CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1457, 28 March 1918, Page 13

CANTERBURY.

Visiting Contingent Arriving in Riccarton—Biplane Right Up to Concert Pitch—Notes on Intending Competitors at C.J.C. Meeting— CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Th© Riccarton tracks got a greatlyneeded soaking on Tuesday. They are now in excellent order, and should remain so till over the C.J.C. meeting.

Sweet Corn, Almo and a maiden two-year-old by Demosthenes put in an appearance a few days ago in charge o£ G‘. Jones. The first-named looks particularly well, and is one of the most fancied candidates for the Great Easter Handicap, in which she will probably be ridden by B. Deeley. Don Francisco has been giving his trainer some concern lately, and may not be required to fulfil his engagements at the meeting. Biplane continues to go on the right way and was never in better racing trim. On Thursday, with a good weight in the saddle, he got over six furlongs on a dead track in lmin. 16 3-ssec. Adjutant is galloping well of late, and if caught in a generous mood on the day may have something to say in the decision of the Great Autumn Handicap. Margarine has never looked better than at the present time. According to present intentions she will contest both the big handicaps and be ridden by W. Bush. Ladogeur and Hyttus put in an appearance on Thursday morning. Both look as it they have done a good deal of work. Locally Killjoy is in most demand with early backers for thei Great Easter Handicap, but some difficulty is being experienced in securing a competent horseman for her. Fiery Cross and Glendower, in the same stable, are both going on the right way. As the result of his two wins at the Southland meeting, Rorke’s Drift has incurred 141 b. penalty for the Great Autumn Handicap. This makes it seem likely that he will not be brought to Riccarton but do his Easter racing at Riverton. The jumper Hylans gave a creditable display over the hurdles at Riccarton on Thursday morning. He can muster up a lot of pace on the flat and promises’ to play his part well in the Kildare Hurdles. R. O’Donnell has Almoner in the pink of condition, and there are many who expect the two-year-old to giv* an excellent showing with Biplane and Hymestra in the Challenge Stakes. Melee, who accompanied Almoner to Australia, is also well forward, and may be given a run in the Russley Plate. LATER. (By Telegraph.) Fiery Cross Reported Slightly Amiss —Auckland Cup Winner Withdrawn From C.J.C. Engagements—Fleetham Taken in Hand Again—Latest Track Work at Riccarton —Great Easter and Autumn Fancies. Fiery Cross was an absentee from th© tracks during the latter part of last week, as a result, it is supposed, of being slightly amiss. There being little chance of the gelding stripping at his best for the C.J.C. meeting, he was withdrawn from the two big handicaps on Saturday.

The ex-Riccarton mentor J. McCracken arrived from the North on Saturday morning with Croesus, The Summit and Silver and Black. The Great Easter Handicap candidate looks in rare trim. As the result of her success on the second day of the Wairarapa meeting, Mascot will have to put up a 101 b. penalty if started in the Great Autumn Handicap, bringing her weight up to 7.3. The West Coast-owned Claverhouse put in an appearance at Riccarton on

Friday. He is to do some racing in this province before returning home.

The well-known horseman F. E. Jones has acquired a lease of the training stables at Timaru formerly occupied by S. Trilford. He intends setting up as a trainer in the course of a few weeks, and already has several horses promised. A recent addition to W. MacDonald’s team at Riccarton is the Eng-lish-bred horse Fleetham. He looks in nice order to start work again, evidently having benefited by his spell. Some very interesting work was accomplished at Riccarton on Saturday, the track being in nice order. Biplane registered easily the best gallop of the morning over six furlongs, which he cast behind in the smart time of lmin. 14 4-ssec. He was doing his best at th© 'finish, but it was an attractive performance.

Disdainful, Adjutant and Margerine set out over a mile, and finished in the order named in lmin. 45sec. Adjutant was slow in getting away, but finished well, being beaten by half a length, with Margerine two lengths away. It was a good performance on the part of the first two. Asca.laphus finished his task of ten furlongs in good style, doing the last nine in 2min. lsec. Spangle brought him over the last seven, the pair finishing together. Sweet Corn reeled off six furlongs in lmin. 18sec. —time that she could have improved upon. KimboUon finished in front of Battle Eve at the end of a mile., going seven furlongs in lmin. 35sec. Heathercote had Long Range’s measure at the finish of six furlongs, run in lmin. 18sec. At the time of writing acceptances for the first day’s events at the C.J.C. meeting have not been declared, but there can be no doubt as to the success of the gathering. Croesus and the better of Mr. W. R. Kemball’s pair are sure to play their parts well in the Great Easter Handicap, while Killjoy and Koesian have more than outside chances. The Great Autumn Handicap is more open than in mostprevious years. Menelaus and Wishful are sure of strong support, and recent form points to Adjutant and Killard being in the fighting line at the finish.