CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1474, 25 July 1918, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

Snow Causes Stoppage of Training Operations—Visiting Horses Arriving at Riccarton—Brambletye and Adjutant in Nice Racing Trim—Mr. E. S. Luttrell’s Yearlings to be Shipped to Sydney. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. On Friday morning the tracks at Riccarton were covered with snow, and the after effects will leave them very soft for some days. The stoppage of work that this will occasion may not be detrimental to the horses that have been racing lately in the North Island, but it will make it difficult for local trainers to get their charges fit. Two early withdrawals from the Grand National Steeplechase are Bon Reve and Rangahere, both of whom are amiss. The former did not pull up at all sound after winning the July Steeplechase at Trentham, and rather than .risk a serious breakdown his trainer decided to send the Boniform gelding back to Hastings. Rongahere has been more or less.unsound for some weeks, aud it is doubtful if his trainer will persevere with him. Visiting horses have been putting in an appearance at Riccarton daily since the Wellington meeting. Amongst those already at headquarters are Sleight of Hand, Yellow and Black, Reformation. Sir Fisher, Collector, Colorado, All Over, King of the Valley, Meltchikoff, Moddite, Good Hope, Royal Prince, Captain Lock, and Notability. It was understood that Moddite and Meltchikoff were to be sent back to Ellerslie after the Wellington meet-

ing, consequently their appearance at Riccarton came as a welcome surprise- ~ , . , Several of the horses that arrived from Wellington on Wednesday had a rather bad experience after being entrained at Lyttelton. As the result of negligence on the part of railway officials the boxes containing the equines got very heavily bumped, and it is a wonder that some of them were not seriously hurt. The only real sufferer was Sleight of Hand, who got a heavy blow across the chest. Evidently he was little the worse for his experience, as he appeared fresh enough on the tracks next morning. On his return from Wellington, P. Hogan took Fleetham, Giralda and Sylva to Timaru for the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting. All of them are likely to run prominently in their engagements there. Brambletye and Adjutant, both of whom are engaged in the Winter Cup, are in nice racing trim. The former has been galloping very attractively in her work, and appears to be. equal to holding Adjutant, who is an in and out galloper. Since his return from the North Island Art has not done a great deal of work, but he is in much better racing trim than before leaving. Given a dry track he is bound to be prominent at the finish of the Grand National Hurdles. Reports from the North Island mention that Pursefiller is unlikely to be brought south for the C.J.C. meeting. It is probable that two of Mr. E. S. Luttrell’s yearlings will be shipped to Sydney next month. They both claim numerous engagements in Australian juvenile events. Now that Bon Reve has been withdrawn from the Grand National, arrangements have been made for Stan Reid to have the mount on Collector, and that has naturally brought that gelding’s prospects into prominence. When exercised on Thursday morning he appeared to be sore, and his trainer may have trouble in fittihg him for such a severe contest. Since his arrival at headquarters Waimai has not been asked to do much, but little fault can be found with his condition. The big fences at Riccarton and extra journey to be covered should be in his favour for the Grand National.