CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1097, 20 April 1911, Page 6

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S MEETING.

MADAM MADCAP WINS THE EASTER HANDICAP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 18. Easter Monday morning broke out dull and threatening, the sky suggesting that pleasure-seekers were in for a wet day. Rain commenced to fall shortly after eleven o’clock, but after a few 1 heavy showers the sky cleared and the remainder of the day, though dull, was fine. As usual Riccarton attracted a large attendance, amongst those present being a strong contingent from the various parts of the South Island, while there were also present a sprinkling from the North Island. The sum of £21,812 was passed through the totalisator, as compared with £13,389 taken on the first day last year. There was some excellent racing, most of the fields being large. ; A feature of the sport was the excellent form shown by the inmates of E. Cutts’ stable, Sir Geo. Clifford’s horses accounting for the two principal events, and finishing second in two others. The real business of the day commenced with the Kildare Hurdle Handicap, six horses facing the starter. White Cockade was a little better fancied than the North Islander Gold Bird, the latter, however, being well supported away from the course. In the early stages of the race, Rangiwhenua piloted the field, but when leading at the six furlongs post he failed. The field was then strung out, Dorando being at the head of affairs. Going into the straight White Cockade and Gold Bird were almost on terms with the leader, but Dorando finishing very gamely, held his own to the post, winning by a good neck. The field for the Champagne Stakes was reduced to four, viz., Masterpiece, Counterfeit, Peirene, and Culprit. Piper got the four youngsters away on even terms, all being together when the first furlong was covered. Here Culprit shot out, and at the half-mile post she was three lengths clear of Peirene. Turning into the straight, Counterfeit closed up, and a little further on Culprit fell back beaten. A furlong from home Masterpiece put in a strong run, but he could not catch Counterfeit, who won very comfortably ’by a length and a-half from her stable companion, Peirene being half alength away third, with Culprit beaten off. The winner has not many attractive performances to her credit this season, but the way she won the Dunedin Champagne Stakes suggested that her form in the early part of the season was not true. At Palmerston North she failed, but on yesterday’s form she can claim to be in the same class as Culprit and Peirene.

In the Autumn Plate, backers went strongly for E. J. Watt’s Multiform —Happy Valley colt, Montiform, none of the other eight starters being at all fancied. The race is easily described, as Montiform was in front from the start, and piloted the field along at his own pace, winning easily by nearly three lengths from True Knight, who beat Canterbury by two lengths for second place, the rest of the field being strung out. Next came the Great Easter Handicap, for which thirteen horses saddled up, the withdrawals being Fasnakyle and Pilgrim’s Way, both of whom went slightly amiss, and their owners deemed it inadvisable to start them. In such a hard race as the Easter there was practically no delay at the post, Piper’ getting the big field away at the first attempt. Obsono commenced quickly, and he was soon out a length in front of Chief Lozhiel and Colleen Mary, while Madam Madcap was prominent among the others. Obsono soon commenced to draw away from the field, but at the half-mile post Chief Lochiel and Madam Madcap were almost on terms with him. Once fully in the straight Madam Madcap ran up to Obsono, while Chief Lochiel was just, behind in third place, with Cheddar,

Gold Lace, and Los Angelos coming fast; At the distance Madam Madcap was well clear of everything, but Los Angelos came with a sensational run over the last furlong, and the Clanranald filly had to be ridden right out to win by half a-length. Chief Lochiel was two lengths behind Los Angelos, with Obsono a neck further back. Then came Colleen Mary and Gold Lace. Mr E. J Watt’s stable again provided a strong favourite in Royal Scotch for the Russley Plate. In this race, as in the Autumn Plate, Mr Watt’s colt led all the way, winning easily by a length and a-half from Terebineth, with Aphaea a length away third. Royal Scotch is a well-bred youngster, by Royal Artillery—Barley Bree. On the training track he had been doing some smart gallops, and judging by his appearance yesterday he is a high-class colt.

The Courtenay Welter Handicap attracted a field of ten starters, Armstrong being sent out a very strong favourite, Countermine being next in demand, while Genius was also well backed. The winner turned up in Grand Slam, the Possible —Scotia gelding, who has been running in something, like hiis three-year-old form this season. He is now six years old, and since 'being in F. P. Claridge’s charge has had a good innings. Master Paul led the field at a merry pace over fully half the distance, when he collapsed, leaving Countermine in charge. One hundred yards from home Countermine, Grand Slam, and Martine were practically on terms, and after a very fine finish Grand Slam beat Countermine by half a-head, Martine being a head away third. This was easily the best finish of the day. Rose Noble, Husbandman, and Fasnakyle were withdrawn from the Sockburn Handicap, leaving only four starters, Iranui, Coroniform, Outlander, and Puaka. Coroniform was a strong favourite. Outlander led the field until well into the straight, when he retired, and Coroniform, who had been running within himself all the way, came through and won comfortably by a bare length from Puaka, with Iranui four lengths away third. SECOND DAYCHEDDAR WINS THE AUTUMN HANDICAP. The weather was beautifully fine for the second day’s racing, and there was some fine racing. Chief interest of course centred in the Great Autumn Handicap, in which thirteen horses participated. The Multiform —Rattler colt, Sunburnt, a winner of classic races, was made a strong favourite. Next to him, from a betting point of view, came Los Angelos, who ran such a good race in the Great Easter Handicap. After these two, Cheddar and Prim carried a lot of money. The race, as is well-known throughout New Zealand, was won by Cheddar, who heat Prim by a neck. Immediately the numbers went up a meeting of the Stewards was held, and a long time was spent in discussing the point whether the winner should get the stake or not. Why the meeting was called, puzzled those sportsmen who have been frequenters of the C.J-C. meeting during the past, say, twenty years. Here are the facts from my point of view. Cheddar started in the Great Easter Handicap, seven furlongs, under conditions as different yesterday as black is from white, with an apprentice as pilot, and getting chopped out at the start, ran practically nowhere. Today, with one of the best light weight jockeys in New Zealand as pilot, he gets well away under totally different conditions to those prevailing yesterday, and he beats a lot of horses who are probably non-stayers. It must be remembered that Cheddar comes from a staying family not from the squib racehorse, who can only run five or six furlongs. Merriwee— Brown Allee points to the best staying power in. the land, and yet because a horse could not win a sprint race, he is called to face the carpet for winning a mile and a-half race, tantamount to saying that because an athlete fails over 100 yards and wins

over half-a-mile he should be put out for inconsistent running. What sport! I would like to ask the stewards of the C.J.C., what has happened in the 'past at Riccarton. What about — ? But. let us look to the future and forget what has happened in the past. Mr E. J. Watt is in Australia, and I say without fear of contradiction, that it was a crying shame that his trainer, one of the best known men at the game in New Zealand, should be asked to explain why his horse failed in a seven furlong race one day and came out on the following day under totally different conditions and wins a mile and a-half race. The finding of the stewards was as follows: —“The stewards held an enquiry . into the running of Cheddar in the Great Autumn Handicap, as compared with his running in the Great Easter Handicap. After hearing the statement of the trainer and rider of the horse in the Great Easter Handicap, the explanation was accepted.” It is needless to say . that the Autumn Nursery was won by Culprit, who led all the way, and finished four lengths in front of her stable companion Aphaea. . Culprit’s form was slightly different to : what she showed in the Champagne Stakes. I am told enough to say that her owners should have been placed in the same position as E. J. Watt: This was the opinion of leading trainers at Riccarton.

Sir George Clifford’s horses still maintained their run of luck, Counterfeit winning the.. Champagne Stakes in hollow fashion from her stable mate Madam Madcap, winner of the Great Easter,, thus emphasising the fact that the ‘ daughter of Treadmill —Delusive, is the best two-year-old of the year. Sharpshooter annexed the Final Handicap in most hollow fashion, beating a strong favourite in Genius, while Countermine accounted for all opposition in the Yaldhurst Welter Handicap, beating a strong field, including Mumura, who paid the biggest dividend during the meeting. In the Great Autumn Handicap,, the judge’s placing was Cheddar first, a short head in front of Prim, Los Angelos a neck away third. After the placed horses, Chief Lochiel in fourth place, three lengths behind Los Angelos, with Iranui close up. In this race Cronstadt, who was looking a picture, lost fully ten lengths at the start, and toiled hopelessly in the rear throughout- Cheddar’s time 2.34 3-5, constitutes a record or tbe race, the previous best time being held by Boomerang, who was also owned by the Hawke’s Bay sportsman. Mr Watt has now won the race with Palaver, Boomerang,, and Cheddar.

Counterfeit’s time in the Challenge Stakes 1.27, has only on.,e been equalled. That was in 1906, when that great racehorse Achilles won the race.

Prim is one of the best mares racing in New Zealand to-day. She has many sterling victories to her credit, including the Metropolitan Handicap, and when she is saddled up for a b'ig race she is well worth a modest investment. I will reserve further notes on the meeting until next week.