CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 914, 12 September 1907, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

N.Z. Cpu Betting—Lady Backers Pall Over Marguerite—Ditto Boniform’s Backers—The Trooks Score Over the Withdrawals—Seal Rock and Rumours—Korses Most in Demand for N.Z. Cup—Higgings to Ride Fhaetontis in Australia—Munjeet and Seal Rock in Training Gallop—Nominations for C.J.C. Events—Le Beau in Work Again—ldasa in Training— Reps, for Ashburton—Miss Gal Engaged at Ashburton—Glenculloch and Bonny Glen—Harvest. CHRISTCHURCH, September u. After the payment of the first acceptances 37 horses remain in the New Zealand Cup. Master Delaval* Seal Rock and Elevation are about equal favourites at 8 to i. Armistice is quoted at 14 to 1, as also are Mahuta, Zimmerman and Apa, while Truce is at 16 to 1. St. Joe is the first horse engaged in the Cup to incur a penalty by his win at Marton, the son of Handsome Jack has had 51b added to his weight, which is now 7.8. Some surprise was expressed when Marguerite was scratched for the Cup, she being the only representative of Prosser’s stable in the race. Some lady backers who got to work and backed the daughter of Stepniak to win a good stake, are now left lamenting; as also are those who backed Boniform. This colt was in

strong request by backers a'.l over New Zealand, and some of the leading bookmakers must have reaped a tidy amount over the colt’s withdrawal. Boniform was quoted at a short price from the date of the nomination. Seal Rock is now the sole representative of Stead’s stable in the Cup. There are al! kinds of rumours afloat about the horse not being thoroughly sound, and it is not at all certain that he will start in the Cup.. Despite these rumours Seal Rock is equal favourite with Master Delaval, but it will not be long before he is installed by the public to first position in the betting market. On his form last season I do not like Seal Rock’s chance, and th : nk that both Armistice and Master Delaval will beat him. When reviewing the Cup weights a week ago I wound up by selecting Boniform, Master Delaval, Armistice, Glenullin, Starina and Elevation as the half-dozen from which the winner would come. Boniform has gone out, but the other five are still left in. I have had further opportunity of looking carefully through the performances of each of the horses engaged in the race, and I still adhere to my original selection with a preference for Armistice. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, J. F. Buchanan, G. G. Stead, G. P. Donnelly, and W. E. Bidwell, who each had more than one representative in the Cup, paid acceptances for one only, last Friday. G. F. Moore, J. C. N. Grigg, W. T. and L. C. Hazlett, have still two horses left in. During the week Zimmerman, Armistice, Probable, Buccleuch, Paritutu, Glenullin, Waiatapu, Seal Rock, Mahuta, Seaman and Master Delaval have all been well backed for the Cup. Zimmerman and Armistice were supported to more extent than the others. It was mentioned that Phaetontis was taken over to Sydney last week by h s trainer, D. Moraghan, in order to compete at the A. J.C. meeting. He will be ridden by W. Higgins. Munjeet and Seal Rock were out doing work at Riccarton on Saturday morning ; the pair galloped six furlongs fast along the track, going nicely. Seal Rock was wearing a bandage. Appearances point to Munjeet being given another attempt to win the Steward’s Stakes on the same day as some people thing Seal Rock is going to win the Cup. Nominations for the Canterbury Cup, which is now worth yoosovs, Jubilee Cup, Steward’s Stakes, and other important handicaps must be in on September 20. Waihuku was well backed in Christchruch for the two events that he won at Marton. Meg and Waikaraka also came in for solid support. Le Beau, who went amiss just before the National meeting, is still located at Riccarton; he is being worked daily, and is a likely starter at the Wanganui meeting. Idasa shaped well in a spin over hurdles the other morning, and should be hard to beat at Ashburton this week. The Ashburton Racing Club’s Spring Meeting will be held to-day and Thursday ; the fields promise to be well up to the average. Some good racing is promised. The following are my select ons for events on the first day :—Handicap Hurdles, Idasa; Trial Plate Pretty Nel!; Braemar Welter, Czar Kolohol or White Cockade; Ashburton Handicap, Idealist or Probable; Hack Handicap, Volodia; Spring Handicap, Ingleneuk; Longbeach Trot, Claremont. . Miss Gal, a filly by Stepniak—Tortulla, is engaged in the Hack Handicap at Ashburton this week. • Three New Zealand Cup cand'dates in Probable, Lapland and Fandango are engaged in the principal handicaps at Ashburton. Outlander, another Cup horse, is in the Braemar Welter. In the Challenge Stakes of 1910, Stead has nominated a filly by Orme and a colt by Tarporley; this pair have also been nominated for the Middle Park Plate run in summer 1909. The Canterbury Jockey Club has decided to have an indicator provided at the Cup Meeting giving notice of the time the totalisator will close before each race. Glenculloch and Bonny Glen, two Derby colts, are shaping well on tracks, both being in nice condition. On the form shown at the National Meeting Idealist, Probable, Ingleneuk. Idasa, Czar Kolohol and Volodia, look like winning a race each at Ashburton. I should tick Glenculloch off as a likely starter : n the Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Guineas; he is forward enough to race at any time now. Harvest is going along alright in his Cup preparation, and will, I hear, be given a run at the Geraldine meeting.