CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Parrz. ,

I We nave jusK. got through another Gran* j National week, amd in many respects it ha< beaten att previous records. The Canter< j bury Jockey CBufl> and the New Zealand; Metropolitan Tsobbinig Glub both have th< reputation of ixkag unusually lucky oloiW. Ip the matter of wea-thar, but they but* passed themselves last week. From firs*' to last we were treated to a succession d fine days, 'he sun shindng- in a manner which -made one think more of midsummer than of any other seaeom. Financially, too, ibotth clulbs must have broken records. The Canterbury Jockey Olub's totalisa-toa? tiwnover ims £59,081, «a*d £2210 was reoeived from ii&e bookmakers, the respective figures for the New Zealand Metropolitan' 01ub being £37,609 and £1620. From a racing point of view the week: was a great success. 7 So far as Riccarton was concerned, • there was a scarcity of steeplechasers, and thosi on the scene "were cot a nigh claat lot. In fact, taking; I the Gtr&nd .--• National Steeplechase as a ' guide, they weri very moderate, seeing^ that onlj four of the nine starters got! 1 round the course. The later displays showed a good deal of improvement, and some dfecent sport was witnessed ov-ar the big fences. There, were plenty of hurdlers, and the racing, in this department was interesting. The hunters were an average* i tot. with Lovell standing out as representative of eamethafigr prett% good. The i feature of the me-atiing was the keen racing; i which was provided by the events decided! lon the flat. They til attracted large fields, i add some of the finishes wore particularly. , close and exciting. Nadador's victory in the Grand National Steeplechase affords strong evidence, to my, mind, of our present weakness in crosscountry horses. She was making her fomrHh attempt to capture the race, but had never even been in a place until this yeaor. Last week she won in very decisive fashion, end her victory was yen popular, as the» successes of Sir William Russell always are. Nralador is a lovely jumper, knowing which' her rider, J Hall, was able to take so mo risks at tie fences. By cutting off all the corners a~'ot of ground wac saved, the winner covering much lea' ground than I any other horse in the race i El Dorado ram very consistently, as, aftea finishing second to Nadador in th» Grand National, he won the Beaufort and Lincoln Steeplechases. He is only a young; borse, but he is a very promising one, nrJ if nothing goes wrong wr"ii him, he should have further successes waiting for him! across country. He is a -well-ibred animal; being by Gold Reef — Fairy Dream, by* Quilt — Nymph. He is therefore v<>ry closely related to Gold Greet, who is by, Gold Reef— Nymph.

Te Arai ran a good race in the Grand/ National Steeplechase up to half a rnila from home, but after thai his chance of: winning was gone. He showed, however, that he is a very useful sort, and the experience gained during' the last two months should stand him in good stead next winter.

Oapitol did not last' long in the Grand National, and though he shaped well in iha

fcjßeaufort Steeplechase, he had no cfeance piwitSh. El Dorado whei it came to racing |hoffl«. All the same, Capitol is a dec-ent g^ont of a horse. k Moccasin provided the surprise of the IGxand National by falfng at the fiiet fence. EJLe Beau also came to grief, his mishap pbeing due to getting too olese to the obIfetacle. &. Eurus did not enhance his reputation ; £in fact, I should say he disgraced himself. fell in the Grand National Steeplechase [over a very simple fence, which he made i^» effort to jump, and lie came to grief a>n the second day at an obstacle that should ghave presented no difficulties to him. He sgot round on the third day, but he hit two Sof the fences pretty hard, and he looked |fc sick horee when he returned to the padpttock, after finishing a long wav in the Irear. lam afraid we must write him off pas incorrigible. s 'Wanganui, who finished in the £'(G/iaod National Steeplechase, ie a good ijunrper, but he is scarcely up to open Mifeeespjlecha£& class. X: Lovefl took my fancy as about the most ; fpromiaiirg cross-country horse I saw at the J qtoeeting. He is a foalf-brother to Pilot, i laiod- quite as good a jumper. It would ji>e no surprise if he was found capable { itof winning (he Grand National next year. was out among tht hunters, and he ■stood out as quite the best horse in thatpdepartmen't, though Glengariff, Gammon, pFyrannic, and Deerdayer me ail useful |F Compa*s was the star psrformer among |cib& hurdlers. He won the Jumpers' Flat |<Bace in good style, and on the second day £-he gained a very meritorious victory in the fferand National Hurdle Race He is a jfcfcold jumper, and I should say he is the Efcest hurdler in the Dominion to-day. He gSfeiJed- on Saturday, but I prefer to ignore pthat'form and to judge him on his Grand gNational showing. I*. Pikopo, who finished second in ihe Grand glTatiosjal HuriJle Race, is quite -a novice at and has a lot to learn about the E£game yet. He is a well-buik horse, and he becomes more accomplished in the Humping art he will be a good one. | s Ben Joneon ran well in the Grand- Na|iionafl Hurdle Race, and again in the |Sydenham Hurdle Race." He must be IcLassed as one of the best hurdlers out at S-preeent, though this is only qualified praise, |,«s I do not think the class is very high. b"- Auratus won the Trial Hurdle Race in i^KOod stye, and then /an well in the Grand j-National Hurdle Race. He ie an accom(pWdsihed jumper, and he should not be long he scores another win. j£ Scatty 's form was hard to understand. tffie cut up badly in th© Jumpers' Flat |_K*ce^ a.nd never looked like winning the gGrand National Hurdle Race. In spite of llhese two failures, however, he had lots Ijdf backers on Saturday, and he won. the |Syden'i)am Hurdle Race like a tradesman, paiftea" ibeing in a handy position with the pleading division all the way. £ Taiura, who cams down with a great Reputation, quite failed to justify it, but iftbere may be something in the statement that he was off colour. All the same, I flailed to see that he was anything extra ;-ipecial as a jumper, -which was what some i of bis admirers claimed.

f Polyanthus, who won the Spreydon Hack " Hurd3e Handicap, i« a decent "sort of a iin&re, but never likely to shine in the best folass. i t Slaney is a likely 6ort of a hurdler. 'f&e is a very moderate jumper at present, jbut when he becomes more proficient in "this department he will win plenty of graces, for he has a fair turn of speed on ;.the flat. I" Pukenui broke down in the Grand National Hurdle Race, and Kairoma was rbleeding from the nose after the Sydenham jpHurdle Race. Stepemieldit broke down in Ifche Styx Hack Hurdle Hendticap. f North-East, by hie brilliant win in the EjWinter Cup, showed vhat he well deserved ithe high opinion which were held conFoexning his galloping abilities. He ran Jewell under big weights later in the meetsing, and there is no doubt he io one of IJshe best Nortn Island hacks we have had jj(at Ricearton. ?-* Penate3 was a dnsapjpointment, as he looked like a winner in either of his graces. * He may be susceptible of some [improvement in the matter of condition, ;and he should run better later in the year. Curenadier shaped well each time he He is a fine- look ing animal and fehould pay his way this season. '' Mexa-ie Zealand failed to show any dash, ;and seemed to be outclassed by his more jbrilliant opponents. Federal was one of the speediest horses at the meeting, but he did . not take uhe .•eye as a fighter. I axn afraid he will Always require to have things made to suit him, and I have no respect for him in a good field. G-wendolina began slowly in each of her graces, but she put in- great work in the •Btaight, and was going fasten than anyL"ifiing at the finish. She is very well just ;bow, €Hid she should not be long before she swins again. ' Sweet Angelus ran a decant race in the ■Winter Cup, again shaped well on the last lay, but she could not 9hake off the •attentions of Bonny Glen. This, after all, ■was no matter (for surprise as Bonny Glen in his best form is high -class horse. He has not won a race since he was successful in th© Dunedin Champagne Stakes, and he has given his trainer a lot of trouble on account of unsoundness, but if 'Aynsiey can keep him going now he will 'win some more good races btfore long. ' Kireg Post ran well each day. He is not a .quick beginner, but he is a rave finisher, am' is likely to be heard' of in longer races. _ „ Whistlecraft won the Summer Handicap in good etvle. but he failed badly in the Bedcliffs Handicap. He ie a fine galloper on the track, but does not alwayf repro'duee his best form when i* comes to • jMusing. . • > Los Angelos captured a double, winning feach time with a brilliant run at th© right iend. This horse has a great private reputation, which he is now doing something *p justify. I should say Jjob AngeK*. wa& the best flat racer at the meeting. Longner galloped well on the last day, 'And Sea King showed pace in the same *ac«. Prim was only started onee 1 , and 1 she looked like making a good race in the Belwyn Handicap, but Los Angelos and Longner »ere coo smart for her All the same, it will nofc be long before Prim is the winner of a good race. Juapland promises to develop into a very faefuj hurdler later on, and he may win % good race before the eeason closes.

| The New Zealand Metropolitan: Trotting Club's meeting was continued on Wednesday. Racing started with tihe Trial Handicap, for which a field of 17 went to the post. Brown Empress appeared to have a great chance till she carcked up near home, and j Franzie won very easily by four lengths from Ella (Australia), with Kaiser Huon close up third, just in front of Adventuress and Troubadour. There were six starters for the Progressive Handicap, and John M confirmed the high opinion previously formed of Mm ~by winning easily from Tuxedo Chief and Peacock. The time was fast, and John M. still further enhanced his reputation. A dozen lined' up> for the Lincoln Handicap. Cora Lynn and Bell 1 Lincoln made all the running, and the firstnamed won by a dozen lengths. Victor Huon finished fast, and beat Sell Lincoln by a length for second place. Eight was the main in the King Edward Handicap. Florin, King Cole, Imperial Polly, and Robert Emmet -went off in that* order, which was maintained till a furlong from home. King Cole then raced past Florin and won fay a length and a-half, with Revenue a dozen yards away third. Lord Elmc failed to run up to expectations, and Albertorious performed badly. For the Midwinter Handicap the field numbered 12. Pansy, Kohine, Jack Tracy, and Bright led for a mile and a-half, -when Kohine went to the front, but Yitella put in a strong run, and won by three lengths, Pansy being two lengths behind Hohine, with Alliance and Bright close tip. There were 16 starters for the Avon Handicap, which was confined to unhopnded trotters. Te Kuiti made the early running, but Adventuress and Myall took charge a lap from home. A little further on Myall drew out clear, and won by three lengths from Miss : Vivian, who beat Adventuress by a length,' with Quincy and Verax close up A. ! Pringle was asked a question about Myall's running on the first day, but nothing further happened, so presumably Pringle had a good excuse. Nineteen lined up for the Da«(h Handicap. Cinders was first out, but Ned Egan soon passed her. Three furlongs from home Ned Egan was beaten, and Cinders went on and' won by three lengths from Croesus, who was a similar distance in front of Storm, with Baron Lueger, T.F.C., and Blue Boy close up. For the last event of the day, the Telegraph Handicap, there were 13 Btartere. Hamlin showed out at the start, but Florin was in front half a mile from home, and he won by three lengths from Imperial '. Polly, who beat Nga Raima by two lengths, with Verax and Onward (Australia) close up The meeting was concluded on Friday, when proceedings opened with the Addington Handicap, for which the field) numbered 15. Electrocute went off smartly, and was never caught, winning by a dozen, lengths j from Marietta Huon, with, Miss Vivian a length away. The fourth horse was Black Child, who was making his first appearance after a lengthy spell. He ran well, and might have troubled the winner if 'ho had been more seasoned. Twenty-seven lined up for the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap. Rawena and Isabella, were together all Jhe way, the former winning by four lengths, with Sunns Boy eight lengths away. The winner is a decent cut of a mare, but some of the also started ''division were very poor. For the National Cup there were seven in the field, but Durbar settled his dhance by a bad" start Fu«ee madte all the early running, with St. Simon, Master Poole, and Dick Fly in close attendance, and Lord Elmo closing up. Three furlongs from home Dick Fly took charge, and after a good finish he beat Master Pool by two , lengths, Lord Elmo being six lengths away, j followed by St. Simon and Fusee. As on j the "" second day, Albertorious ran badlj. The Canterbury Handicap attracted 16 6tartcrs. Bright and Woodland Whispers showed the way at the start, just clear of Victor Huon and Alliance. A* the end of a mile Victor Huon waf done witih, and Bright and Woodland Whispers led into the laet lap from Storm, Alliance, Redchild, and Decoration. In the bade stretch Redchild broke, and Bright drew away, eventually winning by -a dozen lengths. Woodland Whispers broke badly at the home turn, and Vitella gaiined second place, a> length in front of Submarine., who finished very fast, and beat Woodland Whispers by a length. Eleven faced the starter for the Federal Handicap. Little Arthur, Bonification, and Marie Narelle made the early running, but Osborne R. caught the leaders in the run home, and beat Marie Narelle by a length, Advenuturess being six lengths away third. Thirteen was the main for the Lightning Handicap. Prime Randle led past the stand from Miss Florrie C, with Crossue. Ben Hur, and Robert Emmet next. Revenue put in a great run down the back, and after a fine finish he won by a length from Prince Randle, who was two lengths in' front of Miss Florrie C, -with St. Simon next. The International Handicap, for which seven horses lined up, was a fine race Discoverer, Elector, and Imperial Polly led for s mile, when Imperial Polly retired. Discoverer following suit a furlong further on. Elector led into the straight, where Verax drew out and won by two lengths from Lord Elmo, -who beat ETector by four length*, with Discoverer a neck away. The meeting was brought to a, dose with the Farewell Handicap, for which the field numbered 13. Plush. Membrino Akabah. Wood burn Lad, Imperialwood, i and Royal Ribbon were in a bunch at the j stand, with Frederick and Derringcotte ' handy. In the back stretch Woodburn Lad toot charge, and an exciting finish ended in his beat ; ng Frederick by two lengths, , with Gold Leaf a naek away, and Dei-ring- , cotte a neck furth'ar hack. I understand that Eldorado was under offer to Messrs El worthy Bros, at £500 after he won the Beaufort Steeplechase. , As the Lincoln Steeplechase which he won ' on Saturday was worth £280, it looks as if , the South Canterbury sportsmen missed a , good chance when they failed to clcse the j bargain. Le Beau bruised the muscles of J his chest when he fell in the Grand National Steeplechase, but he is expected to be all right again in a few days. Kairoma has changed hands, having bean purchased b-y H. Btiekoy for £200, and h-n | will probably be shipped to Sydney this , week in company with Mundic. At a sale of horses to-day Svre&t Au#elqs . was taken by Mr A. W. Moree- for 255giS, j and Rock Ferry by Mr H. Solomon for 13(Tgs. As Cla-nranald is on the sick list, Sir George Clifford has leased Gravitation, by Tiirkenhead — Stepfeldt, for the season. Chryseus and Golden Crest have foaled colta to Treadmill : and Elusive, by Trenton— Elcufiis, has, clipped twins to +he Game < sir*. I