CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1402, 8 March 1917, Page 15

CANTERBURY.

Trainer R. McKay Removes His Team to Invercargill—Marc Antony in Steady Work Again—Active Preparations for the Autumn Meetings —Likely G.N. St. Leger Candidates —Kilmeny’s Disappointing Form — All War to be Tried Over Hurdles —Bumping During Running of Peninsula Cup—Notes on the Akaroa Meeting—Peronilla Makes Her Debut as a Hurdler. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The Riccarton tracks are badly in need of rain, and they are becomingvery hard. A good number of horses are being kept going in view of the Waimate and other southern fixtures. Kilboy and Sasanof are regular attendants at headquarters, and both look in splendid trim. A few days ago the pair were put together over a mile, which was negotiated in lmin. 44 2-ssec. Kilboy was going Letter than his companion at the finish, but he had a big pull in the weights. Finding that the Oamaru tracks are too hard for fast work, trainer R. McKay has decided to remove his team to Invarcargill, where the going is more suitable.

Since his return to New Zealand, L. H. Hewitt has not met with a great deal of success in the saddle, though he is just as active as over on the training tracks riding work. It is understood that sufficient inducement has been offered him to take' up h s residence in Auckland. Word has been received here that there is little chance of Hymestra being seen at Riccarton for the autumn meeting. He claims an engagement in the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, as do Bimeter and Desert Gold. This would make his Auckland prospects seem much more favourable than those at Riccarton.

R. J. Mason is back again at Riccarton with the team that did such good service at the Wanganui meeting. Bimeter looks none the worse for his exertions, but Greenstreet lightened up considerably while away from home. H. Thomson has Marc Antony in steady work again, but it will take his mentor all his time to have the son of Varco at his best for the autumn meetings. Since his return from the North Bimeter continues to show all his former objection to going on to the training tracks, and his trainer has to bring a stockwhip into play before the son of Malster will face the music.

Gamecock has improved a good deal since racing at Dunedin, and he will probably be the Chokebore stables’ representative in the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes. Dounata, in Longley’s stable, is none too sound, and her trainer is experiencing trouble in keeping her

up to the collar. Her two stable companions, Art and Banian, are in the best of health.

Good Hope and Flying Start are both progressing satisfactorily in view of autumn engagements. The former appears to have thrown off his muscle troubles, and looks like picking up a good stake before the season closes.

Other members of the Cutts Bros.’ team that are on the improve are Wrestler, Petruchio and Don Pacifico. Adjutant has done little work since returning from Dunedin, but he will be racing again at Riccarton in the autumn.

Margerine is on the improve, and should give a good account of herself in the Waimate Cup. Aynsley has been slipping the work into Wardancer, but he will have a hard task to get the gelding quite wound up for the autumn meetings. Snub is getting through his tasks very pleasingly, and should be at his very best by the time the Great Autumn Handicap comes up for decision.

There are several small meetings coming off shortly that are claiming the attention of Riccarton trainers, notably those at Motukarara and Waimate. Quite a number of horses are being hurried along in view of these fixtures, while others are taking matters less strenuously. M. Hobbs has been putting a fair amount of work into Kilboy and Sasanof, both of whom look in robust health. One of these three-year-olds will be taken North for the Great Northern St. Leger, and The Toff will also journey to Ellerslie for the same race. A final meeting between the brothers Stead’s representatives should effectively settle the question of three-year-old supremacy for the season. Hobbs has recently taken in hand a couple of very promising two-year-olds that may be raced at some of the autumn fixtures. One is a fullbrother to Kilboy, by Kilbroney— Cyre, and the other is a strapping colt by Boniform from a Birkenhead mare.

The English-bred mare Winter Cherry, in R. Longley’s stable, has been responsible for some attractive work lately. She is a nice galloper, and looks like picking up a stake or two before the season closes.

The Kilbroney filly Kilmeedy has been on the easy list since her return from Dunedin, but she is to be taken up again shortly in view of autumn racing. After his poor displays at Dunedin, Kilmeny was decidedly off colour on his return to Riccarton. Ever since his unsuccessful trip to Auckland two seasons ago the veteran son of Kilcheran has been on the down grade, and it is quite on the cards that he will be permanently retired from the turf.

It is quite probable that Mr. H. G. Taylor will make another trip to Australia next winter, taking with him Bee, Zuland and Matty. Mr. Y. T. Barron, the owner of Ringform, has been called up for military service, and consequently Ringform is in the private sale list. El Gallo’s younger brother, All War, has been showing improved form in his track work at Riccarton lately, and is shortly to be tried as a hurdler. So far his displays on the flat have not come up to expectations. Though there were only five competitors in the Peninsula Cup at the Akaroa Racing Club’s meeting, a good deal of interference was witnessed in it. Soon after the start Comely got a bad bump which cost her a couple of lengths, while half a mile from home Bill Terry was nearly brought down. This made Jeannot’s task all the easier, but it is doubtful if under any circumstances the result would have been different. The big son of Charlemagne 11. was full of running at the finish, and when asked for a final effort simply smothered Comely. The latter was making her first effort over a mile and a-quarter course, and the journey proved all too far for her.

Peronilla made an auspicious start as a jumper by running away with the hurdle race. Her fencing was far from perfect, but her turn of pace on the flat more than made good the ground she lost at each obstacle. With more experience the Achilles mare is bound to get on the winning list again before long. Two English-bred fillies in Winter Cherry and Fotheringay sported silk for the first time in the Maiden Plate at the Akaroa meeting, and the former was well supported on the strength of her track work. She ran a fair race, but the big break got by Tremena out of the barrier left nothing else with a chance. Winter

Cherry has a nice style of galloping, and will improve with racing. Another stylishly-bred filly in Mr. W. G‘. Stead’s Bayonne made her debut in the Terawera Hack Handicap, but was never prominent. The Riccarton apprentice F. Gray was in god form at the Akaroa meeting, where he piloted Jeannot, Star Blue and Charley to victory. The Treadmill colt Tantalus changed hands at the Akaroa meeting, being purchased by Mr. H. Cassidy from Sir George Clifford. The colt can muster up a fine turn of speed, but is not too reliable in company.