CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 529, 7 February 1901, Page 13

CANTERBURY.

THE AMURI MEETING—LOCAL NEWSHEWITT—BLAZER—SKOBELOFF & HUKU -BENZOIN. Chbistchubch, January 30. Skirmisher, Haria, and Speculator, three old *uns, are located on the West Coast, and will be kept there for the Autumn Meetings. It is a long time since any one of the trio won a good stake Skirmisher and Speculator have probably done as much racing as any horses now running. The scratching of Dundas for the Midsummer Handicap does not imply that anything is wrong with the son of Perkin Warbeck 11. He is in constant work, and will most likely be asked to win the Craven Plate. A Christchurch backer had £45 on Full Cry when the Reynard gelding won the Federal Handicap at Wellington, £5O on Benown in the Wellington Cup, and £25 on Menschikoff each time he started. Altogether this lucky speculator netted £4OO over the Wellington Meeting. Hermosa started in three races at Wellington, but the nearest she could get to the winner was in the Federal Handicap In this race StLeger’s daughter appears to have run well, but Full Cry beat her at the finish. Very little interest seems to be taken in the North Canterbury Jockey Club, and unless members attend the next meeting the Club will be wound up and the lease of the racecourse will not be renewed. W. Bae’s trotting stock was sold by auction on Monday last Sam Slick, by Boston, was sold to Mrs T. Yarr for £BO. A filly by Albert Victor fetched £lB, a colt by Rothschild £l5, and a colt by General Tracy £l5 Formosan, Skobeleff, Menschikoff, and Cruciform returned to Yaldhurst on Monday. Menschikoff and Cruciform were the only members of the team that won a race Formosan only went out once, when he was left at the post Skobeleff again performed badly. . Paladin, Cadet, Cameo, Windwhistle, Strathnairn, Scottish Minstrel, Hypnotist, Hermosa, and Spider returned from Wellington tn Monday. his batch has engagements at the Midsummer Meeting. The firstnamed from each won a race at Wellington. Female Franchise was weighted at 13st 31b in the Amuri Cup. The Ahua mare was set to concede no less than 4st to some of those engaged. February 1. The Amuri Turf Club held its race meeting on Thursday last. There was a fair attendance, which would have been much larger had the weather been fine The principal race, One Mile, was won by Bill Malone, 9st 41b, by Master George; Female Franchise, 13st 31b, being second, and Golden Wake, 9st 21b, third. Camel, 12st 101 b,, Jibboom, 13st, Greensward, 10st 81b, were among the starters The Flying Handicap was won by Little Bobs, 9st 71b; Tremor, 10st 21b, running second ; Camel, 13st, third.

The acceptances for the Midsummer Handicap are very poor, only five paying up. This is

a small field for the £250 stake. Entries for other events at the Summer Meeting are better than usual, but the two hurdle races have only attracted five nominations. Cora Linn, Fashion, Westguard and Lady Agnes are the only North Islanders entered.

Cannie Chiel has been nominated for the principal handicaps at Wanganui, and from this it may be gathered that the son of Olanranald is in racing trim again. He has also been entered for the Great Easter and Autuu n Handicaps here. Dundas and Benzoin were o itted from the Great Easter Handicap, and Dundas from the Great Autumn. Mr Victor Harris wanted to buy Full Cry prior to the Bangitikei Meeting, but the owners put too big a price on the Beynard gelding. L. Hewitt, the light-weight jockey, intends going to England Ho has had a very successful season.

Norine, who won the hack selling race at Wellington, has been purchased by Mr H. Beatty ; the price paid was £5l. Cora Linn was purchased by Mr Victor Harris while the Wellington Meeting was in progress. H. Jackson is quartered at Biccarton with Blazer and Battler. This pair will be raced at the forthcoming Summer Meeting. Blazer has never looked better than he is at present. Zither, the hurdler, has been turned out for a spell. Skobe off and Huku are popular selections for the Midsummer Handicap. A colt by Westmere has arrived at Biccarton from Blenheim. S. Wilson, who brought the colt here, has had several offers for him. Benzoin pulled up lame after doing a gallop. 1 think one of his legs is likely to cause Hobbs some trouble.