CHRISTCHURCH LETTER,

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 53, 30 July 1891, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH LETTER,

(from our own correspondent.)

Mr. Henry’s handicaps for the Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles are not .at all well received by the local owners. He has certainly taken a great liberty with a number of the untried ones, and <such speedy cattle on the flat as Regina, Harkaway, Kulnine, and Jet d’Eau have only to stand up and the race is virtually at their mercy. Regina and Kulnine are both* taking kindly to their new task, and if the former goes on improving as she has been doing lately she must have a great chance in the Hurdle Race. The Steeplechase is thought to be a bit beyond her power. After the recent display at Wellington those who were foolish enough to take short prices about Ahua for the National, before the weights appeared, cannot feel on good terms with themselves. With izst rolb on his back, the Painter horse would need to be at his best to win, and seeing that he failed to negotiate the country last year with lolb less on his back, his show does not look altogether pleasant. Of the North Island division Sentinel, Oeo and Christmas appear weir in, and if the National is to go away from Riccarton one of this trio is most likely tq.do the trick.

Freedom, Blizzard, Lebel and Strephon are most in demand for the New Zealand Cup, and backers are content to take 100 to 7 or 8 about the chance of this quartette.

The disappointing Crackshot- is again in work, and under the guidance of P. White, is progressing satisfactorily. He has almost lost the habit of knocking his hind legs, and should this big son of Pungawerewere be brought fit to the post, he will certainly have more than an outside show.

The Plumpton Park Coy. intend holding, a meeting on their new grounds at Sockburn on August 1 st. About is to be given away in stakes, and there is no reason why this meeting should not become as popular as that held on the old Plumpton grounds some four years ago. The stallion Bundoora was shipped to Melbourne last week, and it is to be hoped he will be given better chances than has been his lot while here. Such a grand racehorse as he was should certainly get gallopers, but so far the best of his stock have not been anything out of the common. Diadem, Enchantress, Preston,* and Yarra were the most prominent of his get.

There was a good attendance at the Zealandia Grounds on Monday, on the occasion of the’ Sheffield Handicap for Mr. John Gallagher’shandsome silver cup. Alf Bailey was starter and Messrs. E. O’Hare and R. E. Ellis were the judges, and gave every satisfaction. There was m ore than the usual amount of speculation, and the final resulted in one of the best finishes, we have seen for some time between J. Linden;' Cummings, and Somers, who finished in the order named. u > ■ •.