CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1241, 29 January 1914, Page 14

CANTERBURY.

Counsel’s Wellington Victory — Autumnus’ Disappointing Showing —Moonglow Wins Double at Gore— Geo. Pine to Train at Hawera— Mumura on Easy List —The Handicapping of Emperador—Lady Query a Promising Four-year-old—Mr. Harvey Patterson’s Two-year-olds— Moddite Sold. (By Telegraph ■ —• Christchurch Correspondent.) MONDAY, January 26. With the absence of so many Ric-carton-trained horses at Wellington matters at headquarters have been very slack during the past week. With the near approach of the summer meeting, however, there should be some interesting work got through between now and that fixture. Counsel’s victory in the Welter at

Trentham was well appreciated locally, especially by those who witnessed his win in the Horoiaia Cup a month ago. Though never likely to attain very high honours, the best oi him has not been seen in public yet, and he should be well worth remembering at the C.J.C. fixture next month. Some time ago Counsel was operated on for throat troubles, ami his subsequent form confirms the success of the operation he was subjected to. Thrax was quite expected to run well in the Wellington Cup by pis connections, but the race was altogether too solid to enable him to keep within the fighting line. In the Racing Club Handicap Martian’s son gave' a much better showing, and was unlucky in meeting such a quickly-im-proved one as Sinapis. The great race put up by Martius in the Waterloo Stakes came as something of ;* surprise, for he had been so lame before the meeting that at one time there seemed every probability of his not being able to fulfil any of his engagements. Like his dam, Starshoot, he lacks nothing in the matter of. gameness. After his last few gallops before leaving tor Wellington Aiitumnus was tnought by track watbhers to have a rare chance of annexing the Waterloo Stakes at Trentham. His poor showing in that event cost local backers a lot of money, for many would not hear of Ins neieat. Altogether the form shown by Sir Geo. Clifford’s team has been distinctly disappointing this season. L. Hegarty nas been schooling a roan mare in F. P. Claridge’s stable over the pony hurdles during the pasL week, but so far there is nothing out of the way in her jumping essays. Sir Geo. Clifford’s annual batch of yearlings - will be brought down to Chokebore early next month. Altogether sixteen of them, and they are reported to be quite up to the average of previous year’s consignments. * • A cast-off from R. J. Mason’s stable in Mdonglow, by Treadmill—Sunglow, won' a double at the Gore Racing Club’s' meeting. Though hardly up to the required standard for Mason’s team he is nd' mean galloper, and is sure' to pay his way in the South, where he is now owned. Another exmember of ' Mason’s stable in Leno put up a good race' behind Cute at Trentham, but neither are up to firstclass handicap form.’ Warstep, who had to be spelled after her return from Auckland, as the result of an accident, has been taken in hand again by G. MurrayAnsley. A recent addition, to Pine’s string is a five-year-old mare called Carajnine, by Calibre —Firefly. She was bred by the Ashburton sportsman Mr. J. Grigg, and looks like developing in lo a useful sort. The Australian-bred horse Ovar, by Orzil —Byronia, has been emasculated and spelled. Though he has not as yet done anything worth mentioning in public, there is no doubt as to Ovar’s galloping ability on the tracks. The Joker,' who has done good service for his owner at non-totalisator meetings, has had to be thrown out of work, having ricked himself. The Riccarton horseman, W. Emerson, has accepted an engagement with a Southland owner, and will do his steeplechase and hurdle race riding for him. G ; eorge' Pine, who for some time past has been training at Riccarton, has left for Hawera, where he has accepted a position in a similar capacity.

The Wellington Racing Club’s meeting attracted a record crowd of Christchurch sportsmen—in fact, so great was the crowd that on the 'Monday berths on the ferry steamer were unobtainable;

M. Hobbs’ large team has been strengthened recently by the addition of Vanna, a three-year-old daughter of Charlemagne 11. and Savanna. Mumura went sore after joining F. Claridge’s team, and is now- being spelled. Mars, in G. Murray-Ansley’s stable, is being treated for some internal complaint. Fortunately the ailment is not of a serious nature, and Ansley expects to have her in work again in time for next month’s meeting at Riccarton.

F. Christmas has taken in hand a four-year-old roan mare by Daystar. Most of the Canterbury sportsmen who attended the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting returned home on Sunday, while a big contingent of the horses followed on Tuesday. It is agreed on all hands that the conduct of the meeting left little to be desired, bftt I have heard several owner refer to the inequalities of the handicapping. One of the discontented ones was R. J. Mason, who asked the club for an explanation of the handicapping of Emperador in the Summer Handcap. He pointed out that in the Waterloo Stakes (one mile) Emperador was beaten by Martius when giving away 41bs, and for that defeat he was asked to meet Martins on 4lbs worse terms in the

Summer Handicap, run over a similar course. Though Palisade was unable to fulfil his Wellington engagements, there is nothing seriously amiss with him. He is to be given a short spell, and will sport silk again at the Easter meetings. A four-year-old sister to Mowbray named Eady Query, is expected to run prominently at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting. As yet she is somewhat on the Wig side, but there is no doubt as to her galloping ability. Reports speak highly of a maiden two-year-old named Moulu, by Boniform from Ormulu, who is being trained by R. J. Mason at Yaldhurst. Mr. Harvey Patterson has a pair of

promising juveniles engaged at the Dunedin meeting in, Athhldana, by Menschikoff from Themia, and Tuniso, by Andrea —Tunis. Altogether Mr. Patterson has eleven yearlings, mostly Australian-bred, that he intends to have handled shortly.

H. Thompson has a very likely two-year-old in St. Helen, by Boniform from Helen Portland, in work, and like her parents she knows how to gallop.

On the concluding day of the Wellington Racing meeting the Ashburton trainer, C. Griffin, was taken suddenly ill, and had to be removed to a hospital. According to latest advices he is now progressing satisfactorily.

Like others of the Chokebore team, Briar Patch is evidently not too> reliable with the colours up. Before leaving Riccarton she had a host of admirers, but her form in the Citv Handicap at Wellington diminished their numbers greatly, and incidentally cost them a good deal of money. During his visit to the Wellington meeting, Mr. P. Herman purchased Moddite, by Royal Artillery from Quietest, who has now gone into W. McDonald’s stable at Riccarton. After doing a gallop a few mornings ago, Self, a member of D. Roberts’ team, pulled up very lame, and will have to be spelled. The first of the visiting contingent with engagements at the Canterbury J.C. Summer meeting, in Merton and Missile, arrived at Riccarton on Monday. They are in charge of the Grey-

mouth trainer, W. Donnellan, who has the pair looking really well. That speedy but erratic mare, Re spond, has gone into R. Ellis’ stable to be prepared for future racing.