CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1093, 23 March 1911, Page 7

CANTERBURY.

(From Our Own Correspondent).

CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. Countermine and Big Blast are the only Canterbury horses nominated for the Manawatu Club’s Autumn meeting. Crown Derby, a son of Royal Artillery—Saucer, owned by S. Luterell, late of Tasmania, is one of the latest additions to the active brigade at Riccarton. A sporting gentleman from Tasmania has been buying some good stuff lately. He must have been well up in the game on the other side. Antagonist is not quite himself and I doubt whether he will stand a preparation for the Easter engagements T. Sheenan, one of the most successful breeders of good horses in Canterbury, has sold his colt by Boniform—Curette to P. Herman of Wanganui fame. R. O’Donnell will look after this fine colt in future.

Los Angelos is being well looked after at present and is bowling along in satisfactory style. He will, I am creditably informed, be seen out in one of the big autumn handicaps, but at the present date I cannot say in what handicap he will have his neck fully stretched. Quite a small army of shrewd racing gentlemen are behind this son of San Francisco.

J. Aynsley has the members of his team well forward and they_ should be seen to advantage at the autumn meetings. Prim, Martine, Coroniform, are all going on the right way. R. O’Donnell’s filly Formless, who won a double at Timaru, has again resumed work. I should not be surprised if she runs a good race during the autumn meetings.

Somersault, the full brother to the Taranaki-owned horse Shuja, has resumed work. Neither of these horses have recouped their owners for the big prices paid for them as yearlings.

The Rangiora Club’s meeting will be held on Saturday next. The horses engaged are only second raters but Frivollitti, Master Paul, Canterbury, Pleasure Bent, Obligate and Clanmena are likely to run well forward in their engagements. Husbandman is doing good work just now and should be at his best this autumn.

I understand that Mason has Miss Mischief, Danube, Vice-Admiral, Peirene and Byron very well at present He will also start one or two untried youngsters at the autumn meeting. Kohinoor, an Electric Plate winner, won the double at Waimate last week. This son of Royal Fusilier is very brilliant over short courses when he is well and he proved this at Waimate.

The handicaps for the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps are due on Friday next. Gold Seal 11., owned by G. P. Donnelly of Hawke’s Bay, will be a starter in the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase on Friday next. Gold Seal, ridden by Rangi Thompson, has won steeplechases over the Riccarton country. The Postmaster General has forbidden correspondence passing through a certain box in Christchurch, on the ground that the said correspondence is used for betting purposes. Talking about betting reminds me that quite a small army of bookmakers recently plying their calling under Government License have opened tobacconists shops in Christchurch. There must be some money in tobacco despite the alleged tobacco trust.

M. Hobbs took Flambeau to Waimate and won the Cup with the daughter of Stepniak—Firecross. Hobbs has had a great run lately. This well-known trainer won the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps, with Lady Zetland and keen judges say he has something good in his stable for one of these events this autumn.