NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6261, 10 December 1881, Page 6

NOTES BY PHAETON.

Tiir. acceptances for the Auckland Cup and Steeplechase were declared on the -2nd inst. Out of an entry of twenty-eight for the first-named race, twenty :'re left in, and there seems every likelihood of the club having a good race for their money. Of the eight non-acceptors, the most notable absentees are Le Loup, who was weighted at 9st. Slbs., <aip, at 9st. Gibs., and Sir George, at Sst. lib. It is not difficult to discover the cause of the former's absence, for it will be remembered that he broke down badly in one of his fore legs while running in the hist C.J.C. Handicap. Grip is not one of the soundest of horses, and the stable had an anxious time of it prior to the C.J.C. Meeting, for fear he should crack. He has probably again shown symptoms of tenderness in his feet, and the stable no doubt decided not to risk a sea voyage. I never expected that .Sir George would accept, for to my mind he was treated a little harshly. Of those left in the race, Foul Play (~9st.) heads the list. Last year, after receiving a severe gruelling at the Canterbury Meeting, he won this event, carrying Sst. 121bs. He has ran some good races since, and won the Easter Handicap at the last Auckland meeting, carrying 9st. 41bs., beating a field of eight. He is at present going well, and if the selected one on the dav, should run a great horse. Rjindwick (Sst) is more at home in a mile and three-quarters journey. Libeller (7st. lOlbs.) has certainly nothing to complain of as regards weight Last season he ran some desperate races, and although he was beaten on several occasions when it was considered almost a certainty for him, he on the whole made a very fair average. At the. Canterbury meeting last month he failed to get a place in the C J.C. Handicap, when carrying a pound more, but I think that running must be counted as nothing, and shall therefore atlix the label "most dangerous" to his name. King Quail (7st. -libs.) is a good little stayer, and if himself on the day may be depended on to beat more than will beat him. Maori (Tst. -libs.) is treated leniently enough, and if he is ever to win a big race now is his chance. Day is putting him through the mill on this occasion, and he is certainly showing the effects of careful training, for ho acquits himself like a workman in his gallops, and I must say he is looking extremely well. If he can only be persuaded to take hold of his bit and go to the front, he should prove a most dangerous horse to tbe best of them. Yatapa (Tst. 31bs.) is altogether out of condition, and alter his exhibition at the Waikato meeting can have no show. Badsworth (Tst. lib.) has nothing to complain of as regards his impost, but I think it most unlikely that he will bu the selected one. My reason for so thinking is this : In the Spring Handicap at Xapier, when meeting him on worse terms, his stable companion (Foul Play) was able to run rings round him. and it was not until the boy had nearly pulled the mouth out of the old horse that Badsworth could get up and win. Lara (Tst.) if he was sound and tit, would have a greatsay in the race, but, as I very much doubt his being able to stand a severe preparation. I must pass him over. Peeress colt (Tst.) is a young gentleman for whom I have the greatest respect. At the Canterbury Meetin;, when hardly himself, he ran very forward in the Derby, and got third to Grip for the Cup. If the stable elects to send him for it, he may, I think, be depended on to ruu a great horse. Stanley (6st. 121h5.). with the exception of his victory in tho Cambridge Cup, has nothing to recommend him as having a chance in a race of this description. Kenilworth (Gst. Slbs.) has on more than one occasion proved himself a good colt, and, favoured by his light impost, should run very forward. Eewi (Gst. Slbs.) will not be fit. Othello (Gst. "lbs.) is in the same stable as Kenilworth. His first appearance in public was at the Waikato Meeting last week, when he won his maiden like a race horse. Vortex (Gst. olbs.) I have no fancy for. The Poet (Gst. Slbs.), and Hilda (6st. Slbs.) are both in the same stable. The former is not a bad little horse. He won the Queen's Birthday Handicap at the Dunedin meeting last autumn, beating Lady Emma and a f'ood field. The latter will, I think, find the'distance a long way too far for her likin<r. Envy filly (Gst. Slbs.) belongs to the "dangerous Robinson stable." She has run close up in some of the sprint courses, but to the present we have no evidence of her ability to get two and a quarter milee. Moonstone (Gst. Slbs.) is not badly treated, but I cannot say that 1 fancy his chance very much in this race. Gilderoy (ost. 121b5.) is, I think, out of bis element in a race of this description; and Raw?.nata will probably represent his popular owner in the Hurdle Piace, where he will bo more at home. Summing up the chances of the vario.is horses, I select the following to beat the field .- — Libeller, Pkekes.s Coi.t, Forjr. Play, Maori, King Quail, and Kknil\toktii. To reduce these to two, I shall take Libeller and Foul Play to furnish the winner. Of the fifteen entered for the steeplechase, ten have cried content. Clarence with 12st. heading the list. This horse has proved himself a splendid performer both over country and over sticks. He won the Grand National Steeplechase last season, carrying 12st. 21bs., beating The Agent and others, and should therefore be treated with great respect. Lone Hand (12st.) has stuck up so often on the Auckland course that I cannot recommand him as a likely winner. Matau (list. 2!bs.) has proved himself a fast horse on more than one occasion. His performance in the Grand Hurdle at Napier last season was a most meritorious one, for he carried 10st. lOlbs. to victory, compassing the 2± miles in 4min. 2:!: i 'secs. If he 13 brought to the post fit, and a good man has the mount, he should take a deal of beating. King Don (list.) is well able to carry his impost, and as he is a wellknown performer over country, should not be lost sight of. Sportsman (list.) has often shown us that he can safely negotiate the country, but as he will have to meet far better company in this race than he has hitherto done, I cannot say that I fancy his chance much. Morning Star (lOst. 51bs.) will, I think, be irtore at home in a hurdle race than over country. Hawthorn (lOst.), I know nothing of. Rawenata (lOst.) has never successfully competed in a steeplechase yet, and I doubt ever will when the company is at all good. Young Sledmere (lOst.) is not one of the surest of jumpers, and therefore, must be passed over. Havkaway (lOst.) is not a bad little hoi-se, but I doubt his being able t"" get over the Auckland course. Reserving to myself the right of alteration before the day, I shall take Clauksce and Matac to beat tho field. Little straight out betting lias been done during the past week on the Auckland Cup. r The following are the prices of the various J heses :—Foul Play, Gto 1 ; Badsworth, 7to ' 1 ; Libeller and Peeress colt, Stol; Maori, ! 10 to 1 ; Envy filly, Ratuhviek, King Quail, - 100 to S; others from 100 to Gto 3. Cup • and Steeplechase, 100 to Stol on the field, t It is worthy of notice that Lurline, the t dam of Darebin, and Phaeton, the grandsiro 1 of the American colt Foxhall, are bred very ' e much alike, as Lurline is from a King Tom y mare, and her grandsire, the Libel, is by is Pantaloon from a sister to Touchstone. J 1 while Phaeton is by King Tom. and his dam .; by Storm, who was by Touchstone from a Vautalon marc.

Yesterday was another beautiful morning \ for training purposes, and the ground being pretty fair going, the work was of a more interesting character. Clarence (stripped) was the iir3t to work, ami with Connor up did three mile* slow, moving very free. He is very fit, and being a grand one over country, I should not be at all surprised if he starts for the Steeplechase at even money on tho day. Lone Hand (stripped), with li.A> Thorpe in the saddle, was sent twice round on the plough. Hob roused the .pliant old grey along for the List .|iiarter of a mile, and he g'it over the ground in -■pk-ndid stvle. Paramena (stripped) went oii'-o round .slow, bei-iil picked up by Maoriland (cluthiu") at the three-quarter mile pu,t. Thi:y went round aaaiii, arid fiuishe 1 at a good bat. both iir.ving uvll. Foul Play and Hadsworth (in clothing) went once r.mnd slow. Tl.e pair were let out at the back of the course, coming home last. The watch was put on them at the thi-eo-qiiarter mile post, but the boys easing them a. bit in the straight, the time was ahnv. Badsworth moved very suru at first, b:it when Carrington roused him along it I wore oil", and he finished well. The old I h..r.-.e io in givit hearr, and fairly revelk-d in ! his work. "T.-nambra (stripped) was scut a mile "oiii" as usual at top speed from tim jump. 1 should say that three-quarters of a mile is about her'dart, but over that distance shy dies away to mthing. Vacillation, Takapuna Maid, and Br.is.-iilis (in clothini:) "ere .sent oncu round, the two fonnor finishing fast, but the latter refused to gallop a yard. King Don, with Tommy Clark up, and Moonstone poth in clothing) wore scut twice round on the plough. The pair were let out the last time round. King Don moved very well, and the colt as usual revelled in his work. King Quail was uii the course, but only did walking -xureise. Maori and Ouiiia wore not out, ami Mr. Smith's team worked latu in the day. Some cii the Southern horses will arrive in Auckland early next week, and we may then lookto the work being of a more interesting cha- '' Libeller, Billingsgate, and the Peeress Cult, will not arrive in Auckland before next Monday week, the Aivtwata being so crowded the agent had to refuse to tike 1 them. Tin's is vory rough on Mr. Walters, for if the horses experience a rough voyage, so close tD the meeting, their chances will bu up a tree. The weights for the principal events at the Thames Juekey Club races, which are to be held on the 'Jo'th inst., were declared on Monday last. By her running at the Waikato meeting, Dewdrop should, I think, win die Goldlields Handicap, and if Mr. I.ennard elects to start Katcatcher for the Publicans' Purse I shall expect him also to carry the straw jacket to victory. On Saturday last 1 had a look at the Tiaducer—Rupee lilly (full sister to Louis d'Or), which was recently purchased by Mr. George Kills, while in Canterbury. She is considered far before her brother, and is, certainly, a line-looking young lady. Slie possesses a rather plain head, with a good lean neck, which is nicely let iiro a well-knit pair of oblique shoulders. She also has very powerful quarters and arms and a splendid set of legs, and gives one the idea of developing into a"rum'un." Siie is only two year"old, ami for her age is very forward." 1 understand that it is not Mr. Ellis' intention to race her until the autumn, when, if brought out cherry ripe, sin; to pay back some of thu purchase money to her owner. Tills aristocratic voung lady has been appropriately named Florin. Mr. Kilis also brought a three-year-old filly by Castaway out of Moss Rose with him from Canterbury. Mr. 11. P. Lance shipped tho Poet and the Cassivelaunus — F-nvy filly by thcs.s. Aiawata. which loft• Lyttelton'oii flnirsday last. They may be expected to arrive in Auckland on Tuesday next. Both are entered for the Cup. R:i:ulwiek and Hilda, will, I believe, be picked up at Wellington. Vidi-tte, ono of the greatest favourites that ever bore the popular white and red spots of the late K-.rl o: Zetland, has been destroyed, and hi.s .-keleton sent to the Royal" Veterinary College, C.'aindcn Town. London. Vedette was a son oi Voltiguer, while his dam was by Irish Birdc.iteller. He was a great racehorse, and won the Two Thousand Guineas, the Doneaster Cup twice, and numerous other races. As a she. lie did not do well at the stud at first, and bc-caine neglected. The victory of Galopin—a real LOod horse—for the Derby in ls~s, however, attracted attention to the veteran, who had been sold for a very low figure, aud redeemed him from obscurity. A letter in the Australasian states that in one of Miller's sweeps on tile Melbourne Cup a young woman drew Sweetm.Mt. She shortly" icee'ived a telegram from Miller that uiiless she sold him a half-interest of her chance tho owner (Mr. Ivor)') would scratch the horse. On the advice of her friends she, very unwillingly, asked .CM) for her half-interest. By tne next mail came the following letter :—" Sir,— Mr. Ivory has agreed to accept half your share in Sweetmeat in Xo. 1, and we now enclose you a cheque for amount, less our eoiniiii.-..-jion of ,*i per cent. Kindly acknowledge same on receipt—£:>o. less oos commission, t'2S 10s. —Yours truly, Miller and O'Brijn." The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Witness, writing on this matter, says t —'" Jimmy Miller, or, as one correspondent to a weekly journal calls iiim, ' the little man with the sweet smile,' has been citching it very warm from the Press of Melbourne lately, so much so that I wouldn't be at all surprised if the police don't interfere with the 'sweetsmile.' Of course i's all very well for him to say that Tom Ivory had all to do with the little swindle. Sending a telegram to a young woman, who didn't know a racehorse from a mule, stating that unless s,he would sell her half-share in Sweetmeat /cj/i'.-'.' Tom Ivory would b,i ob'l/rd to .<r «VA hi* h<ir*e )'•»• tin: Mrtbounf! Cup. The upshot of this little bit of sharp business is, that tho Legislature intends taking the matter up, no less thin three members have siguiiied their intention of bringing three separate bills — Mr. Fraser the totilisator, and Mr. Quick to suppress I'etting altogether. In the Legis lative Council Dr. llearn will also move. , ' [The Totalisator Bill was thrown out by a majority of six.] '• Robin HoDd,'" the English correspondent of the Australasian, writing on the victory of Petronel in the Great Yorkshire Handicap, says: —"The winner is a vastly improved horse, and is in fact coming back now to the fyrm he displayed at Xewmarket when he won the Two Thousand Guineas last year. Like all the Muskets, he can stay for a" week, and, now that Robert the Devil seems unable to stand training, it is pretty certain that Petronel will be the cup horse of next year. I am glad the old Duke of Beaufort is possessed of so good a horse, and I shall be mistaken if his deeds next year will not more than ever make the New Zcalauders rejoice that they have secured his sire." L'etronel also won Her Majesty's Plate at the Newmarket Meeting. I extract the following from the Melbourne Leader :—" Those mysterious horses, Sir Modred, Somnus, Hilarious, and Idaliuu, left for their old homo (New Zealand) on Saturday last by the steamer Tc Anau. Before leaving 1000 guineas had been ollored for each of the two first, aud I believe a larger sum might have been obtained for Somuus, probably as much as 1500 guineas, but those in charge did not care to part with them. Now it is said that Mr. John Craig purchased Sir Modred and Somnus, giving £1000 cash. They have, however, left our shores, and let us hope that the next lot visiting us from New Zealand may be owned by some of those who may be termed the representative men of that colony." The moiiarchs of tho English turf have great winnings set against their names. The figures given here show the respective amounts won by the undermentioned winners of the English St. Legor for the past twenty years, in their two and tlirue-year-old races, up to and including their Doneaster victory : —Marquis—B starts, T wins, £1 1,0.">0 ; Lord Clifden—S starts, G wins, £S'JOS ; Blair Athol—G starts, i> wms, JCIS.'iSH; Gladiateur—lo starts, S wins, .CJIi,IGO; Lord Lyon—T starts, G wins, £2-J,:'.01 ; Archie-meut-20 starts, 15 wins, £2'J, l->-> ; Formosa —15 starts, 7 wins, X"U>,0.15 ; Pero Gomez — 7 starts, 5 wins, £17,700 ; Hawthorudon— 13 starts, 5 wins, £t!SS-2 ; Hannah—9 starts, 5 wins, £15,.5r>5: Wenloek-G starts, 1 win, £4450; Mario Stuart—U starts, 7 wins, 1" 10,360 ; ' Apology -10 starts, 5 wins, £13.4-25 ; Craigmillar—lo starts, 5 wins, £7400 ; Petrarch— G starts. 4 wins, £15,130 ; Silvio—lo starts, 7 wins, £14.1G0; Jaimette —14 starts, 12 wins, £17.442; Hayon-d'or —17 starts, 7 wins, £12,2r>7 ; Robert the Devil—7 starts, -1 wins, £14,780 ; Iroquois— 19 starts, 10 wins, £18,77-2. Blair Athol did not run as a two.year-old. Martindale, by Maribyrnong—Maiubracc, of whose victory in the Wagga Cup we were last week informed by cablegram, was purchased a few days before the race for 050 guineas by Joe Kean, brother to J. Kean, trainer for the Hon. G. M'Lcan. The horso was first favourite for the big Wagga event when tho mail left Melbourne. The race was worth £300, aud a gold cup valued at £100, so that Keau will have no reason to regret his bargain,