Sporting Notes.

Lake County Press, Issue 692, 23 January 1896, Page 7

Sporting Notes.

[By Peeping Tom.]

Of the nine horses lef fc in the Dune din Cup, I like besc Skirmisher and Aluershor, and I think that one of these two will win. Skirmisher has always performed respectably when in anything like good condition, and he ought to run a clinking good miie and three-quarters A\ith 8.6 on his back. Aldershot's third in the New Zealand Cup -won by Impulse was a meritorious performance and the little horse only needs to be in tip top fett!e to trouble the top weights at the finish of this year's Dunedin Cup. Prime Warden I have no fancy for and it is doubtful whether St. Hippo will be sent down to Dunedin or not. Gipsy Grand will probably carry most public money but he must be a clinking good colt if he can beat Skirmisher at a difference of two pound. There are 14 left in the Publicans Handicap and Mr Dowse has hidden the winner well. Saracen, Maremma, and Lady Lear are three likely ones to supply the winner, and to those on the look out for a good dividend when the day arrives, I say put half a soverign on Lady Lear. By the way I notice that the local racing mare Ulster is pretty extensively nominated for the Dunedin meeting, and all true sportsmen will, lam sure, join with me in wishing the plucky sports who own the mare every success. lam satisfied that Ulster,,is a good mare when thoroughly well, and, although she won a race at Cromwell and another at Frankton she was about the worst conditioned racer performing at the meetings in question. Although the race for the Counties Trial Stakes did not furnish sunh a contest as I anticipated, it "is to be hoped that the Lake County Jockey Club will continue the race on its programme for another year or t.vo, because I feel convinced that it will gain in popularity with horse-owners and the public. Besides it is not every year that a Stockmaid is raised on the goldfields, albeit it was a most popular win when Mr Cowan's fine mare romped home an easy winner of this year's race. Miss Lucy, Wild West, Gi.atmark, Young Lady Constance, Silvercoir, Phyrne, and The Orphan will all bo eligible to be nominated as four-year-olds for the 1897 Trial Stakes, besides a number of rising three-year-olds, and I may safely predict for the Club a fairly numerous entry for next years race. The only altprationl would suggest in the conditions of the race is that —" The winner of any race of the value of £25 be made to carry a 71b penalty," not weight for age racj same as this year. I understand that the protest against Jess winner of the three-mile trot at Cromwell will not be decided for somo time yet. Evidently the Cromwelll Stewards intend to sift the matter thoroughly. Mostof the local horsearenow thrown out of work and a number of them will not race again until next spring. I have not heard for certain whether Mr Birnett will tike any of his team to Naseby meeting or not. Gore Race. Meeting seems to have passed off fairly well. Mr Inder's use ful and improving horse Lobo was again in evidence winning two races at the meeting. The Stakes appear to have been pretty evenly distributed amongst the various owners, no one getting an undue share of the good things going.'