CANTERBURY J.C. SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 819, 16 November 1905, Page 8

CANTERBURY J.C. SPRING MEETING.

(By Our Canterbury Correspondent).

THIRD DAY. Fine in the morning, a cold wind at noon, a hailstorm at two o’cio.k, and steady rain during the remainder of the afternoon, represents the mixture served up on the third day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting. Those who came Without coats or umb.ellas had a bad time, the rain keeping them in the stand until the train time. Speculation also suffered, especially in the last three races, when the ground in front of the totalisator was a sea of slush. The racing, considering the adverse conditions, was very good. The Suburban Hurdles first claimed attention, Waiwera and Miss King receiving most support in a field of eight. Error was first to show out, and passing Cutts’ he was leading Scottish Minstrel by three lengths, Miss King and Catherine Gordon being at the head of the others. At the mile post Miss King ran past the leaders, and piloted the field to the sixfurlong post, when she was joined by Waiwera. This pair ran on together to the last hurdle, when the mare came away and beat old Waiwera by a length. Scottish Minstrel was 10 lengths further away third, just in front of Catherine Gordon. A fine field of 11 two-year-olds faced the starter in the Spring Nursery Handicap. The Clanranald—Madowla filly Kirriemuir struck the eye as the most racylooking youngster, and she was sent out a strong favourite. The Yaldhurst colt Huascar was also well backed. The race is easily described. Kirriemuir shot out at the start, and after leading all the way, beat Lady Landon by three lengths, Stars and Stripes filling third position, half a length behind the Seaton Delaval filly. Lapland was fourth and Huascar fifth.

The Canterbury Cup resolved itself into a match between Mahutonga and the Cup winner, Noctuiform. The race was run in a blinding hailstorm, the pair being sent on their two and a-half mile journey a few seconds after a tremendous peal of thunder. The colt led for the first six furlongs, when Mahutonga ran up to him and showed the way to the half-mile post. Nootuiform drew up again in a few strides and was in front, finally winning by nearly 100 yards. Mahutonga as of no use whatever to the colt, and in the last half mile his rider wisely refrained from punishing the horse, whose task was a hopeless one. By the time the Jockey Club Handicap came on for decision, the rain had made the course very heavy, 'and riders returned covered with mud. There were eight starters, Vladimir being sent out a better favourite than Sir G. Clifford’s pair, Signalman and Chryseis, and Achilles. Crichton led for a furlong, " hen he was passed by Chryseis, who at once set out to make the pace a cracker. The filly led to the distance, when shewas joined by Signalman, with Vladimir Sir Tristram, Apollodoris and Crichton handy. Signalman was in front with a furlong to go, and despite a strong run by Vladimir beat him by a neck, a similar distance separating Vladimir and Chryseis. Then came Apollodoris, Crichton and Sir Tristram. Achilles was never in the hunt, he and Convoy being the last to finish.

The Avon Welter brought out a field of fourteen, Lady Wayward being sent out a warm favourite. Heavy rain fell during the progress of the racb, and the two horses to get away at the start, Makaroff and Speculate, were never caught, the former winning easily by three lengths, with the favourite third two

lengths further away, a head in front of Blythemaid. The Oaks Stakes attracted a much larger field than usual, six fillies facing the barrier. Nothing had a chance . with Isolt, who, after Petticoat had piloted the field for six furlongs, went to the front, and won in an easy canter by six lengths from Vardo, who was three lengths in front of Tsikihar, with Carevna; fourth, Marguerite fifth, and Petticoat a bad last.

The next two races—the Ashby Handicap and Electric Plate—were run in very heavy going. In the former event, six furlongs, Pas Seul was sent out favourite in a field of ten. After running in front for two furlongs Ingleneuk lost her rider. Berisina was leading at the distance post, prominent of the others being Zetland, Pas Seul, Ailsa, and To-morrow. A little further on Medallist put in a strong run, and gradually wearing down the leaders, beat Beresina by half a length, Zetland being a similar distance away third. Tomorrow was fourth and Pas Seul fifth. The Electric Plate was the medium for some spirited betting. Cuneiform had a slight call over Machine Chin when the numbers went up. Glenowlet hopped away smartly, and came on to the course proper well clear of Cuneiform and Machine Gun. At the distance Cuneiform drew alongside Glenowlet, and quickly settling her, drew away and won fairly easily by a length from Machine Gun, who was half a length in front of Glenowlet, with Master Alix fourth, Chivalry fifth, and Volodia last.

CONCLUDING DAY.

Racing on the fourth day was conducted on soft going, while climatic conditions interfered greatly with the enjoyment of the spectators who braved the elements and journeyed to Biccarton. It was indeed a bad winding up to what at the outset promised to be a highly successful gathering. The favourites prevailed in three (the Cressy Welter, Jubilee Cup, and Pioneer Handicap )out of eight events, but on the whole backers had a rough time, and bore a gloomy aspect at the conclusion of the racing. Proceedings commenced with the Port Cooper Hurdles, a strong favourite being made of Tupara, while Scottish Minstrel in the soft going was considered to have a chance second only to the son of Hotchkiss. This pair never had a chance when it came to racing in the last half mile. At this stage Narcissus and Catherine Gordon were in front, but once in line for home the top weight, The Mohican, despite his steadier of 11.13, soon overhauled the leaders and won comfortably by three lengths from a rank outsider in Wi Waka, who defeated Narcissus by a similar distance for second place. The Cressy Welter attracted a field of twelve starters, the public at once sorting out the Soult filly Pas Seul (Hewitt) as a really good thing. The start proved disastrous to Golden Vein and Czarevna, both of whom got badly away. Lee Enfield began quickiy, and he led round the turn from Mango and Vardo. At the

turn for home Cross Battery was in the lea J, and a little later Mango and Vardo rvtircd beaten. Pas Seal came through from the distance, and quickly settling Cross Battery, won cleverly by a long neck Bagpipes was close up third, and Makaroff fourth. Ihe Members’ Handicap brought out a fine field o» fourteen horses, including several who raced in the Stewards’ Handicap. Sir G. Clifford’s pa.r, Quarrynidi an •. Chr>>eis, wen* installed favourites the Yaldhvrs: filly Eden, who ran badly on the second day, receiving more support than th.? others. At the start Vladimir, as usual, gave a lot of trouble, but when the barrier went up he was fairly under way and making the pace a merry one to the half-mile post. Quarryman was his nearest attendant, and then came Alexis and Master Alix. At the distance Quarryman, and Vladimir were together, but Solution coming through with a brilliant run, soon overhauled them and won a splendid race by two lengths from Master Alix. Vladimir was thiid a length away, followed by Quarryman ar 1 Crichton. I lie I jn- Per Cup was CG , t es t e( ] by 13 two-year-olds, of whom Kirriemuir was considered the pick. Zimmerman played up at the post, and eventually got badly away. The race was an easy one for Kirriemuir, who, after being with the front division for a couple of furlongs, drew away and won easily by three lengths from Stars and Stripes. Field Cun was third just in front of Gallantry. r jhe Jubilee Cup proved an easy rc thing for Isolt, who won easily by three lengths. A great race for second place took place between Mahutonga and Signalman, the judge being unable to separate the pair. Machine Gun was. the only other starter. Ihe Randolph Handicap saw a North Island sportsman, the Hon. J; D. Ormond’s, colt Sir Tristram gain

win from Beresina, wjio tired badly over the last two furlongs. Chivalry, who found' the heavy going too much for him, was third, just in front Of Ballarat. The Fehdalton Handicap is generally recognised by backers as the' recovery stakes, but it invariably proves disastrous to them. This year’s race proved no exception to the rule, a rank outsider in a field of fourteen winning from the favourite. The winner, Makaroff, a three-year-old colt by Stepniak—Arline, had run well on the first and third days, but in the Cressy Welter on the fourth day he could only get fourth in a field not ly any means as strong as in the Fendalton Handicap. Makaroff is, however, a smart colt, and he won the Fendalton Handicap, coming at the right end and defeating Gay Spark by a length, Lyrist being third two lengths away just clear of Stepdancer and Blythemaid.