CANTERBURY

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1571, 2 June 1920, Page 11

CANTERBURY

Dunedin Jockey Club’s Meeting —F. Christmas to Act as Private Trainer to Mr. H. Brown-—Waimai Stil! Held Up at Riccarton. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Most of the Riccarton-trained horses claiming engagements at. the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting. were sent south on Saturday. 'They are a fairly

strong lot, and promise to pick up a fair portion of the stake money. It was intended to race Seadown at Dunedin, but he developed lameness a few days ago, and is now on the easy list. Amythas is at present in retirement, and will not be raced again till the spring meetings come round. His proposed trip to Australia for the A.J.S. spring gathering has been abandoned. Though he has no immediate engagements, Arrowsmith is a regular worker at Riccarton, but the tasks set him are of such a mild nature as to suggest that he will not be raced till the spring. F. Christmas has accepted a position as private trainer to Mr. Harold Brown, and will have charge of Arrowsmith, Loyal Arch, and Kilrush on behalf of that sportsman. Three of his late charges, in Fiery Cross, Chaeronia, and Castellan, have been transferred to W. McDonald’s stable. Though the northern jumper Luke appears amongst ( the acceptors for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting, there is little chance of him being able to get down for the fixture. The transporters’ hold-up so far as the carriage of racehorses between the North and South Islands is still on, and there appears to be no chance of a settlement unless the Racing Conference can effect one. Sir George Clifford has given up all idea of sending a team north for the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting, but he may have one or two representatives at Wingatui. The Canterbury Jockey Club, at its annual meeting on Thursday, agreed to expend £50,000 on the erection

of a new grandstand as soon as Government permission could be obtained. The club also intends having a Julius’ totalisator installed in time for the November meeting. Gloaming is being kept up to the collar in view of his Australian engagements. On Thursday, after playing up as a preliminary, he reeled off half a mile in 49 2-ssec., galloping with all his accustomed brilliancy. Karo is also a regular worker, and is likely to be one of R. J. Mason’s team for the A.J.C. spring meeting. J. McCombe has two very promising juveniles in hand, one by Martian from Leading Lady and the other by Boniform from Margarethe. Before being sent to Wingatui, Master Strowan was given a turn over the big obstacles, and jumped them all in his usual finished style. Gang Awa’ got through a similar task, his fencing leaving nothing to be desired.

Royal Star has been galloping very well of late, and promises to race well at Wingatui. Kilmoon is again in work, his bruised heel apparently being quite well again. He will be raced at the Dunedin meeting. . . .

Manawaponga and Merrie Lad gave a finished display' over the big obstacles before being sent to Dunedin. The North Island owner, Mr. A. McDonald, will have a useful team at Wingatui, which will include Torfreda and Murihiku. During the past few days the Ric carton tracks have been covered with snow, and though it has now disappeared the going is altogether too heavy to permit of galloping. Amongst the juveniles R. J. Mason proposes taking to the A.J.C. spring meeting at Randwick is Vespucci, by Varco. a rising three-year-old that has not as yet sported silk. Waimai is still at Riccarton, and is likely to remain there for some time. Should there be no immediate settlement of the transport trouble he will stay here till after the C.J.C. Grand National meeting. Evidently the embargo applies to trotting horses as well as to thoroughbreds, as several North Island horses intended to race at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting could not get south. The training tracks at Riccarton are at present under alteration. The tan gallop is to be converted into a sand track, while the old sand track is to be formed into a grass gallop. Sunart and Bonnie Maid were to have been raced at Otaki. but they are still held up at Riccarton.