CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1495, 19 December 1918, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

Canterbury Candidates En Route to Auckland — Gloaming’s Attractive Gallops—Glendower’s Auckland Cup Engagement —Mr G. L. Stead’s Quartette for Ellerslie- —Additions to M. Hobbs’ Team —Matty Rejoins Active Brigade.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Riccarton stables will be strongly represented at the holiday fixtures, as apart from a big contingent that will be racing at Ellerslie they have horses engaged at Wingatui, Reefton, Greymouth, Wyndham and Invercargill. During the past week the weather conditions have been none too favourable for training, but still a lot of useful work has been got through. SO far as can be ascertained the Canterbury trainers now on their way to Auckland are. R. J. Mason, with Gloaming and Afterglow; R. O’Donnell, w’ith Surveyor, Kilmoon, Melee and Golden Croizer. H. Cutts, With Onslaught, Macduff, Lionskin, Heathercote and Happy Captain; F. Christmas, with Glendower, Killjoy and Cynic; and A. McAulay, with Kilrush and Some Kid. All the horses are in good racing trim, and they should not come back empty-handed. Cynic is to be taken to the Auckland meeting by F. Christmas, who on arrival will hand the imported horse over to F. Loomb. In a couple of his recent gallops Cynic has shaped pleasingly, and on Thursday administered a severe beating to Majestikoff. Unfortunately he is such a slow beginner as to have little chance when the fields are as big as they promise to be at Ellerslie. Gloaming’s last few gallops before being shipped to Auckland were of a most attractive nature. Not only has he shown all his accustomed brilliancy, but has also finished in most resolute style. A meeting between him and Surveyor in the Royal Stakes is being keenly looked forward to, as both are very brilliant gallopers. Afterglow has accompanied Gloaming in most of his track essays, and though unable to foot it with the dual derby winner she is an improved filly. All the Chokebore representatives have got through satisfactory tasks. Onslaught has many friends for the Railway Handicap, and, well placed in the early stages, he will take a lot of beating. Lionskin and Heathercote are both in good heart, while Macduff, the two-year-old son of Antagonist and Scottish Star, is a greatly improved colt. Glendower is a much better gelding than when raced at Riccarton last month. He has got through a satisfactory preparation, but is taking on a rather big contract in the Auckland Cup. McAulay’s pair—Kilrush and Some Kid—are both well, and the former gallops in his track work just as pleasingly as ever. Though the distance of the Auckland Cup may be beyond him a shorter event at the meeting may come his way. Though Mr. . Stead’s quartette for the A.R.C. meeting are trained privately, they are all reported to be well forward. It is rumoured that both Kilmoon and Melee may start in the Cup, but on form the former should be the better to follow. Though on the small side he is a very free galloper, and as game as they make them. Surveyor has .filled out since winning the Welcome Stakes and can be relied on to better any of his previous showings when stripped at Ellerslie. Altogether, O’Donnell’s team is a decidedly useful one. Recently Sir Geo. Clifford disposed of Blockade (Treadmill —Fairhaven) and Dark Heroine (Maniapoto—Gallantry) to the North Canterbury sportsman Mr. H. Leaman. Their future efforts will be confined for a start to country meetings. R. Derrett has been giving Margerine a fair amount of work to fit her for Dunedin engagements. She looks big and well, conditions under which she always shows to best advantage. T. H. Gillett is taking a small team to the West Coast holiday meetings, including Tip Up, who has been galloping well of late. Two recent additions to M. Hobbs’ stable, in juveniles by Kilbroney from Orang e Pippin and Sunny Lake from St. Sophia, are both shaping well in their tasks. Both are being got ready to carry Mr. J. B. Reid’s colours in autumn engagements. Adjutant will represent the Chokebore stable at the Dunedin meeting, and he should acquit himself creditably in the Otago Handicap under 8.10.

Matty has recently rejoined the active brigade at Riccarton, and is now an inmate of E. Scoullar’s establishment Hector Gray has made a splendid recovery from his accident sustained at Riccarton, and expects to be riding at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Though Bondage has been paid up for in the Great Northern Derby there is little chance of her being taken to the A.R.C. meeting.

LATER. Kilrush to Race at Ellerslie —Brambletye’s Retirement From Racing— Wardancer Rejoins Active List —■ Biplane Sold to Australian Owner —Cynic Gallops Well—Sale of Daytime. (By Telegraph—Christchurch Correspondent.) The Riccarton mentor McAulay has leased Kilrush, whom he intends taking north for the Auckland R.C.’s meeting. Brambletye has finished her racing career. After being mated with Bonny Glen she was sent to the Stonyhurst Stud. G. M. Aynsley has sent the two-year-olds Nantville and Warlove home to Mr. Dalgety’s stud farm, where they will remain till the autumn. The same mentor has just taken Wardancer in hand again with the intention of getting him ready for autumn racing. Mr. G. D, Greenwood has disposed of Biplane to M. Hobbs on behalf of an Australian owner, but the price has not transpired. The son of Comedy King was passed by the veterinarian, and will be looked after by Hobbs till steamer accommodation is available to ship him to Sydney. Before leaving for Auckland Cynic registered a satisfactory gallop with Majestikoff on Saturday morning. G*lendower and Killjoy both got through satisfactory tasks on Saturday morning, and are well forward. Daytime, who raced in the colours of the late Mr. A. W. Rutherford, jun , has been purchased by Mr. A. Arthur, the price being in the vicinity of £2OO. He remains in A. McAulay’s stable, but during that trainer’s absence in Auckland will be looked after by E. Scoullar.