CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1420, 12 July 1917, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

M. Aynsley’s Winter Cup Trio —Mr. H. Taylor’s Horses —Bandy Resumes Work —Commotion Destroyed as a Result of Contracting Lockjaw— Johnny Walker’s Winter Cup Prospects—Thestius to be Taken in Hand Again—Good Hope in Nice Condit.on —Battle Eve Rejoins Active Brigade—The Toff in Work Again After Brief Spell—Yaldhurst Two-year-olds Getting Along Nicely.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday.

With half a dozen trainers and their teams away at Trentham matters have been decidedly quiet at Riccarton for the last few days. At the eleventh hour Christmas decided not to take Fiery Cross and Killjoy to Wellington, as neither have done a great deal of fast work. In the meantime, they are to be kept busy in view of the Grand National meeting.

Aynsley is keeping Snub, Wardancer and Disdainful going, and they are all on the improve. Each of the trio figures in the Winter Cup, but Snub is hardly a good enough beginner to have much chance in a race of that description. R. O’Donnell had Plymouth down at Riccarton on Thursday, and in company with Wellwood and Mawson the Australian-bred gelding gave a satisfactory display in a round of the big fences. He is being got ready for the Grand National Steeplechase, but unfortunately is none too sound. The English - bred horse Kirkby Fleatham is showing a good deal of improvement under trainer McDonald’s care. He may be raced in some of the minor flat events at the Grand National meeting. Two recent additions to the active brigade at Riccarton are Bomb and Kilrea, both of whom look in excellent health. On his return from the Wellington meeting F. D. Jones will also put Comely into work again. Though Bee has done no work since her return from the North Island she has quite thrown off the soreness that necessitated her being spelled. According to present arrangements she will shortly be shipped to Australia, where she claims several important engagements. She may be accompanied by Zuland, who is galloping in improved form at Riccarton. Their owner, Mr. H. Taylor, is at present in Sydney. Zuland has been recommissioned again by R. King, and is to be got ready for the Winter Cup. Amongst those drawn up in the last ballot were trainer Harry Cutts and jockeys J. Kaan and H. McKearney.

Under the altered conditions of the C.J.C. programme the Grand National Steeplechase, Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdle Race will all be run on the opening day. After being off the tracks for sometime Bandy is in work again at headquarters, and appears to be quite sound. The well-known hurdler Commotion had to be destroyed recently, having contracted lockjaw. Two seasons ago the son of Sensation and Mrs. Shannon held a fairly high place amongst the South Island jumpers, but he only managed to win a few races. From present indications, the Wellington - owned Johnny Walker is likely to start favourite for the Winter Cup, provided he does not earn a substantial impost in the interim. The Karamu horseman “Wattie” Bush, who was badly injured by a fall from Czaronus at the Napier Park meeting, has sufficiently recovered to pay a holiday visit to Christchurch. Bush is still under medical attention, and has been forbidden to ride at the Wellington meeting. He hopes to be well enough to follow his calling at Riccarton next month, and will probably have the mount on Czaronus in the Grand National Steeplechase. Bush contends that though the Patronus gelding has several falls to his credit, he is an accomplished jumper. Though the Hon. J. D. Ormond is not represented in any of the chief events at the Grand National meeting there is a chance of Gladful and Hylans being sent down to contest some of the minor hurdle races. H. Cutts took Petruchio and Don Pacifico north on Monday, but they will only race on the second and third days of the Wellington meeting. Thestius, who has been off the tracks for a long while, is to be taken up again by P. McGrath. When doing a gallop on Thursday, Red Book struck himself father

severely, and has since been on the easy list. Steperina has joined Longley’s active brigade at headquarters, and J. Franks intends trying to get Caher Davon ready to race again. The Riccarton horseman D. McKay has got leave of absence from camp to ride Art in his engagements at the Wellington meeting. As the going at Trentham is almost sure to be heavy, Art’s chance in the Winter Hurdles will not be improved. Good Hope is looking in nice order, and should be ready to race in the early spring.

McCombe has had a recent addition to his team in Subterfuge, who was at one time a member of the Chokebore team.

Battle Eve has been taken up again by the Cutts brothers, and is to be got ready for the New Zealand Cup meeting.

The Toff has been put into work again after a brief spell, and the little gentleman is looking hearty and well. So far nothing is definitely settled about Mr. Gerald Stead’s horses making the Australian trip, and nothing may be settled for a week or so. The Yaldhurst two-year-olds, Melee (by Martian —Formless), Almoner (by Boniform—Cassock), and Cyrisian (by Elysian—Cyirma) are all doing their work in a satisfactory manner. Almoner is a nippy colt, and he gives the impression that he will run away from his companions when they get going. Still, Melee is always there or thereabouts when real galloping is required, and the gelding Cyrisian also shows plenty of pace.