RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4405, 25 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

RACING.

THE AUCKLAND BACING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING. Hotspur's Notes. Now that the general entries for the approaching race-meetinghave closed, and the acceptances have been declared for the Auckland Cup, Derby, and Steeplechase, it is possible to form some estimate of the kind of sport we are likely to have, and, in a rough way, of the chances of euccess which the different horses possees. As to the sport, I may say at once that never have the prospects of our summer gathering looked so rosy. For the last fortnight, nearly a dezen horses have been in course of preparation at BUerslie, and then-morning gallops have been watched by scores of spectators, the numbers of which would have been largely increased had the weather been anything like respectable. The recent rains, though deterrent in this respect, have rendered the " going" very soft, and we may expect to hear of very few breakdowns in training. One case of this kind, I am sorry to say, has already occurred, Which has necessitated the scratching of Ngaro out of alj her engagements. This is rather a facer for the public, who bad selected Mr. Watt's promising mare in the " doubles" for the Cup and Steeplechase. She fell lame last week, and Cutts very honorably gave the earliest intimation of the fact to the secretary, that backers might be put on their guard. Two or three old crocks who are being patched up for the meeting J will be glad of the ram on account of their "poor feet," and if the present weather continues many days longer, it would not surprise me to eee one or two of them distinguishing themselves at the expense of the favourites. The introduction into the programme of the Hurdle Eace and Steeplechase waa qondemned by many, but there is no doubt these races will add very largely to the success of the gathering. Tne Auckland folks love to see jumping, and go into raptures over a steeplechase, especially when all the candidates come to grief, which they look upon aa the cream of the fun. In Medora, Islesman, Rarey, and Kate, not to mention Moose, we have a quartette of excellent performers over timber for this steeplechase, and I should not be surprised to see the admirers of the tumbling element rather disappointed. For my own part, I shall look upon any unusual stability among the animals engaged as rather an improvement, but we must allow for difference of taste. From ■■ the South we know of four horses, all of them good ones, who are either on their way-up, or are about to start. Cocksure and Guy Fawkes will have arrived by the Taupo by the time these notes are published, and Medora and Firetail may be expected by the next steamer. A good feature in this year's entries is, that no one owner has an undue preponderance of animals engaged, so that the prizes willbe certain to be well distributed. Harking back to the training-ground, we find Bob Thorp with Ariel, Belle, and Rarey out on the course every morning, and doing good work. Although The Belle has not accepted for the Cup, she is engaged in the Publicans' Plate, and her capital condition ought to make her run forward. Karey's"leg" looks all right. Ariel has not fur-/ nished enough to please me. Dick Wheeler is trying to put a little polish on the featherweighted steeple-chaser Mount. Coming so recently off the grass, his wind is not of the best, but another ten days may take off a little of his greenness. Jack Thorp is busy with Rangi, Mr. Crummer's four-year-old Cup mare. She is doing well, and appears to have quite recovered from her accident in the Derby last year. There are many who are standing her against the favourites for the big race. She. has a good stride, and shews fairish quality. Islesman and Tui are also under Jack's care. Islesman is looking well, and will be fit to run in the Steeplechase on the day. Tui is striding along in good fettle, and, as she has a nice impost in the Cup, she ought to shew well and reflect credit on her trainer, who ta"kes as much pains with his charges as any man in Auckland. Discord, Mr. Perkins's filly, is- not,- I am sorry to say, in any condition for the approaching! contest. She was placeed nnder Jack Thorp's care, but for some time has shewn such decided indications of rheumatism that she has had to knock off work. And now let us take a look down the programme. The Provincial Maid6n Produce Stakes only secured three entries, which can hardly bs called satisfactory. They are— McGee'a Perfume, Walters's two-year-old Fanny Fisher c, and Watt's Luna. The distance, 1 J mile, will be too far for the two-year-old, and I should fancy the five-year-old Perfume will be too much for Luna, unless M*. Watt's -»filly has improved very much Bince last yea*. The Railway Plate' has secured four entries, viz., Rangi, Medea, Belle of the and Guy Fawkes. As this is a weight for age race, it looks a gift for Guy Fawkes, unless Rangi should come to the rescue. The distance, three-quarters of a mile, will suit the speedy Southerner better than the two miles of the Cupi Three acceptances appear • for tho Derby. These comprise the three runners ' for the Champagne Stakes at the Autumn meeting,'and we may therefore expect to see another splendid tussle between the Fanny Fieher colt and Mr; Buckland's • ArieL. if the latter had filled out more, I should say he was likely to tarn the tables upon his previous conqueror, but as it is the issue will be very interesting. For the Hurdle Race there is likely to be some keen competition among' the seven candidates- for jumping honors. At the time I write, the weights have not appeared, so I cannot pronounce on the probable For the_ Cup, the betting, what little there is, points to ' the : two • Southerners Guy Fawkes; 4 years, 8 st. 8 lbs., and Cocksure, 3 years, 6 .isjj.. 8 lbs.,''being the favourites. At this distance'of time we oan count seven nearly certain runners, viz.," Parawheriua, Guy Fawkes,' Titiko, Rangifi'Tui; Kingfisher, and Cocksure,, with two donbtful-in Ariel and Discoid. -We cannot forget that last year Guy Fawkes was the equal of ! Yatterintf at level weights. If fce has made the proportionate improvement from a three to a four-year-old, and if seems aa if he has; this should give him an undeniable right -to the premiership. I am not sure whether he incurred a penalty by winning at Wellington. O»e thing against him 'is that he has never accomplished two miles l successfully. Cockaure, 6 at. 8 lb., ran fairly at Wellington, but "I should be more disposed to accept as a guide to his excellence the fact that Mr. H. Pmnce, a cuetomer not easily d,uped, gave 250 guineas for him at Canterbury. Parawhenua (Bst. 10lbs.) is ' very well just at present, I hear, and as the distance is all in-thegcldingtefa-e-our, he will ino doubt make a good fightutorithe /Victory. ;Rangi I have already spoken ofcfv. Tui & hear very good accounts of, but I don't think his owner fancies him at the freights, Kiflg-

fisher I should like to see win, but I must please me to see a better championiof the rose and whit*. He has a light freight and if he is worth keeping in training at alironghtto make.a decenfr>ahow. At present-I fancy the two Southerners better than anything else, but I reserve myself the nght to alter this in my final selection just before the day of runningV-. On .the 'second day, the Maiden Plate has commanded" a descent' entry of u five horses, comprising Per-' : fume, RangL, Medea, Titiko, and Ariel, and as all - are--somewhat .approaching the same class the issue should be in doubt to the last. My preference at present is for Titiko. The Selling Eace has obtained six nominations, and the remarks made in reference to the Maiden Plate, apply here also. The entries (to be sold for £10), Kingfisher (£4O), Tui (£SO), Luna (£3O), Belle of the Isles (£2O), and Firetail, (£3O). The last-named is a Southerner, and belongs to the owners of Medora, Messrs. Mcßae iand Nicholson. The issue is too doubtful to meddle with. The Grand Stand Handicap has 17 subscribers, but as the handicap will not be declared till after the first day's racing, I must be content with expressing a hope that there will be a good field and a, good fight for the pride of place therein. The Steeplechase bids fair to be the most interesting event of the meeting, for reasons I have already stated. I understand that i it was owing to a mistake that the Arrow was struck out. If he had' remained in we should have had the whole lot content, and bhe handicappers must feel well satisfied with their work. Medora is said by some to be I °ffi" but she shewed no signs of it at Christchurch, and if she runs as well here as there, she will be very near winning. But she has a good trio to beat in Isleman, Auckland Kate, and Rarey, Stranger's form in the Hurdle Race and Hack Race, last year should give him a chance, while Moose has plenty of friends'who say he is sure to win if he only stands up, so that altogether it is likely to be a magnificent Struggle. My present fancy Is the tonweight Medora. The Publican's Plate, distance 2 miles, is another undeclared handicap, for which' seven "good ones" are engaged, and will no doubt produce some excellent sport. The races will ;be concluded on the first day by a " Hurry Scurry" of £10; and on the second day a Consolation Race of £40. : In concluding these rough notes I cannot avoid expressing my surprise that the club bhould have made their three principal flatraces—the Auckland Cup, the Grand Stand Handicap, and the Publicans' Plate ever such long distances. - * Two are over two miles, and one is one mile and three-quar-ters. In say opinion one of them should have been a mile. However this is a small defect, and taken as a whole, the programme is calculated to present irresistible attractions to the holiday-makers on New Year's D*y and the following Monday. J ■'■■■. Hotspcb.