CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1379, 28 September 1916, Page 13

CANTERBURY.

N.Z. Cup Candidates at Work—Leading Juveniles Indulge in Sprinting Tasks —Chokebore Pair Return From Wanganui—The Geraldine Cup— Gunrest Joins W. McDonald’s Team —Notes on the Amberley Meeting. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The spring meeting still continue to engage the attention of local trainers, most of whom are hurrying their charges along. On Saturday morning some interesting tasks were got through. Marc Antony, who looks all the better for his racing at Ashburton, went very freely in the task apportioned him, and Fiery Cross, after reeling off half a mile at a leisurely pace, sprinted home over the last quarter. Despite his penalty of 51b. incurred for the New Zealand Cup, the Gienapp gelding has many supporters for the big two-mile race. On Ashburton form his prospects look equally as favourable as those of Marc Antony, but the latter can be relied on to show most improvement in the interim. A trio of juveniles in Full Speed and Claverhouse, from the Chokebore establishment, and the Elysian colt Wentmore, trained by W. McDonald, were tried out over three furlongs. Showing more dash than his companions in the early stages, Wentmore soon opened up a useful lead, with Full Speed tailing off. Nearing home Claverhouse closed on Wentmore, but the latter finished best. Full Speed’s display was rather disappointing. Wrestler and Good Hope returned from Wanganui in charge of H. Cutts on Saturday. The former has always had a reputation for smartness, and now that he has quietened down he may take high rank among the season’s three-year-olds. Good Hope did not run up to expectations in the Wanganui Guineas. He is a longstriding colt, and was probably hampered by the turns. He is bound to do better on the bigger courses, and looks like developing into a stayer of more than average ability. The spring meeting of the Geraldine Racing Club, which takes place on Thursday and Friday next, has drawn a fair amount of support from Riccarton stables. Only seven stand their ground in the Geraldine Cup, but as their number includes such as Ringform, Ardenvhor and Ogier, the contest should be decidedly instructive. Though Sasanof figures amongst the acceptors for the Dunedin Guineas, there is practically no chance of his facing the starter. The Riccarton mentor W. McDonald has had a recent addition to his team in a promising three-year-old brother to Gunrest. Riccarton stables are particularly well represented in the Dunedin Guineas and the Dunedin Stakes, and also in the handicap events at the same fixture. At the Amberley meeting on Monday Varnish continued his winning sequence by appropriating the Amberley Cup. He looked just as rough as when racing at Riccarton, and has nothing to recommend him except his undoubted galloping ability. Oxenhope, who went out favourite, put up a 'fine effort a quarter of a mile from home, but could not sustain it. Comely put up a sterling race, but could not make the least impression on Varnish, who was in front practically from start to finish. After being well back in the early stages Battle Eve struggled on into third place, but he is not at his best, and a spell would do him no harm, judging by his latest displays. Though conceding his opponents up to 271 b., Crib was made a strong order for the Jumpers’ Flat Race, and scored in decisive style from Sport and British Rose. Some weeks ago it vzas proposed to take Crib to Australia, but that project has been abandoned. Fabriquette, a four-year-old sister to Fabrikoff, effected a surprise win in the Trial Plate, and is just the sort to go on winning. She can muster up a lot of pace, and appears to put more heart into her finish than does Fabrikoff. Golden Prince, the favourite, put up a fair race in getting second place, but the Chokebore representative, Tantalus, never threatened danger.

All Serene, the shapely son of All Red and Saranges, had a comfortable win in the Hack Welter after being none too well placed in the early stages. He is a very free galloper, and will win races in better company. Sir Malt carried his 10.0 well, but could not foot it with All Serene over the last furlong. It was disappointing to the club to see only Bimeter and The Toff of the seven figuring in the Mount Grey

Stakes facing the starter foi' the only weight-for-age race on the programme. There was not a great deal of difference in the betting between the pair, Bimeter, who looked more forward than the three-year-old, being elected favourite. Malster’s handsome son made play from the start, but a furlong from home The Toff closed on him, and after a short struggle the three-year-old had his elder rival’s measure, and at the finish won comfortably. Though The Toff has not grown much since last season, he has filled out nicely, and looks like playing his part well in any event he may be started for this season. Another of Mr. Gerald Stead’s team in Koesian found most supporters of the seven that went out to contest the Wattle Handicap. He looked in excellent trim, but at the finish had to strike his colours to Pyjama, who has done a good deal of racing during the past few months.

Vladian, Gaycium and Depredation were winners at Wanganui on the first day that won again on the second. Chakwana, Wrestler, Bjorneborg and Record, first day winners, did not start on the second day. Marton ran a second and a first, Hylatus had a win and a second, Miacara two seconds, Elevation two thirds, Rewipoto a third and

a win, Austin a third and a second Form worked out well in each instance, but Antwerp, a winner on Saturday, was seventh on the Thursday in his race. Nones, ‘who ran second to Depredation on the second day, met that horse on 141 b. better terms than on the first day, and then the difference was not sufficient to cause the tables to be turned, though it was thought that the extra distance would favour Mr. Greenwood’s filly. It favoured Depredation just as much, or more. Nones had so much hard racing at two and three years old that her joints, which caused trouble last year, are not too good now, and so we may not see her racing in Auckland when the ground is hard.

Miss Cecil Hall, who is so well known as a director of national, classical, ballet and interpretive dancing, announces that she is now prepared to receive pupils for the same. Miss Hall’s credentials are of the highest.

She was a pupil of the famous Mademoiselle Mantes, of the Grand Opera House, Paris, Acadamie Desportes, and after a thorough tuition Miss Hall spent six years on the Continent studying both music and dancing under the best masters and seeing the most famous dancers in Europe. Miss Hall is no stranger to Auckland. Many of our readers will remember Miss Polly McLaren (Mdlle. Bebe), who has been such a success as a dancer both here and in Australia. Miss McLaren studied under Miss Hall, and her success is very largely due to the methods of training, which comprise both individuality and technique. Miss Hall’s methods of teaching are founded upon French and Russian successes, so that her pupils can rely on receiving expert tuition.