CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1325, 16 September 1915, Page 16

CANTERBURY.

Stipendiary Stewards Active at Ash' burton Meeting—English-bred Filiy Weekend Makes Racing Debut — G.J.C. Takes Action Regarding Penalties on Juveniles —N.Z. Cup Candidates Score Victories at Ashburton —Notes on the Racing Chokebore Team for Wanganui— The Handicapping of Meltchikoff — Death of Rurik.

(By Telegraph—Christchurch , Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. With the absence of so many trainers at the Ashburton meeting matters at Riccarton have been decidedly quiet during the past week. Most oi the horses that competed at the Southern fixture will be kept going in view of the Geraldine meeting next week. The stipendiary stewards were much in evidence at the Ashburton meeting, and as a result of their activity D. McKay was fined £1 for locking round on Master Hamilton m the hurdle race, while J. Olsen and C. Emerson were asked to explain their riding tactics in two of the other events.

One of the most promising juveniles seen out at Hie Ashburton meeting was Weekend, the English-bred filly imported by the . North Canterbury sportsman Mr. T. B. Starkey. Though making her racing debut in the Maiden Hack Race, she created a most favourable. impression, and it will be rather surprising if she does not turn out really well as the season advances. First Glance was easily the best of the sprinters seen out at the Ashburton meeting, and the comfortable manner in which she' carried 9.9 to victory in the Farewell Handicap draws attention to her Stewards' Stakes pro-

spects. Though Scotch Melody has been awarded 9.5 in the Geraldine' Cup she is sure to take all sorts of beating in what promises to be an unusually weak field.

It is quite probable -that the Yaldhurst and Chokebora stables will be represented at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting.

Warstep has been having a rather easy time of it during the past week, but a short let up will do her no harm. She still figures at a very short price for the New Zealand Cup, while her stable companion, Snub, has come into the market as the result of his Ashburton success. ■■

At its last committee meeting, the executive of the Canterbury Jockey Club decided to do away with the penalty clause attached to the Welcome Stakes, a step that will thoroughly commend itself to owners of two-year-olds. Ever since the penalty has been enforced it has inflicted great hardships on the juveniles which have won races prior to the C.J.C. meeting and caused many owners to reserve

their Welcome Stakes candidates for the Riccarton race. By many the race is looked on in the. light of a two-year-old classic, and consequently all the competitors have a right to meet on equal terms. Five New Zealand Cup candidates sported silk at the Ashburton meeting, and two of their number, in Snub and Redshire, managed to earn winning brackets. The former is an able companion of Wars'.ep, and in the event of anything going wrong with the favourite he could be depended on to prove a worthy substitute. In the Braemar Welter lie finished his task in such a style as to suggest a much longer journey being well within lbs capabilities. Though he managed to land the odds laid on him, there was nothing particularly attractive about Redshire’s display in the Hack Handicap, as he' just managed to struggle home in front of a lot of moderates.

All Ready quite put himself out of court, as a Cup candidate by his wretched display in the Spring Handicap at Ashburton, for which he was sent out favourite'. He looked well forward in condition, but was on his toes at the barrier and was well beaten at the end of a mile. Fender and Ardenvhor were never sighted in their races, and, like All Ready, their chances of winning in first-class company look somewhat remote. Judged from most standpoints the spring meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club was one of the most successful ever held on the course. The only point in which it failed to come up to expectations was in the matter of horses, the majority of the races

being conies.ed by small fields oi very poor quality. This was especially no iceable’ in regard to the chief events, which quite failed to come up to the standard of previous years. Tiie Ashburton course has always been known as a particularly fast one, and it quite justified its reputation in this ‘espec , for all the events w ire run at a very solid pace. With record !’ic<-. : p!s Irom all sources, including an increase’ of £B7BB in the to.e figure's, .lie Wounded Soldiers' Fund will be a big winner over the fixture. Only half a dozen moderates con'ested be Ashburton Handicap, and it was one' of the poorest fields seen cu in that even; for many years. The Oamai u-trained All Ready had a slight call in the betting over Fabrikoff, and right well they both looked. The former has filled out into a nice-bodied gelding, and I’ttle fault could be found with liis condition. He and Fabrikoff set a solid pace all through the early

; ag s, but to the consternaion of his many supporters the New Zealand Cup candidate compounded before three-parts of the journey had been covered. It was not till well into line for home that Chrysotis and Scotch Melody put in their claims; they soon mi l Fabrikoff’s measure, and af er a good set-to Scotch Melody outstayed Chrysotis and won an interesting cones'; by half a length. Though well beaten a quarter of a mile from home Fabrikoff struggled into third place, the last to finish being All Ready. As a Cup trial the Oamaru representative's showing was a most disappointing one, for he was actually the first beaten. The shorter distance of the Tinwald Handicap on the second day was thought to be all in Fabrikoff’s favour, but he again compounded badly when asked for a 'final effort. Though there can be no question as to his brilliancy it looks as if he will never shine over anything beyond a seven furlongs’ course. The winner

turned up in Jeannot, a useful son of Charlemagne and Janet, who was followed home by All Ready. The latter showed to much better advantage than in his first day’s effort, but even so there was little to enthuse over in his display.

Very ordinary fields were seen out in both the hurdle events on the opening day. Glenowl spoilt his chance by coming down at the very first obstacle as the result of trying to keep with such a fast jumper as Grey Renown. 'Till with hi a furlong of the post Daylight Bill looked to have good winning prospects, but when tackled by Commotion be failed rather badly. Kilmeny, who v. as probably the. best of a bad lot, could not raise a gallop at any stage of the proceedings. On the second day Alavter Hamilton, who was making his debut over the batlens, never gave his three moderate opponents a look in. His jumping was rather wild at times, but he is bound to improve in this respect, and looks like making good a" the business. Snub, who is one of Warstep’s track mates, created a rather favourable impression by the manner in which lie won the Braemar Welter, for (hough it was a weak field that opposed him the Martian colt came at the right end. Should anything prevent Warstep starting in the New Zealand Cup he should prove a decidedly useful second string. Jeannot and Peg both ran well, and the former had the winner doing his l est, over the las', furlong. Another Cup candidate in Redshire showed to advantage in the First Hack Handicap, but his showing was discounted by the fact of such a

moderate as Aluitoe running him to wi.hin a neck. Wishful stood our as easily the best of the three-year-olds seen out in the Trial Plate, and he was backed down to an absurdly short price. A no stage of the journey was the issue in doubt. Seeing that Wishful was not doing liis best at any part of the journey his achievement of getting to the end of six furlongs in Im. 14 %s. was a decidedly promising one. Yet another strong favourite in Medley stood to backers in the Spring Handicap, Varco’s daugh er being the fourth prime fancy to get home. Sveaborg and Sea King set a very solid pace, for three-quarters of the journey, and it was not (ill well into the home straight that Medley had th ir measure.

The North Island-owned Mulioe made some amends for her first day’s defeat by capturing the Fairfield Hack Handicap, but it was only after a ba'tie- royal with Stewe and Comely that she secured the verdict. Multifid’s daughter is still susceptible to a lot. of improvement, as is Comely, who occupied third place.

Weekend, an English-bred 'filly by Holiday House from Maid of Bedale, created a very favourable impression by the manner in which she romped home in the Maiden Hack Race. She is a sweet filly to look at, and can muster up a nice turn of speed. Though First Glance has not done much fast work she proved altogether too good for the quartette that opposed her in the Farewell Handicap. Medley, who was second choice, failed to repeat her first day’s form, and it was left to Martins to chase the Irishbred mare home.

When competing in the Farewell Handicap at Ashburton Medley struck herself so badly that she could only walk with difficulty after the race. The injury is of such a nature that she will have to be spelled.

The Chokebore team for the Wanganui meeting leaves at the end of this week in charge of H. Cutts. It will probably consist of Battle Eve, Harlequin, Adjutant, and Snapdragon. The game little mare Scotch Melody, who only cost Murray Hobbs 35gns. when he purchased her as a yearling in Australia, has already won £1256 in stake money. It would come as no surprise to see her augment this sum at the Geraldine meeting. It is quite probable that Mr. G. L. Stead will send Tim Doolan over to Sydney with the idea of competing in the Steeplechase events at the A.J.C. meeting.

.Meltchikoff appears to be thrown in in the two races at the Geraldine meeting in which his name figures on the first day. On the concluding day of the Grand National meeting Menschikoff’s son put up a really sterling achievement when he ran Kaminohe to a neck in the Heathcote Handicap at a difference of 51b. in his favour in that race. Fender was amongst the> unplaced division, conceding Meltchikoff lib. Now Air. Gibbs awards Fender Sst. in the Squatters’ Handicap, and lets Meltchikoff off at 6.9. Altogether it looks as if Mr. Alachell’s representative has got into both the Geraldine races at fully a stone too light, and needless to say the owners of other horses are complaining loudly on what certainly looks like unjust treatment. After being exercised on the Greymouth course a few days ago Rurik was taken ill and soon expired. Dike most of Irene’s progeny Rurik could gallop very fast, but lengthy courses always found him wanting.