CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1384, 2 November 1916, Page 13

CANTERBURY.

Chortle to Start in Stewards’ Handicap—Local Sportsmen’s Success at Trentham—Latest N.Z. Cup Fancies —Panmure Gallops Well in Company With Chortle —Wrestler Withdrawn From C.J.C. Engagements as Result of Being Amiss—Stewards’ Handicap Prospects—Track Work at Riccarton—Crowhurst to Contest Feilding Stakes—Balboa in Great HeartMerry Roe in Favour. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Visiting horses have been arriving in strong force at Riccarton since the Wellington meeting. Most of the Cup horses are now at headquarters, but not many have as yet been set strong tasks. The trainer of Multiplication and Chortle states that both will be started in the Stewards’ Handicap. Chortle will be ridden by S. Reid and Multiplication by R. Reed. Indigo, who will be making his third effort in the New Zealand Cup, will be ridden in the coming test by L. Wilson. Local owners appropriated a good share of the prize money at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, the biggest winners being Mr. G. D. Greenwood (£810), Mr. D. H. Roberts (£325), and Sir Geo. Clifford (£180). The Kilbroney filly Kilrea, who claims an engagement in the Welcome Stakes, is suffering from a cold, and can hardly be at her best by the time the C.J.C. meeting opens on Saturday next.

As a result of her brilliant victory in the Wainui Handicap (one mile) at Trentham on Labour Day, Merry Roe has come into considerable favour for the N.Z. Cup. At present she is almost as good a favourite as Marc Antony, Rorke’s Drift and Fiery Cross. Among the recent foalings at Kinlock Stud Farm are: Secret Link, by Bezonian —Chainstitch, a filly to Birkenhead; and Strathsprey, by Gipsy Grand —Reel, a filly to Birkenhead.

After an absence of ten years from New Zealand, L. H. Hewitt, the wellknown ex-Canterbury horseman, is again at Riccarton, and has been riding work each morning. He has already been offered several mounts at the C.J.C. meeting, including that on The Toff in the Derby and other of Mr. G. L. Stead’s horses, also Sweet Tipperary in the N.Z. Oaks Stakes. Despite his failures at Wanganui and Trentham, Panmure is one of the most fancied candidates for the Stewards’ Handicap. (He did a good gallop with Chortle at Riccarton on Saturday morning, the pair getting over four furlongs nicely in 49 2-ssec., there being nothing between them at the finish. In well-informed circles Pan-

mure is expected to show greatly improved form when stripped at Riccarton.

The Chokebore-trained colt Wrestler has been under a cloud since returning from Dunedin, and has now been put out of work. This means that the brilliant son of Antagonist will be off the scene for the C.J.C. meeting, at which his prospects of picking up a good stake looked bright. The colt was withdrawn from the Stewards’ Handicap at 3 p.m. on Friday.

There is sure to be a big field line up at the barrier to contest the Stewards’ Handicap on Saturday, and it is quite certain that the top weights will have a good deal to say in its decision. Chortle, Tete-a-tete and Panmure are all sure to run well, and the firstnamed in particular is sure to be dangerous it he jumps off with his field. Bimeter has many friends, but he is not too reliable. It is probable that Mr. Lowry will start both Egypt and Tete-a-tete, and the bracketed pair may go out favourites. On his uest form Findhorn is one of the nicest treated horses in the race, and he is very well just at present. A lot of interesting work was got through at Riccarton on Saturday morning, most of which was accomplished on the outside of the course proper, which is in nice order. Snub and Wardancer were associated in a gallop over a mile and a-half, the first mile being left behind in Imin. 47 l-ssec., and the full distance in 2min. 41 4-ssec. The Cup horse was going particularly well at the finish, and his effort was quite satisfactory. There was a good deal of merit associated with Wardancer’s effort also.

Good Hope finished in front of San Sebastian at the end of seven furlongs on the tan in Imin. 32 4-ssec. Fiery Cross was given his first strong gallop since his return from Wellington, his task being a mile and a half on the grass. With the assistance of Glendower over the first six furlongs, and Slogan to bring him home, the Cup horse reeled off his first mile in Imin. 47sec., the full journey taking 2min. 41 3-ssec. Fiery Cross finished up his task nicely, and altogether gave a creditable performance.

It is reported that Crowhurst will not be brought down for the Riccarton meeting. His next public appearance will be in the Feilding Stakes. As the result of slight injuries sustained a few days ago at Blenheim, Pariform will have to forfeit his engagements at the C.J.C. meeting.

There is sure to be a further weeding out of N.Z. Cup candidates when the final payment of lOsovs. comes to be made on Wednesday. It would come as a surprise if any of the topweights dropped out, but in all probability several defections will take place in the ranks of the light weights. Sweet Tipperary is amongst the acceptors for the Great Northern Guineas, to be decided at Ellerslie on Saturday, but it is almost certain the Oaks Stakes at Riccarton will be her special mission.

Bjorneborg figures in both the C.J.C. Derby and the Great Northern Guineas, the latter of which is likely to claim his attention. Balboa has made many friends since his arrival at Riccarton, and no horse will strip fitter for the big event. He is more sound now than when he ran second in the Great Autumn Handicap, and seeing that he meets Marc Antony on 101 b. better terms, the chestnut son of Varco —Nerve looks like reversing positions with the Varco — Volodia gelding in the two-mile race. Balboa is a proved stayer, and is fitter than at any previous time of his career.

Merry Roe has done little fast work since her arrival at Riccarton. She bears a well-trained appearance, and it is just a question of her seeing out the last half-mile to be handy at the finish. The top weights as a rule do not have much to do with the final stages of the New Zealand Cup, but in a field that pro .nises to be decidedly weak Balboa and Merry Roe must not be left out of consideration.

King Star has been causing his trainer a good deal of anxiety lately, and may not be able to fulfil his engagements at Riccarton.

With the near approach of carnival week speculation on the New Zealand Cup is taking a more definite issue on all sides. The result is regarded as

particularly open; so much so, in fact, that it would be a hard matter to forecast what will start favourite. Merry Roe has come into strong demand since the Wellington meeting, while Marc Antony, who ruled as favourite since the declaration of weights, is easier. Balboa, Fiery Cross and Snub all have plenty of friends, but Rorke’s Drift is not so well fancied as was the case before he raced at Wingatui and Gore.

On Monday morning at Riccarton Rorke’s Drift and Ringform were spun out over a mile and a-quarter. At the finish Ringform was three lengths to the good in 2min. 13sec. It was a satisfactory try-out on the part of Ringform, who was carrying almost as much weight as Rorke’s Drift.

L. H. (Hewitt will have the mount on Snub in the N.Z. Cup. Toki was lame after working on Monday morning, and cannot be at his best for the C.J.C. meeting. Should G‘. Clarke secure his license

in time he will have the mount on Sedd-el-Bahr in the New Zealand Cup.