CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 840, 12 April 1906, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

April ii., Achilles was scratched for the Great Easter Handicap at 2 p.m. on Monday. Master Alix, who was withdrawn from the Great Autumn, but is st 11 in the Great Easter Handicap, has been showing signs of lameness after working. Martian is showing in and out form on the tracks, where he will put up a good gallop one day and a very bad one the next tme of asking. I cannot see how he is going to be dressed in his best next week'.

Boomerang and Starshoot arrived safely from the North on Sunday. Quinlivan has got the pair looking in fine fettle, and they should not return home without scoring at least some of the place money in the b g handicaps. Kirriemuir is galloping well, and if she keeps going I cannot see how she can miss winning the Champagne Stakes. Her strongest opposit on will come from Yaldhurst. The Mohican has thrown off the soreness which was troubling him a week ago, and on Monday he jumped a few hurdles in his best style. Ability has been putting in some smart gallops over half a m le, getting over the distance in sosec on two occasions during the week. Hilarity accomplished the fastest gallop on Monday, cutting out half a mile in 49 1-5 sec. Hilarity has been work ng in company with Terrapin, who has always held her safe. Stepdancer has done the best gallops over a d stance; in fact, she is the only candidate in the Great Autumn who has galloped the journey at Riccarton s'nce my last. Stepdancer is very fit, and is greatly fancied in many quarters for the Great Autumn. The South Canterbury Jockey Club made a profit of over its Autumn meeting. Sir G. Clifford’s horses fared very badly at Manawatu, and followers of the stable had the worst time experienced for some time past. Eght starts with only one

second is indeed a poor record. I, among many others, cannot understand why Glenowlet, Lady Wayward and Chryseis did not manage to win at least one race between them. Probably they were not good enough. The Stepniak—Waimate Maid filly Volodia won a double at Rangiora, but the opposit on was only about third-class. Volodia is in the Great Easter with 6.7, and also the minor handicaps. The Autumn Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be held on Monday and Tuesday next. Despite the scarcity of outs de horses there is every prospect of race-goers seeing some capital racing. The two big handicaps are certain to attract good fields, while the juvenile events should produce keen contests. Final payments and acceptances are not due until Thursday night, so with several owners hav ng two or three horses in one race it is somewhat difficult to sort out the probable winners. In the Great Easter, Piosser, Sir Geo. Clifford and Mr. Stead have each three horses still in the race, while Mr. P. Watt and Buckley have two to choose from. Munjeet is still a firm favourite. When the weights appeared I at once pounced upon the Stepniak filly as a likely winner, and if she is stripped in her best on Monday I shall expect to see her win. Cross Battery has been doing excellent work at Riccarton, and the same remark applies to Signalman, Petrovna and Clanchattan. I shall place them: Munjeet, Cross Battery and Zetland.

For the other events on the first day my selections are : — Kildare Hurdles : Rongoa. Autumn Plate : Czarevna Hemlock, Soltikoff.

Champagne Stakes : Kirriemuir. Epsom Welter : Highland Reel, Ability, Antigone. Russley Plate : Edna May, F reiron. Gimcrack Race: Matuku, Largesse. Sockburn Handicap: Terrapin, Somaroff.

The Great Autumn Handicap and Challenge Stakes will be run on Tuesday. Delaware, Convoy, Boomerang, Stepdancer, Savoury and Clanchattan have all been well backed, and here again five stables have two horses in the race. Boomerang was my first selection, and if he is the elect of the stable I think he will be found fight ng out the finish with Mr. Stead’s best, probably Delaware, while Convoy may be at the head of the others.

THE NORTH CANTERBURY MEETING.

The North Canterbury J.C. had beautiful weather for its annual race meeting on Thursday last. A large number of Christchurch racegoers went out by special train, and backers had a good day, n less than five favourites winning. The Hurdle Handicap, one mile and a-half, looked to be well within Graduated Tax’s keeping, but after running prominently throughout he was beaten by Helios by two lengths. Lee-Enfield was third. Nor ous Weed and Myrtle Berry were the other starters.

The Maiden Hack Handicap brought out 12 starters, the Stepniak filly Volodia be ng served up a hot favourite. After going three furlongs Vololia drew out and easily holding her own won anyhow by two lengths from Pattypan, Sayonara being another length away third, w th Assegai close up fourth. The North Canterbury Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, fell to Farley Grove, who came right away from the field in the last quarter, and won by three lengths from Great Gun. Rongoa being third five lengths behnd Great Gun. Helios and Parole were the other s'.arters.

The Rangiora Welter, one mile, brought out seven starters. Mangrove was voted a moral. Whakaraupo led until halfway down the straight, when Mangrove overhauled him and won a splendid finish by half a length. Highland Fling was a length away third. The Selling "Hack Handicap produced the best race of the day. There were seven starters, and Great Gun won by a head from Parole, who just beat Whakaraupo by a neck. Curate was favourite. The Flying Handicap, five furlongs, saw Volodia again in winning form. She never gave her backers any cause for alarm, for after beisg :n front nearly all the way she romped home an easy - winner a length in front of Mango. Korea was a neck behind Mango. The Sefton Trot, two miles, was won bj Rickerty, who beat To-morrow by three lengths, with Hinau third. Maoriwood, who was made favourite, was also heavily backed away from the course, but was never prom nent. In the Ashley Trot, one mile lanto, coupled with Maoriwood, won easily. Hinau was second, and To-morrow third. RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. Trainers have been kept busy during the week, and w th climatic conditions a’.l in th -ir favour, horses having engagements at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s

Autumn Meeting have had no interruption in their preparation. The tracks are in capital order just now, and some smart performances were put up on Thursday and Saturday morn ng. On Thursday McGuinness was out before daylight and sent Tirole for a six-furlong gallop. Chivalry went once round, brushing home over the last two furlongs; both horses are looking well. Kirriemuir sprinted five furlongs, but did not attempt to put up fast t me. Signalman and Clanchattan, who have been working in company, set out for a trial over the Great Easter distance on the plough. The colt had the measure of his stable mate from the start and beat him at the finish by a couple of lengths in 1.32 J. Both horses were right out at the finish. Although Clanchattan defeated Signalman, I think the latter w 11 turn the tables if both start in the Great Easter. Ivanoff, Field Gun and Franc hopped away together at the halfmile post, and going at their best pace ail the way cut out the distance in 50 sec. Ivanoff was just in front of Franc at the winning post, Field Gun being two lengths away. Cannie Ch'el beat De Witte in a spin over six furlongs, run in 1.18 3-5. Cross Battery put up the best time over

six furlongs, doing the journey in 1.18 from a standing start. The filly is in cap tai nick, and will be hard to beat in the Great Easter. Martian and Tsitsihar galloped a mile, but were not asked to d t their best. Pas Seul easily held Largesse safe at the end of five furlongs, run in 1.55. Ability cut out half a mile in 50 2-5 sec, fin shing well. Petrovna ran away from Knastikoff in a half-mile flutter, cut out in- 49 2-5 sec. The Stepniak mare looks as well as ever. Czarevna galloped six furlongs in 1.20 J. Stepdancer was seen at her best in a gallop over a mile and a-quarter, the full distance being done in 2.14. Stepdancer finished up her task really well, and on her present form should take a lot of beat ng in the Great Autumn Handicap. The Mohican, who is throwing off his soreness, strode over half a mile in 54 sec on the plough. Most of the work on Saturday morning was done on the plough. Kirriemuir was one of the first to work, her task being a fast six furlongs, which she left behind n 1.18 2-5. She finished strongly, but, as usual, walked lame when going back to the sheds. Signalman was going better than Clanchattan at the end of a fast run six furlongs, the time being 1.18. This was the best gallop during the morning. Cannie Chiel beat Lapland easily by a couple of lengths over the same d stance, which was run in 1.18 3-5. Cross Battery beat Pas Seul by a length in a gallop over the Great Easter distance from a standing start, the time being 1.33. Stepdancer, assisted by The Mohican over the last seven furlongs, galloped a mile and a-half in 2.45 4-5. The mare went well throughout, and could have made much faster time. Makaroff fin shed strongly at the end of seven furlongs, which he left behind in 1.34 4-5 from a flying start. Martian and Tsitsihar galloped a mile in a shade under 1.48, the former, who is improv ng, having the most say at the finish. Beau Seaton, Bagpipes anl Rongoa started together at the mile post. The first two raced in company all the way, there being nothing to choose between them at the finish. Rongoa was outpaced. Master Alix, Convoy and Lady Landon who arrived from Oamaru the previous night, were out doing steady cantering. Master Alix showed signs of lameness in the off hind leg. Convoy appears to be quite sound. Petrovna easilv beat Knastikoff over six furlongs. Magnificent, Pattypan, Eurus,, Allegresse, Assegai, Te Taiaha, Tirole, Lee-Enfield

and Phaetonitis were allotted steady work. TUESDAY. A keen clear morning called trainers, jockeys and touts to their duties th s morning after sunrise. The early birds were rewarded with magnificent weather and many interesting gallops. Proceedings opened with Signalman (McCluskey) and Clanchattan (Jones) runrfng five furlongs up the back on the plough in 1.9, the former holling his companion safe. Somaroff (Carr) galloped a mi'e, the last seven furlongs of which occupied Boomerang (H. Dick) and Starshoot (Donnahay) then were associated in a good working gallop over a mile and a-quar-ter, wh ch was completed in 2.171, the first six furlongs being run ii 1.20 3-5. They finished abreast, both horses going strongly and well Good Sight (. G. King) was going better than Adrift (Derrett) at the end of a spin of five furlongs on the grass which occup ed 1.5 3-5. De W tte (McLuskey) defeated Cannie Chiel (Jcnes) by two lengths, running six furlongs on the plough in 1.19 1-5. Ivanoff and Field Gun, carying about equal weights, galloped six furlongs on the grass from a standing start in 1.19 3-5, and both were fully extended ; Field Gun finished a length in front. Lapland (Carr), ass sted by Watershoot (L. K ; ng) over the last half-mile, was extended over five

and a-half furlongs, the last five of which were run in 1.4 3-5. Cross Battery (James Pine) registered the best gallop of the morning, covering six furxngs from a walking up start in J-i 6 3 - 5- She finished really well, and was not ridden out. It was the most attractive gallop that has been recorded for some considerable time, and her performance greatly pleased the track watchers. Volodia, with a very light weight up, ran seven furlongs in 1.32 J, tiring badly at the finish. Hemlock and Pas Seul, carrying about equal weights, were companions in a gallop of seven furlongs, the last six of which occupied 1.20 3-5 ; neither was extended, and they finished together, but Hemlock appeared as though he could have beaten his companion somewhat eas ly. Largesse, who was last to work before breakfast, put in a working gallop over six furlongs.

After the breakfast interval Ability (Donovan) ran half a mile easily in 511 sec. Pattypan (Hewitt), Miss Doris (Olsen) and Alex : s (Derrett) galloped five furlongs in 1.6 from a standing start, Alexis showing to most advantage. Martian, with Assegai for a companion, traversed a mile and a-quarter at three-quar-ter speed, being anxious to mprove the pace, while Bagpipes was going better than Eurus at the end of a strongly-run mile. Quickfire (Derrett) alone ran a similar distance. Stepdancer (McLuskey), assisted by The Moh can (L. King) over the last half-milt, galloped a mile in 1.48 2-5. She appeared fully extended, anl her display was disappointing. Narcissus and Resound brushed over half a mile in 521 sec, fin shing together, while Czarevna was going better than Lee-Enfield over six furlongs, which occupied 1.21. Hilarity finished two lengths in front of Terrapin over a mile, the last seven furlongs being run in 1.33!, and Allegresse was more than a match for HandM while running half a mile up the back in 52J. Mythical (McLuskey) strode over five furlongs in 1.4. Makaroff (McGuire) dashed over seven furlongs on the plough in 1.33. He finished really well, and appeared as though he could have improved upon that time considerably. Slow Tom compassed two circuits, brushing down the straight each time, while Petrovna (R. King) had Highland Fling (McLuskey) well beaten at the end of five furlongs. Tit-ole’s task was a working gallop over a mile, and Matuku defeated Mango over half a mile up the back in 52 1-5 sec. Knastikoff, who started yith them, was beaten off by several lengths. Stratagem (Jones) ran five furlongs up the back in 1.5 from a standing start. Snowstell, who was to have accompanied her, was left bv several lengths, and failed to make up any of her leeway- Gallantry (McLuskey) and Pretty Face (Jones) finished together at the end of a fast five furlongs, wh ch was run in 1.4, and Franc and Aimee Soult were not nearly extended while running a similar distance in 1.5. Ladv Landon (Derrett) brushed over half a mile in 50 2-5 sec, finishing well. Master Alix and Convoy, with sweaters on, did half and three-quarter pace work over two circuits. Master Alix continues to exhibit evidence of unsoundness, both during and after working. The following horses were given useful to 1' ght tasks: Korea, Fireiron, Tsitsihar, An’igone, Farley Grove, Te Taiaha, Magnificent and Chivalry.