CANTERBURY DOINGS By Fritz.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 56

CANTERBURY DOINGS By Fritz.

Following on the glorious weather expertJinced for several weeks past, and which tixtended through the Grand National meeting, xain set in on Monday night, and for a day or two -the conditions were anything but pleasant. Later in the week the weather cleared again, and it has since been fine. The rain which fell, however, left the tracks very soft, and as a consequence fast work lias been quite out ot the question. By Saturday the tracks showed some improvement, but most of the trainers preferred to wait till the beginning of the .Week before stretching their charges out. The New Zealand Cup weights niade their Appearance on Thureday afternoon, and it is jmnecessary to say that they have come in

I for some comment. So far as the Riccarton ■ critics are concerned, "tibe opinions concerning Mr J. E. Henrys's latest effort are highly complimentary. There is some difference of opinion as to what is well in ; or, rather, it would be more correct to say that the experts are unable to pick on anything as possessing a particularly bright chance. One complaint I have heard voiced more than once is that Mr Henrys has framed the handicap on too low a scale. . Anyone who takes that view, -however, should bear in mind that the New Zealand Oup has never -yet been won by a horee carrying more than 8.9, so that the handicapper has history very strongly in his favour when he declines to overburden the best horses. At the same 'tdme, it is not very complimentary to the quality of the horses in training at present to find, out of 65 horses handicapped, only 11 weighted at over 8.0, with 12 between) 8.0 and 7.0, and 42 below 7.0 But, when the day of the races arrives, I expect we will have as interesting a contest a 6 usual. The Amberley Steeplechase Club will hold its' annual fixture on Thursday. The fields are of good size, and though the horees engaged are for the most part -of very moderate quality, there should be some interesting, sport. The meeting -is one which 19 very popular, especially with hunting enthusiasts, who never fail to muster in strong force. Having in view an engagement in th«» Hurdle Race at Amberley^ Oasis was sent out one morning last week for a schoolingtask. He is usually a good j*m>per, 'be* he resolutely refu?ed to 'negotiate th« fir« obstacle, and after several fruitless efforts j to get him over, his rider, W. Retter, gave up the attempt. Kin£ of Trumps, with J. Nolan in the saddle, was sent once round the big fences on Thursday afternoon. He tried to run off at the first of the double, and dislodged his rider, but subsequently completed the circuit in safety. Until the weights for the New Zealand Cup appeared there was some doubt as to the programme that would be followed in the spring with All Red. Now, however, . he has been scratched for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and as I hear that he has received solid backing for the New Zealand Cup, we may regard him as a likely competitor at Riecarron in N6vember, provided he goes on all right in hie preparation. Certainly, with 9.4, his chance here looks better than it did with lib less at Caulfield and Flemington. Eurus and Northern Star, Mr D. Ruther- - ford's pair of steeplechasers, have been sent home to their owner's station, where they will be given a spel lfor a lew months, prior, to being put in commission again for next winter's cross-country events. A few months^ ago it looked as if they would play a prominent part in some of the big steeplechases this winter, bu.r, unfortunately, , Northern Star . went wrong, and proved a disappointment. I am- inclined to write Eurus off as hopeless, but Northern, Star is a very promising young horse,, of whom. I have great hopes, .provided he keeps sound. Probable, ivha has been on the - retired list for some time, is being hacked about, preparatory to going into, regular work again. He looks very much in tihe rough, but Clarke should not be long before he has him in something like shape, and he may pick up a race before the end of the year, year. Colds are very prevalent in several of the Riccarton stables at present, quite a number of two-year-olds, in particular, being affected. . The roan filly Treacle, by TreadmillCyclamen, is now an inmate of J. A. Bridges 'a stable, having been purchased by Mi W. O .Rutherford. Her half-sister, by Pilgrim's Progress, was bought by Mr W. J. Marshall, who passed her on, at a profit, to Mr E. Stevenson, of Palmerston North. Whist lecraft, the four-year-old by Birkenhead — WindwhistUs after being passed in at auction, was sold privately last Monday to Mr J. Biggins, and was taken south during the week. He should be a rare good winner during the present season on Otago and Southland courses. On a^coun-t of the shortage of gocd ground, the two-yearokl6 have not been doing much during the present week, but if the weather keeps fine the trainers will soon be bustling the youngsters along. Le Beau, who injured himself while taking part in the Grand National Steeplechase, is still at Riccarton ; but he is making a good recovery, and should soon be in regular work again. I understand that he will probably be given a race on the flat at Ashburton before he returns north. H. Hickey left for Sydney on Thureday with Mundic, Kairoma,* and Rawera. The present intention is to race the trio in Australia at the spring meetings. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association will be held on Wednesday, when the result of the poll for the new board will be announced. Mr George PayHing, who died on Friday, after a brief illness, was a well-known Chri&tchurch citizen, who had occupied many leading public positions, including 1 that of Mas*or. He was very closely identified with trotting. He had been a prominent member of the New Zealand Metro- > politan Trotting Club eince its formation, and for some time he had held office as vice-president. He wa« also president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference for two yoars. Nominations closed on Wednesday for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotfing Club's Futurity Stakes, when 58 youngsters were named, which miwt be nccountedi a very satisfactory response A particularly noticeable feature about tho list is the largo number of young sires that are repreisented. The American-bred Wallace L., Harold Dillon, and Galindo figure very prominently, and amons; the untried colonial stallions are Proud Child. Wildwocd Jun, General Lincoln, Mount Palm, Belle Vue, Lord Althorp, Bazaine, Woodend, and Wild Moore. The proved horses represented include Abbey Belk, Prince Imperial, Rothschild, and Franz, and as Ihe youngsters engaged include near relations to many good performers the prospects of the race seem excellent. DeersTayer, who is engaged at A'mberiey, gave a finished exhibition over the big fences one morning last week. Chief Lochiel and Glenfield-, who wena wrong on the eve of the last meeting at Trentham, have resumed active work. St. Aidan and Orsino have been sent home to Oamaru. St. Aidan will be kept in training, but Orsino will be spelled, and the pair will probably return to Riccarton eaily next year to be prepared for jumping races.

"V&ldimar -was -a-trifle lame last week as the result of a slight accident, but he appears to be all right again. All Guns ' got "his -hincT legs badly out last week through contaot with a fence, and he may not be seen in public for some time. Sweet Angelus, who is now an inmate of Hobbs's stable, is having an easy time at present <to enable her to build up.