CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1485, 10 October 1918, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

Margerine to Race at Wingatui— Cynic Showing Improved Sprinting Form —Chokebore Representatives for Dunedin Meeting—Glendower Galloping Freely—M. Hobbs’ Two-year-olds—-Notes on the Kurow Meeting—Death of ex-Aucklander, Moddite.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. During the week the plough track at Riccarton has been reopened, and it is now greatly in demand with trainers. Some time ago it was turned over for a well-needed scarifying. A few days ago that great mare Warstep produced a colt foal to the imported sire Solferino. Her sister, Stardancer, is represented by a filly, also by the English-bred horse. This season both mares are to be mated with Sanquhar. Derrett is keeping Margerine up to the collar, and though still backward a race at Dunedin should do her a lot of good for the New Zealand Cup. Cynic, another Cup candidate, continues to go on the right way. Though almost anything can head him over short courses, he is improving in this respect as the result of sprinting tasks Jones is allotting him. The two Chokebore three-year-olds Heathercote and Long Range are being hurried along in view of Dunedin engagements. Heathercote will probably represent the stable in the Dunedin Guineas, while Long Range may be seen out in some of the sprint events. Though by -no means a brilliant track horse, Scornful has been responsible for a lot of solid work since racing at Ashburton. He will carry Mr. Dalgety’s colours in the Dunedin Guineas, and is bound to take a lot of beating. Glendower has quite thrown off his kidney trouble, and is bowling along in very free style. His stable companion, Killjoy, is also in great heart and should pick up a stake at the Dunedin meeting. M. Hobbs’ pair of two-year-olds, Flight Commander and Sans Souci, are both attractive gallopers. The former is as speedy as anything trained at Riccarton, and should play his part well in the McLean Stakes at Wingatui. Anton, another of Hobbs’ two-year-olds, has been purchased by an Invercargill sportsman. He will be taken to Dunedin with Hobbs’ team, and after racing there will be turned over to his new owner. Royal Stag and Macduff, the Chokebore two-year-olds that are being got ready for the Dunedin meeting, can both gallop fast. The former seems to have the more brilliancy, and should run well in the McLean Stakes. King Star, Good Hope and Kaminohe have all been given schooling tasks during the week, but it cannot be said that any of them threaten to turn out champions at the business. Tantalus pulled up lame after doing a gallop a few mornings ago. This is bad luck for his trainer, as the son of Treadmill had been shaping particularly well in his work. Riccarton-trained horses did fairly well at the Kurow meeting, but the defeats of Merry Lad. Tremena and

Pyjama in their respective races cost local backers a lot of good cash. Soon after the start of the Hakataramea Handicap at Kurow, Bellrock burst a blood-vessel, and will require a short spell. John Barleycorn ran a fair race in the Kurow Handicap, and only for being interfered with by Treniena in the straight may have defeated Linden. An enquiry was held into the incident, but as it was found that Emerson was not to blame for his mount coming out on to the Cup horse no action was taken. The steeplechase at Kurow was little better than a farce. Of the five competitors all but Rolling Tide made mistakes, and at the finish he was a furlong in front of Kaupokonui, who, after missing the first, was persevered with. That usually safe jumper Merry Lad came to grief at the post and rails in the Kurow Steeplechase, and the same obstacle brought Moddite down. In their struggles Merry Lad kicked Moddite on the leg, and as a bad break resulted the ex-Aucklander had to be destroyed. Canamana got a flying start in the Trial Handicap, and this enabled her to win all the way. She was followed home by the two-year-old Link Up, who put up a creditable effort for a first public appearance. Word has been received here that Almoner will probably return to New Zealand as soon as the A.J.C. meeting is over. This suggests that he may contest the Champion Plate at Trentham and the Derby at Riccarton.