CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 310, 2 July 1896, Page 5

CANTERBURY.

Unfavourable training weather — Work done by cross-country horses—Liberator and Barnardo show no effects of their Auckland trip — Death of the mare Ouida (by Tubal Cain—Argosy) —Sale of the Middle Park estate—Traducer’s last resting place —‘‘Tit for tat” between bookmakers and punters.

The weather has been so wet during the last fortnight that the tracks are in a bad state, fast work consequently being out of the question. However, a good many horses are being schooled in view of National events, and some good jumping is occasionally witnessed. Te Kooti is jumping splendidly, as also is Balquither. Magazine is doing well at the illegitimate game, and is improving. Kulnine is shaping very well, and the same may be said of Barnardo, who quickly threw off any imaginary soreness he may have felt after his northern trip. He could not have been very bad, or he would not have been worked the morning after his return. He is a bit big, but his trainer races all his charges that way.

Prime Warden is said to be a most proficient fencer. He is trained at Ashburton. Mr Murray Hobbs is expected to bring his team from Ashburton to Riccarton in a week or two. Vogengang is standing up to his work so far, and his brother, Bogengang, is furnishing into a nice cut of a horse.

Liberator is as lively as ever, and he too does not seem- particularly amiss after his Auckland experience. Slow work is his portion, but he could be made fit in a very short time. Ouida, Skirmisher’s dam, is dead. Mr Stead’s youngsters are all wintering well, lhe team is often seen at Riccartoa. Bombshell is looking slightly bigger than I have seen him previously, and is growing into a nice horse. Epaulet, too, ; is furnishing well, and this chap will take a lot of beating if he trains on. Curassow is doing well, and seems likely to train on, albeit many express doubts about his doing so. He is good-looking enough, and I firmly believe if he is brought out fit and well he will prove himself as good as any of his year, if not better. I have never seen a more likelylooking colt. - Fire King was offered at Tattersail’s on Saturday, but was-withdrawn at 25gs. The well-known and once famous Middle Park Estate, of about 103 acres, has been sold to Mr A. Sefton. The price was something like £3O an acre.

Gillie, after being spelled since his return from Wanganui, is again at work. He has a leg. Mona is jumping well. Artilleur has almost recovered from the accident he met with at Little River. The Plug was a -rather warm order here for the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, but the bookmakers had their revenge when gt. Regel -failed on the seefondday. ■ - '• * :