THE RACES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 1888, 8 January 1867, Page 2

THE RACES.

Since we last wrote the various horses engaged at tlie next Christchurch meeting have been doing strong work, and we have no case of breaking down to report. Mr Redwood's three are out remarkably early, and we fancy but few of the good people of Christchurch have seen them go. AkeAke is a good mover, and is as well as his friends could wish; but we have, no yery great faith in him, though a .really good three-year-old ought always to win the big' race. Blackboy will be more dangerous than last year, but Atalanta does not look so formidable. Of ■Mr Stafford's trio, we hear very favourable reports of Omen, a;nd, according to some Nelson gentlemen, she can't lose the Maiden Plate ; but we shall know more about this later oil. The Quefen we take to be what is usually called a" duffer." Of Webb's team i Musician is doing; lots of work, and looks better than he did a few days ago. Nebulat ridden by Carter, went once round the plough gallop'yesterday (Monday) morning, and seems in pretty good form, though hardly the filly she was last year. The young ones are all going on with their preparation, but as yet we can pick no worthy successor to Belle of the Isle as the Canterbury champion. Master Bo we pleases us more and more, and with a really good jockey on his back (if one can be obtained), we expect to see him there or thereabouts in the Cup race, [ in spite of the determined opposition shown :to him by a large section of the sporting community. We never could see the objection ;to his staying the three miles; he is surely..« ell bred enough, and has never run a longer distance in; public than a mile and a i half; but the public generally decline to fancy him.

:., Mr Matlock's two are not very good ones and the same may be said of Mainsail. ■■/■Stormbird and Belle of the Isle are in good fettle; and we hear that the former has been backed for large sums in Auckland. We expect several Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson sportsmen down by the Tararua to-day or Wednesday, and we then shall be able to give our readers some idea of the odds on each event, as : up to this time we have-not heard half-a-dozen bets laid, the only, one worth noticing being £SO to £lO laid by a Nelson gentleman that Ladybird was «oi actually last in the Cup race, which was taken by a thick-and-thin opponent of the old mare. ■ ' Magenta, Musician, and Omen would all be backed for the Maiden if any one would lay,reasonable odds, which nobody seems inclined to do, and any one opening a book would find plenty of customers, - On Saturday next, or at latest Monday, we shall publish a last account of the nags, and state those we think most worthy of support in the various races.