SPORTING NOTES.

Br Sinbad. Judging from the acceptances and general entries published on Saturday last, tier© is every reason to believe that the coming meeting will be an unusually successful one. The L. 3 ger, the first event on the programme, seemed at one time a' certainty for Trump Cord, but the pen was put through his name for the Autumn Handicap on Tuesday evening, and the colt' is bo much amiss that, it i* exceedingly improbable that he trill go to the poet for any event during the meeting. It is to be hoped: that the indisposition of this grand colt will be only temporary,' and that h» will ere long be himself again. Jangler, who was on the sick list lut week, has come round again, and if he should run up to his trial, should win the teger from either Foul Play or Standard Bearer, as the distance is too far for the former., and the prejudices of : Standard Bearer against racing are so strong that I cannot hare him at any prices • If Japgler should be reserved -for the Handicap, then Fonl Play must wm the'lieger; or vie* vena. Eight have paid up for the Champagne Stakes, and are all, I should jay, pretty certain starters,. Nemo, the colt by Traducer from No Name, has been undergoing hie preparation under Mβ owner's eye at Honley Downs. I b* Here he is in good form, and was when down here a very promising youngster. Waitaki, the Albany— Waitoi colt, is a good mover, but I think not class enough for his company. Piccadilly, the other representative of Albany, will strip well, bat he does not teem to have pace enough. Atlantic, the Dunedin Champagne winner, has been here some time now under Mason's care. Hβ has wonderfully improved since his arrival, bnt is still on the gross side of condition. I fancy he will run well, but not well enough to repeat his Dunedin victory. Of the eight candidates, three come from Mr Redwood's stable. Ram* Rama, the Towfcon-Waimea colt, is a very even animal, and will, I think, run well in the spring, bnt for therace under consideration 1 certainly prefer the chances of either of his stable companions. Merlin, who has much improved in his style of going, is well bred enough, for anything, and should have a good say in thu race, but so far ac looks go I prefer Natator, who je my present selection. York, the representative of the Bay stable, is big enough ' and strong enough. Those who ought to know say he has plenty of pace, and will certainly be there or thereabouts at the finish. He is without doubt in good nick, and will have a' good man on his back, so I think he will run into a place, and if either Natator or Merlin are out of it he nay be labelled dangerous. My final tips for this and all other events will be given on Monday, but afc present I expect to see Natator, Merlin, and York finish in the order named. The great Autumn Handicap is indeed s> hard not to crack. In spite of the exceptional hardness of the ground, ■none, Tramp Card excepted np to the present have gone amiss, and the majority of the competitors will come to the past wonderfully pink. I pass out Jangler and Foul Play, for both will probably have a good race out of them in the Zeger before starting for the Handicap. Mufti has been a little amiss since his arrival here, bat in any case I do not think, even With his light lie. can travel fast enough. Oberon has come on sinoe .Dunedin, but he would hare to improve much more to be formidable in this race. Luna has only a feather weight to carry, but I ranch prefer her chance in the Free Handicap, for which, should she accept, she must be considered dangerous, as for three-quarters of a mile she has a great turn of foot. Maritana, fit; and well, must have a great say in the Autumn Handicap. Her performances at Oamaru and Timaru show that with a lightimpost she can hold her own in good company, and I look upon her chance as an exceptionally goodone. If Bribery was in her last year'i form I should look no farther for the winner, but the mare has not been going like herself lately, and I should think it most probable that her owner will reserve her for the Free Handicap. Longlands has come recently into the market, and from his Dunedin running must be treated with the greatest consideration. I acareelj think him a brilliant performer, but he is a very honest animal, aad far from a slow one.. He will be well piloted, k racing over what I think is bis best distance, and v in at a weight which wQI sever trouble him. Should Mr Bed wood elect to win with 1™ I fancy he will be either first or second, but on paper I far prefer the chance, of ArieL If right on the day, and f.-cm the work he has been doing I think Cutu win have him very pink, the son of Una mart run a great horse. Hie performance in the Metropolitan Handicap was a very good one, and with the difference ia the weight he ought to hold the top weight safe. Of Bay's trio market operations seem to point to Bide-a-Wee at his probable representative, but though he has been going rery well Jately, I cannot think him » -mlly firrt clan one, mS

shonld prefer the chanoea of either of his stable companions. Templeton, with Say himself up, must, if his owner declare to win with him, be considered very dangerous, while, if Titania be the elected one, I should certably feel inclined to put on a shilling or two myself, as in public form she ought to run Tery nearly a dead heat with ArieL At present I fancy the following quartette will furnish the winner — Ariel, Longlands, Templeton, and Maritana, aad for choice I should take Ariel at present. The North Otago Turf Clnb have determined to hold over the consideration of the questions raised by the Auckland P-wring Club lor the present. A meeting of TattemU's Club was held during the week. Tbe club was fairly established, a committee appointed, and Mr Neilson has agreed to act as hon. ccc. to the end of the year. I remind owners of hones that acceptances for tbe Free Handicap, accompanied with a swf epstake of 5, soys., .must he sent to the secretary C.J.C. at Badcliffe's Hotel before eight o'clock this evening. ' ' ' > Tfae following are the latest odds for the" ATOtJMS HANDICAP. 3to 1 agst Longlands (off — fours takenfreely) ; stol — Bide-ft-Wee ; sto 1 — Templeton 6 fo 1 — Ariel 8 to 1 — Maritana _lDtofl — Titania 10 to 1—- Bribery 12 to 1 — Mufti 12 tel — Jangler 12tol — Foul Play. .: 12tol — Oberoh 20 to 1 — Luna ! CHAMFAOKB STAKES. 6 to 4 agst Natator (off) 2tol — York (taken) 3 to 1 — Merlin 4tol — Nemo (off—fives t. &. w.) 6 to 1 — Atlantic . 6 to 1 — Kama Kama 10 to 1 — Any others Double Events—Champagne and Autumn Handicaps—from 100 to 10 to 100 to 3.