SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12085, 14 August 1917, Page 6

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAGING AI_TROniNG. (By "ARGUS.") FIXTURES. August 15, 17—Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 16, 18—Canterbury Jockey Club. The response made by owners last night, when final payments for the principal events and acceptances for the minor races were taken, leaves the Canterbury Jockey Club with excellent prospects for the Grand National meeting. In some cases the fields are even larger than was expected, and taken all round they contain ma'terial for some first-class sport. There were no withdrawals from the Grand National Steeplechase, while Crib was the only ono to drop out of the Grand National Hurdle Handicap. St Elmn figures in both races, Ins mission being still in doubt. The two big jumping events bear a very open appearance, and 'they promise to be quite as interesting as in past years,, when there have been larger fields. Marc Anthony, Gold Painting. Black Ada, Alteration and H\ thread retired from the. Winter Cup, "but with twenty-nine horses engaged there could have been a further thinning out with ro risk of spoiling interest in The contest. The minor events promise well, there being nine in the Runt Club Cup, twelve in the. Trial Hurdle Handicap, twentyfour in the A'vonhoad Handicap, eight in the Enfield Steeplechase, and 'twenty in the Sumner Handicap. Some seratchings may be expected, as a few horses are dcubly engaged, but the fields will bo qrite large enough to provide racing of the best class. A record acceptance was received for the Sumner Handicap, the miie hack race to bo decided at Riccarton on Thursdav. Twenty horses were nominated, and all of them had 'their engagements continued last night. For some years past the Winter Cup has never failed to attract about twenty starters, the largest field being 'twenty-four, when Banksia was successful two years ago. With twentynine horses still engaged, it seems probable that the record will be broken this week, even allowing for the chance of a tew defections, which may ho necessitated by the difficulty of securing suitable riders for some of tho candidates. Miss Do Vol bears a well trained appearance and she is certain to be one of the most fancied candidates for tho Winter dip on Thursday. She showed smart sprinting form last season, winding up with an attractive performance when "she won at Trent-ham a few weeks ago, while her half-mile sprint on M.ondav served to direct further attention to her chance. Such a speedy marc should be well placed in the early stages, a very important consideration in a big field, and as she. has a win to her credit over a mile and a quarter, she has excellent prospects of getting to the end of a mile, even in strong company. The exhibition .sriven yesterday by Leonta and Sir Solo, in a schooling task over five hurdles, was the most attractive that has been registered by any of the Grand National Hurdle candidates this season. They went round at a very solid pace, both jumping in excellent" style, and their prospects have been very freely discussed as a result of the display. These two horses have already had some experience in the Grand' National Hurdle. Handicap. Three vears ago Leonta finished third t'o Royal and Moroambe, and a year later he beat everything but Hurakia, while last; year he was unplaced. Sir Solo filline: third place, bohind Art and Master Hegel. In tho interval Sir Solo has not won a. Ta-co, but he has been working satisfactorily since he has been at Riccarton, and his ability as a stayer will serve him well this week. Leonta has shown good form during the last three months, his running at' Ti'entham making him appear a very likely candidate for the big hurdle race on Thursday. Tho South Canterbury trainer, S. Trilfoid, arrived at Riccarton. on Monday with. Crib, Oxcnhopo, Kaupokonui, San Sebastian, Salathiel, Aerial and Handsome Boy. S. Waddell, privafco trainer to tho Hon J. D. Ormond, was an interested spectator of the 'training work at Riccarton this morning. He. has been enjoying a holiday among his old friends 'in' Otago, whore ho trained for many years. The statement that the Auckland steeplechaser, Glucpc't, was carried on to Dunedin turns out to be incorrect. The report probably owned, its orig.a to the fact that ho was known to have left Auckland by boa't-early last week, and as he had not arrived at Riccarton it was concluded that the boat had gone on direct from Wellington to Dunedin. It (transpires that the steamer had a verv rough trip clown the east coast of tho'North Island, only ariving in Wellington on Monday, (iluepot was then transhipped to the Maori, and he reacheel Riccarton to-day. The horse wa.s exercised during his brief stay at Wellington, but his'(.'banco in the Grand National Steeplechase must bo seriously prejudiced by his absence from tho training tracks for over a week. The San Fran mare, Cherry Blossom, who won the Winter Cup last year, arrived at Riccarton some time ago, with a view to contesting the same event again. Unfortunately she pulled up lame after working one morning, and her owner, Mr F. Armstrong, has decided to retire her to the stud, arrangements having been made for mating lier with Sarto. When R. J. Mason left for Sydney with some of Mr G. D. Greenwood's horses, the team included Bimeter, an Australian-bred horse, by M'alster. At the time of hi.s departure Mason stated that it was intended to sell Bimoter, if possible, and this part of the programme has been carried out, the horse being disposed of last wo?k. Bimeter ,is a brilliant sprinter and he should soon win back some of his purchase money in six furlong events. Mr Hamilton, tho owner of the trotter Bellflower, is leaving Southland, and will bo present to sec his mare race at Addington this week, after which he goes into camp. The trotter Flamingo has been sob.i bv Mr H. W. Kitchingham to the Dunedin sportsman, Mr T. T. Ritchie.The pacer Jingle has been retired from tho race track, and will do stud duty this season, being located with Russell Patch at FcndaJton. J. Henderson arrived from Oamaru ilast night with Bacchus and M'Connochie, who havo engagements at Addington this week. ' T hear that the pacer Branston has gono amiss and oven if started at this week's meeting, he is not likely to bo seen at his best. The Canterbury Breeders' and Owners' Association will hold its annual reunion at the Henrietta Tea Rooms o-i Thursday evening.' R. Reay is experiencing . some bad luck with his two pacers, Tommy C And Tamarisk. The former was fired some months ago and turned out for a good spell. Since being nut into work again tho Oamaru owned pacer has been standing up to his work in rare style, and pacing in greatly improved

form. After a work-onit on Saturday, however, he went soro on ono of his fore-legs, but it has not yet been ascertained if it is of a very serious nature. Tamarisk, who has also been working well, has been injured in one of his eyes, and is now under veterinary treatment. A meeting of the Cheviot Racing Club was held on Saturday, the president, Mr R. C. Wilson, in the chair. Regulations prohibiting undesirables from frequenting the racecourse were passed, and the secretary was instructed to have them gazetted. On the motion of the president, sympathy was expressed with the relatives of those who had fallen at the front. Caibye, who won the Australian Steeplechase on Saturday, claims a pedigree that will staud a lot of criticism. His sire, Cainan, was bred in America, but did a lot of racing in England. Ho was a great sprinter, and as a two-year-old he won the Middle Park Plate, second place being filled by Flying' Fox. He was ridden by Tod Sloan, who says in his book that the result was a fluke, and that Lord William Beresford, the owner of the colt, and his American trainer, Huggins, always overrated Caiman. Be that as it may, however, he has the credit of beating Flying Fox, while he also held the mile record in England. Caiman is by Locohatchee, a son of Onondaga, both of whom were' American-bred horses, but the sources were English, Onondaga being by Leamington, a dual Chester Cup winner, and the sire of the Derby winner Iroquois. Locohatchee; a dam also traces to tho best English blood, as she goes back to Queen Mary. Happy Day. the dam of Caiman, is equally well bred, her sire. Coeruleus, being a brother to tho Derby winner Blue Gown, while her dam. Rosherville, was by the Derby winner Crcmorne, from a daughter of Stockwell. On the dam's side the pedigree of Caihyo introduces some very successful Australian lines. .His dam, Good-bye, is by Autonomy, a high-class galloper by Chester. Autonomy's halfbrother, Bungebah, was a brilliant sprinter, while among tho other good performers tracing to the same family was Paris, who won two Caulfield Cups. Broadside, tho dam of Good-bye, was a sister to Arsenal, winner of the Melbourne Cup, and to Crossfire, dam of Alawa, ono of the best horses sired by Malster. Broadside came to New Zealand and bred several foals in North Ota go, tin-' first of thorn being Lee-side, a fair hurdler, by Euroclydon. When mated later with Obligado she produced Soberside. who looks like being a successful matron. One of her progeny is Placid, a smart galloper by All Red, while she is also the dam of tho speedy Kilbroney mare, Killjoy, who claims an engagement in the Winter Cup this week. Broadside is not the onlj' representative of this line known in tho Dominion, as Firecross, dam of the useful Stepniak marc, Cross Battery, was a daughter of Broadside's sister. Crossfire. The breeding of these mares is of the best, Broadside being by Golds•brough from imported Powder, by Blinkhooli'e from Jeu-d'Esprit, tho fourth dam of Flying Fox. RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. Tuesday. Tho weather was decidedly wintry this morning, a cold sou'-wester being in evidence, and with the ground soaked by the heavy rain which fell during tho night, the conditions were very unpleasant- for the spectators. The ou'tside of the trial grass was open, and a large number of horses galloped, but tho work on the flat was not of a particularly exciting character. There was, however, a fair amounit of jumping. Mittagong was the first horse out, his task being half a mile in 55 3-ssec. Snub and Wardancer were together throughout a spin over six furlongs, which occupied lmin 24 3-ssec, while Disdainful sprinted half a mile smartly in 52 2-osec. Don Pacilico and Brambletye ran half a mile up the back in. s!isec. Johnny Walker sprinted five furlongs in lmin (j 2-ssec. Grand Idea, who started with him, being pulled up in tho straight. Rajput was a little better than Probation after running five furlongs in lmin 8 2-osec. Leonta moved freely in a sprinting task, and Seddel Bahr did similar work up the back, as did Tyne and Orleans. Rewanga and Hythread ran half a mile up the back in 53 3-ssec, both going well. Killard boat Lion over seven furlongs in lmin 38 2-osec. Jean not and Kaminohe took 52 4-oseo over tho last four or live furlongs up the back. Glorify heat a companion comfortably over six furlongs in lmin 22 4-ssec. Cardona, Sir Agnes and Raumanawhiri finished in that order after running six furlongs in lmin 23sec. Samisen and Daytime ran half a mile up tho back in 53 3-ssec. Parisian Diamond and Miss De Val covered seven furlongs in lmin 37 2-ssec. Prince Delaware, who started with them, being pulled off in tho straight. Tt was a useful gallop, Parisian Diamond, in particular, finishing strongly, after covering a lot of ground. f . Charley was going better than Euripos at tho end of a spin over five furlongs, which occupied lmin 9 l-ssec. George and Hying Camp moved freely in a sprinting task. Furling, Henrietta and Kilrush ran half a mile up the back. Black Ada galloped five furlongs, finishing in good style. Dionysius finished m front of Marconi and To Onga at the end 1 of five furlongs, which occupied lmin 39sec. Tip-Up beat Zuland comfortably over seven furlongs in lmin 36 2-osec. a smart, performance. Kimbolton and Xanthos started with them, but finished a long way back. Don Francisco beat St Head in a fair gallop over seven furlongs. Lady Penury was going better than Thames, with Minesweeper several lengths away, after running seven furlongs in lmin 38sec. ; King Star covered seven furlongs in lmin 38 2-osec, Arthur George assisting him over the last half-mile. Fiery Cross, with Killjoy as a companion over the last halt-mile., ran six furlongs in lmin 21 l-ssec. He finished up very strongly, and it was a smart performance. Fletham and Zarita sprinted half a mile up the back, moving freely. Art, assisted by Riga over the last five furlongs, reeled off a mile in lmin 50 l-jsee, finishing well, while Kilkeo hit out in good stylo in a half-mile sprint. Merry Lad, Bodenham, Braeburn, Nita, Master Strowan, Kirkby, Sir Fisher, Miss Sation and Sir Solo were among those who did strong pacing. Crib and Kaupokonui were companions in a circuit of the steeplechase fences. They got round safely, but their jumping was far from being attractive. Diavolo, Sandy Paul and St Elnm set out together for a round of the fences, but! the last-named pair losti their riders at the second of the double, Diavolo going on alone and fencing safely. The other pair were started again, and got round without a mistake, after which they did strong work over a mile. San Sebastian and Compulsion jumped four hurdles in good style. .Bon Reve and Sleight of Hand gave a fine exhibition over two hurdles, and then sprinted together. Rewi Poto jumped three hurdles alone, shaping fairly well. Coalition jumped'well over a round of the fences. Handsome Roy, who went with him, did not show to such advantage, and fell 1 at the last fence. Rauza and Luigi went- once round the fences. Ranza cleared the first few i obstacles in-, brilliant style, but tired badly at tho finish. St Curio jumped two hurdles u« the back smartly, and Salathiel went well over the two in the straight. Tangihaero jumped a .brush . fence fairly well, and afterwards did uscajl work- - I

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. The following final payments and accept ances were received last night for the Can. terbury Jockey Club's Grand National meet* ing: GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of 1600 bovb. Three miles and a half. _ ~ ***. lb. Bt . lb. Cnb . . .11 13 Sandy Paul . 911 Braeburn . .11 10 Diavolo . .98 .Gluepot . .11 5 Nita . . .98 Master Strowan 10 11 Kirkby ' ' 9 8 St Eicon . .10 2 The Brewer '. 9 * Merry Ltd . 10 0 GJtAND NATIONAL HURDLE HANDICAP, of 1200 aovs. About two miles and a half. »*• lb. gt. lb. Art . . .11 8 Sleight of Sewi Poto .11 1 Hand 10 6 Leonta . .10 13 Marconi . . 913 Bon Reve . 10 9 St Elmn . .99 Te Ouff* . .10 S Sir Solo ..98 Sir Fiahtr . 10 6 Flying Camp . 9 2 WINTER CUP, of 700 sova. Ono mile. »t. lb. st. lb. Oxe-nhop* . .11 I Killjoy . . 9 f? Fiery Cross .10 9 Tip-up . .97 Varnish . .10 7 Kilteas . .96 Parisian Zuland . .95 Diamond 10 6 Grand Idea . ft 3 itise de Val .10 G Sir Apnea . 9 3 Snub . . 10 3 Johnny Walker 9 3 Orleans . .10 0 Cardrona . .90 Raumanawhiri 913 Jeannot . .90 Lady Penary . 913 Xanthos . .90 George . . 9 10 King Star . 9 0 Sodrl-el-Bahr . 9 9 Probation . .90 Prince Delaware 9 9 Gloriiv . .90 Heeltap . .98 Thoughtful . 9 0 Brambletye . 9 8 Bonsiffii . .90 HUNT CLUB CUP, of 200 aovs. About two miles and a half. Bt, lb. st. lb. Wellwood . 11 11 Handsome Boy. 10 5 , Burgess . 11 9 Hanza . 10 ,T 'Kaupokonui .11 5 Ihe Grand . 10 2 Tangihaeri .10 9 Luigi . 10 0 Gold'n Butterfly 10 5 TRIAL HURDLE HANDICAP, of 250 sova. One mile and three-quarters. San Sebastian .11 5 Turehaua . 9 3 Compulsion .10 9 Mt. Victoria . 9 0 St Curio . 10 8 Steperina . 9 0 .Miss Sation .10 8 Salathiel . 9 0 Dionysiug . 10 2 Don Francisco . 9 0 Golden Glade . 9 6 Arthur George . 9 0 AVONHEAD HANDICAP, of 200 sovb. Sis furlongs. Kilkeo .10 13 Formnal . .98 Grand Idea . 10 11 Majestikoff .95 Thames .10 9 Melford . 9 3 Rewanga . 10 9 Bloomine . 9 1 Matty . 10 8 Euripos . 9 1 All Serene . 10 8 Achillous . 9 0 Don Pacifico .10 4 Epworth . 9 0 Rajput .10 4 Wingform . 9 0 Powder King . 9 10 Kimbolton . 9 0 Kilbrogan . 910 Rfd Cent .90 Ascalaphus . 9 10 Luff .90 Minesweeper . 9 6 Antiopo • .90 ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE, of 250 sovs. About two miles. Tauira . 11 7 Traditor . 9 10 j Kew . 9 13 Coalition . 9 8 Stoneginger .9 12 Handsome Boy 9 7 Paremata . . 9 11 Ranza 9 7 SUMNER HANDICAP, of 200 sotb. On« mile. Kilkee . 10 12 Lion . 9 2 Thames . 10 8 Compulsion . 9 2 Hythread . 10 5 Melford . 9 1 Biack Hill . 10 2 Riga . 9 0 Killard . 9 9 Mittagong . 9 0 Powder King . 9 9 Cross Words ..90 Ascalaphus ' . 9 9St Head . 9 0 Golden Rupee 9 5 Zarita . 9 0 Minesweeper . 9 5 Kimbolton .90 Hcnriette .95 John Reilly . 9 0