THE C.J.C. MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 7362, 7 November 1887, Page 2

THE C.J.C. MEETING.

TRAINING NOTES AND ANTICIPATIONS.

The weather has been oJspn durin|||wJ '■ last few days, but the is good oondition, mput i night, and continued to fall at intervals ' this morning; but it is very light, and i will not do muoh harm unless it increases in heaviness. Yesterday afternoon it was very fine, and there were a number of vkfori to RiQoartonr,MJbe ~ only gallop or imomenir was a "good one executed by Artillery, whose work has been interrupted by the reoent injury to Mb heel. This morning he started off. with Titbit, and the pair covered a mile and a-half at a strong pace, when Titbit fell out, and Secretary brought the Cup horse home. Artillery shaped: very well, but Undoubtedly showed signs of slight lameness on pulling up. Nelson, who had done an extraordinarily good gallop at an early hour yesterday, was confined to walking exercise this morning; but he bears himself as gaily as a peacock, and it is difficult to imagine that, as reported from here, he pulls up lame after every gallop. I find that what is actually the matter with him is a small bony formation on the off fore-knee, which, however, does not yet seriously affect his speed or action. Torrent covered three miles, the last half of the journey fast, and pulled up sound. Cruehfield went two miles at half-speed. Hermitage was given a mile and a-half at a strong pace, and Sextant did slow work alone. Gipsy King and Rose-and-Black went a mile and a-half in company in good style, the Cup and Dei by candidate greatly pleasing the onlookers. Moana had a good strong gallop over two miles, and St. Clair put in serviceable work. Mr Stead's lot did their work on their owner's private training ground. The declaration of final acceptances on Saturday night led to practically no business, not a solitary horse being backed except Artillery, whose owner took 100 to 10 about him for the Cup, and offered to take I*ooo at the same price. This, however, was not forthcoming. Mr Butler also offered, without avail to take 3 to 1 about a place and 3to 1 that he beat anything. Yesterday he took 100 to 12 about Artillery, and wanted to go on, but could get no more. Regina was backed by her owner for 100 at 20 to 1, and St. Clair for a century or two at 100 to 3, while Nelson found a sup-: porter at 100 to 25. The opening race on to-morrow's oard is the Spring Hurdle Handicap, for which there are eleven acceptors. Up here, Irish King is considered chucked in on his recent performances, and so unanimous is this opinion that I must respect H, and expect to see him win. Garibaldi or Trapper might, however, trouble him, as both are : looking very well. The next event is the Criterion Stakes, for which fifteen are left in, including Tit Bit (7.10). This is a very open affair, but I think Dunedin has a very fair chance of appropriating it with Silver Mark or St. Ives. Their most dangerous opponents should be Ruby, if he starts. Next comes the New Zealand Cup, with the following acceptors:— • st lb st. lb. Nelson .. .. 910 Moana .. 7 5 Artillery .. ..8 4 St. Clair .... .. J 0 Loobiel .. ..7 12 Gipsy King -70 Torrent .. .. 7 7 Regin* .. .. 8-9 Hermitage .. ... 7 7 Cruehfield .. ..6 7 Maxim .. .. 7 6 Beresford .. .. 6 0 Sextant .... 7 6 This is a most puzzling race, owing to Mr Stead having three horses left in, whilst ,o'Brien and Cutts has each three also. Nejsonis looking so fresh and well that I must save hiin for a place at all events, unless the going becomes very heavy, when his weight would tell against him. Artillery has grown into a grand, horse, and but for his mishap would doubtless have won straight out. His owner, as will have been seen from the above, still fancies that he can pull through, but then Patsy Butler is the most sanguine of mortals, hut the general impression is that his chance is hopeless. Lochiel is one of the bteaktreated horses left in i and though he wears a couple of bandages, he must, if the choice of the stable, prove very difficult to beat. Torrent I have no fancy for, but Hermitage is the soundest of O'Brien's lot, and will run a good horse. Perhaps he is not quite brilliant enough to win, but in the present, field of unsound horses he has a, grand opportunity of landing a big stake. I find that the relations between Mr Le Sueur, his owner, and Mr O'Brien, who trains Hermitage as well as well as his own pair, are rather strained, and that Hermitage and O'Brien's representative are likely to be run out in direct opposition to each other. In this event I expect to' see Hermitage come off second best. Maxim, if he is to do duty for Mr Stead must be labelled very dangerous; but it is said that the stable commissioner has laid against him so he»vily for the Cup in doubles that the colt is not likely to go for it. Sextant will, I fancy, be reserved for the Derby; the Bhorter distance being more in his favor in his present not fully satisfactory condition. Moana has hitherto done nothing to warrant his being supported for a race of this description. St. Clair would, if thoroughly wound up, have a big show ; but I fear he is. a bit short of work, and the mud will also be against him, as we know that he cannot act in it. In respect to Gipsy King, I may say at once that I shall plump for him, so far as winning is concerned. He is looking well, and going as grandly as any horse in the race* Still, of course, he may not after all represent the stable interest. Regina, like Moana, has no great performances to qualify her for a contest of this description; while Cruehfield I cannot stand on what he has hitherto shown us. Beresford is Mr Stead's third candidate, and may possibly turn out his choice on the day ; but I do not like him, although it is whispered that he was not on the job when he ran unplaced at North Canterbury races a' few days ago. Finally I shall vote as follows :

Gipsy King.. •• •• •• Xoohiel (or whatever Mr Stead sends to win) .. -..

£7elaon .. -- --• .-3 with St. Clair as the only outsider likely to effect a surprise. After ' thfe r we come to the Welcome Stakeß.with its, six acceptors—Exchange, Carbine, Adulation, Chudleigh, Sommeil, *ndi Fleurette. I look on this as a. duel between Sommeil and Adulation, who met at North Canterbury recently, when the colt proved victorious. People here say that the filly must this time turn the tables—why, I don't know, as the former was a true-run race. Both have developed bad tempers since then, and if they play up at the post, something else may slip in. However, I shall go for Sommeil. The Selling Plate has but five acceptors. Melville ought to win that event. Next comes the Riccarton Handicap, with sixteen acceptors. For this- race I prefer Repose, and shall couple nothing with her. The latest quotations are as follows:

NEW ZEALAND CUP. 100 to 80 against Loohiel 100 6—l Maxim 100 100 100 —lO - Artillery 100—9 Hermitage 100 —8 Beresford 100— 7 Regina and Torrent 100— 5 —— Moana and Oraohfleld 100—3 St. Clair