CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 54

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observer. There has not been a great deal doing on the Biccarton tracks during the past week. Some of the horses who rack’d at Ashburton have - been on the easy list, having no more immediate engagements, and all the interest has centred round the candidates for the Dunedin and West Coast meetings, which will be held this week. Later in the month the South Canterbury meeting will claim attention. It has attracted a great list of nominations, and should provide some fine racing. In the meantime, it is interesting to note that all the horses entered from here for the Dunedin meeting, eight in number, have accepted,' and will be on hand to fulfil their engagements at Wingatui this week. S. Barr will have four horses in his team at Wingatui. The hurdler, Troihis, is in capital condition. Lack of schooling will not prejudice his prospects, and I expect him to get some money. Starshooter is rapidly approaching his best form again, and will be better for each race now. Bascal is very well, and is a good prospect, who will appreciate a soft track. Bonrose is a mare I have no special fancy for. She is a smart galloper, but her race record is not up to her track form.

A. E. Worwald has Banelagh looking in the best of order, and a brilliant gallop over seven furlongs on Saturday was evidence of a return to form. He disappointed at Ashburton, but the delay at the start was responsible, in some measure, and with average luck he will win at Wingatui. His mate, Kaikahu, is not a sound horse, but if he stands up to his task he may pay his way in cross-country races, as he is very well. H. Cutts will have two horses at Wingatui. Ball Dress has never been in better condition than at present, and she will pay to follow. Winsome Hind is no more than a useful hack sprinter, who has raced without anj' luck, but she should show up in this week’s engagements. Giggleswick is going to Greymouth, where he appears to be worth support, as he is.in great order. ,

Ouruhia, who is engaged in minor steeplechases at the Dunedin meeting, is owned and trained in North Canterbury, but he has been schooled twice at Biccarton. showing considerable aptitude for the big fences. He has had no race experience, having made his previous appearances as a show hunter,, so he may be out of place in fields he will meet at Wingatui. . Wise. Choice is booked for a trip to Greymouth. He has been galloping freely, and only needs to. repeat trar-k form to be a winner. There is a growing impression, however, .that he is not solid.

If Binging Cheer is raced at Greymouth, he may pick up some money, as he is a hack of great promise. . Limited, who won in attractive style at Ashburton, looks none the worse for his race. He sprinted well on Saturday, .and he may get another ■ stake at Greymouth. Evening may be raced at .Greymouth this week, but the recent form of this Day Comet mare does not commend her favourably. A. E. Ellis will be riding at the Auckland meeting this week. He will be on Boyal Boulton in the Cornwall Handicap, while he will handle the promising hack Pewa in his engagements;, The defection of Omeo has left , him without a mount in the Great Northerns. He has since refused another ride, preferring to look on . rather than take on an indifferent jumper. With so much good riding on the flat, he cannot be blamed. Arikiwai is gradually getting into good order. He will be raced at the South Canterbury meeting, and he may be a winner before the winter meetings are disposed of. Isa, another of F. D. Jones’s team, may also be a competitor at South Canterbury. She has not done a great deal wince she came to Biccarton, but. probably she does not require a severe preparation. Aberfeldy is being schooled regularly over the steeplechase fences, and he shapes like making a successful ■ crosscountry performer. Some interest will attach to his initial effort at South Canterbury this month. F. D. Jones is handling a two-year-old Shambles filly for Mrs G. H. Grigg. The youngster is a first foal, the dam, Love in the Mist, being by Martian from the imported mare Love a Duck. -- Amorist resumed work recently after, a spell, but he is being kept to easy work at present. He has been nominated for the South Canterbury meeting, so R. Longley will be sending him along a bit faster before long. ■ • The Bailiff is being kept in strong work, and he will make his next appearance at South Canterbury. Winter conditions should suit thia colid customer. The latest addition to T. H. Gillett’s team is a yearling filly by Lord Quex from Los Vegas, by Boniform from La Valiere. This is a very successful- New Zealand family which includes Nonette, Los Angelos, and Client among . its notable representatives, while the recent arrival is a half-sister to Los Gatos, who showed high class form as a two-year-old in Australia. The Lord Quex filly, who was bred by Mr W. G. Stead, was sold at the Trentham sales in January for 140gns to Mr J. Nicholson, of Wellington. She looks a likely sort to earn early two-year-old honours.

The yearling colt Bebel Song has been taken in hand by T. H. Gillett for his breeder, Mr F. Williamson, He is by Robespierre from Tot'i dal Monte, a Gay Lad —Trebelli II mare, who ranks'as a half-sister to the speedy three-year-old Autopay. The Australian-bred two-year-old Grecian Prince, who rejoined R. W. King’s team recently, is being kept to easy tasks at present. He' will not be required to

race until the spring, so his preparation will not be-hurried. Though he showed a great deal of speed when he was worked in the spring Grecian Prince may not come to his best for some time yet, as his dam is from a North Island family that has been slow maturers. Hounslow has resumed work after a spell for six months. It appears to have done him good, as he looks bright and well. This Thurnham gelding only needs to train on to win races next season, as he can stay. Punchestown is the most interesting novice nominated for the hurdle race at the South Canterbury meeting. He is a useful performer on the flat, and he is credited with showing considerable aptitude as a jumper. He is a half-brother to Charlatan, a brilliant performer over country, while the fact that he is by Thurnham is an additional recommendation.

The Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting will be held at Addington on Wednesday and Saturday. The fields are of good size, and plenty of the best quality? The young trotter Todd Lonzia is hitting out in a fine style in his work. He will be strongly fancied in any race he contests this week. Holly Bank has improved a good deal of late, and another stake may come his wavsoon. Nelson Ata has been working exceptionally well, and he is likely to show greatly improved form the next time he is started in a race. Major Lind is pacing very well in his work, and he will be hard to beat in this week s engagements. Home Voyage has shown good form in some of. his recent work, and the Australian-bred trotter is at the top of his form. , Jester is hitting out freely in training. He is one of the likely novices to pick up an early stake. Erin s Pointer, who in the past has been at her best over short courses, has given evidence lately that her stamina is improving. The Travis Axworthy mare is only four years old, and she may develop next season with a good two miles. In the meantime, she is doing good work training. Locanda Boy has been doing a lot of solid work in training, and the Brent Locanda gelding is in fair form. Unfortunately, this once good pacer is anything but sound, but if the track is heavy he may run well at the Canterbury Park meeting. Since Wah has been leased to S. A. Egan, who raced Ukelele Lady with success, the Petewah trotter has raced well in the north of the South Island. When trained at Addington, Wah always had a lot of speed but he was unable to properly control it, and once he made a mistake he took too long to get going again. He is on the limit in the Progressive Handicap at the Canterbury Park Club’s meeting, and it will be interesting to note how he races on a track in which he has done a lot of training work. If his new trainer has got him to trot steadily Wah will keep the opposition very busy. • : Peterwah is gradually getting into racing condition, and so far he appears to be sound. He has done a lot of steady jogging, but he has not been asked to show his speed. J. J, Kennerley has Welcome Guy looking in fine order, and this promising young trotter, who has not been over worked this season, should show up well in his future races. Boicole was at Addington a few days ago and paced a smart mile. He may show improved form at the Canterbury Park meeting. Free Advice looks at though it will take some time to get her back to racing condition, as in her short spell, after her success at the Easter meeting, she put on a lot of weight. She is at present doing slow jogging. N. L. Price worked the Travis Axworthy—Sallywood trotter about a mile at Addington a few mornings ago, and this promising youngster is now doing'her work in a most satisfactory manner. She may run best in events shorter than two miles. Actor had not been working well prior to racing at Ashburton, when he finished second to Gold Country in the Bakaia Handicap. The Author Dillon pacer may win a good race for Tomkinson, as he appears to do better with the colours up than in his training work. Somerby and Vesuvius seem to be in their best form at present. They- are frequently worked together, and give the impression that they are capable of much better than they have shown lately. Captain Wrack does not appear to be sound, and he was moving decidedly short after a recent work out. Erin’s Fortune looks in fine order. She is, however, inclined to be fractious, even in her work, and there is a doubt about her going off right at the start of a race. Kelp was worked out in saddle a few mornings ago, having Native Prince for a companion over a little further than a mile. The Wrack gelding, who must rank as the most unlucky pacer of the season, went particularly well in saddle, and he may run with more success at the Canterbury Park pieeting. The Australian-bred trotter, Mat Voyage, was out of work for some time, but he resumed training a few months ago, and he raced fairly well at Oainaru. He is being kept in steady work, but the race found him out and he is -very sore. It is doubtful if he will show any form again for some time. W. Warren has just put into work a three-year-old filly by Guy Parrish from Bingenette. The .youngster will probably be tried as a trotter. Great Chenault looks in fine order, and this smart three-year-old pacer should show further improvement when next he is raced. He has a bad fault of hitting his knees, but. A. E. Bussell has . improved his gait and does not anticipate any. trouble when next he races the Peter Chenault colt. E. Hawtin has recently put into work a two-year-old by Peter. Bingen from a mare by Oinako. The youngster is well grown arid is a neat pacer. Ayonwood, who has been spelling for some time, has gone into training, again, and he is doing slow, jogging at New Brighton. Rafa has not been long in work, but he was responsible for a useful, work-out recently. The grey pacer looks in good order, although apparently capable of further improvement.

The lease of Proud Dillon having expired, he has been returned to his owner, who is working the Harold Dillon horse at New Brighton. The pacer looks in capital order. Nelson Price, who has settled down in his old quarters at New Brighton, is working a maiden by Brent Locanda. He recently took over the pacer Blue Glen. The trotter Bepute looks in the best of health. She has been trotting much more solidly in her recent races and also showing improved stamina. Some of her recent work has been done under saddle. The young trotter Tiny Guy, by Guy Parrish from Tiny Moon, has not grown much, and he will always be on the small side, although his trainer states that he is a trifle higher than his dam. Tiny Guy’can show a fair turn of speed, and he may make a useful sort next season. G. Caddy is working a young pacer by Harold Direct. He goes in good style without the hopples, especially when he is ridden. After Great Bingen broke down, prior to the New Zealand Trotting Cup of 1929, he was mated with three mares, each of whom produced a late colt foal, now ranking as three yearlings. The youngsters have been worked at Mr J. R. M'Kenzie’s stud farm. Boyden Lodge, Upper Riccarton, and have shown great promise. Mr M'Kenzie took them to Addington on Saturday morning, and provided a very interesting interlude in the training work. The first of the trio to work was a gelding from the Harold Dillon mare, Glendora. Driver, by his owner and paced by Native Prince, driven by J. J. Kennerley, he paced a furlong in 18sec and two in 37sec. After a short spell he was stepped out again, taking 37.55ec. The next to work was the gelding from the Great Audubon mare, Nyallo. He was paced by the trotter Kereta, driven by E. C. M‘Dermott, covering a furlong in 18sec and two in 36 3-ssec. He was rested and then did 38 2-5 for the quarter. The last to work was the gelding from Slapdash, an American mare with a brilliant record for early speed. This youngster was stated to be the best of the trio, and so he proved. Paced by a Wrack —Gianella three-year-old, driven by J. Young, he ruled off a furlong in 16 3-ssec and two in 33 3-ssee. After a spell he stepped out again for a furlong in 16 2-5 and a quarter in 32 4-ssec. In each case Mr M'Kenzie, the owner, was the driver. The three youngsters are well developed, and with the demonstration of their early speed, a lot of interest will be taken in how they* train on, as at present they look great prospects. Incidentally, they will direct attention to the possibilities of Great Bingen, a high class racehorse, as a stud horse.