NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8932, 24 October 1894, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Weekly Press and Referee.**

[Bt Hotspub.] There were twenty starter* .'for the two-year-old race won by Mr D. O'Brien's Bob Riy. and the Welcome Jack gelding was followed home. by KiUiecrankie, the Lochiel colt, in the Newmarket Stakes, of whom I had a good word to say last weekBob Ray won comfortably, and is evidently a smart youngster. The conditions of the race were that starters should carry 7st I2!b; there being certain penalties, the favourite, KiUiecrankie, having an extra 51b to put up. Miss Nora, by Nordenfeldt —Lady Norah, waa third. Patrou's five-year-old brother Ruenalf, who ran second to Brockleigb in the Spring Stakes at the A.J.C. Meeting— which performance caused him to come into the market for both Cup*—easily accounted for the Spring Handicap at Ta'ttersall's Meeting on September -9th. He carried Bst 41b, ran tbe mile and a quarter ia 2,101, and bad a really good field, including Florrie (9*t) and Royal Rose (Sit 71b) behind him. On this showing Ruenalfa Caulfleld Cup chance looks rosier than ever, Raenalf started favourite at 4 to 1, but hi-* party had a special inducement to start the horse, having had half of a sweep laid them. The paiiug fence set up in the straight and fjrraing tbe last obstacle iv the steeplechase* at Randwick could very well be dispensed with. It has been fruitful in disaster toimany a good horse, who has, after successfully getting over the bigger fences, come to grief owing to the extra pressure put on. A petition is to be sent to the A.J.C. asking that the fence be done away with, and there is reason to believe the petition will receive favourable con*ileration.

It would not surprise mc if the further payment which is due to-morrow were made for of the fifty at present engage 1 - ia the New Zealand Cup. The top-weight, Liberator, will ia all probability be among the missing,but there is every reason to suppose that nearly all the others weighted over B*t will remain in, while the seven and six atone divisions will each supply a few to swell the list. Prime Warden is believed to De as well as ever he was iv his life, and his performances since the opening of the season certainly suggest that the brown son of A premon t is not deteriorating with age. It has, however, to be borne in mind that the stable in which Prime Warden ia trained has another representative in Saracen, whom, it is shrewdly guessed, is tue favoured of the two. Saracen has not' yet proved successful over a distance of ground, and yet ia one or two of his races p.e bas exhibited staying ability, while his brilliancy cannot be doubted. He ia bred the right way to go a journey and it is idle to pretend that the horse, with such a nice racing impost as Btt 21b—a weight which will ensure bis being piloted by a skilful horseman—ia not entitled to the utmost respect. Au Revoir is going as well as his friends could desire, albeit I regard him as at a false price when as little as 8 to 1 is accepted about him. That he will fight a good fight m_y be confidently anticipated. I would regard the chance of Hippomenes more hopefully if he were on the ground and showed a disposition to take kindly to his foreign surroundings. Clanranald, although he is keeping sound, is not going in the sarae'iaipressionable way he did last year. The early favourite, Skirmisher, has been losing ground in the betting market of late. Favourably handicapped as he is on some of his peifonuuiice-". he has not yetearned the title to be classed a_ a stayer, and in a strong run race may not last out two miles. From the meritorious performances I have recently seen Royal Rose, register, I am most to his chance, and expect him to be galloping when the majority of the others have had enough. His third to Nightingale jfo '\he W_v«rley Handicap, a untie and three-quarters, at Rand wick demonstrated to ate that he stays well. Rangipuhi, I opine, will find two miles beyond his compass, but Vogengang may hate been classed in tbe same category without sufficient justification, and he reads well at 7<t 13lb, and at the same weight tbe Auckland Cup winner, Pegasus, cannot be ignored. Lady Zetland may be left out of calculations; not so Beadonwell, however, who is getting through the heavy task- allotted him in relishing style. With perhaps moie pace than any* thing engaged, I am inclined to the opinion two miles is beyond his campasa. Though generally regarded as a non-stayer, Impulse has mors, than one creditable performance over a distance.of ground on record; he has so far shown as nothing at Riccarton to justify the assumption that he can win ; nevertheless those who should know best are satisfied he will run well. Another Aueklander, the Thompson Handicap winner, Lottie, must not be hastily dismissed from notice. Times and again she has been passed over in engage menta claimed for her with the remark that she was outclassed, but as tha daughter of Muskapeor "got there" all the name, who is to say she will not succeed ia this, the-biggest,-contract she has yet tackled? Scot Free must be set down as quite an outsider, and if Captive comes, _c too is not worthy of much confidence. Besides Skirmisher and Captive, the only other at all likely to represent Otago would be, I should say, Aldershot. Magazine baa the confidence of his owner, which is something. At time of writing my fancies are ', Royal Rose and Saracbn. A small field only can be anticipated for the Derby. Ifc appears to mc that-there is no need to look further for the winner than Blue dtre, and the same filly Is likely to frighten away opposition in the Oaks, which looks to be the best of good fchtog? for the Challenge Stake* winuer. For the Welcome Stakes the number of contents will probably be quite up to tbe average of those that have in former years remained in at the same stage, but the de* fections from tho weighb-for-age Cap will reduce the list to moderate dimensions.

The racing at Oamaru last week Was of an Interesting character, most of the events being stoutly contested, and good fields going out iv nearly every instance. Captive once in a way ran with determination, and having just on a stone the. best of the weights with Lady Zetland, beat this mare home in the Spring Stakes by a neck., Casket, the favourite, was in front at a mile, bat he failed badly when called on for an effort, and Dilemma it was that followed tbe leading pair home. Lbughlin's old pair, Aldershot and Mount Royal, who now ran in the nomination of J. M'Kewan, seem very partial to the Oamaru "hllL" It may be remembered they both scored in the Autumn, and last week their numbers were again hoisted. Aidershot almost made a dead heat of it with Victim iv theaixfurlongs race on the fltst day. He went one better in the principal event on the second day. when, beiog made favourite, he easily annexed from Casket and- -his conqueror ot the previous day. .fie followed this np by capturing the Farewell Handicap. Mount Royal's success was in the five furlong race. Victim, who was conceding him just a stone, being the runner-up. Victim emphasised his claims to consider ation created by his performances at the Otago Hunt Club Meeting by his consistent running both days. He just got home in the Flying Handicap on the first day, and though that was Jhls only success he ran well on each occasion in which he afterwards started. Except Mariner, Speculator had a poor lot opposed to him in the Red* castle Handicap, which he wOq comfort ably, and he had an equally easy victory in the Welter, ia which the field was weaker

than the first lot he vanquished. It would appear the mishap that brought Nenthorn and Invader to grief in the Hurdle Race on the first day coat the former the race, seeing that he won very easily the second day, and that, too, despite he was raised in weight more than any ot tbe other runners. There was, therefore, no doubt in the bandicapper's mind thatNetitborn should have prevailedon the opening day. Despite a slight falling off iv totalisator revenue the club, it is pleasing to say, will come out with a profit over tbe gathering.

A cable message was recently received iv Sydney from America, anking th-.t a pi ice be placed on Martini-Henry. Mrs White's reply was that 3000g** would purchase the aon of Musket and Syhia. I should suppose that the figure named would not frighten the would-be buyer, and the likelihood is that Martini Henry will cross the ocean.

The Cesarewitch Stake**, it will be seen, has been won by Cbildwick, who is famous as being the colt that cost the rec-rd price as a yearling. Hitherto the son of Plaisanterie, who herself captured tbe race when a three year-old iv 188), bas done very little to return the 6000 guineas which Sir Blundell Maple paid for bis possession. Such a victory as that io the long distance handicap, which is a really good betting race, would, however, more than compensate for all previous disappointments, and Childwick cannot hereafter be held up as a "horrid example" of the folly of purchasing highpriced young stock. Callistrate, the French representative, is evidently a colt of superior merit, for c&rryiogSst 131b into second place is a capital performance. Shrine, who finished third, has run fairly well on occasions.

Another cable this week gives ns the result of the Middle Park Place, the test race for two-year-olds. Speedwell bad not come into prominence when the last papers left London, but the runner-up and Raconteur, who, by the way, is full brother to the C-sarewitch winner, had both been returned winners, and more than likely would be more highly thought of than their conqueror. Speedwell's predecessors in the possession of the Plate were Isinglass and Ltdas, and Mr Cox's colt, if engaged, is bound to come into favour for next year's Derby.

From the particulars in regard to the St. Leger, it would seem Throstle, who was quoted at 100 to 6 in the London papers the week before the race, went back in the market and started at 50 to 1 against. Tbat tbe filly was highly regarded in some quarters may be judged by the following from the Sporting Times :—" Last week we drew attention to Throstle as oue of the most animals in training, and said that if she ran in the St. Leger on her merits, and was not sacrificed to Matchbox, many who saw the style in which she won at Goodwood would take 1000 to 30 on the chance of her proving a second Caller Ou. A few days later the mare was heavily backed, and It is now stated that she will not be started to force the pace for Matchbox, but will be run for herself. Like her half-brother, Common, she is a splendid stayer."

Again a writer in Man of the World, on September otb, has tbe following:—* "Some of tbe Newmarket touts aver that Lord Rosebery's horse has undergone nothing like a Leger preparation. This may or may not be, but I confess to a weakness for a horse under rather than overdone, and the old-fashioned notions of training aro steadily dying ou t. Unt ii I saw the race for the Eclipse Stakes I had no qualms about Lidas staying the Leger course; but I hit S-iidowu with decided doubts upon that contingency in my mind. I have seldom seen a horse stop more suddenly than did Ladas that day, just as he. looked all over the winner; and he finished as slow as the proverbial ' man in boots.* Where the !'go* was cried was just at the commencement of the steep part of the ascent, and it m*y be that it was the hill, and not the"-extra distance which' stopped him, for he is not built to 'go up.' But that he 'stopped short' at Sandown there can be nb question; and if in the Leger there be anything left in tbe race to. * worry'him at the Intake Turn,-It will be by no means plain sailing for Lord Rosebsry'e horse. If he is really much superior in point of class to the rest of the field, and If the pace be a muddling one, be will, of coarse, .after waiting, smother the lot for speed. It was lv this way that he smothered Matchbox in the Derby; and I should fancy the chance of the last-named more, were there not so many inquiries in tbe betting market after his stable companion, Throstle. This mare ran fairly well in the Eclipse Stakes and has been 'coming on' ever sinco. She is a thorough stayer, I believe, and it is significant that, despite the statement of.' Pavo' last week as to her, not carrying the confidence of the stable, the same 'heads' which followed Common, the same * noses* that smelt' put that* winner of the triple crown, are turped f oil ou to Throstle at the present-time.'* ** .*,

Throstle in the race would appear to have fully sustained her reputation as a thorough stayer, for the pace mu9t have been good throughout, as the time, 3mln 12 l-st.li sec, is the fastest on record for the race, with the exception of the 3min 11 4-s'h sec made by Seiibrees- in 1888. Thus it is two fillies hold the best time records for the St. Leger.

The spring campaign in Victoria has fairly opened, and the deal as between backers and layers at Caulfleld on Saturday last would, I suppose, b? fairly even, seeing that three favourites got home oat of the six events. It was but natural that the Sydney colt, Nobleraau, would have a strong following in the Caul field Stakes. The Rand wick folk swear by the. three-year-old son of The Australian Peer-. lam afraid, however, he is one of those " flash " young gentlemen tbat will frequently put his backers in a hole., An oadoobtedly brilliant colt he is, but one that i* apt tc ran himself out in a race run at a eearching pace from the start. The Carnage party could hardly fancy the colt's chance witb lOst in the saddle, and he was doubtless only started so as to receive a gallop In public and as a sort of feeler. The downfall of Dreamland In the Guineas would not cause any great surprise, as he was known to be short of work. I was satisfied Cobbitty would beat all those he met at Rand wick over the distance, and really looked for his success on -Saturday. A sentence in my note book made at Rand, wick, reads-—" Cobbitty is far from wound up as yet, and he should be ope of the hardest, to beat in the V.R.C. Derby.*' While I still think he will run well for the "blue riband** a mile is,l daresay, more to his liking than a mile and a half, and the forward position occupied by Bonnie Scotland, despite his penalty, behind Cobbitty makes mc all the mope favour his .prospect of capturing the second Derby. The Challenger, by winning the Debutant Stakes, has done something to fulfil a reputation that preceded him frpm hl- private training quarters of being a youngster much above the average. Water Lily, the dam of The Challenger, It may be remarked, is also dam of Corolla, a mare in Mr Stead's stud at Yab.-urst. New Zealanders have interest •in the winner of the Toorak Handicap, in that he is by the Musket horse, Musk Rose, from Occident's dam. The West.

Kimberley wis allotted list "lb, and Ixion list 2lb, in Ihe. Hurdle Race run on tbe first day at Caul field, and Which was won by the top weight Ebor, 12it. As cabled across 13.$ was placed agaiu.t Norton's name in the First Steeplechase, and that was top weight, -Helios, with 12st 91b, coming next with Nooroo, a stone less, third on the list.

Wakawatea has again scared, the Tramway Handicap, six furlongs, at Sydney Taiteraair* Club ineeiiiig, on September. 29.h, having fallen to hliu. Wakawatea

was giving bice allowances to all bis opponents, the next heaviest Impost to his, j 9t 101b, being Bst9lb, on Nobleman, who went oat favourite; while another recent , winner at Randwlck, Musketoon, carrying 7st7tb. was next in demand. Musketoon . finished third, Hirondelle dividing him . from the winner, necks being between the trio. The Dancer, Bst 51b, waa one of the twenty starters. Wakawatea. who started at 10 to 1, is said to bave made a brilliant run in the last yards. The time was returned as 1.15. The gelding took part in a second event, the j Flying Welter, but I2*t 2lb, as might be j expected, effectively stopped him. Hopscotch, 9st 41b, won. j