CANTERBURY J.C. MIDSUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 676, 19 February 1903, Page 14

CANTERBURY J.C. MIDSUMMER MEETING.

(By Our Own Correspondent.) Christchurch, February 17. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting was poorly patronised. Proceedings throughout were, to say the least, very flat, as even a good race did not excite any enthusiasm among the small handful of spectators present. On the first day (Thursday) there was some really good racing, fields being much larger than is usually the case at the Summer Meetings at Riccarton. The Trial Stakes, one mile, first claimed attention. In a. field of seven the Reflector gelding Narcissus received most support. In the early stages of the race Martin Brien’ si Good Spec was in front just clear of Narcissus and Cyclas Parva. ■ Entering the straight Narcissus, Cyclas Parva and Good Spec were running bunched .together, but Romany Queen soon joined them. Narcissus fought out an interesting finish with Romany Queen, the latter just getting home with a neck ad- , vantage ; Cyclas Parva came next two lengths away, Speculate fourth. The Hornby Welter set backers thinking, but when the numbers went Up Somerled was a slightly better favourite than Tsaritsa, Regulation; Antigone, Clanburn, and Ayrdale being evenly baoKed. -The outsider of the 'party, Ordnance, cut out th® running at the start, Regulation leading the others. The latter passed Ordnance in

the second furlong and led into the straight,. Covenant Maid, Somerled, Tsaritsa and Ayrdale coming next in order. Tsai;itsa soon had the measure of her opponents, and won .comfortably by a length from Regulation, who defeated Somerled by a length and a-half, with Clanburn fourth.

/Eight fillies went out to contest'a new race—the Filly Stakes—over six furlongs Bagpipes, by Gipsy Grand—Reel, was made favourite, Aherlow being next in demand. The youngsters got away on even terms, and Lochinvar was first to show out. She was soon joined by Lolah and Merrymaker, and the latter pair came away well clear of tlhe others in the straight, but at the distance Bagpipes caught them, and coming away won fairly easily by half-a-length from Lolah, who beat Merrymaker by nearly a length. The Telegraph Stakes, of four furlongs, resulted in an easy win for Lady Brandt, who defeated Reflex by three lengths. King Stork being third, and Cannonite fourth. The North Island gelding Dede / was never prominent, '.the winner was bought in for £5l. ■Eight saddled up for the Midsummer Handicap, these being the following Lady Lillian, Cannie Chiel, Ardnarff, Calibre, General Symons, Scottish Minstrel, Clytie, and Zealous. Lady Lillian was sent out favourite, Cannie Chiel being better supported than the others. Some delay was caused at the starting post owing to Clytie refusing to face the barrier’, but when the tapes went up the eight starters moved off in an even line. General Symons was at once taken to the front, and at the mile and a-q,uarter post he was well clear of Lady Lillian and Ardnarff, Cannie Chiel . bringing up the rear. A quarter of a mile further on General Symons, and Zealous were running together, the next pair being Lady Lillian and Ardnarff. Zealous headed General Symons going round the turn, but before the straight was reached she dropped back. General Symons went on well clear of the field, while Cannie Chiel was pushed along in the Straight. Although he passed Lady Lillian he could not get near General Symons, who; won by two lengths, Lady Lillian being a length and a-half behind Cannie Chiel. Clytie, Scottish Minstrel, and Zealous finished next in order. There were only four starters in the Lyttelton Plate, of six furlongs, these being Delarey, Ardchattan, Roscommon, and Gladsome, who. was made favourite. Delarey and Roscommon got a decided advantage at the start, and when they settled down had several lengths lead of the other pair. Delarey soon shook off Roscommon, and won easily by three lengths from Gladsome,-, who finished fast, and beat Roscommon by five lengths. The Craven Plate brought out eight barters' a strong favourite being made of Pallas, while Windwhistle came next in favour. Pallas got badly off the mark, Windwhistle getting smartly away, and was well clear of Secret Society at the end of the first furlong, with Welbeck and Muscovite lying iSkxt.- Rounding the turn tor the straight Wlar had made up a lot of ground, ar» ’dwn in th* lme for

home Secret Society dropped back, and Welbeck and Pallas closed on Windyhistle. The latter held her advantage, however, and won by a bare half-length from Welbeck, who beat Pallas by a neck, with Terrapin fourth and Muscovite fifth/ Eight saddled up for the Halswell Welter, over one mile and a-quarter, the Seaton Delaval colt Lavalette being sorted out as a good thing. Khaki was quickest into his stride, and led the field down the back stretch, with Narcissus and Ropu as his nearest attendants. At the seven furlongs post Natalie ran up to the leader, with Lavalette, who had been in a good position, falling back last. Puawai took fourth place rounding the turn, at which point Khaki was still in front, but once in the straight he fell back beaten, Ropu taking charge. Narcissus and Lavalette came strongly in the straight, and the lastnamed won comfortably by. a length, Narcissus beating Ropu by two lengths.