SPORTING- NEWS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 206, 9 October 1888, Page 2

SPORTING- NEWS.

“ BUFF AND BLACK” ON THE SPRING ■ MEETING. Napier, Saturday. “ Buff and Black,” the well known sporting writer in the Napier News, makes the following criticism of the haudicaps for Poverty Bay Spring meeting The handicapping for the Poverty Bay Tor! Club’s meeting on the 17th inst. has been published, and on looking over the production I must say that it is a very fair one. The allotment of weights by the handicapper was not a very easy task considering tbs fact that he had not seen their latest display of form at the H. B. Jockey Club’s meeting. However, as in all productions emanate firm the hands of the majority of handicappers, there are one or two points in the handicap under notice. In the handicap hurdle race Kangaroo is ask«d to carry 11.13, top weight, and although he has a big show, I do not think, some how or other, that he will be the absolute winner, if Clyde, with 10.3 on his back, answers to the call of ths saddling ball. Corsair with 9 6 is well in. He has been a very good hack performer in Wanganui district, but he has done nothing since he has met superior company. Ido not know anything about Nancy, but the two top weights hold Bit of Blue safe at the weights. Erebus has, I think, lost all his old paca, but if he was in his old form there would be nothing else in it. Elastic is the only other horse that needs mention.’ He has started in one or two hack hurdle races in Hawke’s Bay, but has dope nothing to warrant making the that he will win. He should have won Bw hurdle rsce the last rime he started at Kaikora, but his rider got “ funky ” at the jump in the straight in the run home, and they dissolved partnership. He was then leading, and could have won easily. The bast in the race at the weights are Clyde, Kangaroo, and Cobsaib. There should be a good field face the starter in the Spring handicap. Silence with 9st 21b up, is not out of it, but Dudu has got too much weight altogether in Bst 61b. She was never prominent at all in the race for the Hawke's Bay Spring handicap when she , was carrying Bst, and she cannot have any , show now. She does not shape well in soft ground. Waterfall, who has 7»t 121 b, only * carried 7st 71b io the Hastings handicap, and has got 7st 41b at the Park meeting, which is to be held on Wednesday. If ho does not win there I do not think he will win at Gisborne with 7st 121 b up, unless medium horses start. Balista, with 7st Bib is well in, but I don’t think the distance suits her. She is a pretty mare to look at, being well made in every respect. Meta, at an equal weight, is in the same stable as Silence and Soudan, who has 7st 21b, and may bo the selected on the day. She will prove a dangerous cuer tomer it well, and needs watching. Partner is r in the same stable as Waterfall, but has too } much weight to carry altogether, in my opinion. Ido not know what Fitzjames can do, or what his present condition is, but I t think he will be beaten by the visitors. Deceiver is well io with 6it 12 b, but he is not the horse he was. He will he. an acceptor, I think. Bufus, with only Gst 121 b up, is another horse that needs watching. He is an aged horse, and I think his party will try and a upset the pot. Man Friday is not well, and Katinka has no show. Bronte is the only other that is well in, but if the others go down he cannot win. The best in ere Meta, Silence, Waterfall, and Rufus. In the Flying, Silence and Dudu have no earthly show, but Balista bas with only 7st ? 81b up. She is very speedy over a }-mi'a course, Meta I have not much fancy for. but Soudan is to be respected with 7st Gib. I do not come across anything I like, until I come to the name of Deceiver, who has only Git 12 b - to cany. I might mention that in the Selling t Handicap, of j-mile, at the Jockey Club's I Meeting, he had to carry 10st, but was t scratched. He will find Ost 12lb more cor- " genial to his taste, I should think, than lOst. Soudan, who won the race in question, 'f had Ost to carry, and hs now has only 7st Gib, Pretender and Katinka are the only others e that have a show. The former lias run h at hack meetings till lately, and can cut out his three quarte s of a mile in good time when asked. This race is very hard to pick, 0 but I think it lies between Soudan, Deceives, Balista and Pretences. I will bs bettor e able to form au opinion when I sec the acy ceptances. I think the majority of the local horses entered will accept.

In reference to tbs foregoing our oontrlbu tor “ Willow ” writes :—Whilst thanking you for allowing me to peruse “ Buff and Blaou'u ” criticism, possibly you will pardon me for saying, that after all, my former remarks remain. The horses I especially noted bear now the endorsement of a thoroughly well known sporting writer. As is staled by " B and B ” the money already belongs to the Southern people, but there is one comfort, they have not yet received the cheques. .Perhaps alter all the Hurdle Race will not be annexed by Kangaroo or Clyde and the winners of the Spring or Flying Handicap may carry local colours. There is no doubt the money will be racsd for, but the horses winning will have to “ foot it ” the whole of the road. There is an old song which says “ There's somebody always at home,” and although possibly I express a hope, outside of conviction, the tables may be turned and our local geegees be the first to catch the judge’s eye.