CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 747, 30 June 1904, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch. June 29

While doing a six furlong gallop on Thursday morning, Shellback faltered and was pulled up. When he was brought back to his box he dropped down dead. The son of Nelson failed to distinguish himself on the race track. On her Dunedin running in May, Catherine Gordon possesses an excellent chance of winning the Winter Hurdle Race at Wellington. A box has been engaged ior Waiwera at W. J. Taggart’s during the progress of the Grand National Meeting. Huku is showing splendid form over the hurdles just now, his jumping being especially good. The Mohican is being trained in company with Huku, and up to the present has shown very fair form in his jumping essays. It is announced that a limited number of approved mares may be booked to visit Clanranald this season. Hitherto Clanronald has been confined to his owner’s stud. His success has been really remarkable. The Bill of Portland horse, Treadmill, will take up stud duties this season, from which it may be concluded that this brilliant horse has finished his racing career. Treadmill won classic races over short and long courses, his victories proving conclusively that he could stay well. I hear that Mr G. Palmer has purchased the Australian-bred filly by Grafton—Equipoise, and has placed her into Clark’s hands. Mr Palmer also owns the Grafton—Choir Girl colt. News from the West Coast state that Roseal is going along nicely in his Cup preparation. The colt will not be asked to do much racing before Cup day. Last year’s Cup winner, Canteen, has come in for some support for the big race next November, but as the son of Castor is engaged in the Melbourne Cup, backers would be wise to await owner’s intentions before backing the horse to any extent for the New Zealand Cup. It is pleasanft to record Mr Sam Brown’s win with Victory in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. The Ashburton owner is an enthusiastic supporter of steeplechasing, and his win at Hawke’s Bay is the most important he has yet attained. Victory was bred in Hawke’s Bay, being by Dreadnought. Before being bought by his present owner he ran in the colours of the Hon. J. D. Ormond.

The Canterbury Jockey Club has received excellent entries for the majority of the important races to be decided at the Grand National Meeting, a record being established in the W’inter Cup, in which fifty-four horses are engaged. On paper, the field in the Grand National Steeplechase looks a poor one, but the big hurdle race has attracted all the best hurdle racers in the colony. The North Island is especially well-rc resented in jumping events, a fair number having been nominated from Auckland.

Joe Chamberlain is the first of the New Zealand Cup Candidates to win two races since the appearance of the nominations. The Bonnie Scotland colt must be above the average. Several new aspirants to hurdle race honours figure in this year’s Grand National, notably Kremlin, Regulation, Ostiak, The Mohican. Ostiak has won his maiden race over hurdles, and is sure to come into favour for the big race at Riccarton.