DUNEDIN J.C.'S AUTUMN MEETING.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9989, 19 March 1898, Page 4

DUNEDIN J.C.'S AUTUMN MEETING.

ANTICIPATIONS. [By Hot-F-R.] The gathering which opens at the Forbury, on Wednesday next gives every promise of being the mo3t successful held by the Dunedin Jockey Club for some years back. The presence of St. Paul and Antares in the Cup gives the big handicap an inter-island character that has been wanting for some time in preceding contests for the big handicap. Whatever the second and third day* may bring forth, there is a particularly strong card tor the opening day, and the racing is bound to be very interesting. The executive are taking pains to have the course in first-class order and likewise making provision for the comfort of visitors. The final payment for the Cup is not due until Monday. The defection of Mountebank was not unexpected, he having been reported in the last issue of the Referee as "in queer street." Mountebank was so nicely weighted that he certainly appeared one of the hardest to beat in the race, but Skirmisher, who also went out on Saturday, did not read well on recent form. From the thirteen left in I should not be surprised to find ten make the final payment and go to the po3t. Euroclydon, lam inclined to think, will retire, not being sufficiently forward to do himself justice, leaving Pitch and Toss to solely represent the stable. From what I can learn, it was likely the feather-weight would have carried Goodman's confidence even if Mountebank had not gone wrong. It the filly then were rated as better than her brother, she must have a very rosy chance. The latest effort of Pitch and Toss in public was at Oamaru, and I'm told she beat her opponents there pointless. To go to the other end of the handicap, St. Paul, with Euroclydon away, is so very superior to everything engaged that even with his huge impost of lOst 31b he cannot be left out of reckoning. Indeed, he is such a genuine horse and proved weight'carrier that he is sure to run well. How, with Waiuku not at his best, St. Paul came to lose the New Zealand Cup will remain one of the enigmas of the season. He has missed all the cups so far, but no more popular victory could be recorded were he to succeed at the Forbury, and it appears to mc difficult to name one to beat him. It would be a surprise if Epaulet were equal to the occasion, and I don't give him a show, but the Auckland Cup winner, Antares, surely reads well at Bst. Antares is, however, untrustworthy. Leda is an unlikely competitor. Culverin is well in at 7st 101b and he must be accorded a chance, while of the two at 7st 71b Red Lancer reads the better. No value attaches to Starsbot'e success at Little River. I think Culverin for one holds her safe. In his palmy days Prime Warden made several attempts to win the Dunedin Cup. I cannot think for a moment he can succeed,-disrated as he is. Sequin apparently stays well, and on Midsummer Handicap running has a chance. I look to the winner coming from the top weight, Culverin, Sequin and Pitch and Toss. Had St. Paul escaped a penalty he would have been my selection, but it is almost too much to expect him to succeed with over lOst, and I take them in the following order :— Pitch asd Toss ... ... 1 St. Panl 2 Culverin ... ... ... 3 Sequin ... ... ... 4 The Hurdle Race, with which the proceedings begin, wilt have a larger number of competitors than has gone out for a jumping race on the Dunedin course for a long time. Ned Kelly, who hails from the Wairarapa, is a fair horse and should run well. The finish, however, may find Ilex ... ... ... 1 Nicholas ... ... ... 2 with Belmont and Ned Kelly next best. Though confined to Canterbury representatives, the Champagne Stakes is likely to produoe a stirring contest. Both Djin Djin and Dundas have been coming on well, and it will take Conqueror ail his time to give the geldings the weight required. Conqueror has done a lot of travelling and racing, is a more seasoned youngster than the others, and can be trusted to give a good account of himself. At the same time, Djin Djin has proved his ability. There was, indeed, nothing in hie two races at Riccarton to ask him to go, and it is quite on the cards that he may beat the Yaldhurstcolt in Dunedin. Dundas, too, can be trusted to run a good race. In placing CONQUEROR ... ... ... 1 Djin Djin 2 Dundas ... ... ... 3 it can be gleaned from what I have said that it would not surprise mc to find the positions of the first two reversed. The Publicans' Handicap has a good lot engaged and if Euroclydon is to sport silk the first day it will, I fancy, be in this event. Bracelet and Bloomer I expect to show improved form to that exhibited at Riccarton, for both fillies have come on since then. The order at the finish may be Somewhat as follows :— St. Clements or Bloomer ... 1 ♦ with Bracelet and Belle Clair next best. For the other events on Wednesday my selections are :— Selling Rack. Realistic ... ... ... 1 Glenore ... ... ... 2 Lady Lear ... ... 3 Maiden Plate. Fulnien ... ... ... 1 Battlefield . . ... ... 2 Zephyr ... ... ... 3 Selling Two-year-old Race. Ben Farley ... ... ... 1 Proposal ... ... ... 2 Lepanto ... ... ... 3 Stewards' Purse. Double Event ... ... 1 St. Ouida ... ... ... 2 ' Marlin ... ... ... 3 On the second day, Thursday, the Railway Plate, the four furlongs weisrht-for-age race, will be decided. Xhis should go to Blazer. The list of those qualified to take part in the Second Eclipse Stakes, to be decided on the third day, the 26th, is encumbered with a lot of names of youngsters whose engagement has been kept alive by owners making no sign. The number that will run can be confined, at all events, to half a dozen. Gold Medallist runs at Hastings, but if he comes through his engagement there with flying colours—as 1 expect him to do— t shall not be surprised if ne be sent through to Dunedin to endeavour to carry off the Eclipse for a second time. St Paul will doubtless be the hardest for the Yaldhurst representatives to beat. If Gold Medallist be on hand I shall look for his success, and in his absence Conqueror should score. [From Our Dun_Dr>- CpßßEsroNnsNT.] March 14. The Dunedin Cop is a very difficult race to pick, obviously so even at first sight, and now that I have had a chance to run out and see the work done by the horses which are at the Forbury, I find the problem deeper than ever. St. Paul, now raised to lOst 31b, must be a wonder it he can win nnder the weight; still, in a weak field he has a chance if he starts. He is quite well. Euroclydon would be thepickonamere matter of weight. Since Mountebank has developed " a leg" Goodman has been sending Euroclydon along, and the galloping does not seem to hurt him; but he was distinctly " carrying" that leg of his after the work on Saturday, and though he has done this for so long it is not a good sign, and his backers must be in constant fear of a breakdown. Epaulet I have not yet seen. He is not well handicapped, but may have some sort of show if the opposition is no stronger than is now promised. Skirmisher was scratched for the Cup at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, and Mountebank was withdrawn from the Cup and Publicans' at 9 p.m. on Saturday. This morning Mountebank went a small |lart of the way with Pitch and Toss in her gallop, thus signifying that vhe is not i knocked oat, but it woald be unwise to race him, joat yet, and the chances are that be will stand aside for the meeting. i Antares has so far not had a gallop here, I but this morning everyone present could see [ in his canter that he is very well, and as he

is nicely handicapped and has the Auckland Cup to hi 3 credit, 1 must make him one of my selections this time, even though lie may be an in and outer. Leda and Culverin have not yet' arrived, and I hear that the former is not coming. Fit and well, both are "up to their eyes" in the race. Emmeline is in regular work, but appease to go a little short, indicating soreness. Red Lancer does not seem to be doing a Cup preparation, and Black and Red has not done enough work to satisfy mc. Starshot has not yet come, nor have I at the time of writing seen Prime Warden. Sequin is standing up well to her work. I saw her do a fair mile and a half on Saturday, and though she did not finish very strongly, I am told that that, is a trick of hers and thft she will do better in the race. I give her a chance. Pitch and Toss may be Goodman's selected on the day. She is very fit, and from the way she stayed out a mile and three-quarters ori Saturday I should say that she is sute to start. It may be that she is not quite fast enough to win, but her soundness and fitness give her a show. I take Antares, Goodman's bikt (possibly Pitch and Toss), Cc_r__iN, and Skquis' to be the best investments for the Cup at the present time. The Publicans' Handicap also takes a lot of picking. Euroclydon is a mystery to begin with ; then we are not quite sure that St. Clements is as fast as he need to be ; and it is a question whether the easing up that Belle Clair has had, caused partly by a splint on her leg, has not prejudiced her show. As to this last-mentioned case, I personally think that Belle Clair has a show, as she did good time on Saturday, getting over the six furlongs in about lmin 21sec ; and in regard to St. Clements, surely his trainer is the best judge as to his form. I select St. Clements, Arline, Vanilla, Belle Clair, Red Lancer and Maremma, as all having a chance. Arline and Maremma are probably the fittest of the lot named, but Arline has more weight than usual, and Maremma wants rain, so one does not know what to pick, and perhaps St. Clements is after all the safest of the crowd to select on present information. As to the other events at the Cup Meeting, I select Ilex aud Stanley as the pick of the Hurdle Race candidates, Double Evevt and Bloomer for the Stewards 1 Welter, Mr Stead's best for the Champagne Stakes, Bisley for the Selling Race, Tale of the War for the Maiden Plate, and Falka or Benson for the Selling Two-year-old Race. The Eclipse Stakes, of course, gives Mr Stead a show, out with St. Paul, Nihilist, and Lady Harriet engaged there is every chance of a capital race. The weather is beautifully fine and apparently bo settled.