CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 53

CANTERBURY DOINGS

By

Observer

The taking of acceptances for the New Zealand Cup, along with nominations for a number of other events at the meeting, serves as a reminder that the opening of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s November carnival is only a little more than four weeks distant. The Cup acceptances make a good list. Twenty-seven horses stand their ground, an excellent response from 47 nominations, more especially as a study

of the names shows that all the best horses have had their engagements continued. The nominations for other races, though not quite up to last year’s figures, are representative of all parts of the Dominion, and the success of the meeting, from a racing point of view, seems to be assured.

An interesting feature of the first acceptances for the New Zealand Cup and the nominations for other important events at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, is the evidence provided that most. of the horses on a visit to Australia are liable to return home in time for the Ricearton carnival next month. Horses in Australia now who have Ricearton engagements are Nightmarch, Limerick, Paquito, First Sight, Dunraven, Arikiwai, Gay Crest, Adelphi, Eaglet, In the Shade, Vali. Sargon, Concentrate, Cimabue, Gesture, King Musket, White Fang, and Hunting Cry. It is possible that their form at Rand wick will result in some of these horses going on to Melbourne, but it is significant to find their owners making .preparations for returning home. Ricearton stables will have about .20 representatives at the Dunedin meeting this week, and they look a useful lot, who should get a good share of the money. Percy Mason will have three horses at Wingatui. Praise has done well lately. She was a brilliant two-year-old. and she promises to win good stakes this season. Her Guineas prospects may be better summed up after she has run on the first day, when I expect her to be handy in the sprint event. Jaloux has not won a race yet, but some of his place form, is very good. He will take a lot of beating in the Trial Stakes. Greenaway has been sprinting well, and she looks ready to show form. “

Gustavo will have his first day’s race in hack company, and he should be hard to beat. He has a great chance in the Dunedin Guineas, as he is the only candidate who has proved in public that he can go a mile. G. Murray Aynsley will be on hand with a trio of three-year-olds. Spoon is brilliant, and now goes as if she would run a mile. She looks a better Guineas prospect than Chide’s brother Riri, who will be good later on, but in the meantime is at a disadvantage, as he has had no race experience. Kakara may make, a useful sprinter, but I doubt if she will stay.

Cutts Brothers have Ball Dress in preparation for the Dunedin Guineas, but she has no form to commend her, though she may pick up a hack race later on. Winsome Hind is speedy, and she may show up in hack sprints on. the trip. The two-year-old Cricket Bat is a smart "alloper, liable to run well in the M‘Lean Stakes, though I think he will be even better later in the season.

S. Barr, now a licensed trainer, will be in charge of three from F. P. Claridge’s stable. They are Starshooter, Rascal, and Troilus, a trio at the top of their form, and each likely to pay his way. C. Emerson’s team will consist of two horses. Most interest will attach to Lochlaggan. the Woodend —Glentruin two-year-old. She looks as if she would be very good, but she may need racing experience, as she is a nervous filly. Emerson will ride her in the M'Lean Stakes, and if she jumps out well she will take a lot of heading off. Standard Rose will be her mate on the trip. He is a promising ■ hree-year-old, but his best will come later on.

R. W. King will be at Wingatui with Grecian Prince, an Australian-bred two-year-old by Polyerates. He is a bold galloper, and a M'Lean Stakes possibility. E. Scoullar has a couple of Mr W. T. Hazlett’s two-year-olds for the south trip, Irish . Chieftain, by Chief Ruler—Sprig of Erin, and Chief Light, by Chief Ruler —lllume. They are a good-looking pair, and though I have not seen them do anything out of the way yet, I expect them to develop into first-class performers. The five-year-old mare Hurly Burly, by Panmure from Scrimmage, ended her career last week. She had just completed a six-furlong gallop, and when she was pulled up it was found that something serious was amiss. One of her legs was either fractured or very badly dislocated near the fetlock, and it was necessary to destroy her. Hurly Burly won two races at the Manawatu summer meeting last season, those being her only sue•esses, and she had to be classed as a disappointment, as she was a brilliant track galloper. The Ricearton trainer, D. Campbell, though still in hospital, is making a good recovery from his operation. W. Stone made a brief trip to Wellington last week and brought back the three-vear-old filly Sight Draft, a sister to Noteworthy and Pixie Gold. She won a. race for Mr I. G. Duncan last season, and «he may be a smart sprinter. Pangolin looks none the worse for his two races at Geraldine, and he should be seen to advantage among the hurdlers nt Trentham.

The Kilbroney gelding Compris is training on well. He is a useful stayer, who is likely to win some good races this ■season.

Count Cavour is hitting out in good style in his work, and the veteran can be ticked off to earn some money befo" the present season is far advanced. Ranelagh, who resumed work recently is going on well in his preparation, and he should be at his best next month.

Quarterdeck has been on the easy list for a few weeks, and she will not be taken in hand again seriously until it is time to get her ready for the West Coa*' 4 holiday circuit. The two-year-old filly Isabella, by Nightraid from Refrain, the dam of Sweet Refrain, has made good progress lately. Though small, she is a promisin'youngster.

Mr G. Paul issued his handicap for the New Zealand Trotting Cup last week, and his work has been freely discussed during the last few days. While most of the horses are on the marks that were ex pected for them, there are some features of the handicap that have aroused a good deal of criticism. Mr Paul has treated the backmarkers more leniently than is -generally approved. The handicapping system - restricts the penalties that may be imposed on winners, and at times it appears as if the improving horses have the best of the argument Mr Paul seems to have set out to meet the situation by letting up the backmarkers, most of whom are tried veterans, not likely to improve. Experience has shown that when this is done the figures are not

always adhered to in other events. It ie a method that cannot be defended. I expect, however, that this year’s Cup will provide good racing. J. Bryce states that Ahuriri will not be a starter in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. He has been thrown out of work, and he will be retired to the stud. Mr H. F. Nicol] returned from a visit to England at the end of last week, and. ■was present on Saturday at the Methven Trotting Club’s meeting, when his three-year-old fillies, Flying Cloud and Arethusa, were successful. The Trotting Cup candidate, Logan Park, looks in great order, and he is standing up to his work in great style. He was second to Peter Bingen in the final of last year’s Cup, and he looks as jf he would again play a prominent part in the big race this year. Author Jinks and his half-brother, John Jinks, are regular workers at Addington, where they are being trained by J. Young. They are on the big side at present.

Brentlight is very forward, and he should be at his best for early racing. He is a quick beginner who should perform well in events up to a mile and ahalf.

J. J. Kennerley gave Vendome a short spell after the August meeting at Addington. and the Australian-bred mare, who is a rare doer, «has put on a lot of condition. It will not be easy to get her to her best form again for the big meeting next month.

The pacer Sonoma Child, who won the Sapling Stakes in 1928, has not done much racing since then. He was for some time in E. Carlyon’s stable, but it has been decided to give him a long spell. Nourmahal ie doing plenty of strong work at Addington, with a' view to next month’s engagements. Nelson Ata is being sent along at his best speed in his work. The fast trotter looks as if he would stay better this season.

The Methven Trotting Club’s meeting was held on Saturday in cold weather, while some rain fell after the second race Fields were large, but the racing was good.

Flying Cloud won the Westward Ho Handicap in fine style. She came on very solidly at the end. This Wrack filly has not done much racing, but she is likely to do. a lot of winning later on. Ability, who won the Drayton Handicap, is a brother to the well-performed pacer Bonny Logan. He is owned by Miss Peggy Norton and R. W. Franks, the latter being trainer and driver. Ability ie a six-year-old trotter liable to improve . The three-year-old trotter Todd Lonzia did not settle down at the start of the Drayton Handicap, but he went well when he struck his gait. .Pageant d’Or created a surprise by winning the Mount Harding Handicap. He is a four-year-old by Rey de Oro, and he has a fine turn of speed. Arethusa registered a fine performance in winning the Methven Cup. She was always well placed, and she won decisively She is a three-year-old sieter to Wrackler and she has started her career well, as she has won four races without being beaten Checkers,, the winner of the Avonmore Handicap, is a three-year-old by Worthy Bond from Fancy Pointer, trained by R B- Berry. He is an attractive pacer, who will improve. , Delightful scored an easy win in the Visitors’ Handicap, never giving the impression that he Would be beaten. Though not a great stayer, he is smart up to a mile and a-quarter. .The trotter Wall, by Peterwah. was on his best behaviour in the River Bank Handicap, and he had the race won a long way from home. He has failed in his races in the past through breaking, but Tomkinson now has him going well. He had to run the gauntlet of an inquiry as he was badly beaten earlier in the day, but the explanation of his trainer was accepted. Howdah was fractious at the start o.* the Mount Hutt Handicap, but when he g£t going he went well on the big track, and just beat Danny Boy, who is a good horse in saddle.