Inter-Provincial

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 685, 23 April 1903, Page 14

Inter-Provincial

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch April 21.

After seeing the races at Riccarton last week, 1 select the winner of the Thompson Handicap from Scylla, Pampero, and Pallas, with preference for Pallas and Scylla. Either Petrovna or Lolah may win the Railway Handicap. Lavalette reads well in the Heretaunga Handicap, while Nell Gwynnc should be hard to beat in the Tinakori Hack Handicap. Mr Stead has sold his Stcpniak colt, King Log, and Hotchkiss colt, Evelyn Wood, to a South African buyer. The horses will be sent to their new hew home shortly. A two mile trotting match between Mr A. J. Buckland’s St. Simon v. Mr Harris’ Victory 11. had been arranged to takeplace to-day, but fell through. Tercelet did not start at Riccarton last week, but will be given a run in the Hackraces at Wellington. At a sale of racehorses on Wednesday last, Calibre was bought by J. Greig for 54 guineas; Muscovite fell to R. Solomon’s bid of 40 guineas ; Lady Babbie fetched 20 guineas; Redoubt, 19 guineas; Dun Brown, 25 guineas. The trotting stallion, General Tracy, was passed in at 400 guineas. Lady Lillian’s earnings in the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps amounted to £l3OO. The mare was scratched for her Wellington engagements directly the weights appeared. She is a likely starter at the Timaru Meeting. The champion pacer Ribbonwood, gave a fine exhibition of speed at the New Zealand Metropolitan Chib’s grounds on Saturday, in an exhibition mile. The black son of Wildwood lowered his previous Australasian record to 2m'in 9sec. The first half-mile was cut out in imin 4Reb. Ribbonwood went like a piece of machinery, and I venture the opinion we have not vet seen him do his best over a mile. Mr A. Rutherford, M.H.R., bought Victory IT. on Saturday from Mr Z Harris, the price paid being £lOO. The 7 orpedoRivulet colt, Waitarere, ran very disappointingly in the Russley Hate. He is a fine-looking colt, and may do better when he is sharpened up for next season s iac-

Everyone is talking of ilie success oi Sir Geo. Clifford at the Christjhureh Autumn Meeting last week. On the first day the Bill oi Portland youngs;,er, '1 readmill and Qti'arryman, easily defeated the other two-year-olds in their races. Windwhistle won the Epsom Welter, white other representatives of the stable, although not actually winning stake money, ran prominently. On the second day, however, horses with the blue and gold chequers got placed in every race in which they were engaged. Quarryman started off by getting second to Machine Gun in the Autumn Nursery , Cannie Chiel filled a similar position in the Great Autumn ; 'l'readmill scored a brilliant win in the Challenge Stakes ; Golden vein got third place in the 'Templeton Handicap ; and Goldenmere finished second in the Addington Plate--truly a grand record. Doth Sir George and his popular trainer, E. Cutts, were heartily congratulated on their success. It was indeed pleasing t(7 sec the veteran trainer lead in so malty place-getters. In 'Treadmill he has a bril liant colt to prepare for next year s ..lassie events, and a win in the Derby would be hailed with delight 'by scores of racegoers. April 22. 'There is practically no belting over the Thompson Railway Handicap double at Wellington. Only one penciller has opened a book —a. very small one. Rosemere broke down badly in the Addington Plate. One of his legs gave way, and Donovan had some difficulty in getting the son of Westmere back • to the paddock,. Deerstalker pulled up lame after running in the Maiden Plate. 'This handsome colt has probably run his last race. ('lytic did not start at the Easter Meeting, at Riccarton. One of his legs gave way just before the meeting opened. Mr S. Solomon has presented Blazer and Battler to his trainer and Jackson, one condition being stipulated that Blazer is not to be raced again. In the 'Templeton Handicap, won by Lolah, Blazer gave a glimpse of his old form, and certainly gave one thq impression that he would take a lot of beating in the six furlongs races at Wellington. 'Treadmill now rank's as the best two-year-old colt of the year, Machine Gun taking second place. Sea Lion is probably next best, but cm form that honour rests with Quarryman. Kamo’s performances entitle her to be reckoned among the first three, but if Kamo meet Sea Lion and Quarryman, 1 tliin’k the lastnamed would win.

'The hurdle racers in the South Island are a very poor lot, and unless some of the present season’s flat racers • are put to the jumping game Canterbury will have to draw largely on the North Island for the Grand National Meeting. On form displayed lately Roller is easily first among the South Island hurdlers, but the son of Dreadnought is reported to be unsound. He 'bobs up serenely, however, when required, and wins races against sound animals. Clanb-urn) ran in both hurdle races at the late meeting, but at present he is quite a novice at the game, and will requirq a lot of schooling before being good enough to win a race in decent company.