Sporting.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 97, 18 January 1868, Page 6

Sporting.

THE CANTERBURY RACES. These races commence d ou V? cdiiesaay LaoCi The most important event was the Champion race on Wednesday in which considerable interest was excited both here and elsewhere. As will be seen from the list of entries below, they compare very favorably with last year. Messrs. Moorhouse, Wilkie, and Hunter were the handicappers. The programme is said to be the best ever offered, and a far larger number of horses entered for all the races The following were the entries : MAID BN PLATE. Mr Brahazon’s b f Slander, 4 yrs, by Traducer, dam Annie Laurie Mr Walter Taylor’s ch g Molyneux, 4 yrs, by Molyneux, dam Miss O’Neill Mr Barnard's b g Flying Jib, 3 yrs, by Leotard, dam Wetsuit Mr H, Redwood Junr’sb c Ake Ake, 4 yra Mr Douglas's b c Roebuck, 3 yrs, by Towton, dam Miss Rowe Mr Douglas’s c f Abbess, 3 yra, by Malton, dam The Nun Mr Mallock’s b f, by Tom King, 3 yrs LOTTERY PLATE. Mr Delamain’s c g Presto 5 yrs Mr Stafford’s r f Omen, 6 yrs Mr Money’s b g Artemus Ward, by Peter Flat Mr Carson’s b m Virginia, aged Mr Mullock’s b f Jeu d’Esprit, 5 yra . CANTERBURY COP. - Acceptances, Mr Delamain’s ch m Belle of the Isle, 6 yrs Mr Studholme’s c b Knottingley, 4 yrs Mr Stafford's ch g Magenta, 4 yrs Mr Carson’s c h Stoi nibird, 5 yrs Mr Douglas’s b c Roebuck Mr Mullock’s bl g Backbiter, 4 yrs CRITERION STAKES. Mr Delamain’s ch g Presto, 6 yrs Mr Stafford’s c m Nebula, 5 yrs Mr Carson’s b m Virgin a, aged Mr Douglas’s b in Waimaie, 6 yrs, by Sledmere, dam Model ■ Mr Mullock’s b m Jeu d’Esprit, 5 yrs Mr Morten’s ch f Lady of the Lake, 3 yrs, by Tom King Mr Nosworthy’s b m Romp, 6 yrs, by St. Aubyn DERBY STAKES. Mr Barnard’s b g Flying Jib, 3 yrs Mr Douglas’s b c Roebuck CHRISTCHURCH PLATE. Mr Brabazon’s b f Slander, 4 yrs Mr Delaiftain’s ch m Belle of the Isle, 5 yra Mr Studholme’s c h Knotting'ey, 4 yrs Mr Stafford’s c m Nebula, 6 yrs Mr Stafford’s c g Magenta, 6 yra Mr Carson’s c h Stmmbird, 6 yrs Mr Douglas’s b o Roebuck, 3 yrs Mr Douglas’s b m Abbess, 3 yrs Mr' Mallock’s b g Scandal, 4 yrs Mr Morten’s ch f Lady of the Lake, 3 yrs GRAND STAND HANDICAP. Mr Brabazon’s b f Slander, 4 yrs Mr W, Taylor's c g Molyneux, 4 yrs Mr Delamain’s c m Atalanta, 5 yrs Mr Barnard’s b g Flying Jib, 3 yrs Mr G. Wilmer’s b m Stonechattcr, aged Mr H. Redwood, junr’s, bl g Blackboy, 0 yrs Mr Stafford’s r f Omen. 4 yra i Mr Carson’s b m Virginia, aged j Mr Douglas's b m Waimate, 6 yrs Mr Mallock’s bl g Backbiter, 4 yrs Mr Mallock’s b m Jeu d’Esprit, 5 yrs MF Mallock’s b f, by Tom King Mr Morion's b g Lochinvar, aged Mr Nosworthy’s b m Romp, 6 yrs I LAM STAKES. ■ Mr Stafford’s r f Discretion, 3 yrs, by Towton, dam Cas-andra Mr Douglas’s c g Bobby Burns, 2 yrs, by Golden Gfiips Mr Morten’s ch f Lady of the Lake, 3 yrs z'o.-.i tyro stakes. Mr Brabazon’s b f Slander. 4 yra Mr'Delamain’s c g Presto, 5 yr* 1 c m. Nebula, 5 yrs I Mi- Money’s bg-Artemds AVaitl “ I MrXß«iu;lasVc?l Abbess, 3 yrs bl g Backbiter, 4 yw ■Mr Mullock’s b in Jeu U’Esprit

CANTERBURY JOCKY CLUB HANDICAP. Mr Brabazon’s b f Slander, 4 yrs Mr Delatnain’s c m Atalanta, 5 yrs Mr Barnard’s b g Flying Jib Mr Studholme’s c h Knottingley, 4 yra Mr H. liedwood, juni's bl g Blackboy, 6 yrs Mr Stafford’s c g Magenta, 4 yrs Mr Carson's c h Stormbird, 6 yrs Mr Douglas’s c f Abbess, 3 yrs Mr Mullock’s bl g Backbiter, 4 yrs Mr Mallock’s b g Scandal, 4 yrs Mr Mallock’s b m Jen d’Espnt, 6 yrs Mr Mallock’s b f, by Tom King Mr Morten’s b f Koromiko, 4 yrs Mr Nos worthy’s b m Romp, 6 yra

RAILWAY STAKES. Mr Delamain’a c g Presto, 5 yrs Mr Stafford’s r f Omen, 4 yrs Mr Money’s b g Artemus Ward Mr Carson’s b in Virginia, aged Mr Pogson’s br h Antid.te, aged Mr Douglas’s ch g Bobby Burns, 2 yrs Mr Mal'ock’s bl g Backbiter, 4 yrs Mr Mallock’s b m Jen ds’Esprit

The following notes appeared in the Lyttelton Times, in anticipation of the races: Racing Notes by Hermit. — Dull as things are in Canterbury generally, there is more excitement about the Cup this year than I have ever yet seen. Nobody seems to know what horse will win it, and opinions are more varied than they have been for some years. The invincible Webb’s stable is not in good odour just now, and the usual furore for backing outsiders has commenced. The number of horses on the course every morning, augurs a successful meeting, and the entries ought to confirm my opinion. At this time I cannot pretend to pick out the winner of the cup, but I may state my opinion that it is the most open race ever known in Canterbury. Let us look at the horses as they appear in the eniamioe list. Belle of the Isle, who won this race as a three-year old, has not grown much and loose couplings with the weight she has to carry, ought to find her weak point out. Stormbird, who looks well and healthy, is not in the condition I should like, and in spite of the opinion of good judges I incline to the idea that he walked lame on Monday morning. Knottingley is a great big raking horse, and if what I hear is true, will have the advantage of being ridden by the best jockey in New Zealand; but in spite of this, I don’t like his going a bit, and he blows so hard you can hear him all the way down the straight run in. Roebuck, they say, has gone wrong, but let your readers believe me when I say that he will beat many more than heat him, either in the Cup or any other race he starts for. Magenta belongs to the most plucky sportsman in New Zealand, and one who richly deserves a turn, but I’m afraid he can’t win the Cup this year, as Magenta is backward, owing to his having had a bad time teething, and the report is that the distance is too far for him. Coromeka is a brute, and the only thing she will do is to afford her rider a good view of the race from behind. Backbiter is also a brute, and has as much chance of winning as I have of flying, added to which he looks had, and not in the condition to run for a Canterbury Cup. Omen and Nebula being in the same interest as Magenta I don’t notice. I suppose one of them will have to make running for him. Mr. Wentworth’s horse does not come. My opinion is it will be a slow race, and that Knottingley will win.