SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12070, 27 July 1917, Page 6

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAGING AND TROTTING. (By "ARGUS.") fixttjbes. Angus'* 16, 17—Metropolitan Trotting Olab. Vugtist 16, 18—Cftntcrbury Jookey Club. NOMINATIONS. August 3—Canterbury Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. August B—Canterbury Jockey Club. ACCEPTANCES. August 3—Canterbury Jockey Club. Aujruit B—l£«tropoliti» Trotting Club, August 13—Canterbury Jockey Club. So far as can be judged at present) there should be about a dozen starters in the Grand National Steeplechase next month, and well over that num■y&r ir„ toe Grand National HnrcTle Handicap, while the "Winter Cup may attract about two dozen competitors.

Kiltess is reported to be going on well in her preparation for the Winter Onp, for which she has plenty of admirers in the North Island. When trained at Riccarton she had a reputation as a speedy galloper, though lameness interfered with her racing. Since she went to the North Tsland she has registered some good performances among the hacks, and it seems only a question of her remaining seTand to win distinction in open company.

Killjoy has come, into favour lately for the Winter Cup, and in some quarters she is as strongly fancied as Johnny Walker and Parisian Diamond. She is a brilliant galloper, one of tho sort' who cqu be relied on to get a good position early, but ns she has not been up a. great* time the last part of the journey may, trouble her. F. Christmas also has Fiery Cross engaged in the Winter Cup, and though he appears to have his full share of weight, he has many staunch supporters. He is a very solid customer, who can go fast, while his effort in the last Great Autumn Handicap, in which ho ran second to Kilboy, demonstrated that he can stay.

The West Coast horse, Xanthos, is under orders for "Riccarton to competo in the Winter Cup, and lie -will probably be ridden by the local light-weight, N. Shore. Xanthos, who is a four-year* old by Achilles or Bezonian from Sunglow, was bred by Mr 0. D. Gfceerir wood, in whose, colours he showed a lot of speed more tha.n once, though only over short courses. Since- he went to the West Const ho has shown fair form, and he was second to Killjoy in the Julrilee Cup at Hokitika in January. He was in receipt of 211b on that occasion, so his chance in thrt Winter Cup does not look good, with Killjoy concexlintr him only 81b.

C. Price has lie>en engaged by G. Murray-Aynsley to do tho riding on life team at the Cirand National meetiug ne::t month.

Jcannot looks in first-class condition at present, and has been galloping well lately, though he scarcely shaped so well as usual on Thursday morning. Tho big son of Charlcma.gn e IT. is at his best in soft going., and ho should bo wen to advantage in some of tho fla.t races at the Grand National meeting. A year ago he was injured while taking part in the Winter Cup, necessitating; a long spell, and H. Ellis deserves a turn cf luck with him, as a reward for his patience.

Snub is galloping very freely at present, and promises to play his part avcll in some of tho big races next season. He is not n smart beginner, which will greatly prejudice his chance in a race like the Winter Oup, in which there is likely to b a a. big field, but with a decent 1 , run ho will be gathering np the lenders over tho Lost couple of furlongs.

Dionysius has not been, jumped since his return from tho Wellington Pacing Chil.'p meeting, but ho has apparently suffered no serious effects from his mishap at Trontham. as ho is moving along freely in his work on the flat.

Mawson did a round of the steeplechase fences yesterday, hut only at hunting pace, and ho walked off decidedly lame.

Maro Anthony was given strong pace work yesterday, hut without being fully extended. He has not been set any severe tasks since his return from Trentham, but bo is very forward, and will probably be benefited by the comparatively easy treatment.

DL'dainful was on tho track yesterday, and was given steady pacing. She appears to have nearly recovered from the. effects of her recent fall, and sho should soon be ready for some faster work.

Tho track form of Cherry Blossom since, she arrived at Riccarton. has not been of a very attractive character. Sho was easily defeated by Jeannot over six furlongs on Saturday, while yesterday Kaminoho beat her over five furlongs, following which she showed distinct signs of lameness.

Plymouth was responsible for a fino exhibition of jumping at Riccarton yesterday, in a schooling task over two circuits of the. steeplechase fences. At no stage did ho look like making a mistake, and ho will have plenty of admirers for any event he may contest at the Grand National meeting. It is reported that ho will probably be sent to Australia, wjth a view to cross-country races later 5n the year.

Scvernl ■ of the Chokebore Lodge team, who are being got ready for spring racing, were allowed to stride along in half-mile sprints yesterday. The three-year-olds, Gamecock and Sisyphus, were among the early workers, and they moved attractively, though Sisyphus showed some fractiousness before he was galloped. Adjutant and Good Hope were the next pah out, there being little to choose be. tween them at the finish. Wrestler was worked alone, and the manner in which he got through his task showed that he had lost none of his brilliancy during his spell.

A. Jackson has taken up the position if private trainer to Mr J. C. Parker at Gisbirne. Included in his team are a couple of promising youngsters, one, by Multifid and tho other by the Soult horso, Fort AVilliara.

D. Moraghan has Hytlireiad and Rcwenga doing useful work at Gisbornc They are in good order, and Hythread is expected to win big races next .season. He is a rising four-year-old by Hymettus—Gold Thread, and has developed into a solid customer. According to present arrangements, Moraghan will bring his charges to Riccarton for the Grand National meeting, Hythread having a lot of admirers for the Winter Cup.

It is reported from Hawko's Bay that Rangi Thompson will have tho mount on Djavolo in the Grand National Steeplechase. It was generally thought that \w would pilot Master Strowan, on whom he scored twice at Trentbam. If he lias chosen Diavolo in preference, it suggests that he has a good winning chance, despite the popular view that he lacks tho necessary staying power for such a contest.

The M-jltifid gelding, Multifual. winner of the Giaborn© and Hawke's Bay Cups', is about to resume work after a short spell. Early in his career he was troubled with unsoundness, but he was

alwavs a smart gallops, and he developed this season mto one of the most useful handicap performers m the Dominion.

B. Deelev will probably ride Mr WG Stead's horses in Sydfw-y when he is not required for Mr G. D. Greenwood s team.

Sydney papers to hand by this weelr's mail bring further particulars regarding the agitation on the part of country clubs for an increased revenue from the totalisator. Their views were put forward by a deputation which w.?ited on the Acting-Premier. Mr FnTler. The clubs now only receive 3 per cent, but would be satisfied with 4- per cent, or a.s an alternative the broken money. It was pointed out that Kcmbla Grange was losing money in expenses' in connection with the totalisator, to say nothing of the fact that since its installation receiving less than formerly in bookmakers' fees. In reply Mr Fuller said it would require amending legislation to alter the present position, and, furthermore, he would like to have a statement from each of the clubs' represented of the amount each was to the good or to the bad pince the introduction of the totalisator; also tho difference in the amount of bookmakers' fees. Mr Fuller was of opinion that concession betting affected totalisator speculation, but very little of that goes on at meetings of the clubs mentioned. A Sydney writer comments on tho situation as follows :—Now, while there is no reason why/any of the proprietary clubs- should make a profit out of the totalisator, very few people wish to seo them actually out of pocket thereby, as that state of affairs is bound to reach to the disadvantage of horseowners. Therefore, if the percentage they are receiving does not cover totalisator expenses, the clubs are justified in asking for consideration of their position. .If concessions are made to proprietary bodies, oven greater ones must be made to bona fide clubs, ami that, at any rate, will bo something gained. I am afraid, however, that the Government will be loth to part with any portfon of its 7 per cent, and, whether they like it or not, the clubs will have to continue running tho totalisator principally for the good of the State. When strongly advocating the totalisator I always looked to its installation to greatly increase prizemoney, but under existing conditions that is out of the question. Nor with money sure to be badly wanted by the State for many years to come' does there seem much hope of a change for the better.

Tom Cannon, who died in England this month, was one of the jockeys who were riding during the much talked of •'Hastings era." John Osborne, now well on in the eighties, is still to tho fore, but probably he is the only ono left of the brilliant band riding when Cannon began. They included Fordham, distance, Chalonor, tho Grimshaws, Wells and Goater. Tom Cannon, who married into the Day family, was attached to the Danebury stable when it was at its zenith. This was in the sixties, when the Marquis of liastings and the Duke of Reaufort had such horses as Lady Elizabeth, The Earl, Lecturer, Athena, Rustic, Vauban awl many other winners. Fordham was iirst jockey to the stable, and Cannon second. They were oppositcs in one way, Cannon being a most graceful rider, and very gentle with horses, whilo Fordham was not, by any means, a pretty rider. Cannon won the One Thousand Guineas on Repulse in 186b\ and won all " classics" before his retirement. His winners were:—Two Thousand Guineas, Pilgrimage, Shot Over, Enterprise. Enthusiast; Ono Thousand, Repulse, Pilgrimage, Busybody; Derby, Shotovcr; Oaks, Brigantine, Marie Stuart, Geheimness; St Leger, Robert the Devil. Ho was considered to be at his best on a two-year-old. For some years before his retirement, Cannon owned and trained horses. Probably the Jockey Club's order that jockeys must not own horses had something to do with his giving up riding. At one time he was supposed to have, nearly 100 horses at Danebury, and, as very few of them were good, he must have found riding more profitable. Probably the horse with which Cannon is l>est remembered is Isonomy. He rode him in nearly all his races, and Pageant was another horse of Mr Grotton's he was generally on. He rode Ormonde in his last three races, and in the great horso's final struggle with Minting in. the Hardwickc Stakes John Osborne was on Minting. His sons, T. Cannon, jnn. Mornington Cannon (born on the day—in 1873—Tom Cannon won on Mornington) and Kempton Cannon, were all jockeys, but the former soon took to training; Mornington Cannon was the. leading jockey for some seasons, and retired soon after ho had won the "classics" on Flying Fox. He would not tako up his stirrups and adopt tho Sloan eeat. Other jockeys brought out by Tom Cannon wero J. "Watts and W. T. Robinson, tho latter now a leading trainer. Although not anything like John Osborne's age. T. Cannon must have been about seventy at the time of his death.