SPORTING NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 293, 2 April 1877, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

TIIE HANDICAPS. Tlie handicaps published a few days since for the principal events in the forthcoming North Otajjo Turf Club races s:io\v verv great care on the part of ivlr. Snerwin, the liandicapper. Although there may be one or two instances in which the merits and recent doings of difierent horses have not been taken sufficiently into account, there is little to complain of. Guy Fawkes of course occupies the premier position in regard to weight—a position which his performances during this and the past season fully entitles him t >. With 9at. lOlbs. up lie seems to have a good look in for the big event of the meet—the North Otago Turf Club Handicap, and should tlie weather pr ve tine and tlie course dry, he will not be lar oil winning the r?-ee. Templeton (9st. 41bs.) seems to have been i*ather hardly deaio with, for, although this game Utile 1 orse has given proof of his weight-carrying ability, Guy Fawkes is, I think, able t> concede him more than Gibs. It is true that in the Dunedin Jcckey Club Handicap, run only a few days ago, the liorsjs nut on similar terms, but then it must be born in mind that Guy won pretty easily, thoug i Templeton made his grand lusn fur first place, as some thought, rather late. Still Teinpleton's subsequent running for the Queens I i usj entiths liini" to respect, and it i 3 just p >ssible lie may carry Mr. Delanvun's colours to the fore, t.lough I do not famy his chance a very rosy one. Fislihoo.. s three wins at Dunedin, shows him to be a bit of a clipper, and his owner has nothing to complain of in regard to Lis impost of 9st., as the Hook has shown tnat he is both able to carry weight and travel. Danebury, who comes next, need not be considered, as there is no prospect of his accepting. Pu??ga were were is one of the most uncertain race-horses in the Colony, but if in the humour and intended for the race, she ought to Lave a very good show for first place, w.th only 7t>t lOlbs. to carry. Tattler (7st. 81bs.) I do not fancy, while Puriri, with the same weight, is not likely to be found amongst the°acceptors. Tadmor should have a chance with only 7st. 51bs., but D ad. Heat (7st.) does not appear to be in ihe race at all; while Olotii of Gold will be be called upon to meet Fisiihook wit:i 12lbs. more than he did in the Foi'bury Handicap, when he was beaten by some two lengths. Kxile has run some very good races, but I think the company will

be found too occasion. King Phillip (7stjp another i. ( do not fancy, for the horse is in anything but good condition. Hob Roy, with 6st. 121b5., has been fairly treated, but my faith in liim is small. Although the rest of the horses have been let in very lightly, Ido not see a winner amongst them. I know there are a few <who fancy Pertobe, but I do not think that, light as his weight is (6st. lOlbs.), he will show to the front. I have not seen liim for some time, but, judging from the fact that he has been at trie stud for a considerable time, I can scarcely bring myself to the conclusion that he will prove himself the winner. Fit and proper, he would perhaps, with his light weight, liave a pretty rosy chance. It would be difficult, at this early stage of the proceedings, to make a selection, and I shall defer doing so until the acceptances are out ; but I may be permitted to say that at present I am of opinion that the top-weights have decidedly the best of it; and of these I prefer Guy Fawkes, Fishhook, and Pungawerewere, with a slight reservation in favour of Templeton, should he be the one of the stable. The Tradesmen's Handicap has somewhat the appearance of being a gift to G iy Fawkes, with 9st. lOlbs.. though, should he win 'the Turf Club Handicap, the penalty of 51 hs. wlr'ch he wou'.d i lcur might make a differor C 3 in his chance. Of the others I prefer Rob Rov (7st.). Cloth of Gold (7st.), and Mid.lleton (7ft. Gibs.), though I must say t!*at none of tlv>m seem to have nxueh. of a show. T:e Hurdle Race is one of those t .inc;s that "no fellah can understand," and as there seems to be some doibt as to the probability of many °f the horses accepting, I shall pass it by. The Flying Handicap should be rather a good thing for Fishhook, wi h 9st. 31bs., while Guy Fawkes lias nothing to complain of in being called upon to carry 9st. 12lbs. Tad in or (7slOlbs.), Rob Hoy (7s t. 21bs.), D,ad Heat (ost, 121b5.), Titama (Gat. lOlbs.), arc all pretty well in. As I have already said, it is somewhat premature to attempt spotting the winners of the various events, for it is just possible that some of the chosen o:i°s may not be found among the acceptors to-morr >w evening. If the Editor of this journal has sufficient confidence in me, I may have something further to say upon the matter after the acceptances ar out. TIJI Whiffles. TRAINING NOTES.

The first horse to arrive on the course lis morning was Exile, who went for a swv cantev wit') clothing 0:1 for about twomhs, the Inst half mde being clone in somet iii-jf like the old horses style. His c rid'r,ion reflects credit 011 his trainer, as his fonii now is superior to anything' I have ever s--en him in before. After lie I,ad finished, L : ttle Nell was round < f< r a gallop. She has a nice tak n r style of g-.tfcing over the ground, and ought to he close u;> at t !; e finish of the maiden. The npxh to make his the t.-vror G-iv Favkes, who ()nly^al..^ ;: .lk r ' ing exercise this inorn ; ng,.andas his>>'S 5 ; ii]<T was not taken o'i, X had not an 0 tuni'y of judging what form he is ~in.' Steamer and Sir William then had a' couple of miles spi-i— the former with Qlothing on. They were sent round at"a pretty fair pacrj ; but Steamer, on reaching the comer past the Stand, ma le for the ditch, which very soon pulled liiiu up. It is a pity that this game little horse coircl not be broken oil "the hahit of bolting off the course, as he very often does. lilmaghan then got his string together, and I had an opportunity of seeing that game horse Templateii take a nice extended gallop. He moves along with clock-like regularity over the ground, and X shall not be surprised to see him land the North Otago Turf Club Haudicap for his spirited owner. Titania and Pimga also went round twice, Punga going as strong as ever ; and I believed hit if she is meant to go on T.ilfsda7, will be amongst the first three in tli3 big' Handicap. Ticania g«t3 over the ground pretty quickly, an I doubtless will pull off one of the events for which she is entered. After they had finished their work, Nelly and Nevis, also the Traducer coir, went a spin of about two miles, Nell/ finishing a long way aheid of the other two. This mare if not first in the Maiden, will be so close that won't be any fun in it. The Traduc V colt has a remarkably peculiar hind action, ; s ver f time he mows when walking he bi\i gs his iiinl legs up though he had bej>i st a'ned in the hind quarters at some tim a , or other. He is only a two-year-old, aid t: er 3 is no doubt that time will remove the defect. Skylark.