CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 17 November 1910, Page 7

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

CANTERBURY CUP DAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 10. The good fortune of the Canterbury Jockey Club, in regard to weather experienced for its important race meetings, has long been a matter for common remark, and this year’s New Zealand Cup meeting has been no exception to the rule. Last Wednesday, the third day of the meeting, as a beautiful day, and the attendance was very good. Although in some events the fields were small, there was yet plenty of good racing. Proceedings opened with the Suburban Hurdles, for which Stayboy was selected as the correct thing. Once again, however, McCombe’s representative let his backers down, for though he ran fairly well, he could do no better than finish fourth. Master Paul, following his usual tactics, at ■once dashed to the front, and established a big lead, and though stopping very quickly at the finish, lasted long enough to win by a couple of lengths from Aorangi, who was a head in front of Milo. On previous running, the Spring Nursery Handicap looked good} for Miscount, who was sent out favourite. Sir George Clifford’s representative, Masterpiece, however, ran a much better race than he had done in the Welcome Stakes, and receiving seventeen pounds from the Karamu colt, wore him down at the finish, and wen by a head. Orton, who had made the early running, was a length and a-half away. Miscount has Leen remarkably consistent, but unlucky, so far this season, as, though he won the Juvenile Handicap at Wellington, he has finished second on five other occasions. Next race, the Avon Welter, afforded some compensation to Hon. J. D. Qrmond, for Dreadless, who was well handled by F. Jones, won in good style by half a length from Domino, with Merrivonia a similar distance away, third- In this event, backers were well on the spot, as first and second favourite finished in that order. Naturally after his meritorious second in the Neiw Zealand . Cup, Diabolo was made a strong fancy for that oldestablished event, the Canterbury Cup, which, it is worth noticing, is the longest flat race in the Dominion.

Public confidence was not misplaced, but the race furnished a fine contest, Diabolo took charge after the field had gone about six furlongs, and made play all along the back, Rounding the turn into the straight, Birkdale moved up, and when the home turn was reached, both he and John challenged the leader. Mr Monk’s consistent performer, however, finished gamely, and beat Birkdale by a length and a-half. John was about the same distance away, third, with Outlander next, and Ingoda fifth. The latter’s display was disappointing, in view of her form last season, which pointed to her being a stayer of more than average class. Considering the consistent manner in which Diabolo had been running into places last searson, and also in the New Zealand Cup, his win was decidedly due, and was well received.

The Jockey Club Handicap saw Los Angelos go out a very hot favourite, but whatever chance he had was spoilt by the manner in which he dwelt at the post, losing fully a dozen lengths. The race resolved itself into a good finish between the two three-year-olds, Madam Madcap, and Formby. The latter was first into the straight, but Madam Madcap threw out a strong challenge at the distance, and beat him home by three-parts of a length. Sandstream finished well, and was followed by Wimmera. The Oaks Stakes brought out only four starters, but it furnished an interesting race, and the result was somewhat of a surprise to backers. In view of her Derby form, Countermine was selected as the best of the quartette, but when it came to racing, Martine, the outsider of the party, quickly took charge, and striding along freely, won by a length from Lady Reina, who came well under pressure. The winner is a nicelyturned filly, who does credit to her sire. Martian, who has the unique distinction of having sired the winners of the Derby and Oaks in his first season.

The Otaio Plate is chiefly memorable for the serious accident that occurred during its running. After the field had gone a little over half-a-mile, Cullinan fell, and in turn, The Lark, Martist, and Bollin, also came down. W. Young, rider of The Lark, escaped with a few scratches, but Luke Wilson, rider of Cullinan, had a leg broken. Jenkins, rider of Martist, had a niece cut out of his thigh, and F. D. Jones, rider of Bollin, had a collar-bone dislocated . Martist was so badly injured that he had to be destroyed, but the other noses were bracticallv uninjured. Whether this mishap affected the result, it is impossible to say, but Coroniform, who was favourite, won nicely from Adage, with Rose Noble third. Coroniform is owned by L. Acland, who also owns the Oaks winner. It is somewhat of a coincidence that Prim, Martine, and Coroniform, trained by G. M. Aynsley, should each win a mile and a-half race.

For the last event of the da’’, the Electric Plate, backers would have nothing but Messrs- Stead Bros, pair, Cullprit and Sunburnt. The race is easily described, for the Welcome Stakes winner began very smartly and won easily from Naumai, who, if I remember rightly, has now run second in this event three years running. FOURTH DAY. STEAD GOLD CUP WON BY LOS ANGELOS. On Saturday, when the meeting was concluded, the weather was beautifully fine; if anything, too hot. The attendance kept up remarkably iwell. and al+hough the tote investments showed a very slight decrease, results all round must have been very sat ; sfactory to the club. In the opening event, the Port Cooper Hurdles, Coy again gave proof of his consistency, and for the third time at the meeting, beat all his opponents but one. The winner on this occasion was Gold Bird, the favourite, who fell on the first day. Aorangi again secured second place, but ran unkindly throughout. The Cressy Welter brought out a useful field of 12. Gipsy Belle jumped out smartly, and leading all the way, won by two lengths front Fasnakyle, who just beat Scotch Plaid. Sunburnt was favourite, but did not get away well, and finished fifth- The winner put up a good performance to run the distance in 1.14, with 9.13 on her back. In the Stewards’ Handicap, with two stone less, she could get no nearer than fifth.

The Seymour Handicap was contested by a field of sixteen moderates, but resulted in a good finish. Directoire was first prominent, but then gave place to Kilts, who was in

turn challenged by Flambeau, and the latter got up in time to win by a neck. The Members’ Handicap saw Sir George Clifford again successful as his four-year-old Sharpshooter took charge at the distance, and from that cut had matters all his own way, winning by three lengths from Theodore, who was followed by Genius and Miss Mischief. Sharpshooter’s time of 1.26 2-5, equals Armlet’s Australasian record for seven furlongs. The Pioneer Handicap was reduced to a field of five, Tannhauser being made favourite. Nothing, however, had a chance with Orton, who began well, and quickly putting a break between himself and his field, won easily by five lengths. Orton is an Auckland bred colt, being by Obligado— Kitiroa.

The race for the Stead Gold Cup, at weight-for-age over a mile and aquarter, had been eagerly looked forward to, as it was expected to give some reliable indication as to the quality of the three-year-olds. The meeting of Danube and some of the older horses in particular, would have furnished a fine race, but, unfortunately, while being taken to his box after arrival on the course, Mr Greenwood’s colt lashed out, and got his hind legs over a picket fence, receiving injuries which necessitated his withdrawal. In Danube’s labsence, Maori King was installed favourite, with Madam Madcap and Los Angelos next in demand. Los Angelos, iwho on this occasion was ridden by A. Oliver, was quickly out in front, and holding his advantage, won by two lengths from Maori King, who beat Madam Madcap by a similar distance. Prim, Ingoda, and Diabolo finished in that order. This is only the third occasion on which the Cup has been competed for. Bobrikoff having won it twice previously. Los Angelos equalled his time of 2.7 for the distance.

The Randolph Handicap was responsible fo a surpise, as Ascaleon, who Avon, was the absolute outsider of the party, and paid the second best dividend of the meeting. Naumai, who was favourite, made the running for four furlongs, but could not see out the last furlong. Scotch Plaid, who was making her second appearance during the afternoon, was only a neck behind the winner, while the consistent Obsono was third, and Dreadless fourth, close up. The Fendalton Handicap, which wound up the day, was a good betting race, over £4,000 being invested on the machine. The public summed up the situation accurately for Kopu, Rose Noble, and John, were backed in the same order as they finished- Kopu certainly deserved his win, as he finished third in the Cup, and second in the Metropolitan. John was unlucky, as he got a very bad passage, but came with a fine run at the finish. Last week I referred to the opening day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting, which was continued on Thursday, and concluded on Friday. It was without question the finest trotting meeting ever held in the Dominion. The attendance was of recard proportions, and the totalisator investments for three days amounted to £50,889, as against £45,018 last year, while bookmakers’ fees totalled £l,BOO- The principal race on the second day went to St. Swithin, a four-year-old by Rothschild, d wned by H. F. Nicoll, of Ashburton. Like most of that gentleman’s horses, he was sent out a hot favourite, but it was only in the last few strides that he got up in time to beat another representative from Ashburton, in Emmeline. Mandarene, who met with an accident in his race the first dnv, was looked on as likely to win the Royal Handicap, one mile, but finished out of a place. He did not get too good a passage, but it is doubtful if he could have won under any circumstances for Verax, who won, trotted 2.16. The concluding day was notable for some brilliant performances. In the big saddle events of the day, Red Child established an Australasian saddle record of 4.40. M. Edward’s three-year-old, D’illon Bell, by Harold Dillon was responsible for one of the finest performances yet seen at Addington. In winning the Christchurch Handicap', he cut out two miles in 4.41 2-ssec which stands as a record for a three-year-old in harness. Dillon Bell made practically all his own running and won with good deal to spare.