CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1346, 10 February 1916, Page 15

CANTERBURY.

Mr. H. Whitney’s Representatives for Dunedin Meeting—Bimeter’s Double Success at Hawera —Notes on the C.J.C. Summer Meeting—Peronilla Breaks Blood Vessel—F. E. Jones Accomplishes “Hat Trick” —Nightwatch’s Meritorious Victory—Dunedin Cup Weights Discussed —Good Hope's Surprise Victory in Middle Park Plate.

(By Tele.—Christchurch Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Li. Wilson was present at Riccarton for the C.J.C. summer meeting, and did the riding for M. Hobbs’ stable. The Wellington sportsman Mr. H. Whitney, who is a liberal supporter of South Island clubs, had a couple of horses racing at Riccarton on Saturday, but their efforts were disappointing. He will be represented at the Dunedin meeting by Rose Pink and Roumania.

His dual success at Egmont demonstrates that Bimeter has made great strides during the present season, though it would be premature to suggest that he is yet up to we ght-for-age form. He was certainly very lucky in meeting such weak fields in the two Egmont events, and many owners will be now regretting their want of enterprise in withdrawing their representatives. Both First Glance and Snapdragon are at present under a cloud, and there is little chance of the former fulfilling her Dunedin engagements. Merry Lass and Farley Grove (with her veteran owner, T. Sheenan, in the saddle) were sent over four flights of the pony hurdles at Riccarton on Friday. Neither shaped any too confidently. Emperador and Bimeter- will pro bably remain in the North for the Taranaki J.C. meeting, at which both claim engagements. The English-bred filly Greenstreet gave a lot of trouble at the start of the Middle Park Plate at Riccarton on Saturday, and is evidently of a very excitable nature. She was slow to commence when the barrier lifted, and never had a look in, finishing a bad last.

Peronilla looked to have winning prospects in the Craven Plate at Riccarton on Saturday till half the journey had been covered, when she dropped right back. It transpired that she broke a blood vessel in the head, and Emerson had to pull her up.

Horses that on Riccarton form should be well worth bearing in mind for their Dunedin engagements are Cincinnatus, Bee, Reval, and Sir Malt. United Service, the winner of the Midsummer Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, ran second in the same event twelve months ago, when he carried 161 b. more than he had on his back on Saturday. The party behind Peronilla were confident of their representative’s chance of pulling off the Craven Plate on Saturday, and she went out almost

as good a favourite as Nightwatch. After holding a leading position in the early stages Achilles’ daughter unaccountably lost her place, and a little further on was pulled up. On returning to the enclosure it was found that she had burst a blood vessel in the head, and was bleeding profusely.

The well-known Riccarton horseman F. E. Jones had a regular field day at Riccarton on Saturday. He did the “hat trick” in piloting Thestus, Nightwatch and Marc Anthony to victory in successive events, and also rode Melford and Bee into second positions.

There was a fair amount of merit associated with Nightwatch’s victory in the Craven Plate on Saturday, and his trainer deserves credit for gettmg an unsound horse to the post in such good trim. His last win prior to Saturday was in the Canterbury Champagne Stakes in the autumn of 1913. Since then he has caused a lot of trouble through unsoundness, having frequently gone amiss just as his prospects of winning a race looked bright. Weights for the Dunedin Cup were isued on the conclusion of the C.J.C. meeting, and since their appearance have been favourably commented on. First Glance will not start, but Bee has been given a rare chance at 9.6, which is 51b. less than she put up such a gallant fight with in the Midsummer Handicap. Hesione has a full share of weight, but Snub’s owner has no cause for complaint. The three-year-old has done practically no work since returning from Wellington, and may not be at his best for the Dunedin fixture. United Service has only gone up 11b. for his Riccarton victory, and at 7.8 he is assuredly well in, though there can be little to choose between him and Bee. On Riccarton form Specialform, Adjutant, Down, Slogan, Jeannot and Rongahere can have Lttle chance of turning the tables on United Service and Bee. For several years past summer meetings at Riccarton have been on the down grade, and it is just a question if this particular fixture justifies its existence. It is almost entirely of a local character, and cannot be a profitable proposition to the club. On Saturday last the attendance was disappointing, while speculation was su limtied that the machine takings showed a shrinkage of £1794. Bene-

fitted by a heavy downfall on Friday night, the course was in splendid order, having all the sting taken out of it, and yet firm enough to afford excellent going. The fields were rather above the average, both in point of s.ze and quality, with the result that those present witnessed an excellent afternoon’s sport. The old-established Middle Park Plate attracted a serviceable field of seven, representing five different stables. On the strength of her several excellent showings behind Desert Gold, Nones was entrusted with the public’s confidence, despite the fact that she was conceding the two-year-olds from 181 b. to 331 b. in weight. Martian’s daughter looked in splendid racing trim, as did The Toff, Good Hope and Wardancer, the 'last-named of whom carr.ed off the palm fcr looks as far as the two-year-olds were concerned. Greatly to the surprise of backers, Good Hope, whose track and public form has not been of a high order, came away when half the distance had been covered, and defied the efforts of the others to overhaul him. His victory marked one of the biggest surprises in the history of the race.' Killena also upset track form by defeating all but the winner, for the stable centred its hopes in Kilboyne. The latter had every chance, for he was first away, but he faded out badly when little over half the distance had been covered. Nones and The Toff both ran solid races under their penalties, but Wardancer’s form was too bad to be true. He can be relied on to do much better next season, for like most of Martian’s progeny he wants time. The English-

bred filly Greenstreet showed temper at the start, and commenced so badly as to practically put herself out of court.

Easily the most interesting feature of the Midsummer Handicap was the gallant fight put up by Bee in attempting a weight-carrying task that many a good one has failed under in this particular event. She looked realiy well, as did Findhorn, Adjutant, Down and United Service. The topweight had a decided call in the betting over Down, Findhorn and Adjutant, but the few southern sports present were staunch in their allegiance to United Service. It was an interesting contest, for at one part of the journey it looked as if the two outsiders, Roumania and jeannot, would take all sorts of beat.ng. Once well in line for home, however, both were being r.dden to keep out of the way of Fmdiiorn and Bee, the latter of whom was gomg particularly well. In the meantime United Service, who had not been any too well placed in the early stages, was gradually improving his position on tne outside of the field, and at the distance he had Findhorn’s measure, but though Bee struggled on with the utmost gameness weight told, and United Service gained the verdict by a neck. All the honours of the race rest with Bee, and had the course been as hard as before the ramlall she may have prevailed. On the other hand it must n*h be forgotten that United Service had a lot of ground to make up over the last two furlongs, and after making his effort on the outside of the field he gained nothing by being taken across to the rails.

Despite the fact of his only having done a light preparation, Nightwatcn finished up a better favourite than Peronilla for the Craven Plate. Twelfth N.glit and Malvolio also had strong followings, but there was iittle money lor any of the other four competitors. Peronilla started with her usual brilliancy, but at the end of two furlongs she commenced to fall back, eventually having to be pulled up as the resuit of breaking a blood vessel. Then Nightwatch took up the running, and after stalling off a strong challenge by Reval won fairly comfortably. During the early part of his career the son of Treadmill and Glenowiet showed considerable promise. Unfortunately he has been a difficult horse to tram, and his mentor deserves every credit for getting him to the post so well for Saturday’s contest. Reval is another who has been under a cloud for some time, and he was evidently fitter than his appearance indicated. Of the others Twelfth Night and Kaminohe gave the best showings.

The other events call for little comment. Thestius, a solidly-built son of Martian and Lady Lillian, put up an atractive performance by disposing of a useful field of two-year-olds in the Lyttelton Plate. He finished like a stayer, and is bound to develop into a high-class three-year-old.

Silent Way was easily the best of the poor lot that contested the Trial Stakes, the only one to trouble him at the finish being Melford, who lacks stamina.

Backers had a rare surprise sprung on them in the Hornby Welter, for neither Gold Com nor Multum in Parvo, who finished first and second, were taken into serious consideration. Ringform, the favourite, gave a very poor showing, bemg apparently outpaced from the start.

Marc Antony, the favourite, managed to pull through in the Halswell Handicap, but he had to do his best at the finish to stall off a late effort by British Rose, who ran a surprisingly good race.

After being withdrawn from two earlier engagements, Countess Tolstoi pulled her many backers through in the Post Handicap, though Peg had her doing her best over the last furlong.