CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1391, 21 December 1916, Page 15

CANTERBURY.

R. O’Donnell’s Strong Team for Ellerslie—Full Speed and Flying Start Both Amiss—Promising Addition to T. Sheehan’s Team —The Toff’s Ellerslie Engagements—Riccarton Stables to be Strongly Represented at Westland and Dunedin Meetings —Prospects of Great Race in G.N. Derby. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The Riccarton tracks are very hard at present, as the result of continuous drought. This has prevented some of the trainers who intend taking teams away from giving their charges the necessary winding-up gallops, but most of the horses are well forward. The team taken North by R. O’Donnell is one of the strongest ever sent from Yaldhurst. All its members are particularly well, especially The Toff, who is reported to have done a splendid trial a few days before leaving. Marc Antony has done little fast Delicious flavour and wonderful refreshing power are the distinctive qualities of Desert Gold Tea. Its purity and strength make it economical. Superb quality at 2/-. Other prices, 1/10, 1/9, 1/8.

work since racing at the Cup meeting, and he will be benefited by a few strong gallops at Ellerslie. The Choke bore contingent is by no means a strong one, but some of its members may pick up a small stake or two. Full Speed and Flying Start were to have gone to Auckland to carry Sir George Clifford’s colours, but both are amiss. The former was lame after doing a gallop a few mornings ago and is now out of work. There seems little chance of her racing again this season. Flying Start also is slightly lame, but his ailment is of a less serious nature, and he may be racing again in a few weeks’ time. G. M. Aynsley intends taking Snub, Matty and Wardancer to the Dunedin meeting, after which the trio will go on to Invercargill. A recent addition to T. Sheehan’s team is a two-year-old colt by Nautiform from Passion. The juvenile shows a good deal of promise, but will not be required to race till next season.

W. McDonald had the bad luck to lose the services of his promising yearling colt by San Francisco from Matchbox a few days ago. The youngster got tangled up in a gate, which resulted in a broken leg. When The Toff was first engaged in the Auckland Cup, Mr. Stead had little intention of starting him in that event. Believing that a race will again improve the gelding’s Derby prospects, he is now inclined to let

him take his chance, though no definite arrangement has been made either way. Should The Toff go to the post, Emerson will be required to ride him, which will necessitate another horseman being found for Ardenvhor.

In letting Balboa off with 9.5 in the Otago Handicap, Mr. Henrys evidently looks on the Varco horse as a back number. Should Mr. Lowry’s cast-off be got back into anything like his best form he would make short work of the poor lot opposed to him in the Wingatui race. Though handicapped by bad weather on both days of its spring meeting, the South Canterbury Jockey Club came out with a small profit over the fixture. One big item of expenditure was the £994 taken by the Government in the shape of taxation. This has been paid “under protest,” pending the result of a test case in the courts agamst the Commissioner of Taxes.

Westland’s holiday racing carnival is attracting more than usual interest in local sporting circles this season. Amongst Riccarton trainers who intend patronising the West Coast meetings are T. H. Gillett, ( H- Ellis, P. Holmes, J. Pine, B. Burgess, E. Scoullar, F. C. Thomson, and C. Stratford. Altogether Riccarton stables

will supply about 20 competitors. A very big contingent of Riccarton horses are under orders for the Dunedin meeting; after that fixture their forces will be divided, some journeying further south for the Invercargill meeting, while others will return to Oamaru.

Nones got through an attractive task at Riccarton a few mornings ago, but at present is showing an enlarged joint. Snub and Wardancer have both been responsible for good work on the track during the past week, and both should acquit themselves creditably at Dunedin. Their stable companion, Mattie, is also galloping in improved style. The fact of Mr. G. L. Stead having made the final payment for Wishful and The Toff in the Auckland Cup suggests that both are almost certain starters in that event. With Wishful in the field it is assured that a solid pace will be sustained all through, which should enhance The Toff’s prospects. With nine acceptors for the Great Northern Derby, the Auckland classic looks like one of the most interesting contests of the Ellerslie meeting. Opinion in Canterbury is fairly equally divided as between the prospects of Sasanof and The Toff, but Hawke’s Bay authorities pin their faith to Egypt, who is reported to have improved greatly since racing at Riccarton.