TWO-YEAR-OLDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10278, 7 October 1911, Page 7

TWO-YEAR-OLDS.

THE RICCAKTON CONTINGENT. A PROMISING OUTLOOK. (By PROSPECTOR.) The first trial of strength among the two-year-olds has already taken, nlaeo at Avondaie, and tho second" at Hastings, and Colore long we will have juvenile racing to engage attention in other parts of the dominion. This is a department of the racing game in which Canterbury stables rarely fail to play it leading part, and at tiie opening of another season, something about our youthful brigade may bo of interest. Numerically, at any rate, we start off witli a particularly" strong representation, and though it is a somewhat difficult department in' which to offer positive predictions, it can be said that the prospects at present are very promising. It is, I think, a long.timo since wo had more two-year-olds in training in Canterbury. Sir George Clifford has a numerous string at Riccarton, where Sir H. Eriedlandcr is also represented by a big contingent, while the teams of Messrs W. G. and G. L. Stead, and of Mr G. D-. Greenwood, trained privately at Yaldhurst, are both numerically strong. Most of the other stables at Riccarton also include a number of juveniles, and altogether there is plenty to interest anyone who takes a special pleasure in following the doings of the two-year-olds from tho early stages of their development. For general information it may bo of interest to set out a list of the youngsters. Classified according to trainers' lots, therefore, the Canterbury two-year-olds may be given as follows:

E. CTJTTS. Autumnus, b c, by Treadmill—Goldleaf Glennnnau, b c, by Clanranakl—Lady Annie Quarantine, blk c, by Treadmill—Fairhaven Trireme, b c, by Treadmill—Chryseis Brown Owl, br f, by Treadmill—Glenowlet Scottish Star, ch f, by Clanranakl—Safeguard Whiplash, b f, by Treadmill—Teredina Winning Way, ch f, by Cannie Chiel—Lady Wayward Mad Whirl, br f, by Treadmill—Madowla.

H. THOMSON. Gay Soult, br c, by Soult—Merry Nif Editah, bf, by Soult—St Edith May Dalrymple, blk f, by Stepniak—Miss Dalrymple Anna Carlovna, br f, by Soult—Czarevna Canmore, bc, by Soult—St Margaretta Miss Olive, b f, by Sarto—Olivine Carolus, b c, by Charlemagne ll.—Nautiloid. G. MURRAY-AYNSLEY. Stardancer, b f, by Martian—Stepdancer Chrysotis, ch f, by St Ambrose—Rosella. H, D. O'DONNELL. Ch c, by Seal Rock—Grace Palotta Bonitas, br c, by Boniform—Curette B f, by Achilles—Chainstitch Br f, by Boniform—lngleneuk. M. HOBBS. Peg, b f, by Charlemagne ll.—Cora Lynn Lady Marcia,. b f, by Martian—Lady Lillian Nyx, blk f, by Martian—Midnight Scotch Melody, b f, by Scottish King—Busy Girl Br c, by St Ambrose—Ambush.

J. Y. M'CRACKEN. Art, b c, by Sarto—Mi3fc Peppin, b c, by Charlemagne ll.—Castellina Shona May, blk f, by Treadmill—Edna May. R. DERRETT. Pawky Lass, b £, by Cannio Cliiel—Starshot Northern Light, ch f, by Stcpniak—Boile Clair. W. C.,CLARKE. Athcnic, b or br g, by Charlemagne 11. Seashell Andrea, br g, by Sarto—Brisa. J. A. BRIDGES. B g, by Martian—Roaiphele. W. M'DONALD. B f, by Buccleuch—Fireside. T. W. PRICE. B f, by Count Witte —Poinseltia. Cutts's big team, like most of the horses bred on the Stonyhurst stud, are well off for size and altogether they are a highly promising lot. It is too early yet to saj*, with any confidence, that there is a champion among them, but they bear the appearance of being one of the best batches of youngsters ever quartered at Chokeboro in a single season. 1 would not care just now to hazard even a guess as to which is "the best of them, as several idvo promise of developing into very smart gallopers. So far as early engagements .ire concerned, I take Autumnus to be the pick of the stable. His full-brother, Applegarth and his halt-brother. Saxifrage, were both smart as youngsters, but they became badly affected m tho wind, and not much was seen of them. Autumnus has so far shown no sign of weakness of this description, while his form on the tracks makes him out to be a colt much above the average as a galloper. Ho will be unlucky if he does not shape prominently in early engagements. Winning Way is another that has come to hand early. She is a neatly turned filly, a first foal, and if she is a fair specimen of the stock that can bo expected from Cannie ChieL Sir George* Clifford's old favourite is destined to make a big name as a sire. Her dam is a well-bred young matron, by Bill of Portland—Elusive. Winning Way will 'probably be raced at Wellington this month, and her showing against Glade and the rest of the North Island cracks should furnish some sort of line as to the prospects of the Canterbury juveniles at the New Zealand Cup meeting. So promisingly did Winning Way shape early that Sir George Clifford sent Lady Wayward back to Cannie Chiol this season, accompanied by another good mare, Lady Annie. The latter is represented in this season's lot by Glenfinnan, who does not show so much size as some of tho others, but is a neatly turned colt, "quite big enough if he is good enough, as I heard an admirer say a few days ago. Despite tho infusion of St Simon blood which he gets from his dam, he seems a particularly contented horse, inclined to be lasy. He is a late foal, but he r has already shown that he is a very useful galloper, and later in the season he may be found playing his part well with the best. Quarantine has been lame at odd spells, but he seems better now than at any time since he has been at Riccartoh. He is a fine-looking colt, and if he outgrows his unsoundness, which does not appear to be serious, ho should be a good one. Trireme is touched in the wind, but can muster up a fair turn of pace, and may run well early in the season before the journeys grow too lengthy. Scottish Star is the last of a family that has been noted for early speed. Stronghold, Fleetfoot and Broadsword being three special instances, but their sister does not show any aptitude at present for following in their footsteps. The remainder of the Chokebore team is made up of three fillies by Treadmill. A peculiar circumstance in connection with this sire is that while bis colts are, as a rule, hardy customers, his fillies show distinct signs of delicate constitutions. But for this disability two of the present lot of his fillies might be really good ones. Mad Whirl has not done a groat deal of work yet, but it will be surprising, provided she does well in health, if she is not a good galloper. Her dam can be quoted as one of the most successful brood mares in New Zealand, as she has never thrown a bad one since she started off with Quarryman, the others including Kirriemuir, Glcnowlet, Discipline, Madam Madcap and Masterpiece. Later in the season Mad Whirl should be keeping ur> tho family reputation. With a similar reservation as to_ constitution, I have an even higher opinion of Brown Owl, whose dam is one of the famed Madowla family. She has already shown that she can gallon, and under favourable conditions it is hard to say how good she may be yet. Whiplash does not look as if she would ever take high honours. T find I have taken up a good deal of space with the Chokebor© team, but they are an interestine; lot, and I will bs "greatly surprised if they do not play a prominent pnrt in the leading Juvenile events of the season. The second largest team is that of H. Thomson, nr.d among his seven are several iiseful gallopers. Quite the best of them at present is Anna Carlovna, a filly that has shown marked galloping ability. She is very forward and she looks like following in the footsteps of many more of Soult's stock, and winning races early. She is a sis- ' ter to the three-year-old oalt Nikon,

but is in every way a moro promising prospect. Her dam, Oaarevna, who was an unlucky maro find better than "<-:■).",piiblic record would suggest, is by oteplii'tik— liritomart and sister to that good horse Kurc-dydon, and a member oi t!ie same family as Vladimir and Pampero, two others of class. May Dalrymple is another uscnil galloper, though * not an aspirant for highest honours. Editah, another Soult, can magno 11., has already left us one a promising .sorb for early racing. Gay '►Soult is small, and with Canmoro and Aliss Olive, can be marked oil' as having shown n.o special merit so far. I have mentioned Anna Carlovna as the best or the team at present, and can go further by describing her as one of the smartest 'of her ago at Riccarton lust now. lam not prepared to say, however, that she will bo the crack of Thomson's stable in the autumn, for this honour .1 woukj rather have Carofus. This is a particularly well-p-own colt, and a handsome one as well, and it will bo a surprise- if he docs not turn out a good horse. His sire, Charlemagne \ll. has already left us one brilliant galloper, Culprit, while his dam has also shown that she can produce- speed, her son, Pilgrim's _ Way, being very smart despite- knee- infirmities, which prevent "him from being thoroughly wound up. I think Carolus will prove a worthy representative of tho family. He has no early engagements, and the \vi?e eoursb is being pursued of giving him ample- time to mature before asking him to do much. Later in tfio season, however, he may be ablo to keep tho best of his opponents busy. Coming now to the other stables, whoso two-year-old strings are not so long, tho list is headed by M. Ho'obs, with five. Tho two Martians are very small and show no promise yet, while Scottish Melody is no more than moderate at present. The St. Ambrose— Ambush colt, which recently arrived from Sydney, looks as if he had been fairly well tested before coming back herej but he has done very little since he has been at Riccarton. In any case, Ido not like him much. The best of the lot is Hobb's own filly Peg, a. filly that has shown ability to gallop. She will never be in the first flight, but she* should win races, probably this season. M'Cracken has three, of which I have most fancy for Peppin. His dam is an English-bred mare, and her son does her credit. He will bo unlucky if he does not win a race before the season is over. Art, a half-brother to Vladimir, is a fair sort, hut not a. good one, and Shona May is small and shows little promise yet, though she is a well-bred filly, her dam being a sister to Coroniform, by Multiform-"He!en Faucit, bv Castor—Cissy, a sister to Trenton. Perhaps tins filly will stay; she is certainly bred the right wav. Aynslev has two, but they are small, and have not been hurried along much yet, their trainer evidently having no serious designs on early events. Stardancer is a first foal, and if as good as her dam she will'be worth bearing in mind later on. O'Donncll is credited with four. Bonitas. who is with his trainer in Australia, shaped promisingly early. The Seal Rock colt does not take the eye at present, and probably the best of the'lot will be the Achilles filly, though she has not done much work so far. Of Derrett's two Pawky Lass is much better than Northern Light, and I am propared to find her very useful. She has a nice style of moving, and can muster up a good dash of pace. She is one that can be marked off as likely to earn some distinction early. Clarke has two in # hand. Athenic is a halfbrother to Sea King, and Andrea a half-brother to Appo'lodoris. They can both get over tho ground well, and they should be useful, Athenic being the one I like tho better of the pair. He looks the sort that would make a good sprinter later on. M'Donald started off with the prospect of having a useful galloper in the Buccleuch—Fireside filly, but she has, unfortunately, gone wrong. Bridges is not doing much with the Roiiiphelo gelding, and Prico is not hurrying his youngster from Poiusettia. Taken'all round, I think it will be found, when the season* is over, that the present lot of two-year-olds at Riccarton is quite up to the average, and a fair share of the rich prizes will probably come this way. It is impossible, of course, to say yet whether there are any of outstanding merit, but there are several youngsters, any' one of whom may_ prove the beat of the year in tho dominion by the time wo are through with the .autumn meetings. In the meantime', at any rate, the prospects seem encouraging. In addition to the juveniles I have mentioned there arc two other big teams, those of Messrs W. G. and GT L. Stead, and Mr G. D. Greenwood to do battle for Canterbury, but as they are trained privately little is known of them save that they are well-bred, and when seen a few months ago looked promising. So far as early racing is concerned, T am prepared to find these two stables weak. Mr Greenwood's pair that went to Sydney were evidently intended to do duty in the chief spring races, but thev'are 1101119 again with influenza. As for the Stor.d 'pair-that went to Australia, Chin Chin is probablv not up to expectations, while Bon Soir also may not have come on as well as was hoped, as nothing has been heard cf her. Later in the year, h&wever, when Mason and V rnnks return and p;et to work on =ome of the others, tho Greenwood and Stead colours may be prominent.