THE FORTHCOMING RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5019, 17 December 1877, Page 2

THE FORTHCOMING RACES.

Anticipating that after the entries were made on Friday night, there would be a large muster of the intending competitors on the Ellerslie racecourse on Saturday morning, I made an early start, to see how they "shaped"in training, but was rather disappointed at not observing a greater number at actual work. Soon after my arrival Bob Thorp came out with the horses which he has in training—The Pope, Baron, and Gillie Callum, together with Rosalie and Ratcatcher—but as they were all clothed, aud did not gallop, all, except Ratcatcher and Liosalie, contenting themselves with walking exercise, and the latter only cautering, I had no chance of observing their form. The Pope certainly looks like a horse with a fair turn of speed. He has a peculiar and somewhat vicious appearance, on account of having a fiery brown eye at one side, and a white one at the other, but he may be honest enough when in work. Ishmaelite has a particularly lazy appearance when walking, but there may be speed in him for all that. Baron looks well, and Ratcatcher and Rosalie gallop nicely; but before forming an opinion of any of them they should be seen at work. Of Gillie Callum I had no means of judging, but he does not !ouk formidable. The next visitors to the field were Lara, one of tho3e entered for the Cup, aud Tom Finn, entered for the Steeplechase, in charge o£ ilr. Bolton. Neither of them were put to more than walking exercise. Tom Finn is a tine upstanding horse, appears to have speed and bottom, and if he does not belie his appearance, he should be well placed In the Steeplechase, for which he is indeed held "in high favour. Lara looks to be a good strong horse, stout and compact, added to which he brings a good reputation from the South, although he is not in much favour for the Cup. He may, however, be a dark horse who would create some surprise at the finish if he is brought out in good racing condition. Owen JlcGee appeared on the scene soon after with Luna, Perfume, Elsa, and Temperauce. Perfume was the first to go to work, going round the course three times, ridden by Hodson. She did the last two in good time, aud made an excellent finish. She never looked to mnch better advantage, although perhaps a tritie soft. I think, however, notwithstanding her heavy weight and her formidable compecitors, she will deserve her position of first favourite for the Steeplechase, and will take a good deal of beating in the flat races for which she is entered, except perhaps in the Railway Plate of threequarters of a mile. Temperance, which is entered for the Selling Race, was then sent round iu company with Lady Vavasour, and did a good gallop, leaving the latter some distance behind at the finish, and as she gets in, a comparatively light weight being allowed—2llbs. in the weight for age race—she may succeed in securing a place. Luna and Elsa then went to work, and did four times round the course in clothing. I heard that Elsa had gone crooked, but she certainly did not look like it, aud I still adhere to the opinion that she is well in the Cup race. From the fact of her being put to hard work in heavy clothing, I suppose she is thought to be too heavy, but, barring a high style of galloping, which might only have been the result of hard-holding, she carried herself admirably. Luna, which is entered for the Handicap Hurdle Race, and for the Stewards' Handicap, is coming out well, and may take a good deal of beating in the latter if she gets in at a moderate weight. The last horse to which I shall have to refer in this article is Whitefoofc. which is entered for the Steeplechase, the Hurdle-race, and the G rand Stand Handicap, lie is a tall, powerful horse, and when doing the round of the course in company with Temperance showed a good turn of speed, although, as neither were put to their best, it was difficult to form an estimate in this respect. However, he was afterwards put over the hurdles several time 3, and he certainly jumps well, having a long spring which covers a lot of ground. None of the other horses put in an appearance on Saturday morning. Ph.eton.