CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 786, 30 March 1905, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, March 2!). Starshoot was scratched for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Autumn Handicaps at 11.45 a m. on Friday last. As Starshoot is engaged in the principal handicaps at the Auckland Easter Meeting, he may be considered a likely winner of the Easter Handicap, in which he is handicapped at S'st. Melodeon’s weight in the Great Easter Handicap, 7st 71b, and Great Autumn Handicap, 7st 101 b, are evidently acceptable to his owner, otherwise the son of Medallion would have had the pen put through his name the same as Starshoot. Melodeon’s weight in the Great Autumn gives him an excellent chance of winning that event? Mr J. Buckley, of Oamaru, has purchased Cathron, by Ohligado—Catherine. The price was about £250. Cathron is in the Great Easter Handicap, in which he has 6st 71b. Lady Lyonors will run in the Champion Hack Stakes at Manawatu. She is one of the favodrites for the Great Easter Handicap. The following are the entries for the Timaru Cup, one mile and a-quarter :— Calibre, Secret Society, De la Rev, Royal Crown, Convoy, Speculate, Tirole, and Koputai. Sandy, who failed to score a win* at Nelson, has returned to Christchurch. The Akaroa County Racing Club will hold its race meeting at Plumpton on April 1, the course at Little River being in an unfit state for racing. F. Busch will sell his racing stock at Tattersall’s during Easter week. The stallion Good-bye, by Artillery— Adieu, the brood mares Adieu, Far Sight, Signal, several youngsters by Good-bye, Cuirassier, Sant Ilario, and Banner will be among those offered for sale. The favourites for the Great Easter Handicap are Valadimar, Savoury, Master Alix, and Lady Lyonors, and for the Great Autumn Handicap, Convoy, Lady Wayward, Melodeon, Night-

fall are favourite selections. Owing to several Canterbury horses competing the Wellington Meeting this week, is attracting more than an ordinary amount of attention. The Thompson Handicap is certain to ne a good betting race. I expect to see Signalman run well forward. This horse won the Craven Plate in fine style, and if he has retained the form he showed at Riccarton last month, he ought to win the Thompson. The race between Achilles and Machine Gun in the North Island Challenge Stakes should be alone worth seeing. I expect to see Achilles win, hut Machine Gun will give the champion a hard The Christchurch Racing Club will hold its Autumn Meeting on May 6. The club has made several substantial increases in the xalue of stales. V. Cotton will have the mounts on Sir G. Clitord’s horses at the Wellington and AJar'awatu Meetiogs. Great Gun, by Hotchkiss—Sybil, was sold at Tattersall’s on Saturday. Mr V. Watson Being the purchaser... ...The horse has been placed in E. Roden’s- hands. The St. Simon—Ambleside horse St. Ambrose, recently purchased by Mr J. B. Reid, arrived ‘at Lyttelton on Friday, and was at once laken out to the Canowie Stud farm at Riccarton. Sunpod, who has not raced since tince the Auc’ land Summer Aleeti'r.g, will very likely be among the starters at the Canterbury Autumn Meeting. Noctuiform is still running about the naddock, and it is not li’-ely he will race again this season. J. McCrae" en has returned from the West Coast with Nor’-wester. He left Clanbtrn over efi the Coast in charge of W. Brown, who will look after the horse, until after the Reefton Meeting. The following horses are likely to run well at the Akaroa Club’s Meeting on Saturday : —Hurdles,, Rona. Cup, Ability or Secret Society. Flying, Saranges.’ Open Welter, Saranges or Royal Crown. District Welter, Elithe Maid.