CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 895, 2 May 1907, Page 7

CANTERBURY.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 1. The Ashburton Racing Club’s nominations for the autumn meeting show an increase of 80 over last year’s figures. D. J. Price intends leaving for Sydney at an early date. He contemplates taking Pink ’Un, Submarine, Savoury and some two-year-olds over with him. Cutt’s team for the Hawke’s Bay autumn meeting will comprise Lady Annie, Clanchattan, De Witte and Glenculloch. In the Hawke’s Bay Cup Clanchattan (6.13) reads well, and if in his best form should about win. Both Buccieugh and Assegai pulled up lame after galloping the other morning, and it is not likely either will be seen in public for some time. I am told that Idasa is taking kindly to hurdle jumping. She has already given two . or-, three, . gpod dis 7f plays . in the presence - ofc fieri; trainers ur This mare has not been much good, a- r

on the flat, being a very slow beginner; but she should pay her way over hurdles. Carl Rosa was sent to Christchurch as a quiet tip for the Avondale Handicap. When it became known that there was also money here for the son of Seaton Delaval backers, large and small, put in strongly. The dividend came as a great surprise to both backers and layers, especially the latter, who expected him to pay out not over £3. Vardo, Noxious, Meed Gold, Beater, Carlo and Fandango have been put into work again. I find that I made an error in stating that Ability’s name was missing from the list of nominations for the Century Hurdles at Wanganui. He has been entered for that event, but not the Great Northern Hurdles. Heorthen, the well-bred filly by Phoebeus Apollo—Hilda, is showing some pace, and may be seen out at the Christchurch Meeting on Saturday next. The filly has only raced twice, having a first and second to her credit, gained at the North Canterbury meeting. Mr. Hobbs has put all his horses in the private sale list. They include Ivanoff, Aimee Soult and Field Gun. Hobbs intends giving up racing on his own account, but will continue to train for other owners. The above-named horses have engagements at the Christchurch meeting on Saturday. Fairsight and Vale, who both ran unsuccessfully at the North Canterbury meeting, have joined J. G. McCracken’s team at Riccarton. Vale is an unruly customer, but is possessed of plenty of pace. If McCracken can quieten him down a bit he is a sure stake winner. Quite a number of trainers have started work on their rising two-year-olds. Some of the youngsters have shown galloping ability, and as there are some highly-bred ones at Riccarton it is not too much to say that there will be a good one among the number. Probable is being kept in work, and claims an engagement in the principal handicap at the Christchurch meeting next Saturday. He has also been entered in some of the races to be run at the Ashburton meeting. I notice that Evenlode has been nominated for both the big hurdle and steeplechases to be decided at the Wanganui and Auckland meetings. This horse has the makings of a fine jumper, as he has any amount of pace, and is a great stayer, and rarely makes a mistake. With careful schooling I shall not be surprised to see him returned the winner of a big steeplechase this winter. I was rather surprised to see Ability’s name missing from the Wanganui and Auckland big jumping events. He shaped well in the hurdle races at the Canterbury Easter meeting. The Christchurch Racing Club will hold its autumn race meeting at Plumpton on Saturday next. Acceptances are not to hand, but the fields promise to be well up to the average. In the Christchurch Handicap (one mile and a quarter) Probable and Lapland both have recent form to recommend them. At the weights I like Lapland. For the other events I like the chances of the following: — High Weight Handicap: Evenlode, Ivanoff; Maiden Handicap: Gwendoline, Giovanni (coupled); Flying Handicap: Aimee Soult; Hack Handicap: Gipsobel; Welter Handicap: Don Orsino, Mango; Riccarton Trot: Miss Foxhall. Count Witte’s performance in the Manawatu Stakes stamps him as the best two-year-old of the year. He had previously defeated both Glenculloch and Elevation in the Canterbury Champagne Stakes, and when the trio next met in the Manawatu Stakes the Menchikoff colt again defeated the same pair fairly and squarely. That Count Witte is a good one no one will deny, and although I was at first inclined to think that Elevation was his superior, I am now prepared to give pride of place to the son of Menchikoff. Prior to meeting in the Manawatu Stakes Elevation had beaten Glenculloch three times, but those who have seen the two colts are inclined to think that Glenculloch will prove the better of the pair during their three-year-old engagements. It is very seldom that a quartette of such fine colts as Count Witte, Glenculloch, Elevation and Downfall are produced in one year, and the classic

events next season promise to be particularly interesting. What a slashing mare Lady Annie has proved herself to be. A few months ago she was supposed to be untrainable, yet a new hand gets hold of her and wins four good races out of five starts,, not at all a bad record. Lady Annie ought to prove one of the treasures at Stonyhurst Station, which shelters those wellknown sires Clanranald, Treadmill and Quarryman.