but some of them have been galloping well, and I have no doubt that there are some winners among them. G. Murray Aynsley has his three-year-olds, Spoon, Riri, and Kakara working well, and they should earn some money at Wingatui. The first-named pair are Guineas candidates, who will have to be reckoned with, but more will be known about their chances after the first day. Spoon is a brilliant filly who will be hard to beat if she runs out the final furlong. Riri is a novice, but he shapes like making a stayer.

Percy Mason may have Jaloux at Wingatui. He has done a lot of useful work, but nothing out of the way yet. The three-year-old Praise has had some sprints but so far nothing definite is known of her ability to run out a mile. Gustavo has gone on the right way since he won at Ashburton, and lie will be hard to dispose of in the Dunedin Guineas, as he has shown big ability to get the distance.

Several Riccarton stables have two-year-olds in preparation for the M'Lean Stakes, but it will not be known for a few days how many of them are to go south. _ It is probable, however, that some will make the trip. Lochlaggan, the Woodendy-Glentruin filly, in C. Emerson’s team, is a likely one, while others include Knocklong (Hunting Song— Knocklynn), Zeebrugge (Winning Hit— Brave Deed), Irish Chieftain (Chief Ruler—Sprig of Erin), and the Aus-tralian-bred Grecian Prince (Polycrates— Black Tea). , The two Chief Rulers in P. V. Mason’s team, Dodge and Azalea, are also smart, but I have not heard anything of the stable plans. Gala Day ran another moderate race at Geraldine last Thursday, and he was not started on the second day. . His recent form has been disappointing, and R. W. King is not likely to persevere with him much longer. A younger brother to Ranelagh has joined his relative in A. E. Wormaid’s stable... The trainer informed me that he is a three-year-old, but according to the Stud Book he is two. Ranelagh, by the way, has resumed work and is one to keep in mind in November. Pangolin, who won both the hurdle races at Geraldine, may make his next appearance at Trentham. as a preliminary to the New Zealand Cup meeting. The three-year-old Weatherly, bv Weathervane from The Linnet, will' in future be trained by F. E. Jones at Riccarton along with Semper Paratus. They will race in the same ownership. Satisfy is training on nicely, and this speedy three-year-old may have her first race of the season at the North Canterbury meeting on Labour Day. The Riccarton owner-trainer D. Campbell is in hospital at present, making slow recovery after an operation. Full Feather is striding along in good style in his work, and if he will show his best he may get some money at Trentham next month. Some foalinis are reported from Mr G A. Kain's stud at South Canterbury. The Bezonian mare Satisfaction, dam of

Receipt, Battle Colours, and Satisfy, has a colt to Nightraid, and the Sbl'ferino mare Moiselle, dam of Night Lad and Golden Sceptre, a filly to the same sire. Bonnie Waif, by Boni form from Snow Waif, produced twins to Rosenor. One of the foals died, but the other, a colt, is a healthy youngster, though he is small.

There has not been a great deal of excitement on the local trotting tracks lately, but the trainers are starting to send their horses along fast, in view of meetings later on. The Methven Trotting Club's meeting will be held on Saturday. The acceptances are not available, but it seems certain that fields will be large. Most of the classes are slow, but the meeting affords a great opportunity to race improving young horses. Mr H. F. Nicoll, who holds the dual positions of president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference and president of the Ashburton Trotting Club, is expected home this week from his trip to England. F. Holmes is slowly recovering from the accident which he met with a few weeks ago, when he was thrown from the sulky while working one of his horses at Sockburn. His knee is very painful yet, and it may take some time to mend.

F. G. Holmes is gradually getting over the effects of the fall he had at Addington last month, and he is able to drive some of his team in their slow work. A. Cox expects to race his threc-.vear-old trotter Tod Lonzia at the Methven meeting on Saturday. It is intended to have Vesuvius and the trotter Peter Fashion operated on for throat troubles. Vesuvius looked like taking high honours before his wind became affected, while Peter Fashion was a very promising trotter. Logan Park was in good form last November when he finished second to Peter Bijigen in the New Zealand Cup. He had a good spell for a few months, and lie is in great order now to do a Cup preparation.

The Rey de Oro pacer from the dam of the defunct Pro Rata, is going on satisfactorily in his training. He is a verj-rapid-gaited pacer, who goes well without the hopples.

The three-year-old pacer by Happy Voyage in W. J. Tomkinson’s stable, is now being moved along at a faster speed, and he is doing satisfactory work. Free Advice looks in fine order, and does a lot of her training without the hopples. The ex-Auckland mare should race well this season over any distance. J. Davidson is keeping the trotter Bonora busy, and she is fast coming to her best speed. She is a useful sort, who looks certain to show improvement this season.

Jr J. Kennerley is persevering with the trotter Nourmahal, who may win a race shortly over a mile and a-half, though a two-inile journey seems too far for her. Hostess looks in good order, and she may show improved form the next time she races.

Nelson Ata is back in work again. This promising trotter did not come on last season so well as was expected, but he is quite a young horse as trotters go, and he may do better this season. Admiral Bingen, who seems to race well without much work, is a regular attendant at Addington, but is rarely asked to go fast. This fast trotter only requires to improve m stamina to be in the first flight at two miles.

N. L. Price is well pleased with tin progress of the trotter Peter Conquest, bv lhe Triumph froin Rcta Peta. He is now being worked regularly at Addington, and he may turn out useful, as he is in the hands of a master with trotters. Vendome, who has been on the easy list tor a few weeks, is back in work.’ She is a high-class mare over short courses. The trotter Western Voyage is in steady work, and is doing well. He is a difficult horse to handle, but he represents good class when he is right. The New Zealand Trotting Cup has attracted 27. nominations, making a hi-dilv satisfactory list, which will be reduced to ideal dimensions before the clay of the race. There are a few surprise entries, while a few ehgibles are missing, beiim in reserve for races which they can compete tiom better marks. Those engaged, however, include all the best class horses in training, so there is material for a -rreal race.