CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1576, 8 July 1920, Page 12

CANTERBURY.

Paraoa Making Good Recovery From Strangles—Amythas Getting Through Light Tasks — Chokebore Team Being Prepared for Spring Engagements —Sans Souci Recommissioned —Recent Additions to W. Hibbert’s Team — Active Preparations for C.J.C. Grand National Fixture.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday.

During the past week training operations at Riccarton have livened up considerably. The tracks have dried up nicely, but so far little more than sprinting tasks' have been indulged in. Paraoa is making satisfactory recovery from his recent attack of strangles, but it will be a long time before he is ready to race again.

Amythas is quite well again and getting through light tasks. I understand that he will be kept at Riccarton for the November meeting, and all thought of sending him to the V.R.C. spring meeting has been abandoned. Other members of Jones’ team in Mustard Pot, Warcry and four juveniles are going on the right way.

Cutts Brothers are commencing to send some members of their big team along in view of early engagements. Nightraider and Checkmate have done a fair amount of galloping, while Marauder, Counterscarp, Moorfowl, Winter Wind, Miss Mimic, and a number of rising two-year-olds are being got ready for spring racing. Marc Anthony is at present suffer ing from an enlarged joint, but his trainer hopes to have the gelding ready to race at the August meeting. Happy Captain and Pyjama were operated on for throat troubles a few days ago, and in both cases the operations are expected to turn out quite successful. The pair are to be turned out for several months. J. Pearson has taken Sans Souci in hand again, and is also indulging Wrestler,' Clean Sweep, Glenlee, Onslaught and Warlike in serviceable tasks.

The two North Islanders Kohu and Hetaua are still at Riccarton under R. Emerson’s charge, while the same mentor is also working Hands Off and Fabrinade, both of whom look well.

Recent additions to W. Hibbert’s team are St. Winnow and Brown Willy, who have been out of commission for some time. Cambria, Will Prosper and Brown Lady, in the same stable, are fairly forward. R. Longley intends putting Koesian into work again shortly, and is keeping Gay Light, High Heels, Gossgrd, Franganui and Kolyma up to the collar. Fiery Cross and Brackenfield continue to train on satisfactorily, and both will sport silk at the Grand National meeting. Mr. McDonald’s team, Torfreda, Murihiku, Strategy and Prince Martian, are still at Riccarton under R. W. King’s care. The first-named pah’ will sport silk at next month’s meeting.

Included in T. H. Gillett’s active brigade is the 700gns. colt by Martian from Persian Lilac. He is a very handsome juvenile, and should show to advantage in the spring. Others of Gillett’s team going on the right way are Manawapango, Merry Lad, and Spyglass, all of whom are being got ready for the National meeting. Under the conditions of the Grand National Steeplechase no horse can be required to carry more than 12.7. This means that if Lochella or Master Strowan wins the Wellington Steeplechase they will only have the same weight to carry at Riccarton as at Trentham.

LATER.

Latest Track Work at Riccarton— Gloaming in Good Fettle—Karo on the Easy List—Master Strowan and Waimai Both Doing Well —Additions to L, Hagerty’s Team.

(Telegraph—Christchurch Correspondent)

A number of horses were galloped at Riccarton on Saturday, but medium and sprint tasks were the order of the morning. Cutts Brothers, R. J. Mason, G‘. M. Aynsley, W. Hibberd. R. Longley, W. McDonald, and T. H. Gillett all gave their charges serviceable tasks. Gloaming was among those worked, going half a mile nicely. He has quietened a lot of late. Karo is at present on the easy list, which suggests that all idea of taking her to Australia has been abandoned. She will probably be taken up again in time for spring racing.

Master Strowan’s mentor, F. J. Carmont, is back again at Riccarton supervising that jumper’s work. The Grand National candidate is looking in great heart. Waimai continues to go on the right way, and should strip right at his best next month. A number of Riccarton-trained horses' have been entered for the South Canterbury Hunt meeting, with the idea of giving them a school in public before the big meeting. W. Hibberd is working two very promising three-year-olds in Will Prosper and Cambrai. Both show galloping ability of no mean order. A recent addition to the same mentor’s team is a filly called St. Leaven, by Achilles from the Stepniak mare Lad}" Morina.

Two new arrivals at Len Hagerty’s stables are a three-year-old filly by Calibre and a filly by Cronstadt from Lady Holyrood.