CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 479, 28 September 1899, Page 12

CANTERBURY.

The Riccarton course open, for twoyear -olds—The Taidhurst stable — Goodman’s team — The C.J.C. nominations — Canterbury horses and the Cup — Mat Livingstone fined—The Ohoka meeting. Cheistchubch, September 26. Fireside was scratched for the New Zealand Cup at 2.10 p.m. on Thursday last. lhe back of the course proper at Riccarton will up to the C.J.C. spring meeting be open for two-year-olds between nine and ten o’clock on Tuesdays and Saturdays. St. Lucia was scratched for all engagements at the C.J.C. meeting on Friday. This, of course, includes the New Zealand Cup for which the St. Leger filly had been strongly supported both locally and in other towns. The Yaldhurst stable has two reps in the big race still, ekobeloff and Sant Ilario, i he Stepniak youngster is in much more forward condition than his stable make. Harry Goodman’s team, including Pitch and Toes, Cherrystone, and Motto, are looking in nice forward condition. It will be seen that the Dunedin owner has nominated Pitch and Toss and Motto fcr the Auckland Cup. Only four Canterbury horsts figure in the list of nominations for the big northern handicap, Skobeloff, Sant Ilario, Djin-Djin, and Deadbeat The entries for the principal handicap races at the Canterbury Meiropolitan Meeting must be considered highly satisfactory. Most of the New Zealand Cup horses are entered for the Metropolitan and Jockey Club Handicaps, while the Stewards’ Stakes has attracted an entry which includes the fastest sprinters in the colony. It is worth noting that neither Kuaiuahanga, Defiance, Sylvia Park, Bush Bose, Strathnarrn, Sequin, Daphne, Volley, Trask, and Clack-na-Oudden, all of whom are still in the sew Zealand Cup, have been nominated for any (of the other big handicaps here in November. Two Canterbury horses are in the above list Strathnairn and Sequin. The former is backward in condition, and I doubt whether Holmes will get him ready by Cup time. Sequin is somewhat of a puzzle. She shows capital form on che track, but latterly has failed even to get a place in moderate company. I must discard her for a race like the Cup. More than one writer has expressed himself in favour of Djin-Djin’s chance in the Cup. The horse has done nothing since he won the Dunedin Cup, one mile and three-quarters, and has, moreover, shown signs of lameness. Cutts has had some difficulty in keeping Djin-Djin up to the collar, but hopes to get a run with him in the Cup. I would not advise anyone to back DjinDjin just now. Most of the withdrawals from the Cup so far have been Canterbury owned horses It seems as if we are going to have a poor lot to represent us in the big race. Starshot, Dundas, and St. Lucia have gone out, and Djin-Djin is an uncertain quantity. Huku on recent running is outclassed, btrathnairn has not recovered from bis recent ailment, and Sequin is not good enough. This leaves Malatua, Double Event, Sant Ilario, Peerage and Skobeloff. O’Brien’s pair have so far failed to run up to expectations, while nothing much is

known of the two Yaldhurst three-year-olds. This leaves Double Event who appears to be in better fettle for a hard run two mile race than any of the above lot, but for all that I do not think he can win the Cup. If we could claim Pitch and Tosb, who is being trained at Riccarton, I would select her as the best one from this part of the colony. Matthew Livingstone, who was charged with having carried on the business of a betting man in High Street, was fined £5 and costs. Pitch and Toss and Hukn are the only Cup candidates nominated for the principal handicap at the Ohoka Club’s meeting.