NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6829, 6 October 1883, Page 6

NOTES BY PHAETON.

The Hawkes' Bay Jockey Club meeting is

fixed for Thursday next, and, by present appearances gives every promise of furnishing some excellent sport. There are six events on the programme, for all of which there are very fair entries. For the Guineas, I like nothing better than Escopiita, and the daughter of Musket should be followed home by Jacob and Snider. The Hurdle Race looks a good thing for either of Mr. Douglas' pair, and as I take Loch Lomond to be the most reliable, I give my vote in favour of the son of Day Dawn. The Spring Handicap has a very open aspect, and added to the fact there are no less than four horses in the one stable engaged in it, it will be admitted that the tipster has a rather difficult task set him. From what I can make out, the Mischief party will reserve the mare for the Flying Handicap, and, in that case, I should place them

Leonata 1 Leonora 2 Tim Whiffler 3 The Maiden Plate is to a certain extent dependant on the running in the Guineas, but, I think, whatever beats Escoi?eta will win. The Flying Handicap should, I think, go to Mischief, and her immediate a ttendant should bo Rubina. In the weekly statement of the Melbourne Cup betting. Renter informs us that First Demon, Le Grand, Despot, and Nicholas, are all equal favourites for the great han'dicap at 14 to 1 each. All these horses have been very heavily backed by their reupective parties, and it will take something of great merit to shunt them from the positions they now hold. For the Derby, Archie has hardened a little, 5 to 2 bting the best offer against the son of Rapidity and Eugenie. .Off Colour and Martim-Henri still remain at 5 to 1 each, and in the doubles these three appear to be the only names mentioned. Ai'ter the brilliant form displayed by Archie's stable companion Delusion, in the Members' Handicap at the late Sydney races, Mr. A. F. Smart's chances of appropriating the V. R, C. Derby certainly looks very promising, and if Archie can beat the handsome daughter of The Englishman and Deceptive, he will without doubt put in a very powerful claim for the "blue ribbon" of the Victorian turf. Even if anything were to occur to prevent the Normanby Stakes winner coming to the post:, Delusion will prove a very reliable second string, as the easy manner in which she galloped over the Terrara representative Ike in the race in question will testify. The Poverty Bay Turf Cicib have issued a very attractive programme for their annual meeting, which is fixed to tike place on the 15th and 16th January next. The total amount to be given away in added money at the meeting is the good sum of £800, and as the club are much lighter on horse owners in the matter of entrance fees, they should have a very successful meeting. The big events of the meeting are the Tradesmen's Handicap of 120sovs., 1 mile and a half; and the Turanga Stakes Handicap of 200sovs,, 2 miles. Nominations for these, and the other events of the programme, are due on November 15.

The following mares have foaled at Sylvia Park since the 22nd ultimo Ouida, colt, to Musket; Atalanta, colt, to Anteros; Tres Deuce, filly, to Anteros; L'Orient, filly, to Muaket; Medea, colt, to Musket; Erycina, filly, to Musket; Moonlight, filly to Musket.

The First Water bubble burst as suddenly as it had come into existence; for no sooner had the temporarily astonished bookmakers discovered that no particular reason was forthcoming for the sensational position to which the chestnut hacl been elevated, than their willingness to lay against him broke the spell, aad the son of Fireworks is now no better favourite than before ttie Sydney demonstration. Winning honours amongst the sires were pretty evenly distributed a,t the late Randwick meeting. Goldsborough and Epigram divide first place with three each, while Clifton, Kelpie, and Gemma di Vorgy have two each, the others to be represented by winners bsing Panic. Piscator, Wilberforce, Warlike, The Englishman, and Gulgong. It is somewhat remarkable that Maribyrnong did not have one winner to his credit,

From late papers to hand I notice that Musket's son, Martini-Henii, has again made his appearance on the training ground, and I read of his accomplishing a strong mile and a quarter in company with hia Btable companion Despot. Both horsss are said to be in great heart, and by the way he is performing of late the admirers of the son of Musket still think there is a chance of the Hon. J. White scoring a " blue ribbon" victory, while Despot is looked upon as a right good thing for the Melbourne Cup. " 4ugur' has been oh a visit to the Hon. Jas. White's training establishment, and speaking of the Cup favourite, Despot, he saya There can be 10 two opinions about the grey son of Maribyrnong; he is just the cut of a good handicap horse, standing about 15 hand? H inoh, with a game varmint-looking head, well set on to a muscular but not too big a neck, strong but oblique shoulders, great d.:pth of rib, especially behind the saddle, and a wonderfully well-knit back, with that long straight quarter from the coupling 1;o the butt of the tail, which ia one of the characteristics of Grand Flaneur, Commotion, The Gem, and other good performers. He has plenty of length, stands on short legs, and .has a good set of sound, well-formed feet, and though iron-grey is not regarded as a fashionable colour, we must not forget that Suwarrow and Savanaka bore the same tint." .At the time of "Augur's" visit Martini-Henry appeared to have quiterecovered from the attack of catarrh whioh prevented him fiom funning in the AJ.C. Derby, and Mr. Fennelly hopes to have him in tip-top form to meet Archie and Co. in the V.R.C. Derby. The scratchings that took place over the recent Sydney meeting las called forth a very spirited article from the Australasian. In an articla on the subjeot, headed "Forestalling Owners of .Honaes," it says:— "There are many who engage .in turf pursuits for a living, some ekiug out a miserable existence, and . others who ' believe that ' honest men are the soiit, easy cushions upon which rogues reposei and fatten,' and fatten they do accordingly. From them we expect nothing but smart practices. To them the possession of, a hot favourite ia a perfect windfall, which they mak« tha most of, but I

those in high places are looked up. to by everybody as the philosophers and guides of the turf, and the scratching of a Despot or a Martini-Henri or a Navigator causes an uneasy feeling to prevail. When on the eveof the Doncaster St. Leger, that fine old English sportsman the Rev. Mr. King was mfonrfed by his trainer that Apology was lame, he peremptorily repli; d that she would havc_ to start, if only on three legs ; the public had backed her with implicit confidence, and they should have a run for their money. She ran and won, and that liberalhearted minister of the Gospel lives in the affections of all who admiie a true sportsman. All the forestalling in England would not have influenced him in the slightest degree j and wo hope to educate some of our Australiansportsmen up to thesacne standard. Let those who can afford to race for sport pure and simplo do so with all their might, apart from thoso betting influences wsiich help to degrade every with which they come in contact, and the force of example will soon have its effect even upon those who rauk ranch lower in the turf world."

At the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club last week, a resolution was passed to the effect that the top weight in any handicap shall not be less than 9st and the minimum weight in hurdle races to be 9st 7lbs. It was also decided to abolish the rule with regard to raising the weights when the top weight does not accept.