CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 359, 10 June 1897, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

The New Zealand Cup nominations— Salvo Shot—The Melbourne Cup nominations —The Auckland Grand N ational Meeting—Quiltiri—Schooling work. Christchurch, June 8. The nominations for the New Zealand Cup, the great event of the racing year, closed on Friday last. The nominations number fifty-nine, or five less than last year. In looking down the list one cannot help but think that all the horses now in training in the colony, who have a chance of winning the big prize or getting two miles have been nominated. I was surprised, however, not to see Gold Medallist and Multiform in the list. These two colts are undoubtedly the best in the colony, and have already been well backed. Their absence goes to show the foolhardiness of backing horses for a race before even nominations had closed. Other horses I thought would probably be among the entries are Quiltiri, Lorelei, The Shrew Arquebus, Mannlicher, Nestor and Lotion. Mr Ormond heads the list with five nominations, all chestnuts, Mr Murray Hobbs has four, Mr W. Douglas three, G. Hunter, R. Burke, S. H. Gollan, H. Goodman, J. A. McGuinness, D. McKinnon, A. Davis, G. G. Stead, and E. H. Hankins two each. The four-year-old division is represented by eighteen, there are fifteen three-year-olds, eleven five-year-olds, eight six year-olds, and seven aged horses. Euroclydon, Defiance, Fabulist, Culverin, and Epaulet are the only horses nominated who ran in the race last year. Salvo Shot has been nominated for the flat races of the Nelson Jockey Club Record Reign Meeting. Euroclydon is the only New Zealand horse nominated for next Melbourne Cup. A rumour was circulated that Gold Medallist and Multiform would be nominated, but their names do not appear in the list. Considerable interest was shown here over the Auckland National Meeting. Dummy and Ilex were well supported. St. Simon’s victory stamps him as the most brilliant horse over hurdles in the colony. Levanter, whom I wired you last week as my selection for the Steeplechase, was well backed here, as also were St. Simon, Miss Nelson, and Kingswood. Pyroxylin was wired down as a really good thing for the Second Welter, the result being that he was heavily supported. It is hard lines, when you have a good thing to be beaten by a neck. Quiltiri is shaping exceedingly well over hurdles. He is a constant attendant at the racecourse and will be among the nominations for the hurdle events at our National Meeting. Chaos, Token, Cactus, Arquebus, and Lord of Misrule have also been doing work over hurdles this week. Highlander has been jumping remarkably well over big fences lately. He will be a candidate for the Grand National Hurdles and Steeples. Cactus also jumps well, and he should make a good hurdler.