NOTES ON THE RACING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 90, 18 April 1911, Page 4

NOTES ON THE RACING.

[E* TELEGEAPH — SPECIAL 10 TH3 POST.} CHRISTCHUBCH,, 17th April. The two-year-old form in New ZeaJand during the present season has not always been easy to follow, though up' ijo a certain stage it certainly appeared ' as if Culprit was the undisputed champion 'of the year. 'At the Manawatu j Kacing Club's Meeting a- fortnight ago, J however, even she suffered an eclipse y/hen she finished behind Orton ani Masterpiece in the Manawatu Stakes. To-day the form was further tangled in £he result of the Champagne Stakes. The ground was a trifle heavy on top, but it was not bad, and the only one of the 'quartette that seemed at al\ .troubled by the going was Masterpiece. On appearances they were a well-trained lot, with the handsome Masterpiece taking the jjalm for looks. There was no room for excuses for a-ny of the quartette, so far as could be seen, and th* result showed that Counterfeit was clearly the best on the day. There was nothing to choose between the four for half a furlong, when Culprit shot out three lengths clear, and a little further on Counterfeit got her head in front of Peirene, while a little later on Masterpiece dropped back a couple of lengths. Racing for the straight Counterfeit moved up to Culprit, who soon" retired. When fairly n in line for home, Counterfeit had the measure of the field, and she strode on in good style, winning by a length and a halt from Masterpiece, who, though he seemed to 'sprawl a bit at times, finished very gamely, and just beat Peirene for second place. Counterf eit, who is a sister to Miss Mischief, and only a little more substantially built, is by Treadmill, also a Champagne Stakes winner, from the Trenton mare Delusive, who was purchased out of the St. Albans stud on the same day as Sir George Clifford se.cured another bargain in Madowla, the dam of Masterpiece. Masterpiece ran well, but Peirene did not maintain her superiority over -'the Chokebore- pair. Culprit, though showing plenty of clash, 1 did not run on, and she has evidently made less improvement than the others sin.Ge-.-the spring. > The Great Easter field was a good one, some fine sprinters being "included in the fourteen starters. The track form of Madam Madcap and Sharpshooter had impressed backers, and they made the Ghokebore bracket a solid first choice, with -.Gold Laoe, Los Angelas, j and Obsono fancied in that order. The ] Otago champion, Obso-no wae smartest out, followed by Chief Lochiel, Kohinoor , and Colleen Mary, the slowest to move being Sharpshooter, My Lawyer, and Cheddar. After , going two * furlongs Madam Madcap ran through, and, with Chief Lochiel, acted as Obsono's nearest "attendant to the straight. When fairly in line for home, Madam Madcap drew out clear, and at tie distance she looked all over a winner. \£eil on the outside, however, Los Angelos could be I seen -putting in great work. He was j the only one to trouble the leader, but j Madam Madcap had to be ridden right out to beat the top-weight by half a length, Chief Lochiel, two lengths away t being' a neck in "front of Obsono, with Colleen Mary and Gold Lace next. The winner, who was bred by her owner, was one of ' the best two-year-olds out last season, and in November she registered a good performance at Riecarton bjr winning the Jockey Club Handicap: Her more recent form was not so good, but she had been galloping so well of late that her victory came as no surprise. She is a daughter of Clanranald, her dam being the Trenton mare Madowla, who has been a gold mine , to Sir George Clifford, as, in addition to to-day's winner, she has . bred Quarryman, Glenowlet, Kirriemuir, Glenculloch, Discipline, Taskmaster, and Masterpiece — a nice lot from one mare. Los Angelos put up a great performance. Ha had been racing over a distance, and one would not expect him to jump out too well, but be was finishing in "good style, and there can be little doubt he is one of the best horses seen in the Dominion for some time from seven furlongs up to a' mile and a half. Chief Lochiel gave further evidence of how he has improved of late, and he seems certain to win a good race shortly. Colleen Mary shaped well, and showed plentj' of pace, while Gold Lace was finishing very resolutely. Sunburnt was never prominent, and Cheddar and My Lawyer, the latter suffering once more from indifferent horsemanshio, ran disappointingly, never being seen in a good position. Flambeau broke a blood vessel soon after the start, and thus spoilt what must have ' been a good chance, as track form suggested that she would have beaten her stable companion, Chief Lochiel. Penates was chopped out at tie start, but then raced Well for five furlongs, when he faded right out. Less than twelve months ago Coroniform, winner of the Sockburn Handicap to-day, was being used as a shepherd's hack,, and was believed to be untrainable. As a matter of fa-ct, be could have been bought for little more than hack price. " Thie season, however, he has won. several good races, including three at' Riecarton, and he looks like going on with a few more yet. In winning the Great Eastei Handicap and Champagne Stakes to-day Sir George Clifford emulated the successes of the late Mr. Stead' in 1902 with Cruciform and Orloff and in 1905 with Machine Gun and Munjeet. A feature of to-day's racing wae the fact that three of the winners were disposed of at the famous clearing sale at Yaldhursfc following the death of Mr. G. G. Stead. Montifom, a yearling, was secured that day for 375 guineas. Royal Scotch was a foal when his dam was purchased for 200 guineas, and Coroniform was a three-year-old when he was bought for 310 guineas. In addition Los Angelos, second to-day in the Great Easter, was purchased on the same day for 230 guineas, while Culprit was a foal when her dam, Culroy, was 1 taken at 375 guineas.