CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1498, 9 January 1919, Page 31

CANTERBURY.

(From Our Christchurch Correspondent) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. With the conclusion of the holiday fixtures trainers are now commencing to bestir themselves. Most of the prominent local stables will be represented at Trentham, as will be a few Otago owners. Biplane has been a regular attendant on the tracks, and may be shipped to Sydney any day. He has muscled up nicely, so that on his arrival he should be just right to go into solid work. So far he has not shown any signs of lameness. Kilkee, the disappointing son of Kilbroney and Latchet, changed hands recently at 146 guineas. As a three-year-old he gave considerable promise, but since then has been on the down grade. Adjutant did not race up to expectations at the Dunedin meeting, and his owner decided not to persevere with him at Invercargill. He is now back at Riccarton being got ready for the Wellington meeting. After racing at Wingatui the three-year-old Wild Night was sold by Sir George Clifford to an Otago sportsman. Though by no means a champion, the son of Antagonist and Windwhistle should more than pay his way at the southern fixtures. Bon Spec’s victory on the first day of the Invercargill meeting was well anticipated by those who had * seen him in his work at Riccarton. Though always a handful at the post he appears to be settling down with racing experience. Riccarton-trained horses met with a good measure of success at the Greymouth Jockey Club’s meeting, despite the heavy going. On the opening day Oxenhope accounted for the Greymouth Valley Handicap, thereby registering his first success since he won the Flying Handicap at Wingatui, just on two seasons ago. He is now owned by Mr. Clarkson, and trained by J. Pearson, who has effected considerable improvement in the uncertain son of Obligado. Next autumn Oxenhope will again be tried as a jumper, a department of the business at which he should make good. In the Greymouth Valley Handicap he was followed home by Achilledes, with another Riccarton-trained one in King of the Valley in third place. On the second day of the meeting the last-named made full amends by capturing the Greymouth Cup, thereby demonstrating his partiality for heavy going. Merton won a race on both days, and, like King of the Valley, is right at home in heavy going. Nearly all the horses that raced at the southern meetings are back again at headquarters, and are being given a short spell. Of the many Riccarton trainers who took teams to the southern meetings, J. McCombe was the only one to meet with much success. His three representatives, Subterfuge, Bon Spec and Pyjama, between them accounted for five races, besides a fair amount of place money.

During his trip to the West Coast holiday meetings the Riccarton mentor T. H. Gillett captured 10 races with his team. Two of his representatives, Rosevear and Merton, were each successful on three occasions, while Tip Up and Recorder both landed a double.

- At Riccarton on Saturday morning Biplane, who is improving fast, got through a sprinting task, showing much of his old dash. Punka and Winter Cherry, who are under orders for Wellington, were given serviceable exercise. Both are in good buckle. G. M. Aynsley gave his two-year-olds their gallop over half a mile, all of them shaping nicely.