CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bx FaiTz-

The weather report is a repetition oi wba£ has had to be recorded nearly every week for Beveral months past. Were it riot for the efficien* -water supply the- \tracks «A RscoaTtoo, would he in a very bad cond-itioaa. As it is, however,, the caretaker makes iree us© of the huge water cart, and the result is that fair working ground is available for the horses. With tie return of the horses which took part in the Dunediax Jockey Club's meeting affairs at Riocarton har» onoe more settled down into *he cußtomaiy groove. At present there is nothing of special importance immediately ahead, so that many of the trainers are treating their chaxges to * compa-rattvely easy tame. Jn a fe>w weeks they, will all be hernA at it again, in va»w of autumn engagements. The Akaroa County Racing Club's meeting will be held jrt Little River raoecottrse orf Tuesday of next week. This is always * popular fixture with Chriatchurch ' visitors, who may be depended on to turn out in large numbers. So far as the approaching meeting is concerned- the Akaroa Cap is likely to provide ». particularly good contest. There is a very large entry, and I fully expect to see a big field line up, «b, in addition to the stake, there is a powerful magnet in the shape of a handsome cup, presented by Mr J. F. Buchanan.

GlencuHoch and Millionaire have gone to Wanganui, where they are engaged in the Jackson Stakes, to be decided on Saturday. Gleneulloch has bo far been an unlucky horse this season. As a two-year-old he was in the firßt flight, bat mishaps of various kinds, culminating in a fall in the Derby, have prevented him from earning distinction this season. He has, however, still a number of valuable engagements ahead of him at cthe various autumn meetings, and I expect to find him. compensating his owner, to some extent oi any 3»te, for the disappointments of the spring. This much can be said in his favour, that he is galloping well at present, and if he steers clear of further ailments he will keep his opponents very busy.

The crack two-year-old Fleetfoot has been moving along freely since she resumed -work. It will be « gre*t pity if anything should occur to prevent this fine filly continuing her turf career. Bo far, however, her trainer does hot' anticipate much trouble in keeping her right for her^ autumn engagements. The nominations received last week for the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting are excellent, both in the matter of numbers and quality. The meeting will be held next week, and I expect it to provide some firstclass racing. Deceitful, who won the Christchurch Polo Club Cup on Saturday, is by Auranga — Fickle, the dam of the cross-country horse JPhaetontis. The runner-up was Dearest, who ran in th£ same interest as the winner, both bsing owned by -Mr J. D. Hall. The result was a bit of a surprise, as those in the best position to know expected .Dearest, to easily beat Deceitful. 4

Some of the bookmakers who were doing business at the Christchurch Polo Club's sports on Saturday were also prepared to operate on the Newmarket Handicap. A fair amount of wagering took place, too, but it must have been all in favour of the layers, as Munjeet and Dusky Morn appeared to be in most demand.' with backers.

The committee of the Ashburton County Racing Club has decided to increaee the stakes for the autumn meeting, on May 13 and 14, to ;£BOO. A special meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held on Wednesday afternoon. Present — Messrs P. Selig {chairman); C: S. Howell, W. Hayward!, A. L. Myers, and W. G. Garrard. The meetiag was called to hear -an appeal of Messrs G. Sutherland (owner) and W. Cookson (trainer) against the decision of the Fairlie Racing Club in disqualifying them^far five years, together with the roare Blameless, for racing the mare as Peerless at a meeting held on December 26. Messrs W. Cookson *nd J. W. Sutherland gave evidence, and Mr James Burnett, the handkaupper, represented the club. It was resolved to refer the case hack to t&e club fox twrfhvs fnroxjq^tiqq^

Later. Steady rain set in to-day, and it is hoped that it will continue till the ground is well soaked. Everyone, farmers and trainers alike, welcomes the change. Cross Battery, who has been resting for a few weeks, has built up nicely, and she may win a good race before long. Probable has sprang a curb, and will have to be spelled for a time.

The hard tracks, rendered it necessary for M'Guiness to throw Idealist and Rose Noble out of active work, but if the rain continues they should soon be in commission again. Paragon, who has been resting for a few weeks, is looking better for tho respite, though he still goes short in his work. Since the departure of Mr Hobbs, Nancy Stair has been handed over to George Matthews to train. This is a promising filly of whom we have not seen the best yet.