Inter-Provincial.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 298, 9 April 1896, Page 5

Inter-Provincial.

CANTERBURY.

Great Finish for the Champagne Stakes —Culverin wins the Great Easter cleverly—Marquis of Zetland defeats Grand Cross in Russley Stakes—Firefly a ‘‘ warm customer—Strathbraan raced the same way as at Manawatu —Bellicent (first) and Culverin (second) in the Great Autumn Handicap run a great race —Bessie McCarthy close handy — Exciting Finish for the Fourth Challenge Stakes — Dauntless declared winner—Bookmakers ejected from course second day-

Canterbury sportsmen have had plenty to engage their attention during the last few days,

varying from trotting in the mud, to, eventually, fair going at Biccarton. The totalisator investments do not seem to decrease; on the contrary, the money put through the machine during the thres days shows a very respectable increase. The C JC. had better weather than the .Lancaster Park Trotting Club, especially on the second day, when it could not be improved upon. The details of the various events have already been sent you. Hopeful was much too good for his opponents in the First Hurdle Race, winning as he liked from Clarence and Barnardo, Liberator last Hopeful ran a still better race on the second dav' carrying 12.8, when he ran a dead heat with Barnardo 11.9. Liberator was never dangerous, although he had 71bs less on his back than The Champagne Stakes resulted in a great finish between Mr Stead’s three nominations The Auckland-bred Uniform (Hotchkiss—Forma) showed up particularly well, coming with such a great run at the distance that Dcrrett had o ride all he knew to get “ there with Bombshell. Firefllv the Artillery—Fairy Maid filly, was onlv a neck awav third, the Yaldhurst sportsman thus securing the whole of the prize money attached to the race. Dauntless was prominent for five furlongs, after being left at the post, but tnrned it up when the pinch came. Agato a grand add went out for the Easier Handicap, seven furlongs, and backers found i .difficult to select the winner. A good start saw Solitaire and Jane Eyre slow in commencing but they quicklv made up lost ground, and at the top turn were runding with the ruck. The leader at t»’is point—Culverin—was going well within her Self whilst Maremma and Vanilla were hotly nursuing her. New Forest momentarily took 1 handf but died away almost immediately, as also did Skirmisher, who, by the way, finished absolutely last. At the distance, Culverin still

held the lead, and after being shaken up, main tained her position to the end, with Vanilla two lengths away, Maremma a neck in the rear of Vanilla. The daughter of Son-of-a-Gun has proved herself a reliable and consistent mare, and Mr Hugh Vallance, her owner, who lives at Sefton, .North Canterbury, came in for much enthusiastic handshaking. I may mention that Culverin was bred by her owner. Bellicent, Cannonshot, and Lord of Misrule finished in that order in the Epsom "Welter, a neck separating the three, Prime VTarden fourth, Trentalto was made favourite for the Russley Plate, but tasted defeat for tne first time. Marquis of Zetland, who had previously run in the Champagne Stakes, was rather fractious at the post, but eventually got away splendidly, and making every post a winning one, got to the winning post a length and a-half in front of Grand Cross, a fine looking chestnut colt by Medallion —Marion, while Trentalto was another length away third. Bizzare was selected as having a rare chance of annexing the Sockburn Handicap, but had to take second place behind Vandyke, a son of Vanguard, who wou easily by two lengths, Mona third. . Fire King beat four others easily in the trimcrack Stakes, and was bought in for £3O. Uniform was scratched in the Autumn Nursery, and backers at once selected Mr. Stead’s other rep, Firefly, as the best to support. Their “judgment” was borne out by the result, Firefly winning easily after a set to with Belle Clair, while Marquis of Zetland finished in third place, and Trentalto, who was sore, last. Strathbraan jumped away immediately the barrier. Mas released, in the Great Autumn Handicap and, closely followed by Bessie McCarthy, Culverin, and Skirmisher, led all round the back and well into the straight. Here, however, the Wellington horse faltered, and Culverin took up the running with Bellicent

handy and Jane Eyre well up on the outside of the second division. Half-way down the straight Mr. Gollan’s mare made a great bid, but was challenged by both Culverin and Belhcent, close upon who-e heels came New Forest. Bellicent quickly proved her superiority, and eventually ran home with a length advantage of the Great Easter Handicap winner, Bessie McCarthy just beating New Forest for third honors. Skirmisher was last. Only four—and these all two-year-olds—were slipped for the valuable Fourth Challenge Stakes, Bombshell, Epaulet, Dauntless, and Rustic. Dauntless was the first to show out and lie ran round the top turn a length ir front of Bombshell and Epaulet, Rustic already beaten. Along the straight whips were at work, but Dauntless stuck to his task gamely, whilst Epaulet and Bombshell, the latter on the outside, were gradually creeping up, and when they joined Dauntless one of the finest finishes ever seen on the Riccarton course was witnessed, and as the three neared the judge the crowd amidst great excitement yelled the name of that which they were backing, but the three youngsters, after a game fight, passed the post, apparently locked together, the judge, however, giving his verdict in favour of Dauntless, Epaulet second, and Bombshell third. Naturally this decision was severely commented on by the public, but only the judge can tell, and his decision was borne out by one of the Stewards who also occupied the box. My impression was that the result would have been given as a dead heat between the three. A greater blunder has never been made in a race than was made in this race, Bombshell should, and could have won, but the race was literally thrown away. The son of Nautilus finished at a great p ice, as also did Epaulet, and had Bombshell been sent along a bit earlier, he could not have lost. There is no man in New Zealand who views a race of this kind so philosophically as Mr Stead does, but all the same it is hard luck to lose such a stake well within one’s grasp, and then to lose it by bad judgment on the part of one’s jockey. Of course the boy might .have been shepherding Epaulet, but I do not think so; any way, the race has gone to a real good sportsman, and the hearty cheers given for the Hon. J. D. Ormond showed that, although the majority were disappointed in their investments, they recognised that the owner of Dauntless is a sportsman well worthy of receiving Such a valuable stake. The Templeton Handicap ended as it began. Vanilla got well away, Maremma and Solitaire being close up, and in this order they ran all the way, Vanilla never giving her opponents a chance and winning easily by two lengths. Rangiatea had all he could do to defeat Miss Orwell in the Addington Plate, Wedlock three lengths away third. The winner was sold to Mr Con Boyle for 50 guineas. The Final Handicap, won by Black and Red, brought the meeting to a close ; Jane Eyre and Bizzare filling the remaining places. Punctually was strictly observed during the two days, the last race on the first day being over two minutes after the advertised time of starting The Bookmakers were asked to leave the ground on the second day, on account of some of them being detected laying totalisator odds. The club allowed the pencillers to be present, providing they obeyed the mandate not to bet, and the breaking of the condition by one or two had, perhaps, the somewhat arbitrary effect of making the whole of them suffer. The “ riff-raff” were allowed to bawl all day.