NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9323, 25 January 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

By "Hotspur." At the time of nomination for the Dunedin Cup, when no great heed was paid to the composition of the entrants, it did not strike one so forcibly as was the case in perusing the weights, that in the collection of twentyone there was a very large proportion of unsound animals. "A sadly infirm lot," was the remark of a critic, which opinion must unfortunately be subscribed to. And so, though an acceptance of nine for the leading race of the year at the Forbury is not an encouraging sign of the times, I don't know that a greater number could be j expected to be paid up for. The only really noteworthy defection is Euroclydon. The colt was certainly given an impost flattering to his ability, and if under ordinary circumstances he were able to succeed with 71b over weight-for-age, he would require to be all his fondest admirers lay claim that he is. But if Euroclydon was well cared for in the handicap I did not look for his dropping out, and his doing so goes to confirm the report that the Spring champion at present belongs to the infirm brigade. All three of Mr Ormond's are among the missing. North Atlantic appeared to mc well enough treated, and his withdrawal at Dunedin and elsewhere may be taken as an indication that he is amiss. In dealing with those that stand their ground it may be premised that several will yet drop out, so that the field to saddle up will be select in its smallness ; should, however, the top weight be among the runners the race will be invested with great interest, and will, moreover, partake of an inter-island character, an element that has been absent from the contest for some years. St. Hippo faced the music all right in Auckland, but I am just afraid that the hard training grounds will find out his weak places, and, though he is the one I would select to win the Dunedin Cup if well on the day, I like the chances of some of the others infinitely better with the race a month ahead. It would appear that the handicapper expects a return to form on the part of Prime Warden. On this season's performances the old brown is harshly treated, and I should say it was the weakness of the field that caused his owner to continue the engagement. If Skirmisher stands he is sure to run well; however, from the way he runs in Wellington his chance can be gauged. Gipsy Grand is, I understand, being specially prepared for the race. That he is an exceptionally good colt admits of little doubt, but as pointed out he was not amenable to his rider's will in any of his more recent races. I do not think this was on account of inherent waywardness; I rather ascribe it to the colt having had rather too much hard work—a necessity probably to get him ready — and being sick of his tasks. Presuming he will be better mannered next month than when last seen in public, he must be very hard to beat. Saracen I have no regard for over the long course, and the pair at the foot of the handicap can, I should think, be left out of calculations. Of the remaining two Hippomenes is, despite his being without a staying performance, the pick of the handicap. He is said, however, to be wanted for sprint events, and it is only in case Gipsy Grand does not give satisfaction in training that he will be called on to carry the stable colours. Marino has more than an outside | show, and he and Messrs Stephenson's two ! are the ones I at the present time like best. In regard to the companion event, the Publicans' Handicap, the full acceptances F've warrant of a good race. A year back should have preferred Hippomenes to Saracen, and I don't know but that the locally trained horse will not prove his master next month over the seven furlongs. Marino, were he saved for the race, would beat more than beat him or I am mistaken. Stepfeldt and Golden Fleece, in the 7st division, and Bisley, of the lighter weights, are others that commend themselves to mc. Quite a bumper nomination has been taken for the Stewards' Purse at the meeting, and all three Hurdle Races have filled really well, so that if the Cup is only going to bring forth a small field, there is every chance of capital contests for some of the minor events. Only two actual first favourites succeeded at the Stratford Club's meeting last week and, seeing that the return from a £1 investment on one of them was £4 14s, it can well be understood that big dividends were the order of the day. St. Vincent, formerly belonging to Major George, and a son of Nelson, led off for the outsiders by accounting for the first five furlongs race, winning the second at that distance as well, but on that occasion being the aforesaid long-priced favourite. Although Dummy, who won the chief handicap in good style, rewarded his supporters to the extent of between £8 and £9 for every pound invested, the runners were so evenly backed that the first choice would have returned over £6, while it was not twice that against the least fancied. A more evenly-backed field has not gone out for a race this season. A fine finish in the Pony Race gave victory to the little-thought-of Bush Girl, and the well-bred Star kept the big dividends rolling by annexing the half-mile flutter, over £20 being the return. Secrecy's winning turn came in the following event, which was distinguished as returning the best of the good dividends from the totalisator—£22 13s. Albeit that rain fell on the morning of the races, keeping down the attendance, the club had a fairly good day. The turn over at the totalisator was £453 less than last year. When grey Perkin was so little esteemed in Canterbury that he more than once changed hands at a hack price, it could not have been supposed he would develop into a good handicap horse. That he has done so he has just given further evidence by carrying off the plum at the Poverty Bay meeting. The performance was all the more meritorious in that Perkin made all his own running and won comfortably. Retribution, who followed Perkin home, was made favourite for the chief handicap on the second day, and landed the stake, but only on a protest, for King Cannibal, who finished in front, was disqualified for a cross. Donald M'Kinnon won the First Hurdle Race with something to spare, but on the second day proved quite unequal to concede Tally-Ho 40lb over a mile and a half. Free Lance was well backed for two races ; he is now, however, a very bad horse at the post, and though on the"first occasion he got away all right, he failed badly, while on the second day he was left altogether at the start, and -was walked back to the paddock. The sport all through seems to have been very interesting. It was a favourable gathering, too, for the club, and there was an excess of totalisator investments over the corresponding meeting of la«t year of £500. The Queensland mare, Splendide, and her

trainer P. Nolan, no connection of the exNew Zealander of that name, are again in trouble. On New Years Day the ran nowhere in the Midsummer Handicap at the Queensland Turf Club's meeting, but afterwards won the Queensland Cup. An inquiry was instituted, the upshot being that the mare and trainer were'disqualified for three years for malpractice. In New Zealand we have now so much racing of our own, that the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup do not occupy the same attention with New Zcalanders as formerly. And this is especially the case when, like in the present year, there are no representatives owned in the colony engaged. Had Gipsy Grand and Euroclydon been in the lists, as was expected they would have been, it would have been different. The sprint event, and almost of necessity with so many classes to be brought together, invariably takes a wide range. This time there is a gap of 4st between the top and bottom weights, which, it should be supposed, is quite ample, notwithstanding that there is such an undoubted crack as Hova with which to lead off. I cannot think that cither he or Mostyncanwin with their huge burdens. Wakawatea was thought to have a good chance last time with 93t 91b, so that with 61b less he must be accounted well in. I am inclined to suppose, however, that the folding has seen his best day, and is not estined to win a Newmarket. Of the topweight division Courallie reads to mc as well as anything, and of the middle lot Lord Charles Scott, the Tasmanian performer, Inspiration, and Thunderer, the South Australian three-year-old. In the Australian Cup Havoc is asked to carry a stone more than he succeeded under, but neither he nor tho top weight will, I should think, see the post, both being under suspicion. Wallace is weighted as the champion of the field, seeing he is allotted 101b over weight-for-age. The Harvester last year had Bst 61b, and carried it into third place. Dreadnought, however, succeeded under that weight when a three-year-old, and Trident carried Bst 71b to victory at the same age. I should not, therefore, put Carbine's son out of court with his Derby impost, and I think it will be found he will have lots of supporters. Quiver, taking into account sexual allowances, is only placed lib behind Wallace at weight-for-age. She is asked to do a big thing to win, and I would take her relative, Nada, in preference. Elswick at Bst 21b reads well, and of the lighter weights, Toreador and Lord Richmond are a well treated pair. Of the original eighty-four entries for the first Hawke's Bay Stakes, to be run at the Autumn Meeting in March next, the very satisfactory number of forty-one remain in after payment of last week's forfeit. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, who was the largest subscriber with ten, continues the engagement of half the number, but Mr Stead, who named seven for the stake, has now only Bloodshot to represent him. Euroclydon and Gipsy Grand stand their ground, and altogether so far the race looks like bringing about a capital contest.