CANTERBURY J.C.’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1026, 4 November 1909, Page 5

CANTERBURY J.C.’S SPRING MEETING.

THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. On Saturday at Riccarton the Canterbury Jockey Club will make a start upon their spring gathering, and, of course, the New Zealand Cup will come up for decision. It is 26 years ago since Mr. Dan O’Brien landed the first New Zealand Cup with Tasman, and racing in the Dominion has undergone vast changes since then. Twentyseven Cups have been run, three, five and six-year-olds playing the most prominent part, horses of these ages having each won on seven occasions. Four-year-olds have scored four times, •while the remaining two Cups have to be credited to the aged division. The time record is held by Canteen, the grey son of Castor, in 1903, carrying 7.2 and downing those two great horses Wairiki and Achilles, running the two miles in 3.27 1-5.

At the time of writing there appears every reason to expect a field of about 15 horses, and a good deal of interest will be centred round the meeting of All Red, Master Soult, Husbandman and Bobrikoff, providing, of course, the latter goes to the post, on which point there at present seems to be a doubt. The five-year-old All Red heads the list with the steadier of 9.5 opposite his name, including 11b penalty incurred by his win in the Wellington Handicap. It was mooted a few weeks ago that the brilliant son of Stepniak would hardly be ready to undertake a severe two miles, but Jiis brilliant performance in the Wellington Handicap a fortnight ago, ‘when he carried 9.8 in the heavy going and defeated a field of high-class horses, makes him out to be better off in the matter of condition than ;was generally supposed. A great stayer, All Red must be given a chance, as he is one of those who can be relied upon to see out the full two miles, and not a mile and a-half. He will, of course, have the services of the crack horseman C Jenkins. Next in the list we have the much-discussed Bobrikoff. This horse has 8.13 to carry, or lib more than he had in the Auckland Cup, in which event he filled the role of runner-up to All Red (8.6). At the decision of the race it was the general opinion that Bobrikoff got a very bad passage, and with anything like a decent run the Cup would have been his. If that be so he should have no difficulty in turning the tables upon his conqueror next Saturday. There is no doubt that Bobrikoff is the best all-round horse at the present time racing in New Zealand, as he is quite at home over both short and long distances. However, Mr. T. H. Lowry has a double string to his bow in Bobrikoff and Downfall. Master Soult follows Bobrikoff with 8.8, and, at his best, the Auckland colt will run a good arce. However, many shrewd judges are of opinion that the distance will prove a little too far, and they may be right in their contention, but, of course, that has to be proved. During the progress of the Wellington meeting there were many rumours going the round concerning the son of Soult. . It appears that the horse was taped too tightly, and this was responsible for the rumours. We now learn than the horse is quite himself again, and that the stopping him in his work for a couple of days will not affect his chance. Another four-year-old in Husbandman figures on the same mark with 8.8. He won both the Canterbury Derby and Great Northern Derby in hollow style, and in the last-named race he ran the mile and a-half in 2-35 4-s—a really smart performance on the Ellerslie course. He had matters all his own way at the finish, and left the impression that he would make a great stayer. Sir George Clifford has reserved the son of Treadmill for the event, but it

would perhaps have been better had he been given a run in public before the race. Downfall, on the same mark, has proved that he can stay, as he scored in the event last year. Should the white-legged one be Mr. Lowry’s representative, he is certain to be well supported, as he has only 121 b more to carry than when he won the event. Bollin (7.10) is the only one of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s left in the race, and he has yet to prove that he is a stayer. So far Bollin has only started in five races, and his record of three firsts, a dead-heat for first place and once unplaced would take some beating' However, the company has never been too brilliant, and although he will have to meet stronger opposition on Saturday, he can be depended upon to run well. Sir Prize (7.9) is a horse from whom great things are expected. , He certainly won the Wanganui Clip, but he carried only 6.10, and his only other success last season out of 17 starts was in the Christmas Handicap at the Taranaki Jockey Club’s summer meeting with only 6.12 on his back. Roosevelt (7.9) is credited with being a good little horse, but his displays of late would not lead anyone to tick him off as a Cup winner. Prim (7.9) must be entitled to respect, as the daughter of Pilgrim’s Progress was responsible for a smart performance in the Dunedin Cup, when she carried 8.3 and left the mile and a-half behind in 2.36 2-5. At the C.J.C. summer meeting Prim won the Midsummer Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 8.8, defeating Tikitere and Glenculloch. By his success in the principal handicap on the second day of the Wellington meeting, Merrie Zealand has incurred 101 b penalty, and the gelding will now have to carry 7.8. To date he has not accomplished anything of note over a distance of ground which would warrant one ticking him off as a winner. Sandstream put up two good performances when he defeated Elysian in the King Edward Handicap at Hawke’s Bay, and also when he defeated Downfall on the concluding day. Field Gun, Grand Slam, Tikitere, Lawn Rose and Merrivonia are the “ roughies,” and a victory on their part would be very welcome to the bookmakers. Lady Lucy (7.1) is a half-sister to Heorthen, run-ner-up last year, and as she is reported a genuine stayer, may be dangerous. Taskmaster (6.13) will probably be withdrawn and reserved for the Derby. Boutade (6.7), after establishing a new record for a mile and a-quarter at North Otago, is receiving attention, but the chances are that the lad will be hardly able to do his horse justice at the end of two miles should there be any need to do so. Looked at from any point of view, this year’s :Cup gives every indication of furnishing a stirring contest, and the result will be eagerly awaited. THE NEW ZEALAND CUP of 2000 sovs. ; second horse to receive 300 sovs., and third horse 200 sovs. from the stake. Two mi Ips.

THE STEWARDS’ HANDICAP.

Later in the afternoon the Stewards’ Handicap will be decided, and as this is the second “ leg” of the big Canterbury double it is needless to say that .almost as much interest will he taken .in this race as in the Cup. Bobrikoff has pride of place with 9.8, and should he start will in all probability be favourite. There is no doubt but that he has great pace, but on the other hand he is not a fast beginner, and this would be against him, more especially as he will be meeting the best sprinters in the Dominion. jNext we have Penates (9-4), and the Australian-bred one will take a deal o' beating. He is fast out of the barrier, and can be relied upon to cut out a merry six furlongs. By his win in the Champion Plate, Elysian will have to carry 101 b penalty, and his weight now reads 9.1, or only 31b less than Penates. North-east and Gold Lace have 8.4, and both have shown that they can muster up a fair amount of pace. Nautiform (8.2) will have a large following, as he is said to possess a great turn o' speed. In the Hawke’s Bay Guineas Nautiform was very badly left, and, despite the fact that Tawhaki was out in front making every post a winning one, Nautiform was in the lead at the end of five furlongs. It is confidently expected that the son of Multiform will break 15s. any time. There are several likely ones amongst the light- . weight,si and two that catch the eye are Orniulu (6.13) and Wet Day (6.7). The race gives promise of a great contest, and, given a fine dav, I think an exceptionally fast six furlongs can be looked for. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP of 1250 sovs. Six furlongs.—Bobrikoff 9.8, Penates 9.4, Elysian (including 101 b. penalty) 9.1, North East 8,4, Gold Lace 8.4, Nautiform 8.2, Gipsy Belle, 7.10, Federal 7.7, Daybeam 7.4, Sweet Angelus 7.5, Ormulu 6.13, Killindini 6.12. 'Mundic 6.10, Truganini 6.10, Cronstadt 6.10, Passion 6.9, Wet Day 6.7, Hermia 6.7, Waiata 6.7. • The final payment in connection with the Cup and Stewards fell due last evening,' after the above was written.

st. lb. Mr. J. Buckley’s b h All Red, 5 yrs, by Stepniak—Madder (Including lib penalty) 9 5 Mr. T. H. Lowry’s blk g Bobrikoff, 5 yrs, by Finland—Gossip 8 13 Trustees Mrs. A. M. Coombe’s br c Master Soult, 4 yrs, by Soult— Lady Hester 8 8 Sir G. Clifford’s br c Husbandman, 4 yrs, by Treadmill—Golden Vale.. 8 8 Mr. T*. H. Dowry’s ch h Downfall, 5 yrs, by San Francisco—Cantatrice . 8 6 Hon. J. D. Ormond’s b g Boliin, 4 yrs, by Birkenhead—Goyt 7 10 Messrs. A. and W. Robertson’s ch g Sir Prize, 6 yrs, by St. Paul 7 9 Mr. A. Jackson’s b c Roosevelt, 4 yrs, by Menschikoff—Yankee Mary 7 9 Mr. C. G. Dalgety’s b m Prim, 5 yrs. „by Pilgrim’s Progress—Nantes .... 7 9 Mr. J. S. Adams’ br g Merrie Zealand, aged, by Merrie England— (including 101b. penalty).-. 7 9 Mr. G. H. Miller’s b g* Sandstream, by San Fran—Ua (including 101b. penalty) 7 7 Mr. C. H. Gorton’s ch g Grand'©lam, 6 yrs, by The Possible—<Scotfa .... 7 2 Mr. F. Tilley’s b f Lady Lucy, 4 yrs. by Seaton Delaval—Hilda (includIng 51b. penalty) 7 1 Sir G. Clifford’s br c Taskmaster. 3 yrs, by Treadmill—Madowla ... C 13 Mr. J. C. N. Grigg’s blk g Field , _ Gu P> 6 y rs < by Hotchkiss—Gannet « 10 Mr. H. A. Knight’s b f Tikitere, 4 yrs, by Finland—Flame < 8 Mr. A. McFarlane’s br g Boutade „ 3 yrs, Joy Formosan—Escapade.... 8 7 Mr. T. Septor’s b m Lawn Rose, aged, by Hillstone—Spring Rose.. 6 7 Mr. J. Ames’ br f Merrivonia, 4 yrs by Merriwee—Livonia .... 6 7