CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1408, 19 April 1917, Page 12

CANTERBURY.

Matters at Riccarton become Quiet Again—Panmure burrering From Lameness—Chokebore Representatives For Trentnam—Mr. W. G. Stead’s Strong Team for Wellington Meeting—Art May Race at Ellershe —Snub on Easy List—Mr. Whitney’s Representatives for Greymouth Meeting—Strong Canterbury Contingent for Trentham.

Ail the visiting horses that raced at the C.J.C. meeting have now taken their departure, and matters have settled down into their ordinary groove at Riccarton. North Isiand compet.tors, though present in strong, Lorce, did not do so well as usual, only four races coming their way, through the agency of Desert Gold,, Estland, Gazique and Nystad. The balance of the events went to the local stables.

George Price, with the Highden. horses, went North on Wednesday.. He is going to make Trentham his. headquarters till after the Wellington meeting. One of his charges in Panmure was decidedly lame after contesting the Great Easter Handicap,, and doubts are expressed as to the; English horse’s prospects of racing again.

The Chokebore stable had nine, horses engaged at the Wellington meeting, but all have been withdrawn except Adjutant, Gamecock, Good! Hope and Brambletye. This quartette are all very well, and Good Hope in particular is likely to race well at Trentham.

The withdrawal of Croesus from the Thompson Handicap occasioned no surprise after his poor showing in the Great Easter Handicap. His great brilliancy enabled him to show up prominently in the early stages, but a furlong from home he was well beaten. Under the circumstances his chance of seeing out an extra furlong at Trentham seemed rather remote under such a substantial impost as 9.1.

Flying Start and Marc Antony, both of whom were engaged in the Thompson Handicap, also claim engagements at the South Canterbury meeting on Thursday. The latter was badly treated in the Thompson Handicap, but at Timaru he has been given a good chance.

M. Hobbs has a big team engaged at Wellington, including Sasanof, Kilboy, Cheloma and Sweet Corn. Most of his charges are likely to make the northern trip. Art figures in two of the flat events on the first day of the Manawatu R.C.’s meeting. He is only 51b. off the minimum in the Autumn Handicap, but has caught it hot in the Linton Hack Handicap, and the handicapper’s treatment of making him

give away up to just on three stone takes a lot of justifying. The Sarto gelding’s trainer decided not to send him North ei:her for his engagements at Manawatu or Trentham. There is, however, a probability of him being sent to Ellerslie for the big jumping events in June.

Snub is making a satisfactory recovery from the leg trouble that prevented him racing at the C.J.C. meeting. He is now on the easy list, and will not be asked to do much till next spring. Peroniila went amiss on the eve of the C.J.C. meeting, and though she is engaged at the Timaru meeting there is little chance of her being raced there. It is not often that Southland stables are represented at a Well.ngton meeting, but Gunrest and Buller are to be sent up for the coming fixture.

R. J. Mason is only taking a small team to Wellington, the sheet anchor of which will be Bimeter. The Malster horse is in great heart at present.

The two hard races he had at Riccarton have done Fiery Cross no harm, and he is to be sent to Wellington. At 8.2 the son of Gienapp has been given a fair chance in the Thompson Handicap. Mr. H. G. Taylor’s horses will be ridden in their Wellington engagements by the successful horseman, J. Olsen.

The Wellington sportsman Mr. Whitney will be represented at the Greymouth meeting by Mount Victoria, Pall Mall, Rose Pink, and Roumania. They arrived in Christchurch on Sunday, and were subsequently taken across the ranges. In consequence of the North Otago and Greymouth meetings clashing, Mr. Wood will not be able to do the starting at the latter fixture. His duties will be undertaken by Mr. H. Rutland, who has had considerable experience at the barrier. A big batch of Riccarton horses were shipped north on Monday to fulfil engagements at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. Trainers with teams under their charge were R. J. Mason, H. Cutts, R. King, and F. Christmas.

Locally, Sasanof is in keen demand with early speculators for the Thompson Handicap, and he has been well supported in doubles with Sweet Corn and Gazique for the Railway Handicap. Though no pronouncement has yet been made, it is understood that Kilboy and The Toff will contest the Trentham Gold Cup w r ith Desert Gold. The latter is reported to have been specially trained for the long-distance event, but she will have to be at her best to defeat two such recognised stayers as Kilboy and The Toff.