CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 917, 3 October 1907, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

Fandango and Outlander at Geraldine— Harvest, Probable, Buccleuch—Double Buccleuch and Fireiron Extensively Backed—lngleneuk—Heorthen’s Win at Geraldine—Blythemaid, Glencnlloch ,Goldbeater, Czar, Kolohol, Gypsobel, Medallist, Crispinot, Tirole— Casabianca’s Four Seconds—Aimee Soult, Silk Web—Charlemagne Arrived at Grasslea—Ohoka R.C. Meeting Promises Well—Tips for Same— Betting on N.Z. Cup—Armistice at Wanganui—Buccleuch and Seaman Harden for Cup—No Money Master Delaval or Elevation.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 2. Two New Zealand Cup horses in Fandago and Outlander, started twice at Geraldine, but faded to win either of their races. Fandago’s best performance was in the Cup. in which he ran second to the winner Heor.hen. On the second day he could only get third to Blythemaid and Heorthen. Outlander ran third in the Cup, and unplaced in the Spring Handicap on the following day. The form shown by these two Cup candidates was very second-rate, neither can have any chance in the big race on November 2. Harvest did not run at Geraldine; his trainer coming to the conclusion that he was not quite forward enough. I fu'ly expected to see Harvest amongst the runners at Geraldine, as a race in public would sharpen h m up a lot for his big con.ract in November. The horse is going along nicely in his work at Riccarton, but there is no doubt in my mind that a race or two now would not do him any harm. Probable and Buccleugh, two Cup horses, who are almost certain to continue their engagement, had a gallop together over a mile and a-quarter oh Saturday morning. A fairly solid pace was maintained throughout; the son of The Possible appearing to have a slight advantagie at the finish. Probable’s owner, G. J. F. Palmer, was present at the Wanganui meeting, and should be able 10 form a fair idea as to whether his horse is. capable of beating the Cuphorses rac ng at Wanganui. I have always held the opinion that Probable is a better horse over, say six furlongs than any other distance but his owner thinksotherwise, and intends to have a cut at the . Cup. Buvccletigh is certainly standing up to his work as well as his trainer qnd owner . could wish ; the horse s undergoing a careiul preparation for the Cup. The work he is doing shows that he is going to be given a chance to win the big race. During the week the double, Buc-

cleugh and Fire-iron, has been expensively backed for the Cup and Stewards’. The way that Fireiron is being backed would suggest that he is to be the stable’s first cho’ce for the Stewards’. The other Stewards’ candidate in the stable, Ingleneuk, is well enough, and fit to race at any time. She is a very smart sprinter, and will take a lot of beating when her trainer slips her for an important race. The highly-bred mare Herothen, by Phoebus Apollo—Hilda, carried the confidence of her connections in the Geraldine Cup. All those in the know threw in for a decent win. Herothen is not much to look at, but she is a very resolute galloper, and should win in good company in the near future. Bylthemaid, the big upstanding, straight-legged daughter of Clanranald, won two races at Geraldine; her win each day was anticipated by the stable; the dividend of 5s on the second day coming quire as a surprise. Blythemaid only won one race last season, but her form up to the present suggests that she will be a good stake-earner this season. Glenculloch, even that he is no good in heavy going, ran shockingly badly in the Wanganui Guineas, and was at once sent home without being given a chance to retrieve his laurels at Hastings. I have more than once stated that Glenculloch is not a genuine colt; he is brilliant one day, and little better than a commoner the next; his latest performance convinced me that he is not to be always relied on to do his best. He wdl probably be specially trained for the Canterbury Derby, but with Boniform, Counte Witte, Elevation, Downfall, All Red, and Bonny Glen in the race he will need to be on his best behaviour to have any chance of capturing the classical event. Last week I mentioned that Goldbeater was a likely winner at either Wanganui or Ha,wke’s| B,ay; the colt won at the first time of asking in his three-year-old career. After watching him closely last season I have no hesitation in saying that he is much above the average, He is whispered about as a likely winner of the Steward’s Handicap ; but if he shapes well in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas his owner may decide to have him prepared for the Derby. Czar Kolohol, Gypsobel and Medallist, all ran badly at Geraldine; they were all expected to do much better, and must have let their connections down for a tidy amount.

Crisipinot fell in both hurdle events at Geraldine; he is very unreliable. His owner fully expected to see him win each day. Tirole, by winning two hurdle races at Geraldine, showed that he has a few more races left in him. His two victories were very easily attained. It is worth recording that Gazeley and Downfall are the only two Cup horses nominated for the principal handicaps at the Auckland Spring Meeting, which is held at the same time as the Cup meeting. King Billy is the only Steward’s Handicap candidate nominated at Auckland. Casabianca has now ran second in four consecutive hurdle races; it is up to h:m to win now. His next appearance will be at Dunedin. Aimee Soult is showing up well in her work at Riccarton. Hobbs has nominated her for the Steward’s Handicap. Silk Web, the Steward’s candidate, started in two races at Geraldine, but was nev: prominent in either race. Charlemagne 11., by St. Simon—Perfect Dream, the sire imported by G. G. Stead for J. B. Refd, has arrived at Grasslea Stud, and will at once taks up stud duties. The following are some of the mares that will be put to him: — Cruciform, Cissy, Aura, Helen Faucet, Lanotte, Saucer, Marlin and Janet. The colts and fillibs imported by G. G. Stead have also arrived, and are highly spoken of. Starina (Day Star —Auterina) was scratched for the New Zealand Cup at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday last; Starina was one of the early backed brigade, and cost a few local backers some money. Ohoka Racing Club to have fine weather for its annual race meeting on Thursday; the acceptances are much better than usual. The following horses should run well:—Hunter’s Flat, Crispinot; Ohoka Handicap, Patty Pan; Mandeville Welter, Blythemaid' or Giovanni; District Welter, Hika oa; Flying Handicap, Aimee Soult. The betting on the New Zealand Cup continues brisk—Armistice, Buccleuch, ’Frisco. Astrakhan and Seaman have each received further solid support, which suggets that they are certain starters, bar, of course, mishaps. Very little notice is taken locally of Armistice’s running in the Marangai Handicap at Wanganui, instead of lengthening in price after her defeat the mare has shortened in odds, and it is now hard to get 10 to x about her. ‘ Buccleuch and; Seaman has also hard-

ened, wh'le there is tpractically no money obtainab’e about Master Delaval or Elevation.