CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 883, 7 February 1907, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 6. In view of the summer meetings of the Canterbury Jockey Club this week excellent trial gallops were done at Riccarton. during the past few mornings. The tracks are very fast at present, and with a continuance of fine weather they are likely to remain so. Perhaps the best performance on Thursday last was that done by Buccleuch. This horse was sent for a spin over six furlongs by himself, and, striding along nicely throughout, he was timed to do Imin 14 3-ssec. Monkey Puzzle ran the last six of seven furlongs in Imin 17 2-ssec. Guidwife moved freely whilst traversing seven furlongs at three-quarter pace. Farley Grove and Athena were associated in a sprint over five furlongs, which was concluded in Imin 4sec. Stronghold covered a mile at three-quarter pace, and Chryseis got through a working gallop over a mile and a-quarter. Tahu, who moves in an attractive style, and Fandango ran five furlongs in Imin 5 2-ssec, a distance that Aimee Soult accounted for in Imin 1 3-ssec. Bonny Glen galloped six furlongs in Imin 23 2-ssec, whilst his stable mate, Stepdancer, ran a mile and a-quarter in 2min 16 sec, finishing well. Ruapehu traversed six furlongs in Imin 21sec, and Cross Battery was restricted to halfpace work over two circuits. Lady Zoin dashed over half a mile in 50 l-ssec, and is evidently speedy. Silkweb, with a big advantage in the weights, easily beat Tessera over six furlongs in Imin 18 4-ssec. Idasa and Volodia merely cantered. Harvest ran seven furlongs in Imin 32 sec. Jahangir easily ran half a mile in sec. Blythemaid, Alexis, and Paragon, the two first-named going well within themselves, ran five furlongs in Imin ssec. The Libyan beat White Shield and Good Sight over five furlongs in Imin 6 2-ssec, and Reduction was fighting for her head whilst galloping half a mile in 53sec., Canterbury ran six furlongs in Imin 18 2-ssec, All Guns and Mercy, who started with him, being pulled off at the distance. Wild Cat, who was the last to work, was extended over seyen furlongs.

Elevation arrived on Wednesday and worked on Mr. Stead’s private track. Golden Cairn, who looks none the worse for his exertions in the North Island, strode over a mile at three-quarter pace. Watershoot finished two lengths in front of Don Orsino after running seven furlongs in Imin 32 4-ssec. Glenculloch ran a similar distance at three-quarter pace. Lapland beat Somaroff by a length over a mile and a-quarter in 2min 17 2-ssec. Cockleshell spurted four furlongs in 51sec. Rose Noble got over the same ground from an almost standing start in 50 2-ssec. It was delightfully mild when work commenced on Saturday morning. Water had been laid on the tracks during the night, and as a result they were in first-class order. Guidwife and Cockleshell were the first pair out, and ran five furlongs in Imin sec, Guidwife showing to most advantage. Monkey Puzzle, Watershoot, and Don Orsino were associated in a

gallop over a mile, which occupied Imin 45sec. Monkey. Puzzle, who had a considerable advantage in weights, defeated her companion by . eight lengths. There was little to choose between Glenculloch and Golden Cairn at the end of a spin over six furlongs, run in Imin 15 3-ssec from a trotting up start. Lapland defeated Somaroff over a mile, run in Tmi-n 48 4-ssec, both being pretty fully extended. Disastrous, who started with them, was eased up entering the straight. Signalman and Stepdancer were companions in a gallop over a mile and a-quarter. The pair kept together throughout, and finished abreast, Signalman apparently having more left in him than his companion. The times for the various stages of the gallop were as follows: —First two furlongs 27 3-55., first six furlongs lm. 20 2-55., and the full distance 2m. 14 %s. Ruapehu brushed over six furlongs in lm. 18 l-55.; Lady Zion, who started with her, being eased up half way down the straight. Alirita strode over 7 furlongs very easily in lm. 13s. Bonnie Glen ran six furlongs in lm. 18 l-55., being fully extended. De Witte merely cantered. Tahu galloped seven furlongs, the last half-mile of which was run in 51 4-ss. Rose Noble defeated Stronghold in a spin over five furlongs, which occupied lm. 4 4-ss. Elevator, who was unshod, ran a similar distance in lm. 55., finishing well. Chryseis alone strode over a mile and a quarter, the last eight furlongs of which occupied lm. 475. Vardo, who was assisted by Nikolsky over the first part, ran a mile, the last seven furlongs of which occupied lm. 31s. Silk Web showed to more advantage than Harvest and Tessera at the end of a spin over five furlongs, which occupied lm. 4 l-ss. Athena, with a considerable advantage in the weights, could have easily defeated Farley Grove while running six furlongs in lm. 195., a distance that Aimee Soult completed in lm. 16 4-ss. —.she was fully extended. The Seer’s task was six furlongs at three-quarter speed. Cross battery dashed over four furlongs in 48. l-55.; it was a pleasing performance. Idasa and Volodia separately performed light tasks. Ordnance galloped six furlongs, while the Libyan was slightly better than White Shield over five furlongs run in lm. 4 l-ss. Alexis ran six furlongs up the back, the last four of which occupied 53 4-ss. Reduction brushed over the last halfmile of a medium pace circuit in 525. with ridiculous ease. Mango cast six furlongs behind him in lm. 18 Gypsobel ran a similar distance in lm. 18 y 2 s., finishing very well. Blythemaid and Paragon galloped six furlongs in lm. 18 finishing together. The former, however, could have easily defeated her companion had the rider desired. Salaam dashed over five furlongs in lm. 2%5. from a racing start. She tired a good deal at the finish. Tremulous, Mercy, All Guns and Canterbury were associated in a spin over five furlongs, which they ran in lm. 5%5. The first-named had her companions easily beaten, but was eased up a furlong from the winning post, and allowed Canterbury to finish in front with All Guns several lengths away, and Mercy last. The last-named pair were fully extended. Buccleuch, Willaway and Amboise were worked during the breakfast interval. Ivanoff, who has been an absentee since Tuesday, is still suffering from the attack of strangles he contracted on the West Coast, and he is an unlikely starter in the Middle Park Plate.

Sunday being an off morning, nothing of importance was recorded on the track this morning, and but few of the trainers put in an appearance with their charges.

E. Griffin, who arrived yesterday with Thunderer, Count Gorton and Balsam had his charges out doing steady pacing. The trio are looking in capital fettle.

The following horses were given light tasks: —Tremulous, Elevation, Disastrous, Signalman, Glenculloch, Guid Wife, De Witte, Golden Cairn, Chryseis and Clanchattan.

Salaam, who ran seven furlongs at Riccarton the other morning in Imin 29 l-ssec, is by Medallion —Salutation. This is the best seven furlongs’ gallop recorded at Riccarton.

Lady Annie, who was recently purchased by Sir G. Clifford, arrived at Chokebore Lodge a few days ago, and was at once given easy work. Cutts is confident that he will get a good race out of the mare before long. Fifty-four horses have been nominated for the Great Easter Handicap

and 38 for the Great Autumn. As usual, North Island owners have supported the two great autumn events right royally. Acceptances for the first day’s racing at the C.J.C. Summer Meeting are not to hand at the time of writing, but the following may run forward in their engagements:— Trial Stakes: Mango, Don Orsino, Sea King. Hornby Welter: Aeolus, De Witte. Filly Stakes: Aimee Soult, Guidwife. Midsummer Handicap: Signalman, Chryseis. Lyttelton Plate: Rose Noble, Paragon. Craven Plate: Buccleuch, Balsam. Halswell Welter: Salaam, Watershoot. This morning was fine and mild. The ploughed track, on which all of the work was accomplilshed having been watered overnight, provided excellent going. At five o’clock McCracken’s pair, Alexis and Paragon, trotted across the centre and got away at the six-furlong mark, finishing together. They completed the distance in Imin 18 4-ssec, Alexis finishing the better of the pair. Blythemaid was given a working gallop over seven furlongs, moving freely, while Glenculloch, Golden Cairn and Guidwife were companions in a sound gallop over six furlongs. The first-named finished about three lengths in front of Golden Cairn, while Guidwife, who performed indifferently, was about 20 lengths behind. The time registered was Imin 15 l-ssec, a satisfactory performance. Signalman, assisted by De Witte over seven furlongs, traversed a mile and a-quarter. He tired at the finish, and his effort was not a pleasing one. The times for the various stages of the gallop were: —First two furlongs, 27 l-ssec; first six furlongs, Imin 19 l-ssec; and the full distance in 2min 14sec. Lapland and Somaroff, together, ran seven furlongs in Imin 33 y 2 sec, while Monkey Puzzle, with a light weight up, completed a similar distance in Imin 30 4-ssec. Ruapehu brushed over six furlongs in Imin 17 2-ssec, while Ilarita registered a working gallop over seven furlongs. Elevation had Cockleshell well beaten at the end of a spin over six furlongs, run in Imin 17sec. Rose Noble ran five furlongs, the last four in 49 2-ssec. Submarine was about fully extended in running six furlongs in Imin 16 l-ssec. Taha covered five furlongs in Imin 4sec. Balsam defeated Count Gorton by several lengths over six furlongs, run in Imin 16 3-ssec. He finished well, and his effort was a distinctly creditable one. Chryseis ran a mile very easily in Imin 45sec. Watershoot was slightly better than Don Orsino in a gallop over eight furlongs, which occupied Imin 45 l-ssec. Savoury merely cantered, while Aimee Soult and Fandango were well matched in a spin over five furlongs, which they ran in Imin 4sec. Bonnie Glen ran a similar distance from a standing start in imin ssec. Stronghold covered six furlongs in Imin 17 2-ssec. Jahangir,

who was to have joined him at the five furlongs’ post, was left several lengths, and was unable to make up his leeway. Silk Web, with a considerable advantage in weights, defeated Harvest and The Seer . somewhat easily in a gallop over six furlongs, the last five in lmin 5 l-ssec. Aeolus had a raking gallop over seven furlongs, going well, and Stepdancer (F. Jones) traversed a mile and aquarter in 2min 14 2-ssec, the first six furlongs in lmin 20 4-ssec. She finished well, and, seeing that she was unassisted, the performance was a satisfactory one. Thunderer and Idasa were companions in a gallop over 10 furlongs in 2min 15 4-ssec. The latter was allowed to finish in front, but neither was fully extended, and both could have improved upon the time. Franc, who was brought up from New Brighton, where he has been given swimming exercise, ran half a mile in 56sec, pulling up lame. Tessera covered a similar distance in 49sec, finishing well, while Cross Battery was given steady pacing.

. After breakfast the breeze sprang up from the north-west, which favoured the making of fast times. However, nothing above the average was recorded. h galloped •seven furlongs in lmin 29 4-ssec, being fully extended, while Amboise and William spurted five furlongs. Ordnance ran seven furlongs in lmin 34sec. Mango defeated Gypsobel by a length and a-half in a gallop over six furlongs up the back, which occupied lmin 21 4-ssec. Farley Grove had Athena beaten at the end of a gallop over six furlongs, the last halfmile in 51 f 4-ssec. White Shield and The Libyan spurted five furlongs in lmin 3sec, the former appearing to most advantage. Tremulous, with a big advantage in the weights, was slightly better than Canterbury while running five furlongs in lmin 32 3-5 sec. Mercy, who started with them, again performed badly, and finished several lengths in the rear. Good Sight defeated Narcissus by a hundred yards over six furlongs, the last five in lmin 5. 3-ssec. Salaam galloped half a mile in 48 4-ssec. Wild Cat easily defeated Fancywork and Nikelsky over six furlongs in lmin 18 l-ssec. Pram, who assisted them over the last half-mile, finished several lengths in advance of the others, who finished in straggling order.