CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fhitz. Taken all round, last week's meeting could fairly be regarded as ope of the most successful summer fixtures 'ever held at Eiccarj £ Vf ather was & *e ™ «oth dsysi and the attendance was quite up to thm average. The fields were larger than usuaJ, and some good racing was witnessed Thia being the first meeting held at Ricoartom since the Gaming Act came into force, som« interest was evinced as to how the altered conditions would operate. The result was ml every way satisfactory, so far as the club's finances were concerned at any rate. On the first day 26 bookmakers took out licenses to bet— ll inside and 15 outside; and on the second day all but two of the outside men were again in evidence. The fees received! for the two days amounted to £360. Notwithstanding the volume of business done by the layers, and it was no small amount, tha totalisator turnover was only about £2000 short of last year's figures, so that, from a financial point of view, the Canterbury Jockey; Cub's officials must have been well pleased. ' So far as the racing was concerned, tk"s meeting will long be remembered on «ccoun* of the wonderful record established by Sir George Clifford's horses. Bearers of the papular "blue and go'dchequers" were seeft out in nine races, tneir record working cut! at seven wins, one second, and two thirds. One of the third places was gained in the only race in which Sir George Clifford waa doubly represented, the winner being also one of his team. Such a performance will, I think, stand for a long time. It is to be noted, too, that the seven races were won by, seven different horses. Husbandman was, in) fact, the only member of the Chokebore contingent to be saddled up twice at the meet* ing Outts had all his horses looking remaikably well, and there is no doubt that* at the present time he has a very useful lof undeT his charge. The Middle Park Plate, the principle eventi of the meeting, was looked forward to by, many people as likely to provide a very interesting contest, as the field included four of the best two-year-olds seen out this season, Sir George Clifford being represented byj Fleetfoot and Husbandman, and Mi G. G., Stead by Armlet and Sunglow. The result, however, was disappointing, except in so far as it emphasised the superiority of Fleetfoofr over all her rivals. She was in front before a furlong had been covered, and from theni 1 out she never gave_ her opponents any chance, sailing in the easiest of winners. The mentf of the performance was enhanced by the facK that Fleetfoot was lame earlier in tbe week, and she pulled up decidedly lame in the neau fore leg after her race. That she is the best two-year-old we have had out this season can' now admit of no doubt. In fact. I should tak< her to be on© of the best youngsters that has raced in New Zealand in recent years. Sunglow. who finished second in the Middl{ Park Plate after winning the Filly Stakes otf the first day. is a sister to Boniform. She i{ a useful sort, but she will have to improve a lot before she can be classed with th( best. One thing I liked about her was tb-c wary in which she finished up her task in tha Filly Stakes. Huabmclman filled; third place in th» Middle Par! Plate, and, like Sunglow. Ec was a winner on the first day, the Lyttelton Plate falling to him Husbandman is a particularly well-grown colt by Treadmill— , Golden Vale, the latter by Stonyhurst— « Golden Crest, being a full sister to Goldleaf. I doubt if a finer-looking two-ye«ar-old lias been eeen out this "eaaon. and he look\i like developing into a champion. He is one of the lazy, good-tempered sort, but when he is in action he has a very altractive style. Another young Treadmill, in Miss Mischief, who claims the Trenton mare Delusive as Tier dam, was also a winner at the meeting, but I do not think she will ever be in the first class. All the same, Treadmill has made & great start as a, sire. So far only four of his progeny have raced, and three of them— Discipline, Husbandman, and Miss Mischiefhave been successful, which must be set down as a particularly fine record. I hear glowing , accounts of Treadmill* «econd batch, o! foals,

tohleb. will put in an appearance at Ricoarlon shortly, and altogether there seems no Soubt that he is destined to take very high lionours at the stud. Armlet's form in the Middle Park Plate vras -disappointing. As she had pieviously failed when allowed to run a'ong m front, b. fresh plan was tried! with her, and she was fcidden a, waiting race. Tlie result was not satisfactory, as she dropped right out oil Reaching the straight, and finished with All Guns in last place. It is evident that, in tie meantime, at any rate, Armlet is a. nonetayer. Outside those I have mentioned. ihe two-year-olds t'-iat races last week were a decidedly moderate lot, and I am afr»id they are not likely ever to shine in the best company. Moscow, who won the Trial Stakes, is tlie Stepniak— Coronal gelding which, as a yearBing, cost the late Hon. TV. "W. Johnston fr2sgs. Under favourable conditions, Moscow is a useful sort, but I am told he is no good a.t all in a big field, wheie he has a chance of getting a bump. Aimiee Soult stayed out the seven furlongs •pf the Hornby Welter Handicap better than f expected, and she won in attractive style. It has to be admitted, however, that the opposition was scarcely first class Gold Braid, the three-year-old gelding by "loyal Artillery or Multform from Aura, failed tdly in ihe Hornby Welter Handicap, his >oor showing being a great disappointment many Yaldhurst followers.,. On the second Bay he shaped attractively in the Flying Hanflicap, and it is quite on the cards that he will win a race shortly. Sister Anne ran a good race in the iullY Stakes. A hundred yards from home I thought the Clanranald filly would win. as she had headed Sunglow, but she does not ■t*y too well, and her big weight anchored her «t the finish. Stratagem, the winner of the Midsummer Handicap, was bred by E. Cutts, who sold her, as a two-year-old, to Sir George Clifford. Shortly after passing into his hands she won » two-year-old handica-p at Riccarton, but W form since then has been disappointing, tnd last week's race marked her second sueVes= The time was slow, but it looks as if Sjtiatagem would stay, which is, after all. only what might be expected from a daughter of Nelson and Dudu, both of when* eainad

distinction over long journeys. Southern Cross ran well in the M.dsunnner Handicap, being out wHh the Kes^bTt came" with » rtr'ong late run On ?he second day she was a warm favourite for ithe Linwocd "Welter Handicap, but tnough ihe ran a good race, she suffered defeat after an exciting finish with Scnwroff and The L Llp ? and and Paragon both performed badly in the Midsummer Handicap. I i« evident that they are both a long way Lelcw -heir

• e GoldWei. the winner of the Ciaven Tlat^ ,8, 8 a three-veai-old colt by C'anrana d -Goldleaf. He 'won a race at Vin^J in the spring, but afterwards shewed sips I" lameness, and has no* done n great deal *ince then He is a veiy useful coH and (he should not be long before he picks up another stake. „,_ 1( „ jacket, who won the Hals-well Welter Handicap, is the Australian-bied mare by'gal-lon—Blue-and-G old which Sir George Clifford -purchased as a yearling, and afterwards disposed of at a low figure, because she was not up to requirements. She is veiy small, and is never likely tci do much except in moiiejrate company. • Somaroffs victory in the Linwood Welter Handicap was well deserved, as his owuer/trainer, D Roberts, has had many disappointments with him, in the way cf mishaps, .just as he looked like winning a race. Helianthes showed a lot of pace m the early stages of the St. Albans Handicap, *nd at one time she had such a big i-reak that she seemed certain to win. She s.opped very badly, in the last furlong, however, and at the finish De Witie beat her very easily. This was De Witte's first success at a mile. Stronghold showed a g'.impse of his best form in the Flying Handicap. He got off ■badly, but mowed bis opponents down in good style, and eventually won by a fair margin "frcm Sea King, who looked a sure winner at -the distance. Stronghold has not ' been in work long, but it looks as if the light preparation suited him. By the way, it is worth ncting thai Stronghold (6yrs) and Fleetfcot (2yrs). both winners at Rxcanon on Saturday, aie fu'l biother and sister. Red Rain, who scored a ridiculously easy win in the Post Handicap on Satuiday. is a three-year-old colt by Clanranald—Catherine "Wheel He is a long way below the standard of his half brother Treadmill, but lie is a gcod sort, mst the same. He does not begin well, but he is a great finisher, and it would not surprise me to find him ■winning a big race one of these clays. I hear that Sir George Clifford is anxious to sell a number of the horses at present in training at Chokebore. This step is necessary in order to make room for the yearling* which number nearly a dozen, and which" will be coming dew'n at Easter. From what I can learn there is likely to be a strong Riccartoti contingent at Wingatui next week. An item of interest is that Eir George Clifford's team will probably include Husbandman, who is considered by many the most promising two-year-old of this seascn. At the monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club held on Tuesday, the following programmes were approved: — Hook District Sports, South Canterbury Jockey Club, Le Bon's Bay Jockey Club, West'and Racing Club, and Ashburton County Racing Club. An appeal from the owner of Pacific against the decision of the Lyndhuret and Lauriston Sports Club in disqualifying his horse was dismissed. In view of the lax manner m which the meeting had been conducted, it was decided to j-eccimanend the conference to cancel the club's certificate. An apprentice's license was granted to J. 'iapp Transfers were approved as follows: — From G. Murray-Ayns-Jey tc J. Whitworth, br f Artillerie , from I. G. Duncan to H. H. Wctton, b c by Conqueror — Lady Principal, lyr; to G. G. Stead, b f by Royal Artillery — Bluefire, lyr; •to H. Gaisford, br f by Kilcheran — Moreze, lyr; to P. Soames, blk o by Memwee — Olivette, lyr; to F. Preston, b f by St. Ambrose — Waiwhera, lyr; to A. M'Donald, b f try •Kilcheran— Ekaterine Passeropoulo ; to Sir G. Clifford, b c by Kilcheran — Success, lyr; tc Ryan and De Groen, b c by Kilcheran — Spun, Gold, Jyr; to C. B. Olive, eh c bj Conqueror — Berenice, lyr. The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held on, Wednesday, wrhen there were present Messrs P. Selig (president), C. S. Howell, W. Hayward, W. G-. Garrard, A. L. Mye*9, T. Mart- and E. Clarkson. Leave of absence was granted to Mr C. F. Mark. An application from tj?« »«wly-formed Hororata Trotting Club f»«r registration by the association was decline^. Jhe case in connection with the First Hane;j- "*■"" jap Trot at the Kaikoura Racing Club's me&tJpg was further considered. Ihe race vag *V«a by Valuation, but he wa.<- disqualified >J

tH» stewards, on the ground that he started before his time. The starter, in his evidence, stated that after the race had been staited his attention had been drawn to the fact that Valuation had started before his time, and his cpinion i\a? that that was the ca=e. It was decided, in view of the unsatisfactoiy and indefinite nature of the starter's evidence, that the association declined to endoise the action of the stewards, and awarded the race to Valuation. It was a'°o decided to call the attention of the club to the unsatisfactory manner in which the whole ca«e Jiad been put before ihe association, and to inform the club that, the matter would bp considered when future programmes were submitted. The association also expressed disapproval of one of the stewards sitting on a case in which he was interested, and of the starter being interested in the race. It was further decided to send copies of these resolutions to the Canterbuiy Jockey Club Correspondence was received from the Heddon Bush Sports Club regarding the appeal by the owner of Brown J«ck, who won the Handicap Trot, and w*s then disqualified on the ground that the horse was not properly nominated. It appeared that the handicapper had taken nominations in former yeaTs, andi his authority had not been revoked. It -was decided, taking into consideration the equity of the case, to allow the appeal, and award the race to Brown Jack. A letter was read from Mr E "Roche, complaining of irregularities in the conduct of the Westport Trotting Chib's meeting. An explanation was received froml the secretary of the club, which was accepted as satisfactory. The action of the Cheviot Racing Club in dismissing the protest, of A. Wells against the Handicap Tiot being run twice on the ground that the starter's watch went wrong the first time was endorsed. It was decide"d to request the club to forward the protest fee in accordance with the rules. Th« executive reported having removed the disqualification of Master Pat (lete Emerald) who was nominated while unregistered. The action was endorsed, but the owner was fined £1 fcr using an illegal name. The Xew South Wales Trotting Club reported that G. R. Morris and the horse Top ftrore haa been disqualified for six months. The disqualification was endorsed. It wasi decided to remove the disqualification incurred by persons and horses which took part in an unregistered meeting at E.aran»ea. On the recommendation of the Foreign Horse Committee certificates were issued for John Harold and Lord Cleeve (late Cle\e). Licenses as recommended by the Licencing Committee weie granted. The apphct.o,, o{ I> Quinlw was held over The committee had received norn the Plumpton Paik Tiotting Club the evidence in the rase m which W. Huston had bsen fined £2 for mterfeience. and had no recommendation to make. Piogiamme« as pa-«ed by the executive weie appioved.