CANTERBUR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 929, 26 December 1907, Page 7

CANTERBUR.

CHRISTCHURCH, December 24. Stake’ ‘Hunting—Bonny AflBonifggm and Glen’s " 3» Form- —' Cbokebore bury Contingent for Dunedin—Death of Filgrim’B FrogreM. During the Christmas and New Year holidays’ there is very little horse-racing in Canterbury, the few cquntry “meetings run without the assistance of the tote, and the trots ht Plumpton being the sole attractions for race-gpers. Canterbury horses at this time of year are sent on a stake-hunting expedition to other parts of the Dominion. The best ,of them find, their way to Auckland, and Manawatu, while others go overland to the West Coast and Dunedin. With so many horses away things are, as may. be imagined, very quiet at Riccarton. A fair amount of money has been sent to Auckland for investment on Bonny Glen in the Gup. This colt is reported . to be very well, and his trainer is quietly confident that he will have the honour of leading in the winner of the big two mile event at Ellerslie'. Backers and followers of Yaldhurst Stables have sent money up to Auckland for investment on Boniform and Armlet, and, from this it may be concluded that this pair will be well worth watching when they face the starter. Another Riccarton-trained fiHy in Artillerie is not a bad one- She only went up to Auckland, so the story goes, to keep Bonny Glen company, but 'it should be remembered that she is fast, and is capable of scoring a win before he returns home. Auckland backers are strongly recommended to keep an eye on Artillerie. After Medallist’s fine form at the Christchurch Racing Club’s meeting it was fully expected that he would go near winning the Summer Handicap at Manawatu. The nearest he could get was third, but he is capable of improving on that performance. Those who follow him are likely to get a dividend off him before he returns to Riccarton. Sister Anne, who is acknowledged to be smart over six furlongs, got badly left in the Palmerston Stakes, but I do not think she had any chance of beating Elevation, who must be put down as the most brilliant performer we have seen in New Zealand since Carbine left us. The Chokebore Lodge team —Sister Anne, Stratagem and De Witte —were hopelessly out of it on the first day at Manawatu. Stratagem showed good form on the second day of the Christchurch meeting, and was coming on at the end of the race. I think she is capable of scoring before returning home. Fire-iron and Buccleugh have both been accepted for in the principal events at Ashhurst. I like Fire-iron somewhat, but Buccleugh, who broke down before the New Zealand Cup meeting, must be taken on trust. He is a great performer up to a mile under any scale of weights. Canterbury’s contingent for Dunedin will be a strong one- Cross Battery, St. Joe, Gwendolina, Sir Artegal, Arzib, Leeside, Southern Cross, Idealist, Zetland, AU Guns, Pretty Nell, Mythical, Gypsobel and several others are among the acceptances for the first day’s events. The Rakaia Racing Club has received excellent acceptances for its meeting on Boxing Day, and Crispinot, Fancy Work, Mangrove and Bagpipes are among the best-known performers competing. The well-known sire Pilgrim’s progress, died at his owner’s stud farm at Tinwald a few days ago. Pilgrims Progress, before coming over to New Zealand, sired Abundance in Australia. His best performers sired in New Zealand were Bunyan, Paragon, Golden Way. Prim and Mercy. Mr. E. Gates, along with a general body of horseowners, wfll feel the loss of such a promising sire as Pilgrim’s Progress.