SPORTING NOTES.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3988, 7 May 1878, Page 6 (Supplement)

SPORTING NOTES.

By Srsbad. The interval between Trump Card's winning the Christchurch Derby and his non. appearance in the Leger, to most race-goers will seem a short one, and yet the important meetings of the year are over. The racing year has not-been a remarkable one taken as a whole, and has not introduced us to any horses of exceptional merit, unless it was th e one we have mentioned above. We think, however, that take the season through, consistency of public form has been the order of the day at most of the meetings, and this would specially apply to the Autumn Meeting now under consideration. Foul Play's overthrow for the Leger was what every one might expect, after the reputed high tiial of Jangler, and we have little doubt that fresh, well, and kept for the Handicap, he would have won it. The absence of Trump Card was a great pity. A few days before the meeting the colt went so much amiss, that it would have been madness on the part of his owners to run him. I saw him in the stable after his mishap, and never saw him in such grand condition ; but even with the Leger staring him in the face, there ' can be no doubt that his owners acted wisely, for it is very questionable if tho colt would not have broken down in the race. Aa it is, there is every reason to believe that he will come out again as sound as ever—a consummation all sportsmen will join with mc in saying is devoutly to be wished for. I think the Champagne introduced us to three useful youngsters, and if the time is to be relied upon as the test, they are even more than that, but as almost all the races were so quick, we must not be too sanguine about their future career. Natator no doubt showed great speed, but if York had not run all over the course, he would have given him some trouble at the finish. Nemo also bolted at the turn, or he nvght have made a better display, and the winner himself did not run very straight. There is no doubt they will have to mend their manners if they are to do much good next year, but being infants only I hope they may. The Autumn Handicap brought out a good field, and resulted in a close finish, and the judge's fiat of a head might have been reversed if Maritana's jockey had been a little less free with his mare. Why Bide a-wee was not where Maritanawas it is hard to say, as on paper you could hardly separate them ; but the gelding did n °t seem to begin well, though he was running fast through his horses coming up the straight. Longlands' running taken through Ariel was very true, and he fully deserved his hardgained victory. The Free Handicap brought out a field of five, and ended in nearly as close a finish as the big race, the speedy Luna beating Ranolfbya head with very little to spare, the uncertain Bribery being third. Templeton opened the ball on Tuesday by winning the Flying Stakes : his recent successes at Dunedin are too fresh in the memory of most to need special mention here, but that he can both stay and go fast has been amply proved on more occasions than one, and when Mr Delamain parted with his favorite, he parted with a cheap horse to those who bought him The Steeplechase was of so poor a character, that I may pass it over by saying that Mr Markey's Mousetrap won easily, and that T trust he will be satisfied by having won a handicap on the Christchnrch course at last. The Easter Handicap brought out another fair field, and produced another exciting struggle, and public form was again successful, as Foul Play, after two defeats, over his own course showed the truth of the Dunedin running, by defeating Bribery and Luna. Many fancied the latter mare very much, and after the previous day's running they no d'.ubt had good cause, as the mire seemed much improved, and Foul Play had already run a severe race. The result proves, however, that Luna had not mended much on the Dunedin form, and that Bribery is a very different animal from what she was last autumn. Oberon got off very badly in this race, or I think no would have given a better account of himself. Bribery was made a hot favorite for the Selling Race, hut in her present condition she does not seem to relish being pulled out twice, and she was beaten cleverly at the finish by Ranolf, Undine being second. This does not saj much for the form of any in the race, bnt I trust that Ray may improve his new purchase. The ; Consolation Drought out a wretched field of two, and was an easy victory for Ariel, so easy that the success of that airy spirit brought down no Tempest of applause. The last winner is a fitting character, I think, on which to drop the curtain of the racing reason of 1878. The players have played their parts with varying success—some' I shall hope will make their bow to us on a future occasion, some I fear and some I [hope I shall never see again; but though we may see new faces and hear strange accounts of new fperformers, I feel quite sure that the New Zealand public will always have a hearty cheer ready for the old. favorites which have proved themselves honest and steady champions in the campaign just closed^^_^_^^^