NOTES ON THE RACING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 91, 19 April 1911, Page 4

NOTES ON THE RACING.

ENQUIRY INTO CHEDDAR'S RUNNING. [BY. TELBGEAPH — SPECIAL TO THB POST.] CHRISTCHURCH; 18th April. The fields for most of the events were again large, and i,he racing was uniformly of a high-class character. A fine field of thirteen took part in the Great Autumn Handicap. Vioe-Admiral, who was making his first appearance over' a distance, just headed Los Angelos for favouritism. Chief Lochiel was responyjible for the pace, and he made it solid all tho way till the straight was reached, when he feded out. He ran a good race, which, on the top of his effort in the Great Easter Handicap, showed that he is a much improved horse. It struck me a little too much use, was made of. him in the early stages or he might have been handier at the finish. Cheddar' was one of the last to leave, the mark, but he soon ' ran' through and held a place near the front at the end of two furlongs. From that point he was always going strongly, and at the head of the straight he came away with Prim. At the distance Los Angelos joined issue, but h« could ..never quite Teach the other pair, a most exciting finish ending- in a bar,e head verdict for 1 Cheddar, while Prim beat Los Angelos by a neck. Cheddar's performance was a marked contrast to. his showing in the Great Easter Handicap on Monday, when he was never prominent.-. He isa fine galloper, and in today's race he shaped like a stayer. Thai he should stay well is, however, no surprise, seeing that he is by Merriwee, a Melbourne Cup winner, and a sire of some good performers over a distance, while his dam, Brown Alice, who is also the dam of a Wellington Cup winner Ropa is by Nordenfeldt — Ouida, the dam of btrathmoiraj a Victoria Derby winner. Cheddar furnishes another- example of how horses will improve. His showing a month ago at Napier Park when Fort William- gave him 231b and a beating was not of a character- to prepare one for the display he gave to-day. After the race the stewards held an enquiry into the running of Cheddar in the Great Easter and Great Autumn. They heard the statements of his trainer and of his rider in the Great Easter, and accepted the explanation given. ' Prim, who struck herself while galloping on the Monday, ran one of her best races in the Great Autumn. The star feature of the contest, however, was the running of Los Angelos. In the earlier part of his career he was one of the tearaway sort, which was against him when racing over a distance. He has now sobered down a lot, and to-day he ran a nice quiet raoe in the middle of the field. He put up a great finishing effort, aud fully coafirifred" the' .opinion that ha

is the best horse in the Dominion up to a mile and a half 4 while a two-mile journey might not now be beyond him. Iranui ritn a good race up to the straight, but did not quite see the journey out, while Merrivonia registered a fair performance. Vice-Admiral got off badly, jind then had a rough passage, but he finished well, and his showing was uighly satisfactory under the circumstances. He is the making of a very useful horse. Ro?e Noble and Husbandman were prominent for a mile, and Outlander was going well at the finish. Coroniform was beaten a long way from home, while Martine cut up very badly, and Cronstadt never recovered after "a bad start. THE OTHER RACES. Bandeira and Tannhaueer alone opposed the Chokebore pair, Madam Madcap and Counterfeit in the Challenge Stakes. Bandeira, whose first outing it was, is a two-year-old colt by Royal Artillery Curfew Bell, who k by Bill of Portland from the Newmarket Handicap winner, Wildrose. He lost some ground at the start but quickly ran through and joined Counterfeit in the lead, showing a lot of pace for half a mile. Then ,he was done with and the race resolved itself into a duel between Sir George Clifford's two. Counterfeit gained an early advantage and was well clear when the straight was reached. This served her in the final struggle on Madam Madcap who was catching her at every eta-ide. Both horses were ridden out in fine sporting style, providing a finish such as is seldom witnessed between stable mates, and it was only by a head that Counterfeit got the verdict. It is possible she had a little in reserve but it could not have been mucji, and she must now be given first place among the eea- . eon's two-year-olds. In the Peerswick Hurdle Handicap Dorando emphasised the impress-ion created on the first day, and it is evident that in him Mr. Buckley has secured a solid Customer for winter racing. H&""ldoks the sort that might be at home over fences. The Autumn Nursery Handicap - wa* wop very easily by Culprit who is as Brilliant as ever over five furlonge, though she may not be a champion at 6ix. Peirene finished just out of a place but never really looked like a winner. Avarice, who was third, got off badly, and should be useful later on. The finish of the Yaldhurst Welter Handicap was exciting, Countermine snatching a victory from, the little fancied Murmura who is a three-year-old by St. Ambrose from Flame, a half sister to Treadmill. Countermine was sired by Madam Madcap's half brother Quaray- ' man in his first stud season, her dam being Safeguard, co she is a half-sister to Broadsword, who won the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on Saturday. My Lawyer was going great guns at the finish of the Welter and with a good rider I would pick him to win a big race soon. la the Addington Plate All Guna easily defeated the two- year-old Khamsin and five others showing all hie old dash. The Templeton Handicap saw Formless in her best mood, and after a fine display of pace ehe just lasted long enough to beat Obsono, who is in fine fettle, and is surely one of - the beet sprinters in training just now. Formlees was a good two-year-old, and it is a great pity her ¦wind is affected. Gold Lace did not jump out smartly, but was Tunning on well at the end. A lot of money wae invested on Genius in the Final Handicap but nothing had a chance with Sharpshooter, who mad 6 practically all hie own running and won easily. He is not the most generous of horses at times,- but he bowled along in rare style to-day. Counterfeit in the Challenge Stakes, equalled the record of Achilles. With the conclusion of this meeting Mr. J. E. Henrys completed twenty years as handicapper to the Canterbury Jockey Club. Mr. E. J. Watt's record at the meet 1 ing was very satisfactory as he sent) three horses and won a race with 1 each.