CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1314, 1 July 1915, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

Trainers Indignant at Closing of Riccarton Tracks—Ngatiruanui Getting Through Satisfactory Preparation— The Grand National Entries—A Satisfactory Response From Owners in Principal Events.

(By 'telegraph—Christchurch Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday

During the past week the weather has been of such a nature as to reduce training operations to a minimum. On Thursday morning, much to their surprise, trailers found all the tracks closed against them, and they had to exercise then- charges as best they could cn the adjacent roads. Seeing that the tan track has just recently been put into good order for winter work the action of those responsible for the step taken was strongly condemned, and the local mentors were loud in their complaints.

On Friday the hunter Phamos and White Cockade were given a schooling task over the big fences. Starting off at the double the former went td the front but blundered, causing his jockey (McSeveney) to lose an iron. Despite this, the rest of the journey was completed without mis-' hap. In the meantune White Cockade had dropped behind through losing ground at each obstacle. He was too clever to come down, but his jumping was of such a deliberate nature as to make his chance of ever pulling off a steeplechase locks decidedly remote.

All the Riccarton horses claiming engagements at the Wellington meeting are in forward condition, so the enforced respite from activities will not interfere with their prospects to any great extent.

The Timaru-owned jumper Nga-iru-anui is reported to be getting through a satisfactory preparation at the Washdyke course. It is quite on the cards that he will be sent north for the Wellington meeting for a race in public prior to taking on the Grand National Steeplechase. Very little work was got through on Saturday morning on account of the heavy state of the tracks. Part of the grass gallop was thrown open for rising wo-year elds, and a fair number were given sprinting tasks. The fact of the tan gallop being again closed was not relished by those trainers who have Wellington engagements ahead of them. The most pleasing feature of the Grand National entries is the inclusion of the Australian crack Clontaft. in the three principal crosscountry events. It is by no means certain that the son of Godwin will be sent across, but should Ip make the trip his presence in the National field will help to make the contest more interesting. Auckland stables are very well represented in the leading events at the National meeting, but the local forces are weaker than ever.

Corrie is still on the idle list, and her trainer is not certain as to the cause of her indisposition. This accounts for her non-inclusion in the Grand National Hurdle Race.

During the past week Daylight Bill has only been asked to do the very lightest of tasks as the result of his damaged knee. In the meantime it is not known whether he will be well enough to race at Wellington.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable prospects the entries for the Grand National meeting have turned out remarkably well so far as the six leading events are concerned. No less than 40 figure in the big steeplechase, as against the 28 entered last year, and though the majority of them would, on past showings, .be more at hemo in less pretentious events, they include the best of the cross-country talent available. Such as Morning, Soporific. El Gallo, Cloudy Dawn, Tim Dooian, Jackman, Daylight Bill, Golden Glow, Clontaft, and Glenmore have fair credentials in their favour, while there are distinct possibilities associated with such as Harbour Light, Ngatiruanui, Player, Bollin, Appin, Master Strowan and Bandalero. There is an increase of one in the Grand National Hurdles, the figures being 42, as against 41, and the entry includes the best that could possible be got together. Almost every stable that shelters hurdlers from Auckland to the Bluff is represented, and the calibre of those engaged is quite satisfactory. The Winter Cup evidently retains

its popularity, for it has drawn an entry of 56, which is three more than last year’s total. With such a fine lot of horses included in the list

there can be no doubt as to the success of the fixture. In this, as in all other events, North Island stables are the biggest contributors. LATER. Wellington Steeplechase Handicaps Discussed—Daylight Bill’s Injuries More Serious Than at First Anticipated— The Imported Englishbred Stallion Nassau —Prominent Horses Recommissioned Lately. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Taken all round the Riccartontrained horses have little to complain of in the treatment meted out to them by the Wellington handicapper. Daylight Bill might easily have been let off with a few pounds less in the steeplechase. He is not a good weight-carrier, and the distance is likely to trouble him. In comparison with such as Soporific, Golden Glow and Glenmore he is not at all well treated, nor is the South Canterbury representative Ngatiruanui, who, for a maiden performer over country, has more than a fair share ol weight at 10.13. In the meantime it would be well to leave both these horses

alone till their owners’ intentions are announced.

Neither Moddite nor Snowraker, who figure in the Victoria Hurdles, are proficient jumpers, and their prospects need not be taken into serious consideration in the meantime. Slogan, The Cornet and Banksia are all equitably treated in the Stewards’ Handicap,, the last-named especially so. Fritz, who figures in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, is in the same stable as Ngatiruanui. He is a first-class jumper, and at the autumn meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club registered a first and second, amongst the horses in the weights being The Pole. White Cockade also figures in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, but his prospects as a ’chaser need not be taken into serious consideration. If Slogan is reserved for the Parliamentary Handicap he should give a good account of himself in that event, especially if the going be heavy.

Mr. Coyle appears to have an altogether too exalted an opinion of Encore, judging by his treatment in the Te Aro Handicap, and the Maniapoto gelding does not look at all well placed compared with such as Sir Hamilton and Free.

I learn that Daylight Bill’s injuries to his knee, sustained the last time he was schooled at Riccarton, are more severe than at first anticipated. Even should he be fit to resume work soon, the spell must seriously prejudice his prospects. There seems littie chance of the grey horse being at his best for the Grand National meeting, while he cannot be fit to race even fairly well at Trentham next month.

Nassau, the English-bred stallion imported by Mr. G. L. Stead, reached Christchurch on Monday. The visitor is a bright bay in colour, his only white markings being a blaze and a white fetlock. He is splendidly proportioned, with a good middle piece, and the cleanest of legs.

Amongst the entrants for the jumping events at the Grand National meeting is Plymouth, who, like Clontaft, hails from Australia. He is a five-year-old gelding by Grafton from Marionette, but so far has done little as a hurdler.

Quite a number of horses have been recommissioned lately, their number including Gnome (in R. Longley’s stable'), Court Martial (in Cutts’ stable) and Down (in M. Hobbs’ stable). That consistent mare Specialform has been leased by Mr. A. W. Rutherford, Junr., and the Boniform mare went to her new quarters last week. Her two-year-old sister Bonsign has been leased by Mr. J. H. Prosser to ”Cran Tilt,” who raced the Finland gelding Baritone for some time. The Methven Racing Club, which is one of the fortunate ones in the matter of new totalisator permits, intends securing the Mount Harding racecourse for its future operations.