CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1303, 15 April 1915, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

Exodus of Riccarton Horses for the North—Warstdp Gallops Brilliantly on Track—Promising Juveniles — The Approaching Timaru Meeting— Bee Taken in Hand Again — Autumnus Broken Down Badly— Multiply’s Prospects at Trentham— Chokebore Representatives at Wellington R-C.’s Fixture —Beggarmaid’s Career Ended. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. S.nce the Easter meeting there has been a general exodus of visiting horses from Riccarton, while a large force of local horses left for Wellington on Saturday evening. The trainers who have gone North are R. J. Mason, H. Cutts, R. Longley, R. O’Donnell, G. M. Aynesley, and E. Griffen. Murray Hobbs and W. Thurston had intended to make the trip, but altered their minds, the lesser attractions of ihe South Canterbury meeting evidently appealing to them as a better investment than the Northern 'fixture. Emperador and Bimeter’s owner was not favourably impressed with ihe trea ment accorded them at Manawatu, and he withdrew them from their first day’s engagements as soon as the handicaps appeared. Emperador claims an engagement in the Manawatu Stakes on the second day of the meeting, but his starting will depend greatly on how he acquits himself in die Challenge Stakes at Treniham. No horse at Riccarton does so much solid work as Warstep. Despite her exertions at the C.J.C. meeting she was fully extended over a mile on Thursday morning. She ran the first quarter in 25sec., three furlongs in 37sec., half-mile in 49sec., five furlongs in lmin. 3sec., and the whole distance in lmin. 43 l-ssec. Considering that she was carrying about Bst. 71b. and was on the bit all the way it was a good gallop. A youngster that is shaping particularly well at Riccarton is the Martian —Lady Lillian colt, while another juvenile in McGrath’s stable, by Martian from Gipsy Girl, also pleases the critics. Both Daylight Bill and Andrea will be sent to Timaru for the jumping events. The former will compete in the steeplechase, in which he appears to have an excellent chance, while Andrea will sport silk in the hurdle handicaps on both days The two-year-old Pyjama, by Martian —Bloomer, who has been showing good form on the local tracks, is to be gelded and turned out till next season. Medley has been given a couple of good gallops since the Easter meeting, and should run well at Timaru. Bee has been taken in hand again, having quite recovered from the attack of strangles that laid her aside after the Dunedin meeting. Since being recommissioned First Flight has been doing useful work, and he looks like standing up for his spring engagements. Honesty has not been looking too w’ell since her exertions at Riccarton, and may not be raced at Timaru. Thrax has been put into work again, and his trainer intends giving him a chance to earn distinction as a hurdler. Autumnus broke down so badly while competing in the Great Easter

Handicap that there is little chance of his ever racing again. His stable companion, Nightwatch, has not been too well since the meeting. It looks as if the Wellington handicapper has taken an undue liberty with Multiply in the Railway Handicap at 7.13. The Gisborne representative is particularly well treated, especially when his brilliant achievement in the Courtenay Welter at Riccarton is taken into account. Compai ed wit.ii the three-year-old Gold Soult he comes out very well, for though he finished in front of that colt in the Great Autumn Handicap he is now set to meet him on 81b. better terms. It looks as if Mr. Coyle overlooked the fact that Multiply earned a 71b. penalty in the Great Autumn Handicap. The Chokebore stable will be very strongly represented at the Wellington meeting, for apart from Flying Start who claims an engagement m the North Island Challenge Stakes, the team will include Gowanbrae, Adju tant, Court Martial, and another. When Tannhauser pulled up on three legs after contesting the Final Handicap at Rmcarton it was generally conceded that he had finally bidden adieu to the turf. He is to oe biis ered and turned out for 12 months, after which there is a slight probability of his being put into work again for hurdle racing. When Beggarmaid fell at Riccarton a month ago hopes were entertained of saving the life of the filly for stud purposes. Despite the best efforts, however, she failed to improve, and her career was ended a few days ago. Such a well-bred filly as the sister to Teviotdale would have been valuable as a brood mare. A very attractive item at the Wellington meeting should be the meeting of Flying Start and Emperador in the Challenge Stakes. The conditions wili be much the same as at Riccarton, the only variation being in the penalty clauses, which provide that winners of £lOOO shall carry a stone penalty, which is 41b. more than the C.J.C. maximum. This will bring Emperador’s impost up to 9st. 121 b. and Flying Start’s up to Bst. lib., instead of 9st. and 7st. 111 b. as at Riccarton. Bonny Dream, who put up such a sensational run in the early stages of the Riccarton race, is a likely starter, and it will be extremely interesting to see how she shapes with the other pair. It should at least settle the much-vexed question as to whether she could have won at Riccarton or not. The presence of Merry Roe in the field should also be a decided attraction, not only for the Challenge Stakes but also for the Trentham Gold Cup. LATER. Martigues to be Given Lengthy Spell— Schooling Work at Riccarton —Don Francisco Changes Hands —Nightwatch Suffering from Burst Foot— Yearlings Being Broken in at Riccarton — Philadelphia Recommissioned —The Timaru Cup. The Canterbury contingent that left for Wellington on Saturday evening is one of the strongest ever sent from Riccarton for that fixture. All are in the best of condition, and they should certainly pick up a fair amount of the prize money. Immer’s three-year-old sister, Martigues, has been a racecourse failure, and her owner, Mr. J. F. Buchanan, has decided to give her a long spell at his stud farm. On the second day of the Easter meeting Peg was galloped on. One of her legs is still swollen, but she should be right again in the course of a few days. In view of the jumping events at the South Canterbury meeting, a good deal of interest ng schooling work has been got through at Riccarton. Daylight Bill and Stroller have been over the big fences, the formei' show ing to most advantage, and he should run well at Timaru. Andreae and Snowraker have been put over the hurdles, and both have shown improved form. The disappointing Don Francisco has been sold by Sir Geo. Clifford to Mr. H. Cassidy, and goes into H. Thompson’s- stable. Pilgrim’s Way is still unsound, and there is little chance of his standing sufficient work to race. The Chokebore-trained Battle Eve is still being kept in active commission in case it is thought advisable to send Awapuni for the autumn meetof' the Manawatu Racing Club. The son of Treadmill —To-morrow is a speedy galloper, but he suffers badly by comparison with his stable companion Flying Start. On the conclusion of the Wellington

meeting the Chokebore team, Adjutant, Flying Start, Gowanbrae and Court Martial, will be taken on to Palmerston. Nightwatch burst a foot when racing in the Great Easter Handicap, and it will be some time before he sports silk again, probably next season. A large number of yearlings are at present receiving the rudiments of their education at Riccarton. P. McGrath has broken in the yearling colt by Martian —Lady Lillian. He is a sturdy youngster, and should grow into a fine-looking horse. C. Pilcher has just taken in hand a gelding by Clanranald —Matuku. He is very much in the rough at present. R. J. Mason has broken in the yearling colt by Danube— Inyala. This young mare has had no progeny racing so far, but she comes from a successful family, be.ng by Renown —Eland, by St. Leger —Antelope. The yearling sister to Cherubini, Tannhauser and Soldier’s Chorus, by Martian —Grand Opera, has just been broken in by F. T. Smtih. She looks a good sort. After a few days’ spell Chrysotis has resumed work. She is still sore, but not so bad as before the Easter meeting, where she ran two sterling races. That consistent mare First Glance is being hacked about again, and may race at the Ashburton meeting. The Riccarton trainer J. McCombe returned from his trip to the Southern meetings on Saturday. Altogether he picked up five small stakes. Philadelphia has been recommissioned, but he seems to be just as bad in the wind as ever. The members of the Racing Commission, Mr. G'. Hunter, M.P., and Mr. T. H. Davey, leave Christchurch for the West Coast on Thursday morning. When the Commission has finished on the West Coast its work will be completed. Satisfactory acceptances have been received for the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, which looks like turning out one of the most successful ever held on the Washdyke course. Specialform stands her ground in the Timaru Cup, and even with 9st. in the saddle she is bound to be in the fighting line at the business end. Scotch Melody will represent M. Hobbs’ stable, and should do so with credit, while Moddite is another Riccarton-trained one that is sure to be fancied. The English-bred Bonny Rigg will be making her first effort over such a lengthy course, but on breeding and conformation there is no reason why she should not get to the end of a mile and a-quarter. The improvements which the South Canterbury Jockey Club has carried out on its course at Washdyke have cost over £3OOO.