CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 265, 22 August 1895, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH.

August 15. Most of the details connected with the second day’s racing will have reached you before my notes would arrive, so I will content myself with short summary of the principal incidents of the Grand National Meeting. I need scarcely say how sorry the public were to see Norton fall in the Beaufort Steeplechase for, besides being a popular favourite, he is looked upon-as one of the surest jumpers in the country It is difficult to understand exactly how the horse came down, as he seemed to land over the fence (Cotts’) all right, but stumbling unseated Mr Gollan who was partially stunned. Of course any horseman might have suffered the same fate, but the .general opinion is that the. rider was very unlucky. Mr Gollan was able to go home on the following day. Marechai Neil jumped splendidly in both his engagements, but in the Beaufort Steeplechase was outstayed by Roscius, who won as he liked. By the way, in selecting Nero to beat Marechai Neil in‘the Enfield Steeplechase I did so because I was of opinion that the latter would not get round.

Liberator was last all the way in the Hurdles but if’is thought he would have troubled Donald McKinnon had he been reserved for this race. In my opinion Donald McKinnon would have won the ra’ce just the same. The latter’s party were pleased at the heavy going, and they should know whaf; suits their horse, but I do not believe he would have been beaten no matter what the condition of‘the track was.

Mr Douglas tells me that his horse was hampered with the mud, otherwise he must have nearly won. 'Of course 12.3 in heavy going tells on a horse over two miles. Couranto seemed to have the hurdle race at his mexey half way up the straight, but when Donald McKinnon came at liimhe 1 was l unable to foot;’it with the Gisborne owned horse. Barnardo also passed Hope’s mount at the distance post, but the'lafter was then pulling up.

Kingan (on Auroa) and' Clarke (dn "Barhardo) thought they had Donald beaten half a mile from home and were considerably astonished to see The Dauphin horse literally leave them standing still.

Barnardo was very big but ran well, and bad his trainer been able to give him enough work would have run much better. In the final hurdle race Auroa was awarded 10.10 and did not start.

Roscius would have troubled Mutiny in the National Steeplechase had the race been run a fortnight later —at least so says his trainer. The August Handicap provided the only good finish at the meeting, a neck only separating Beadonwell and Marino. The Nelson —Waitiri horse has grown into a very fine animal and looks what his breeding suggests, a typical cup horse. His owner backed him heavily for the race under notiee, and he certainly should have won, seeing that he had fully two lengths lead at the distance. It seemed to me that it was the rider, not the horse, who tired in the run home. Marino has been well supported by his owner for the New Zealand Cup, he having secured, I am informed, about £l2OO. At the same time Beadonwell is one of the gamest horses that ever ran in New Zealand. His performance in Dunedin when running a dead heat with Au Revoir over a mile and a quarter in the mud proves this. I well recollect how pleased the owners were at the pluck shown by both horses on that occasion. Triton ran disappointingly in his second essay, but will probably do better later on. No less than five New Zealand Cup candidates started during the two days —Silver Spec (who is for sale), Marino, Solano, Chaos, and Speculator, but only the two former showed anything like form. Perhaps the others will improve later on, but bo far Marino is the only one of this quintette I consider has a chance in the big race. Kulnine is for sale at 150 guineas.

Mr Gollan did not win a race at the meeting, although he tried seven times. Repo is a good specimen of the hunter class, Lascar is of very little account, and Mystical, though a fairly good looking horse, is evidently a bad animal to own for he shut up in a most unaccountable fashion in the Bracelet.

Chrystal is one of the dotty sort and should never win in decent company, although he occasionally jumps well. The distance and weight in the Final Hurdle Race suited Brin, who won from end to end, whilst on the first day he pulled up distressed. Victim’s performance on the second day over hurdles was on a par with his first day’s ability —not up to much. Gillie was undoubtedly the best of those competing in the hurdle class, as he ran well each time he started. Rawai is a nice cut of a horse, but The Bug and Vagabond showed the best condition in this division.

Rotoma, winner of the Bracelet on the same day, is by St. George —Lady Eveline, not Lady Evelyn. The latter animal is still owned by the Hon. G. McLean. Rotoma is fairly fast, but would not face the hurdles on the first day.

Despised did not get a win, but he ran decently throughout. He was offered for sale on Tuesday, but his owner’s reserve of lOOgs was not nearly reached. Marechai Neil was also passed in, his owner asking the same price for the Black Rose horse. Ulster was likewise withdrawn. [We understand she has been sold privately.—Ed., S.R.] Opossum, winner of the Three-mile Trot at the Show Grounds, was offered at auction on Tuesday, but was passed in at 29gs. Three hundred and fifty guineas were refused for Mutiny, but this was only to be expected, seeing that his owner was offered the refusal of 500 gs for the National winner from Australia. Rags was a cheap horse at 38gs. He will win yet. Mr Douglas informed me during an interesting chat that recent successes bad not altered his determination to give up racing. He had been at the game for over twenty years, and desired to devote his energies to breeding. Still, as he says, it is hard to find a market for horses just now, and he did not feel inclined to sacrifice any of his animals. Naturally, he was elated at the success of his colours in the Steeplechase, especially as he bred the winner. Attempting to make a comparison as to the ability of big and medium-sized horses, Mr Douglas leans to the opinion that the best horses he ever owned were of the latter class. They usually last longer, stay better, and gallop as fast as bigger horses, while for jumping the medium animal is undoubtedly the best. This subject might-be debated at great length, especially when the.negative rhas such a good representative as Roscius, but taking all the horses I have-known, I certainly am inclined to agree with Mr Douglas’ conclusions.

Over twenty years ago Mr Douglas took part in a hack race at Castle Point, in what that gentleman terms the good old-days, (when every owner rode his own horse). He humourously referred to the fact that lie was beaten by a Maori, who was as heavy a man as Mutiny’s owner was then, and that, as he suggests, was not very feathery. I could not help thinking that the irony of fate — or racing if you like —had supplied, after over twenty years, an almost similar result, Donald McKinnon, owned by the Maoris, beating Mr Douglas’ representative in the Hurdles. I hope that Couranto’s owner may change his mind as to retiring from the active.pursuit of racing, as it is to owners of his class that the Turf in this country owes so much, and can ill afford to lose. May he breed many more National winners.

Au Revoir still remains apparently sound. Skirmisher is, so far as I can ascertain, in good condition, but, on running, he will have to improve a lot before he can win the big Cup. So far I have not troubled you with my ideas re the New Zealand Cup and other events to be decided at our Spring gathering, but will take an early opportunity of doing so. A large number of Korses of all descriptions and degree were offered for sale during the National week, but very few changed hands.

Settling over our National Meeting was fairly punctual. At least one rider at the National Meeting should have been told by the stewards that the whip he carried was, if he saw fit, to be used on his own mount, not on the nose of another competitor, who was almost prevented by the act suggested trom winning. It was reported in town to-day that Magazine was slightly lame through striking himself, but this is not correct.

Mr Stead’s horses must surely have a chance of distinguishing themselves in Australia. Musketry is better, in my opinion, than he has yet given public evidence of. He has so far only acted as a trial horse and wet nurse for Mannlicher and Co , but over a short distance he will, I fancy, be a hard egg to break. Mauser, too, has given proof of galloping power, and will, if he keeps sound, do good service for the Yaldhurst stable. Of Mannlicher it is unnecessary to say much, but if he is well when competing in Australia I should not like to put the smallest piece of mv money on some of his opponents. I hope Mr Stead’s enterprise will be rewarded.