AUCKLAND RACING CLUB SUMMER MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 304, 24 December 1898, Page 3

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB SUMMER MEETING.

XOTES AND ANTICIPATIONS OF 1 MONDAY'S RACING.

With matters meteorological favourable, the Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, which will be commenced on Monday next, promises to eclipse all of its predecessors. When the programme of the gathering first came to light many shook their heads and prophesied that we would not have sufficient horses to o-et through a four days meeting in on hard ground, but thanks to liberal outside patronage and a most unusual amount of rain for the month of December, this prediction will not be verified, and there is reason to think that a record will be put up in connection with the fixture. Mr Percival has made complete arrangements for the success of the meeting, while Mr Hill, the energetic caretaker of the course, has everything neat and trim for the four days"occupation of Ellerslie. The first event starts on Monday at 12 noon.

My notes and anticipations of the eight events on the programme are as under: —

Trial Handicap of 100 soys. Seven furlongs.—Firefly S.O, Lillie 7.5, Rangefinder 7 7~"Djin Djiri 7.7. Battleaxe 7.5, St. Elmo i.i Crusade 7.3, Cannongate 7.3, Lufra 71 "IVellinsrton 7.0. Roxana 6.11, St. Lawrence G.lO. 'Drum Major 6.7, Canopus 6.7.

Lillie and Battleaxe each read with a winning chance, and for choice I like the first named. THE GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES of BOOsovs, G furlongs. stlb Mr G. G. Stead's eh c Screw Gun, by Hotchkiss Rose of Wellington.... SlO Jlr J. Chaafe's b c St. Peter, by St. Leger—Satanella S 10 Maior F. N. George's br c Labourer, by The Workman—Sister Agnes.... SlO i Major F. N. George's eh c Seahorse, ! by Nelson—Moonga S 10 Hon. H. Mosman's eh c The Afghan, by St. Leger—Yattaghan S 10 Mr-L, D. Nathan's eh c Hastings, by Seaton Delaval—Liquidation SlO ■Mr D. A. McLeod's b f Miss Delaval,

by Seaton Delaval—Campania S i> Mr'L. D. Nathan's eh f Rosella, by Seaton Delaval —Roie S 5 The foregoing will form the best field which has contested the Foal Stakes for many years. So far as can he gauged the race will be a duel between^Screw Gun and Miss Delaval. However, there is Major George's fine colt Seahorse to be reckoned with and also St. Peter, to say nothing of The Afghan, who has executed deeds on the training track sufficiently well to justify high expectations being formed of him. The form of Miss Delaval has been exceedingly good, and Mr Stead's colt has to make a concession of five pounds to her. I fancy it will be an awfully close thing between the pair, but to split them I will declare for Screw Gun, expecting Seahorse to gain the other place.

THE AUCKLAND CUP. The. probable starters and riders for the Cup are as follows:— Ne°tor ft.O Sworrtnsh-11., 8.7 McTaggart Tirant d'Eau. 5.5 S. Lindsay Coeur de Lion, 5.2 P. White Crusoe, 7.12 J. Creamer Acone, 7.9 Buchanan Coronet. 7.7 M. Ryan St. Gordon, 7.4 ■■■■■■ - — Explosion. 7.4 J. Gallagher Panoply, 7.0 J- Duff Blue Jacket, 6.12 J. Chaafe, jun. Uhlan, 6.9 Russell, jun. Donneraile, G. 7 Satman Knight of Athol, 6.8 ..., Miss Anna. 6.7

Since Nestor returned from Christ'chiirch he has done well, but all of his work has been accomplished on the tan. Of course it would have been more satisfactory from an outside point of view if he had been tested over the Cup journey on the course proper, but in any case I shall expect him to run well, and he should at least get a place. Swordfish 11. is the best handicapped horse in the race, but it is stated he is on the light side. He is trained in private, so his condition can only be spoken ot on hearsay. The game and generous Tirant d'Eau has got through hir preparation in a satisfactory manner, and no equine could be made better in point of condition. That he can stay the journey all ri°-ht we had ample proof in the New Zealand Cup, for he then traversed two miles in 3min 2<Msec. However, on that occasion he had only 7.7 to carry and now he has an additional twelve pounds. Some argue that the additional weight and the severe hilly course may stop him, but he is one of the hardy wear and tear sort, and T think that he will be found equal to winning. Coeur de Lion will no doubt run a good race, but it appears to me the favourite holds him safe. lam of opinion that Crusoe is a better horse than many people Jhink and I shall be quite prepared to see him play a.n important part in the struggle. It is stated that he had considerably the worst of the weights in his gallop over the Cup distance with Coronet and Panoply on Thursday morning last, which, of course, .makes his chance bright. Acone has done a good preparation, but I hardjy think he will quite stay it out. Coronet is ahorse that can'gallop all right > and if he takes it into his head the stake •will go to the Harp Road stable. Undoubtedly Mr J. B. Williamsons charge has done the best preparation of any of the Cup candidates at Ellerslie. St. Gordon is a useful customer, and he must be given an outside chance. There is no doubt that Explosion has done well in his work, and I believe he is coming on after every gallop. He may not win, but such a well-trained horse, with a favourable weight on his back, cannot be entirety overlooked. Perhaps the length ot the journey will affect him. Panoply is one of the outside division who will last out the two miles, and he cannot he written out. for he has-only 7.0 to carry. Bluejacket was tested over tne Cup distance this week, but I do not anticipate his victory; and in my opin■wn, Uhlan, Doneraile, Knight oi . Mol and Miss Anna are not good •nough to spring a surprise.. On the *hole, the race "bears sn exceedingly

open appearance, but my first selection will also be the final one—and that is " TIRANT D'EAU. Handicap Hurdle Race of 200 soys. Two miles.—Dummy 11.5. Dante 10.S, Tim 10.6. ! isior -west 10.6, Cairo 9.12, Anita 9.7, Kapai My fancy for this race is Dante, and Tim should also take a liand in the j finish. ; j RAILWAY HANDICAP of SOOsovs; 6 1 i furlongs. !,, stlb Mr J. C. Booth's eh g Rex, 6yr5.... 9 3 ; Mr J. T. Moore's br h Chasseur, 4yrs 8 9 ■ Mr E. A. Joel's b g- Red Lancer, 6yrs 8 9 Mr J. Roulston's b h Record Reign, '• \ 4yrs S G Mr E. J. Evans' b h Kton, 4yrs.. .. 8 0 : ■Mr L. D. Nathan's br m Miss £mmy, i I 4yrs go IMr E. Cutts' b g Djin-Djin, 3yr5.... 7 10 jMr J. E.- Thorpe's br m Lillie, aged.. 7 9 ;Mr F. Watson's b m Okoari, 4yrs 7 S j Mr A. S. Caulton's b m Porangi PoI tae, syrs 7 7 IMr L. D. Nathan's br m Miss Rose, I 4yrs 7 4 Mr T. Connop's eh f Victoria Cross ! 3yrs 610 IMr J. Chaaf-e's h i St. Ursula, 3yrs.. 0 S Mrs J. Lennard's eh g Brilliant, 4yrs 6 S ! This is a very open race. Rex, the top weight, is in great trim, and as he is a good beginner he may be j expected to cut put a merry six' fur- j longs, despite his 9.3 impost. Chas- ; seur is sore and will not be seen at j his best. Red Lancer's record over j short courses will stand a lot of look- | ing into, and although he has the i credit of not being good off the mark j L fancy his chance greatly. Of the others Miss Emmy pleases me most, and this mare was never so well. Djin Djin and Okoari are both expected to run prominently by their respective parties, but my straight-out selection is Red Lancer. Nursery Handicap of 100 soys. Five furlongs.—Hastings 8.12, Rosella 8.9, The Labourer 8.5, The Afghan 5.5, Deadbeat 7.3, St. Anton 7.0, Bluecap 7.0, Bacchus 6.10, Panella 6.7.

My fancy is the stable selected, Hastings or Rosella, and The Afghan may prove next best.

Pony Cup Handicap of 100 soys. Seven furlongs.—Botfly S.O, Leona 7.10, Little Wonder 7.'J, Liberty 7.6, Rangiuru 7.6, Pearl 11. 7.4, The Slave 7.4, Temptation 7.0, Lady Howitzer 7.0, Bavaria 0.10, Repetition 6.9, Semolina 6.7.

Rangiuru may prove hardest to beat.

Christmas Handicap of 150 SOYS. One mile. —Fabulist 9.7, Waiorongomai S.lO, Rex ?.9, Red Lancer S.B, Battle Axe 7.3, St. Elmo 7.0, Crusade 7.0, Conspirer 7.0, Lufra 0.10, Donneraile 6.10, Dayntree 6.10, Doctor 6.10, Auld Reekie 6.7, Canopus 6.7.

Of course this event depends to a great extent on previous running. If Eex, Eed Lancer or Battleaxe win during the afternoon they are mulcted in a stt> penalty, but taking all things into consideration I will again plump for Eed Lancer.