THE EASTER RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2516, 17 April 1878, Page 4

THE EASTER RACES.

Now that the Easter Races are so near it may not he amiss to refer briefly to the present condition and chances of the principal animals engaged in the leading events. With the exception "of Resolution, who, I understand, might even yet turn up, all tho most notable competitors are in the neighbourhood, and can be seen at exercise by early birds with a sharp eye to the main chance. Tbe acceptances,it may be remaru-ed. are unusually numerous, and if the fields are large in proportion the handicappej-s will have every right to crow over their work. Putting Resolution on one side, Pungawerewere heads the Eastm Handicap. Considering that this ware won the Dunedin Cup as a three-year- . id with 6st. lolbs., and that the company she ■.•ill now meet is scarcely of the same class she lvii been accustomed to, I cannot say that I think her chance with 83t. 71bs. at all despicable. Rumour, saith that Mr Perkins fancies the mare ; if this is so, one certainly might do worse than follow his colours. Hippocampus has been, as usual, well backed in doubles hy tho public; but I have good authority for- saying that he is not within 71bs of his Christmas lonn. Quite "off," in fact, ihe Worm is a good outsider, and his performance at Napier, where he made Buch a near thing ot it with Luna, ought not to he forgotten. Elsa is in excellent condition ; in fact, she has never been better, and the stable are very confident indeed. Izaak Walton is as good a lavourite as anything, but it seems hard to get over the fact that he lias never managed to set two miles yet The light weight may, of course, help him ; hut the good judges, almost to a man are esainst his chance. The partiea.nspf, _he Don and Magician believe they are wed mi it, and that the* are sure to be there or thereabouts at tbe finish. Xantippe is a short distance filly and scarcely likely to be started against Pungawerewere. Of courso I may have reason to change my opinion, should Resolution arrive, but my present fancies for the Easter Handicap are Elsa and Pungawere>vere,andllikethembest in the order written/! he steeplechase is rather a hard nut to crack. I erfume is said to be in good fettle, and may add another to her many triumphs ; but on the other hand, Don Juan is pounds better than he was last year, and tolerably well in to hoot. Butcher Boy I do not fancy, but persons who. think Whitefoot will be able to negotiate the jumps, he might do worse than invest a pound or two on his chance. Loafer, Sportsman, and Fanny are comparatively unknown to fame, sol scarcely like to say much about them. Both Loafer and Sportsman are considered to have Food outside chances. My vote, however, shall be for Don Juan. The acceptances for the Tradesmen's Handicap and Hurdle Race are not out \et, so it is difficult to deal with them. Izaak Walton, Xantippe, and the VVorni seem, however, the pick of the former; and Whitefoot and Gazelle appear best in the latter. 1 shall refer to these events again on Saturday. The following quotations may be considered fairly reliable. The straight oat betting is feeble, but doubles are brisk. Easter Handicap. 3 to 1 against Izaac Walton 3tol against Hippocampus 1 to 1 against The Don 9 to 2 against Magician 9 to 2 against Elsa 5 to 1 against Xantippe Steeplechase. 2 to I against Perfume 3 to 1 against Don Juan 3 to 1 against Butcher Boy 7 to 2 against Loafer 5 to 1 against Sportsman Doubles.—Easter Steeplechase. 100 to 12 Izaac Walton and Perfume (t) 100 to 10 Elsa and Perfume 100 to 10 The Don and Perfume 100 to 8 Magician and Butcher Boy 100 to 6 Xantippe and Butcher Boy 100 to 6 Elsa and Don Juan. _^ugur