CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1541, 6 November 1919, Page 11

CANTERBURY.

Great Interest Centred, in Riccarton Gallops—Gay Lad’s Attractive Displays—Arrival of Visiting Horses— Cup Horses’ Tasks Keenly Watched —Prospects for the C.J.C. Carnival. (Telegraph—Christchurch Correspondent) The visiting horses for the Cup meeting are nearly all at Riccarton, and their efforts on the tracks have lent much interest to training operations. Bon Spec has not been galloping with his accustomed freedom during the past week, and is not in such good demand for the Stewards’ Handicap. Warlove has been oft colour since her return from Dunedin, and is at present being given a spell. Her stable companion Wardancer has also gone off, and can hardly’ be expected to reproduce his best form at the C.J.C. meeting. This led to his withdrawal from the New Zealand Cup, but he may be started in some of the minor events. Gay Lad continues to please critics by the attractive nature of his tasks. On Thursday he ran a mile and aquarter nicely in 2min. 10 l-ssec., and finished as if he could have gone on for a longer journey. On Saturday his task was a mile, which, in the face of a heavy wind, he left behind in lmin. 42 2-ssec. The Cup favourite has done a lot of solid galloping, and it is only a question of his going on as he has been doing to run a great race on Saturday. Though so far he has not been asked to go more than a mile and a-quarter, he has given every indication of staying on. Vagabond has made many friends since his arrival at Riccarton, and can be regarded as an almost certain starter in the Cup. Desert Gold has not been asked to do much since her arrival. She is still on the big side, but looks more forward than when raced at Trentham. Gloaming and other members of R. J. Mason’s team are all in the pink of condition. Their Australian racing should stand to them for the meeting. Brackenfield has been showing greatly improved form in his track efforts, and is coming into favour for the Stewards’ Handicap. All Cutts’ horses are in nice racing trim, the most forward being Heathercote, Moorfowl, Winter Wind and Onslaught. The first-named has got through a very solid preparation, and promises to give a good- showing in the New Zealand Cup. Affectation was withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup at 12.23 p.m. on Saturday. Volo can be regarded as a very unlikely starter in the Cup, and the Stewards’ Handicap may be his mission. This is suggested by the nature of his track work.

There was a lot of very interesting work on Saturday morning, but the strong S.W. wind was very much against time recording. Link Up, with the assistance of Onlooker, pleased by the way she left a mile behind in lmin. 46sec. She ran the first five furlongs in lmin. 3 2-ssec., but was aganist the wind afterwards. Mustard Pot had Burrangong for a mate in a gallop over seven furlongs, which they left behind in lmin. 34sec., finishing together. Heathercote was under a strong pull to keep him back with Royal Stag in a gallop over a mile, which the former did in lmin. 45 3-ssec. Royal Stag was well beaten a long way from home. Gamecock was going better than Caverock at the close of a brush over five furlongs, run in lmin. 5 3-ssec. Maioha had slightly the better of Dribble in a four-furlong flutter, run in 50 4-ssec. Both went well. Mantua sprinted three furlongs down the straight, moving well. Vagabond, alone and on the course proper, easily disposed of six furlongs in lmin. 23 2-ssec. He looks very well, and, barring accidents, is a sure runner in the New Zealand Cup. Bon Spec, alone, sprinted four furlongs up the back in 50 l-ssec., doing it nicely. Royal Star easily accounted for Starlight over seven furlongs, left behind in lmin. 33 2-ssec.

Nobleman was given two rounds at a nice steady pace, and looks bright and well. Wardancer, alone, and with a very light boy up, worked over a mile, which he did in lmin. 46sec. Humbug and Gasbag were given a bit of sprinting on the course proper down the straight. Winter Wind and Moorfowl were together at the close of three furlongs, run in 38 2-ssec., but both could have done much better. Onslaught easily held Nightraider over seven furlongs, run in lmin. 32 2-ssec. —a good gallop. Brackenfield easily held Kilbrogan all the way down the straight, and beat him by over two lengths in a dash over five furlongs, run in lmin. ssec. Silver Link, who got slightly the better of Demos at the jump-off, finished just in front of him in a good gallop over five furlongs, run in lmin. 4sec. Punka easily accounted for Tortrix over a mile in lmin.' 47 4-ssec. Punka then went on for an extra round. Amaranth and Grim Joke were together at the close of five furlongs, run in lmin. 8 2-ssec.

Wairarapa-trained horses held their own fairly well at the Trentham meeting, and on the opening day Prince Hal and Kilrush won, and Rose Wreath was second. On the concluding day Prince Hal ran third in the Trial Plate, and Affectation was secand in the Champion Plate. The performance of the latter was a good one, as Mr. McDonald’s colt was going along well at the end of the mile and a-quarter, and his Derby prospects look bright. The surprise of the first day was the handsome return paid by Rose Wreath when she ran second in the October Hack, backers having evidently overlooked her recent wins at Wanganui and Masterton. Prince Hal also paid a nice price, and did not win out of his turn. A. Godfrey has the son of Marble Arch and Mountain Princess looking really well just now.

The win of Kilrush in the Wellington Handicap has gained him further friends for the New Zealand Cup, and the Tauherenikau trained gelding is now one of the popular selections for the two mile event. McAulay did not return to the Wairarapa after the

Trentham meeting, but went south with his team. Kilrush will have to carry 7.13 in the Cup, he having incurred a penalty of 101 b. for his recent win. J. Olsen will again have the mount. For several weeks past the track work of Kilrush has pleased his trainer, and as he has arrived at Riccarton in plenty of time, his doings at headquarters will be watched with interest by sportsmen in this district. Many who saw the finish of the Wellington Handicap are confident that McAulay’s gelding will see the distance out. LATER. Fancied N.Z. Cup Candidates —Final Review of Their Prospects—Fancied Contenders for Stewards’ Handicap Honours — Brackenfield’s Improved Form. (Telegraph—Christchurch Correspondent) Tuesday. . Canterbury’s racing carnival will commence on Saturday, and there is every indication of its being quite up to the standard of pre-war years. Heavy rainfall on Sunday night has done the tracks a lot of good, and now that the weather is fine again they should be in the best of order for the meeting. There are likely to be 15 starters in the Cup, and Gay Lad is almost sure to go out favourite. He has survived a solid preparation quite to his trainer’s satisfaction, and M. Hobbs makes no secret of his belief in the imported horse’s ability to win. With such a torrent of speed Gay Lad should take a lot of beating. He has done more solid work than any other Riccarton-trained horse, and now that the tracks are soft again his chance must be respected. Kilmoon has not pleased since his arrival at Riccarton, but Mascot is very well, and as one of the proved stayers in the 'field she must be hard to dispose of. Vagabond and Nobleman are a likely pair, both of whom can be relied on to see out every yard of the journey. They are both fit, and in his efforts at Riccarton the latter has shown no trace of the lameness that he was credited with displaying at Trentham. Heathercote has got through a genuine preparation, and may be on hand at the finish, while notwithstanding his 101 b. penalty Kilrush will be one of the favourite selections. Despite rumours to the contrary, Affectation can be regarded as an almost certain starter in the N.Z. Cup. He is very well, and a race in the Cup should not affect his Derby prospects in what promises to be a good face. Vagabond, Gay Lad and Nobleman are a trio that should be on hand at the finish. There are several particularly smart two-year-olds engaged in the Welcome Stakes, and though Humbug is almost sure to be sent out favourite he will meet with strong opposition from such as Moorfowl and La Paix. It is hard to forecast what will start favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap. Bon Spec, who held that position for a time, is not in such good demand, but even so I expect him to run a great race. Nothing worked at Riccarton has shown such improvement as Brackenfield, while Onslaught is sure to put up a great race. Of the topweights, Croesus may be best to follow. Tigritiya hurt herself on the sand roll on Sunday morning, and was showing the effects of it on Monday. This is likely to prejudice her chance in the Stewards’ Handicap. Vottf is suffering from a bruised foot in front

and the “vet” has been attending A. McCormack, one of the best North Island lightweights, has been engaged to ride Cerberus in the Stewards’ Handicap. D. Cotton will have the ride on Brackenfield m the same event. . Ermine is an unlikely starter in the Stewards’ Handicap, and all going well will be a runner in the Oaks. A. J. McFlinn has been engaged to ride Silver Link in the Stewards Handicap. C. Emerson will have the mount on Desert Gold.