CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 499, 15 February 1900, Page 12

CANTERBURY.

THE FORTHCOMING MEETING. Cheistohuroh, February 8. Out of eighteen horses handicapped for the Midsummer Handicap, seven have gone out. They were Boreas, Fulmen, Pitch and Toss, Seabrook, Hermosa, Sequin, and Bed Banner. The top-weight now is Malatua, who holds the position of favorite. Skobeloff has a host of supporters, despite his inability to win races, while Jupiter has also been enquired after. Malatua or Skobeloff will, I think, supply the winner. The only North Isand horses nominated are First Blood, Ostiak, and Derringshot, while Otago will probably be represented by Blazer, Jupiter, St Ouida, and Clinker. The latter four is a poor nomination from a district which always receives liberal support from Canterbury owners Mauser, who has been do ng stud duty in Kaikoura and surrounding country, has been nominated for the Flying Handicap. The son of Maxim is reputed to be in fine buckle, but I doubt whether he will be fit to race this month. Dan O’Brien will have a strong team to represent him. He has nominated Malatua, eerage, Gold, Military, and Cavalry. The two lastnamed are in the juvenile races, and as the opposition is not over strong they should score a win.

Mr Stead’s team will consist of Formosan, lemene, and Skobeloff. This is the smallest number the Yaldhurst owner has entered at an C.J.C. meeting for some years past. Female Franchise is said to be in fine trim. The grey mare is trained at her owner’s station. Warbeck, a two-year-old in Hobbs’ stable, is putting in some smart gallops, and should show up well in the Lyttelton and Richmond Plates Sequin and Hermosa were both withdrawn from the Midsummer Handicap. They are not forward enough to get a mile and a half at a strong pace. Old Skirmisher is being regularly worked, and will be given a race or two at this meeting. The nominations for the Great Autumn and Easter Handicaps are very satisfactory, the latter race receiving most support from owners. I fully expected to see North Island horses well represented, and Tire, Boreas, Tortulla, Derringshot, Advance, Autaia, Oingo, Daunt, Jabber, Ostiak, Belie, and Temeraire comprise the lot. If they all come down the sport should be particularly interesting. After payment of the final forfeit eighteen remain in the Eighth Challenge Stakes. Of this number Obligado, Clack-na-Cudden, Blunderbus, Kissmary, and a. few others cannot have much chance of beating Screw Gun, Benzoin, Renown, Glenogle, Miss Delaval, and Cannie Chiel. February 12. The Canterbury Jockey Club has given the handsome donation of £2OO to the Canterbury War Fund. The full brother to Screwgun has been named Royal Artillery. Sara, a two-year-old filly by Saracen —Chiara, has been nominated for the two-year-old events at the Canterbury Summer Meeting. This filly, who is in Murray Hobbs’ stable, will be the first of Saracen’s progeny to run in public. Sara is a smart youngster. Hobbs has another two-year-old (Warbeck) who should win a race or two before the season is over. Warbeck is by Perkin Warbeck ll.— Take Miss, and is now in active training. While out at Riccarton a day or two ago I had a look at Sir George Clifford’s youngsters. Cutts has the whole of the two-year-olds in hand, and no less than six of them are in the Canterbury Derby of 1900. Here are the names of the six youngsters :— Cannie Chiel, Terrapin, Testudo, Somerled, Macintosh, Glenaladale, all of whom claim Clanranald as their sire. Cannie Chiel is best known to race-goers, and quite lately demonstrated that he can gallop fast. Shortly after returning from the Wellington Meeting Cannie Chiel met with an accident, which may prevent him from starting again this season. Somerled is voted the most promising of the bunch. He is developing into a fine strapping colt. Melita has filled out a lot since returning from Wellington, and should strip in nice condition when asked to race a fortnight hence! Two other two-year-olds, Stephanie and Whirlwind, both by Stepniak, are in active training for the Summer Meeting. Nantes (Stepniak—Hugenot) seems to have recovered some of the old form she showed as a two and three-year-old, and is now putting in some good work, chiefly over six furlongs. Nantes should be worth watching in forthcoming events. A week or two ago I referred to Corusa’s running at the Ashburton Meeting. Corusa, who is three years old, is by Medallion—lris, and has been nominated for the Craven Plate and Flying Handicap. A patron of Mr Friedlander’s stable tells me that Corusa is galloping well at her owner’s place at Ashburton. Jack Harris has had another slice of bad luck with Deadbeat. Just as Harris had got the daughter of Lakeshell fit to race she took ill, and will not probably be able to fulfil summer engagements. Deadbeat is indeed an unlucky besides a very costly animal. Suzannah, who has been having a spell at her owner’s station, is again in work, and may be seen out in the Craven Plate. What a strong-looking horse Blazer is. I saw him do a gallop at Riccarton the other morning, and he seemed to fairly revel in his work. Blazer won two races at Wellington under heavyweights, and the horses in the Craven Plate will have to be very smart to beat Mr Solomon’s speedy gelding. Nominations for the first day’s events at the Greymouth Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting close on Saturday, February 17. The meeting will extend over two days, and as the programme contains some good stakes, the club should be rewarded by receivihg good support from owners. Red Lancer’s win in the Summer Handicap at Takapuna was anticipated by several Christchurch backers. Two years ago this gelding was winning races in good company with over 9st on his back. Tolstoi must have improved wonderfully since being in H. Franks’ charge. Tolstoi’s former trai er (R. Mason), received word that the son of Stepniak would win at Takapuna, but Mason would not back him on the ground, I am informed, that he was too unreliable. A Christchurch backer invested a few pounds on Tolstoi each time the gelding started at Takapuna. The dividends received ran into three figures.

Ben Farley has been putting in some good work lately, and as a result has come into favor for the Midsummer Handicap. Ben Farley has never won over a mile and a half journey, but he got to the end of a mile and a quarter, and may under his light impost show up well in the Midsummer.

February 13. The weights are out for minor handicaps on the first day of the C.J.C. Summer Meeting,, which will be held next week. In the Baisweil Hurdles the field is a very poor lot, and if Sub Rosa can be persuaded to jump well she should about get home. The Hornby Welter should, attract a big field, and Strathnairn, Ben Farley, and Cameo strike me as the best three. In the Lyttelton Plate Dan O’Brien should score hi# first win with Cavalry. This colt is putting in some capital work. Ismene and’Stephanie may prove hard nuts to crack. Rochester is considered by Riccarton people as having the best chance of securing the Craven Plate. He will probably encounter most opposition from Blazer and Suzannah. In the Midsummer Handicap I still think either Malatua or Skobeloff will win. Haria, on his track form, will carry a lot of money. Next week I will send final selections, when I hope to be able to spot at least some of the winners. At the monthly meeting of the committee of the C.J.C., on Tuesday last, the following licenses were granted : —Trainers: F J. Neanie, H. Ward, P. G. Wilson : Jockeys: T. Cahill, O. Jones, S. Watson. Apprentices : F. Lowry, 0. M. Stewart, The apprentice’s license of Martin Gould was suspended for his having left his employer without leave. The Hawke’s Bay J.O. was notified that W. Noble, holder of a jockey’s license, had left his employer without notice. A grant of £lO was made from the Trainers’ and Jockeys* Provident Fund to S. Lindsay, injured at the Metropolitan Meeting. A like grant was made for M. Twomey, killed at (the same meeting. Transfers of Wellington Park yearlings were registered from Mr T. Morrin to the various purchasers. It was resolved to recommended all clubs in the Canterbury metropolitan district that trainers, jockeys, and apprentices holding licenses from the C.J.C. should be admitted free to all courses and saddling-paddocks on production of their licenses.