CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1045, 17 March 1910, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. Sir George Clifford has three horses in the great Easter Handicap. Husbandman is weighted at 8.0, Kilwinning at 7.13, and Broadsword 7.4. The last named will probably be the fancied candidate on Easter Monday. The same stable has Husbandman and Taskmaster in the Great Autumn Handicap, and the former will, I think, be the elect on the day. Perle d’Or is receiving plenty of support for the Great Easter, the rumour having got about chat this well bred but disappointing filly is showing brilliant form on the tracks. It is said that she can hold her own with Armlet and if this is so it will take something pretty good to prevent Mr. G. D.- Greenwood winning his second Great Easter. Ingoda is doing well since returning from Dunedin, and is one of the fancied candidates at Riccarton for the Autumn Handicap. Miss Mischief, who met with a mishap at the Auckland Summer meeting, arrived home last week. It will be sometime before she is fit to race again. W. Brown has commenced work as trainer and is looking after Armamento. This gelding has been enjoying a long spell. He looks well, and his owner expects to get a few races out of him before the present season closes. . The fields for both the big Autumn

handicaps at Riccarton, this Easter, promise to be much larger than usual, especially the mile and a-half event on the second day. Twenty-one horses have accepted in the Easter and nineteen in the Autumn.

A well bred mare in Prayer Wheel; by Pilgrims’ Progress — Catherine Wheel won the hack handicap at Rangiora last week. Freak, a four-year-old gelding by Finland —Escapade, and Claumena, a mare by Clanranald — Rosina, Aunt Sally, by Royal Artillery —Gipsy Girl, Tyrant, by Tyranny, and Shillelagh, by Singlestick 11. each won a race at the same meeting. Taskmaster is showing signs of lameness, while there is just suspicion that all is not right with Kilwinning. Leonardo and Scotch Plaid have both resumed work, but the former will not be raced before the winter meetings come round. Southern Cross is jumping well over hurdles just now and should be well forward for the Easter meeting. M. Hobbs has had two additions to bis team, J. R. Hart having placed Chief Lochiel and Scotch Plaid in this trainer’s hands.

Quite a large contingent of Riccarton trained horses will go down to the Waimate meeting. Rose Noble, Lovelorn, Federal, Boutade, Zetland, Glenfield, Silk Web, All guns, Genius, Probable, Nightlight and Kronstadt will all leave to-morrow.

The Champagne Stakes promises to furnish a great race on Easter Monday. Formby, Danube, Madam Madcap, Formless, Formeden, Sunburnt and Countermine are all likely starters, and the winner will assert the right to be' hailed the champion two-year-old of the season. Another fine field is likely to contest the Challenge Stakes. Most of the two-year-olds will be running, while the older division will be represented by Armlet, Broadsword and probably Gravitation and Sweet Angelos. The two hurdle races at the Easter meeting have not attracted big fields, while the quality of horses is only moderate. There are only eight horses in one race, and nine in the other.

J. R. Franks is working a filly by Charlemagne JI —Culroy, and a halfsister to Royal Artillery. Ristori has been a very disappointing filly. She has shown her trainer some good gallops on the track and prior to racing at Wanganui put up one or two smart performances. Those connected with the filly expected to see her give a good showing at Wanganui, but she ran badly each time she started.