TRAINING NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 752, 4 August 1904, Page 8

TRAINING NOTES.

RICCARTON

(By Our Canterbury Correspondent.)

We are now within two weeks of the Grand National Meeting. Bitn horses arriving almost every day Training work at Riccarton is become. ■ ‘ re-ting. The weather held fine up to Sunday, when rain commenced to fall and has continued at intervals up to the time of writing. It is now very cold, with every prospect of very severe frosts or a fall of snow. A large number of horses worked on Saturday morning’, when the tracks were in capital order. Most of the work, was accomplished on the inner plough tiack. Sharp at eight o’clock Huku traversed three circuits, the first steady, the second at half-speed, and finishing over the last round at a sound three-quarter speed. Cannie Chiel dashed over a mile gom freely and well, while Roseshield negotiated two circuits, finishing down the straight at three-quarter speed each round. Brave Heart ran six furlongs, while Ability and Methuen separately put in half-steady pacing over two circuits. The Mohican (Legarty) and Bayonet (McGregor) were then associated in a schooling task over hurdles. The Mohican, who fenced proficiently, easily outpaced his companion, who, however, jumped satisfactorily. Plantaganet galloped a mile, while Catherine Gordon compassed two circuits, finishing down the straight at a solid half-pace each time. Wet Reef traversed about a mile and ahalf at his best pace, while Hotu negotiated the circuit at three-quarter speed. Zealous, with an advantage in weight, held Gold Bangle safe at the end of a spin over six furlongs, while Cerise and Blue appeared to be going well at the end of a strongly run seven furlongs. Mokowhiti (McGregor) cantered round to the top and was then brought on to the schooling track. He negotiated the first flight of hurdles in good style, but on coming to the next obstacle. he stood off too far and came down, giving his rider a bad fall. Onlookers soon gathered round and it was at once seen that McGregor was badly hurt. lie was carried to the hotel when a doctor was telephoned for. McGregor is conscious, but it is thought that his collar-bone is broken, while he has also been severely shaken. Secret Society and .Petrovna together were given a sprinting task over about three furlongs. Clanburn galloped once round, while la was given trotting exercise over three circuits. Star (Quinton) alone was given a schooling task over the big fences, but he did not jump in a pleasing manner, running off at one of the obstacles, while he showed a tendency to shirk some of the other fences. Haydn (Derrett) and Ranana (Julian) traversed two circuits, the first at steady three-quarter speed and the second at a working gallop. The pair went pleasingly and were anxious to improve the pace. Papatu put in long steady pacing, while Ordinance and De la Rey ran five furlongs, finishing together. Kaitere’s task was steady to strong half-pacing over three circuits. There appeared to be little to choose between Manjess (Donovan) and Lady Soult (Derrett) at the end of a spin over five furlongs. Pipi negotiated two circuits, the first at half-speed and the second at threequarter speed. Graduated Tax was given a similar journey, while Wet Blanket galloped six furlongs. Phaetontis (Moraghan) and Comfort (Lind) were companions in a schoolingtask for two rounds over big fences. The pair kept together throughout and fenced safely. Slow Tom (Delaney) alone followed the above pair over the big fences and jumped in a finished manner, although he was allowed to go at a leisurely pace throughout. Aka Aka (W. O’Connell), and Crespin

(Howard), were then associated. Starting down the straight they reached the double, where the latter ran round, but was eventually got over. He also missed the second fence, and continuing, the pair increased the pace ; both fenced well over the post and rails and sod wall. On coming to the double again Crespin refused, but after several attempts by the onlookers to frighten him over, he eventually succeeded in scrambling over. The pair then got together again and fenced safely over the post, and rails, and sod wall. Aka Aka especially pleased by his bold style of fencing, but Crespin was a very disappointing display. Moccasin (Quinton) fenced in his usual finished manner in a schooling task oyer two circuits of the big fences, while Oyster (Swinburn), and Wonderful

(M’Laughlin), gave a fairly creditable exhibition over the hurdles. Oyster was taken over the double but missed the second fence on two occasions, but eventually jumped correctly. Tahae and Oblivion 11. ran a strong mile, finishing together, while Merry Boy travelled three circuits on the tan, the last two rounds at half-speed. Reliance and Hector negotiated two circuits, the last mile of the journey at a working pace. Kremlin and The Guesser separately put in two steady circuits. Both horses are looking well, the former especially so.

On Sunday a dense fog obscured the course during the greater part of the morning and was accompanied by a steady rain. Slow Tom cantered once round, and then traversed two circuits at three-quarter speed, going freely. This horse is very well. Aka Aka covered two circuits at halfspeed, while Tahae and Crespin separately put in steady pacing over two rounds.

Oblivion ran six furlongs, while Kremlin went two circuits, the first at a steady half-pace and the second round at three-quarter speed. The Guesser did similar work.

Haydn’s task was two circuits at half-speed, and Carlo went freely over two circuits at a good three-quarter speed. The following horses were given half to steady pacing Catherine Gordon, Rose Shield, Ability, Reliance and Balfour. Several others were out walking on the roads.

On Monday rain fell, and the tracks were wet and greas>. Most of the horses claiming engagements at the Meeting were out, but nothing beyond half to steady pacing was accomplished, several of the candidates were out exercising on the roads. Hippowai, who arrived yesterday, was out. He is looking in fine fettle. The weather was bitterly cold tiiis (Tuesday) morning. The outside of the course proper was opened, and although somewhat heavy, it provided good going. Shortly before eight o’clock, Huku started operations by covering one round, being allowed to run home the last half mile at his best pace. The Mohican, with St. Reef for a companion, broke away at the mile and a half post. Reaching the six furlongs post he was joined by Methuen, and the pair raced home together ; it was a good, useful gallop. Cannie Chiel galloped a mile, while Rose Shield negotiated two circuits, finishing over the last half-mile at three-quarter speed. Catherine Gordon was given a similar task. Shellfire traversed a circuit at three-quarter speed, and Clanburn galloped one mile and a quarter. Star compassed two circuits, brushing over the last half-mile of each round. Phaetonitis, Agitator and Narcissus were companions over two circuits, first at half-speed and the second at a working gallop. Hippowai covered two circuits at halfspeed, and Cerise and Blue galloped one mile in lmin ssec, finishing well. Papatu’s task was a couple of circuits, first at half-speed and the second round at three-quarter speed. He went more freely than usual. King Stork sprinted half a mile easily in 55sec, and Secret Society with the worse of the weights defeated Petrovna over seven furlonJgs in imin 37 i-ssec, an attractive performance. Reliance performed creditably in the schooling task once round over the hurdles, while Pipi alone negotiated two circuits, the first at half-speed and the second at a good striding pace. Gold Bangle and Trent bridge finished together at the end of a gallop over six furlongs. Crespin appeared to be going better than Comfort at the end of a strong run, a mile and a half, which occupied 3min 2 i-ssec. la brushed over the last half-mile of two steady circuits, and Princess of Thule compassed two rounds at a leisurely pace. Aka Aka, Tahae and Slow Tom were galloped a circuit which occupied Smin 52sec. 'rhe three kept together until half-way down the straight. Aka Aka finished particularly well, and greatly pleased the onlco ers. Haydn, Kaitere and Ranana traversed a circuit at half-speed, and then went on for another round at a good striding pace, finishing together. Merry Boy, who had done half-pace over two rounds, joined the three down the straight, and finished with them. Zealous and Graduated Tax gave a creditable display in a schooling task once round over the hurdles, and afterwards cantered on the course proper, and brushed home down the straight. Moccasin did half-pace work over two rounds, and Cremona was ridden out over six furlongs. Carlo and Bayonet galloped six furlongs in lmin 25sec, and Manjess traversed a mile at threequarter speed.

Kremlin and Lady Soult were associated over one mile and a half, the former going in an attractive manner.

Oyster (Mr Swinburn), and Milord (M. McLauchlin), negotiated six flights of hurdles without any mishap. The former is showing improved form. Oblivion 11. was extended over half a mile, which occupied 52|sec, a very good performance. Lee-Enfield ran a mile easily in imin 55sec, while Ine Guesser and Balfour negotiated two circuits. Huku travelled once round at three-quarter speed, and Mahutonga, ■who is looking in good fettle, did steady work. . Sultana, Eurus, and Never Mind separately accomplished useful tasks, while Scottish Minstrel, who arrived yesterday, was out, but did not work.