OUR CANTERBURY LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1436, 1 November 1917, Page 9

OUR CANTERBURY LETTER.

NEW ZEALAND CUP MEETING. LATEST GOSSIP FROM RICCARTON. PROSPECTS OF INTENDING STARTERS. (From Our Christchurch Correspondent.) The Canterbury Jockey Club’s New Zealand Cup meeting will be opened at Riccarton on Monday next, when the big two mile flat event o£ the Dominion will come up for decision, in addition to which the New Zealand Derby Stakes, Stewards’ Handicap and Welcome Stakes will engage the attention of racegoers. The greatest interest is being centred in the three days’ fixture by sportsmen inn all parts of the Dominion, and the following notes regarding the doings of intending contestants and their prospects at the meeting will doubtless prove acceptable to readers. Visiting horses are now in strong force at Riccarton, and the training operations are becoming very interesting. Mr. G . D. Greenwood’s Welcome Stakes cand date Gloaming has resumed fast work after being on the easy list for some time. He is a rare galloper, and a few days ago dashed over three furlongs brilliantly in 39sec. He would have been all the better for a race before contesting the Welcome Stakes. Snub seems all the better for his race at Rangiora, which sharpened him up. On Thursday he registered a fine track performance by getting over a mile and a-half in 2min 40 2-ssec without assistance. He had more than his Cup weight in the saddle, and finished up really well. Gazique has been responsible for several smart gallops since his arrival at Riccarton, and at present rules as favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap. C. Emerson has returned from Australia, and on Thursday was riding work at Riccarton. He has been retained to ride Snub in the Cup and Lady Black in the Stewards’ Handicap. Disdainful has not been galloping at all freely of late and seems to have gone off. H. Thomson has sent Marc Antony back to his owner, who intends treating the son of Varco to swimming exercise. His chances of starting at the Cup meeting do not look at all bright. The English-bred Fleetham has gone amiss, and goes back to his owner’ station. Before being put into work again he will do a light stud season. The Achilles mare Peronilla has finished her racing career, and is to be mated with Clarenceaux. Sleight of Hand continues to get through ' satisfactory work, but so far he has not been tried out over a lengthy course. He is very fit, and will not require much galloping.

Of all the Cup horses at Riccarton nothing has come in for more favourable comment that Client. He looks particularly fit, and is such a well actioned galloper that there should be little doubt about his staying out the two miles. Since his decisive win at Rangiora Wrestler has come into some favour for the Stewards’ Handicap, in which he will be ridden by F. Gray. The Chokebore representative can muster up a lot of speed, but cannot always be depended on to do his best in a field such as that sure to be seen out in the big sprint. W. McDonald has had a recent addition to his team in the Englishbred mare Assertive. She is a dark chestnut in colour, showing plenty of size and a fair amount of quality. Varnish continues to give his trainer trouble, and his tasks so far have been of the very easiest description. Even if started at the November meeting he cannot be at anything like his best. Gamecock is at present suffering

from a poisoned leg, which has caused him to be eased in his work. At present there seems little chance of his racing at the spring meeting. Since his victory at Trentham, Paraoa has come into a good deal of favour for the Cup, and Egypt is also in increased demand. Though, at the time of wiring, final payments have not yet been made for the New Zealand Cup it is almost certain that at least 15 horses will face the starter in the big event. Most of the visitors are at Riccarton, but only a few of them have been galloped at more than a mile. Of the top weights, ’Client and Egypt promise to be hard to beat, while Teka is sure to give a creditable account of himself. There is sure to be a great race for the Stewards’ Handicap, in which Form Up, Gazique and Disdainful should have something to say in the settlement. The North Island two-year-olds appear to dominate the position in the Welcome Stakes, and Finmark and Pontoon are sure to be dangerous. Gloaming is again in fast work, but the interruption of his preparation may prevent the Australian-bred colt starting in the Welcome Stakes. Gamecock has made a speedy recovery from his recent leg trouble,

and has been recommissioned. As the result of the respite he can hardly be at his best for the Derby., in which he will be Sir Geo. Clifford’s only representative. On Saturday morning Snub was responsible for a sterling performance over ten furlongs. He was joined by Wardancer at the mile post, but had the latter well beaten a long way from home, finishing by himself in 2min 12 2-ssec. Martian’s son is very well at present, and will be racing on in the Cup when most of the others have had enough. Wrestler got over four furlongs nicely in 50sec., and Margerine furnished a surprise by beating Croesus over five furlongs in Imin 4 3-ssec. Sleight of Hand showed to more advantage than Multifual in getting over a mile journey, taking Imin 47 3-ssec. Client, who is a lazy worker, got over ten furlongs in 2min 16 3-ssec, and Disdainful gave Zuland a good beating over six furlongs run in Imin. 18 3-ssec.

On the conclusion of the New Zealand Cup meeting Snub and Nanna will be forwarded to Masterton, where their new owner, Mr. W. R. Kemball, resides. Their future preparation will be undertaken by W. Hawthorne, who acts as private trainer to Mr. Kemball.