CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 816, 26 October 1905, Page 7

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, October 24. There has been very little betting on the Cup since the payment on Friday night. Nightfall still remains favourite, but backers are still in a quandary over Mr. Stead’s intentions. Some contend Nightfall will be the select of the stable on the day, while others prefer to stick by one of the three-year-olds. The best solution of the difficulty is to leave Mr. Stead’s horses alone and wait for the day of the race. Sungod and Noctuiform are quoted at 6 to 1; Achilles is a point longer; Golden Knight and Ghoorka have suddenly dropped from 33 to 10 to 1; Mahutonga’s price is now 12 to 1; Melodeon, Quarryman and Paritutu 14 to 1. Ghoorka has incurred a 71b penalty for the New Zealand Cup, his weight now being 8.1. Veneer has incurred a similar penalty, and will now have to carry 7.7. St. Michael was heavily backed for the North Otago Cup, money being invested from the right quarter. The Auckland Cup winner will be among the starters at the Cup meeting. He ran in something like his best form at- Oamaru, and if he stands up to his work during the

next fortnight he should we worth watch ing at the Riccarton carnival. Armistice was scratched for the New Zealand Cup at 10.30 a.m. on October 19. Final payments for the Cup, Derby, Oaks, and Welcome Stakes are due on Wednesday next. It is stated that Mr. Stead’s stable is not very strong in the two-year-old division this year. This should make the Welcome Stakes and two-year-old handicaps more interesting at the Cup meeting. There are several smart two-year-olds running at Riccarton in addition to Kirrimuir and Ivan off, who finished first and second in the Wellesley Stakes. Mr. J. F. Hartland, the newly-ap pointed secretary of Auckland Racing Club, was secretary for many years of the Christchurch Tramway Company. He is a keen follower of athletic sports, and has represented Canterbury in football and cricket matches. Of the Cup horses trained at Riccar ton, Quarryman and Golden Knight ar* the only two who are considered to have a winning chance. A large contingent of North Island and Southern horses is expected to reacn Riccarton this week. Up to the present, Paritutu, Douche, and Romany Girl are the only visitors who have put in an appearance on the tracks. It is generally expected that there will be at least fifteen starters in the New Zealand Cup, and that Mr. Stead will start two, Nightfall and Sungod, reserving Noctulform for the Derby. Taking a line through Marvel Loch’s running in the Caulfield Cup, Nightfall appears to have a chance second to none of winning the New Zealand Cup. Next to Mr. Stead’s elect I prefer Golden Knight, who was one of the three— Quarryman, Golden Knight, Ghoorka—l selected to win the Cup on the appearance of the weights. Many things may happen before the horses are given their winding-up gallops, but at present I cannot sort out anything in the race that is likely to bring about the defeat of Mr. Stead’s elect. Mr. Stead had no great opinion of Golden Knight as a three-year-old, but if the horse can only produce the form he showed in private last spring he may prove equal to winning the Cup. He is galloping well just now, but there is a grave suspicion that he is not as honest as he might be. Quarryman is galloping in fine style, and will be going strongly when others in the field have had enough. On recent form Achilles, Mahutonga, Ghoorka, Melodeon and Douche must each be given a chance. The winner, to my mind, will be either Nightfall or Sungod.