CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 943, 2 April 1908, Page 7

CANTERBURY.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 1. Owing to the Telegraph Department making a loss over the telegraph office at the summer meeting of the C.J.C., the office will not be opened at the Easter meeting. This decision will prevent a lot of money being wired away from the course just before a race is decided. Acceptances for the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps close on Friday next, and there should be a capital response by South Island owners, but in view of the Auckland meeting, several well-known Northern horses will be missing from both races. Orloff, a Canterbury Derby winner, who has been entered for -several big races during the past year, but has not sported si’.k, figures in both the big Easter handicaps at Riccarton. Back to form, what a royal chance he would have in both races at the weight allotted him, 7st 21b. Rose Noble, Hilarity, Beckwell, and Nancy Stair, all runners at the South Canterbury meeting, did not improve their Great Easter Handicap chances by the form they showed at the Southern fixture. Miss Mischief and Beneform were easily the two best two-year-olds seen out at South Canterbury, and there is very little to choose between these two youngsters, both of whom are capable of much improvement. They are bred well enough to win in any company. What a fine sprinter Lupulite is when thoroughly well. He simply made hacks of the sprinters he met at Timaru, and wound up by scoring three wins, his respective "weights being lOst 91b, lOst 31b, and 10st 101 b. In the Farewell Handicap he was giving away 4st 31b to Portland, and just on 3st to Nancy Stair, who is not at all a bad filly. Lupulite bids fair to repeat the deeds of those wellknown sprinters, Gold Spur and St. Denis, who used to carry all before them at the Southern meetings a few years ago. I hear the Government stallion Lupin, sire of Lupulite, has several promising youngsters coming on, one or two already showing that they can gallop somewhat fast. Lapland has escaped going through the season without winning a race, the Timaru Cup coming his way. Lapland’s best performance this season was in the New Zealand Cup, when he got third to Frisco and Master Delaval. On the strength of this performance he was strongly fancied for subsequent races, but failed to run up to his owner’s expectations. Lapland is not a brilliant horse, but when well placed pays his way. He - won at the right time, and with 7st 71b at the right time, and with 7s t7lb should keep the field busy in the Great Autumn Handicap—a mile and a half race suits him. Now that he has again struck form he should win again before the season closes. Sir George Clifford, who invariably sends some of his horses to the big Northern meetings, has nominated Clanchattan, Glenculloch, Goldbeater, De Witte, Stratagem, Sister Anne, Flitaway and Miss Mischief for various events at Wellington. De Witte has since been sold, but all the others will run in the Chokebore colours. The team for Manawatu will consist

of Husbandman, Clanchattan, and Sister Anne. Sir Geo. Clifford is the best patron North Island clubs have from this part of the country. Glenculloch will not be seen out until the Canterbury Easter meeting. He is bowling along in fine style just now, and if reserved foi’ the Great Easter Handicap will be one of the hardest to beat for speed. Fleetfoot is doing her work nicely, and appears to have thrown off her recent soreness. Her presence at Riccarton next month is being looked forward to with interest, but much disappointment is felt over Gravitation’s mishap. Mr. Bidwill’s colt was expected to fully extend the Clanranald filly in the Challenge Stakes. The two-year-old colt by Nelson — Dudu, a full brother to Stratagem, has been sold by E. Cutts to Mr. A. Walker, of Feilding. The youngster will be sent up to his new home in a few days. The North Canterbury races will take place at Rangiora on Thursday. The fields promise to be fairly good, but the quality of the horses engaged is only moderate. The Soult mare Pas Seul ran very badly at Timaru last week, and seems to have gone all to pieces, as it is a long time since she won a race. Handicaps for the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps have not created much interest so far, backers preferring to 'wait until acceptances are made on Friday. With so many of the best horses engaged at both Ellerslie and Riccarton, it is hardly

worth while criticising the weights until owners’ intentions are made known. Marguerite, Gold Crest, King Billy and Dawn, four horses in the Auckland Easter Handicap, are engaged at Riccarton, but indications point to their owners going to Ellerslie. Grandstand is doing an occasional gallop over the hurdles, and by the time the winter meetings come round should be a proficient jumper. Crispinot is also jumping well, while another jumper in Slow Tom is doing steady work on the flat. Two fairly good gallops over six furlongs were put up by Buccleuch and Rose Noble on Saturday morning. Each horse went by himself and left the journey behind in Im. 19s. Buccleuch is showing some of his old form. The tracks are now in capital order, and are just right for horses with tender feet. Stronghold and Probable are both galloping well, and should be ready to take part at the Easter meeting. Harvest and Ingleneuk are also on the tracks daily. Local stables did fairly well at the South Canterbury meeting, Lapland, The Libyan, Gold Braid, Miss Mischief, Yesha, and Lady Disdain each winning a race.