CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 750, 21 July 1904, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, July 20. First acceptance for the New Zealand Cup is due on August sth. It is reported that Red Gauntlet will not be trained for the New Zealand Cup, but will be reserved for the shorter journeys. This is bad news for a number of punters who have already backed the chestnut son of Lochiel for the big race of the year. Mr G. G. Stead heads the list of winning owners in New Zealand for the past season, his stake money amounting to £6085. Sir G. Clifford is second on the list with £5940. Mr E. J. Watt comes third with £3887 10s, and then follows Mr J. Mountforth with £2540. Golden Knight, who was to be included in Mr G. G. Stead’s team for Australia, has had to be fired, and will not be able to take part in the A.J.C. Derby. , . I hear that Mr Stead will send Cruciform, Martian, Grand Rapids and Nightfall over to the A.J C. Spring Meeting. The team will leave for Sydney in charge of R. J. Mason, on July 29. The above is a formidable quartette, and should at least pick up a few races on the other side. Slow Tom, who is favourite for the Grand National Steeplechase, was sent over a dozen fences on the schooling track last Saturday. He had Phaetonitis for a companion, but the latter soon came down, leaving Slow Tom to go on by himself. Before completing his task Slow Tom fell at the post and rails. This is the second time he has fallen lately. . , Aka Aka, Tahae and Crespm arrived from Wellington to-day. Papatu was brought down from Wellington on Saturday, arid is now located at Murray Hobbss’ place. Huku and The Mohican, who generally do their work together, are jumping well. Huku is going along all right in his preparation, and has been given an excellent chance of winning the National Hurdles with 9st 91b. Zealous and Graduated Tax were sent over the hurdles yesterday, jumping nicely. I give the former a good chance in the National Hurdles. Merry Boy, who arrived from the North on Saturday, was sent over the schooling fences on Monday, jumping very 7 well indeed. The Seaton Delaval colt, Silkworm, has resumed work again after a lengthy spell, but it is anticipated that Mason will have some trouble with him. The Cup horse, Oblivion 11., is showing improved, form, and was sent for a six furlong gallop at a strong pace on Saturday. He shaped well, and is looked upon as a certain starter in the New Zealand Cup. The weights for the three big handicaps at the Grand National Meeting have occupied the attention of sportsmen this week. In the Steeplechase the winner will, I think, come from Haydn, Kaitere, Aka Aka, and Moccasin. In the Hurdle Race, Roseshoot and Huku read as well as anything, while in the Winter Cup Vladimir, Rapids, Secret Society 7 and Matuku possess winning cha>nces • Durable was scratched for the Winter Cup at 4 p.m. on Monday. Auckland sportsmen generally, more especially breeders in that province, will be pleased to hear that Seaton Delaval is at the top of the winning sires for the past season, while Soult occupied second place. Hotchkiss is fourth Stepniak, who was at the top last year being in third place this season. Seaton Delaval had twenty winners of place-money, the amount opposite his name being £8783. Soult and Stepniak each had thirty-two winners of placemoney, their amounts being £6827 and £6397.’