CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 813, 5 October 1905, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, October 4. The betting market has been at a standstill during the past week, the bulk of the money for investment just now going over to Hobart for Tattersail’s sweeps. I was informed to-day that the Christchurch agents will put up a record this year. Rumours about Golden Knight being unsound have turned out to be incorrect, as the horse is, I understand, going along all right in his Cup preparation. He will be ridden by J. McCombe. Calibre, another Cup horse in Mr. Hobbs’ stables, is doing all that is required of him. He won the Geraldine

Cup, one mile and a-quarter, the other day, with 8.10 on his back, and beat Clanburn (7.12), Ability (7.5), and Thunderer (6.7). Calibre on recent form must beat Clanburn and Ability in the Cup if he doesn’t beat anything else. King’s Guest, the four-year-old gelding by Bill of Portland —Madowla, has been showing much improved form lately. He won a minor handicap at Geraldine, beating some fair performers in Stepaside, Grandstand, Bocastle and Jolly Roger. Veneer, the full brother to Mahutonga, won his first race in Canterbury at the Geraldine meeting last week. Veneer has been racing In this part of the colony since the National meeting, but prior to winning the Spring Handicap at Geraldine has failed to catch the judge’s eye. Veneer is being trained for the Cup, but whether his owners will consider him good enough to face the starter I cannot say. M. Hobbs has been having a turn of fortune’s favours lately, several horses in his stables scoring . at recent meetings. He has thre New Zealand Cup horses in work—Golden Knight, Calibre, and Veneer—besides some very promising youngsters. The victories of Multifid and Petticoat at Wanganui have again set sportsmen talking about that great racehorse Multiform, whose success at the stud is already assured. The Stepniak—Arline colt Makaroff won two sprint handicaps at Geraldine in convincing style. It was fully intended by Mr. H. Friedlander to send the colt to compete in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, but owing to wretched weather experienced last month, the trip had to be abandoned, as the colt was not considered forward enough. He has come on fast during the past fortnight, and

gave his owner two nice wins at Geraldine. Black Diamond scored a double win at Geraldine, scoring in the Belfield Handicap on the first day and the Stewards’ Handicap on the second. L. H. Hewitt, who had just returned from Australia, rode Black Diamond in both races—two mounts, two wins was Hewitt’s record at Geraldine. Mr. Stead’s horses Nightfall, Noctuiform, Sungod, and Isolt, fresh from their Australian victories, returned to Yaldhurst on Friday last, Mason coming over with them. Machine Gun, who is a strong fancy for the Stewards’ Handicap in well-in-formed quarters, has returned from Australia. He is looking in splendid fettle. Acrasia, a Melbourne Cup winner, has come over from Australia to visit Multiform. Three mares by Bill of Portland also came over on a visit to the Yaldhurst sire.

The annual sale of Elderslie yearlings will take place at Tattersail’s, Christchurch, on November 9. There are thirteen Stepniaks among the lots to be offered, and three by Pilgrim’s Progress. The next payment for the New Zealand Cup is due on October 20. It is expected that there will be a big weeding out, the presence of Noctuiform and Sungod in the race with 7.6 being quite sufficient to frighten some owners, who are dissatisfied with the new Cup conditions. Gold Crown and Calibre have each incurred a 51b penalty in the New Zealand Cup, their weights now being 8.2 and 7.1. Sir G. Clifford’s horses Cannie Chiel, Glenowlet, Gay Spark, and Clanchattan failed to run up to expectations at Wanganui, Can.lie Chiel in particidar showing very poor form.

Cuneiform will be heavilv backed by Christchurch sports for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, in which he will have to meet Mr. Watt’s colt King Billy, also Sir Tristram. The race between the trio should be interesting, but I favour the chance of Cuneiform, who is reported to

be as good as the other Yaldhurst Multiforms. — -■ 1