CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 845, 17 May 1906, Page 7

CANTERBURY.

May 16.

Porcelain, after suffering two narrow defeats by Achilles, scored his first win in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes. He beat four good two-year-old's in Zimmerman, Moscow, Loftus and Mungista, and if he keeps sound should win some of the classics next season.

The Canterbury horses have been well looked after in the jumping events at Wanganui. Slow Tom has 11.8 in the Wanganui Steeplechase, while Phaetonitis has 10.12, and Eurus 10.3 in the same race. Of the two, I prefer Eurus. In the Century Hurdles Ability, 9.10, has been asked to give weight to such well-performed hurdle racers as Hydrant and Dalkey. I really think Mr. Buckley’s recent purchase might have been let off with a few pounds less than he has received'. Those two old battlers, Victory and Roller, have been entered for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase and Hurdle Race respectively. Both have figured on the Hastings course before, Roller being included among the list of winners of the big hurdle race at Hawke’s Bay. Convoy and Ability have both been entered' for the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle Race.

Makaroff, who ran much below expectations at the Canterbury Autumn Meeting, has won three races in succession since W. O. Rutherford bought him at Easter. Makaroff scored at the first time of asking for Rutherford in the Christchurch Handicap, and last week won the two principal handicaps at Ashburton. He had very little to beat on the first day, but on the second day gave Convoy 41b and Czarevna a stone, both being unplaced. Makaroff is a smart colt when he takes it into his head to gallop. At the Ashburton races, Makaroff, Assegai, Miss Doris and' First Shot each won two races, one race each day. The Benzoin —Corselet filly Assegai has improved a lot during the past month', winning the last three races she started in. She is probably one of the best of Benzoin’s gets. Zetland seems to have lost all the former dash he showed when finishing his races lately. He has run well for a few furlongs, and then shut up. As

it is some time since he scored a win, his backers must be nearly tired of following him. After winning the Selling Handicap on the first day at / Ashburton, First Shot was sold to Mr;- E. J. Smith for £23 on second' day First Shot won the Disposal Handicap in Smith’s colours, and was then sold to Mr. J. Fahey for £2O.

R. King rode five winners at Ashburton, F. Jones three, L. G. King and J McCluskey two each, James Pine and H. Emerson one each. Neither R. Derrett, J. McComb or V. Cotton rode a winner. McComb in particular has had a long run of bad luck. I learn to-day that L. H. Hewitt, the crack Canterbury jockey, has definitely decided' to sell out, and on Monday next will sell his house, land, etc., by public auction. Hewitt intends to try his luck in England.

Slow Tom has been exercising over some of the fences at Riccarton, and is jumping as well as ever. There is some doubt as to whether he will take part at any of the Northern meetings. Melodeon is now in charge of D. J. Price, and' with Savoury may shortly go over to Australia. Convoy is being exercised over hurdles, and so far is jumping well. D. Moraghan will leave for the North this week, taking Phaetonitis, Ability and Convoy with him. The trio will compete at Wanganui and other Northern fixtures.

I hear to-day that W. Clarke will also go North with Eurus and Graduated Tax;. This pair have engagements at Wanganui.