SPORTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8112, 22 February 1888, Page 2

SPORTING.

D.J.C. AUTUMN RACES. Dunkdin" Cot Day.

The D.J.C. Autumn, races commence to-day, and, with fine, weather, the attendance of the public will be equal, if it does not exceed, that of previous meetings. The facilities for reaching the course, now that the Ocean Beach railway will be running, will be all that could be desired, as with train?, trams, and cabs, means will be available to convey even double the number. likely to visit For'.mry Park. The D.J.C. 6lewi)rds and Mr Sydney James, the secretary, assisted by Mr H. James, have done everything possible for the public convenience. The "latest additiou is a cloak room at the entiauce to the paddock, at which a caretaker will be stationed.

The first event of the day will be the Handicap Hurdle Race, which starts at 12 30. Then comes the Champagne Stakes, followed by the Dunediu Cup, Selling Race, Publicans' Handicap, Maiden Plate, Selling Twa-jear-old Race, and the Stewards' Purse Welter Handicap. .

champagne stakes. The following final acceptances were received last evening:—■ CHAMPAGNE STAKES, Of 25USUV3. Distance, fix turlongn. st lb Mr D O'Brien's bo Cniblue (Tib penalty) ... 9 3 Mr P Hutler's br c Muuton ... ... S 10 Mr D O'Brien's bor brc Vandal ... ... 810 Mr C A TurnbuH's eh c Wolverine... ... 8 10 Mr I> Butler's eh f Adulation ... ... 8 T HonWltcevps'blkfliavenswing.... v. ... 8 7 Hr A Walker's chf Apres Moi. -'... ... S J " Rata's " Anticipation's? , "**

This, afternoon will f c witug|fcd the,J|cision of the DuneJin Cup, one oi the greatest races of the colony, and a most interesting contest it ought to prove. The final acceptances preclude the possibility of more than nine starters, but nil these appear to bo "in it" on past form. The acme of colonial excellence will not ba represented, but Gipsy King will strip ft maguificcub horse insofar as looks go, and a three-year-old that would adorn any handicap field in the world. Yet Sst 41b is a crushing impost, and I hardly think he will be good euough to carry ib successfully, and this opiuion is based on the gallops I havo soen him perform since he arrived in Dunedin, On Saturday afternoon, for instance, he was galloped with Matamata aurt Ku.v-.ley alternately, and over the last mile and a-half he wr.-s riddd'eu hard to keep within hail of Ru-sley. Doubtless, Rustley is a good horse—l bfliuve v.v >.- n clinker—but if the gallop wes tnilv ran, Gir-cy Kins will havo all his work cut "out to win the Daneiliu Cjp. Nest on the list to Gipsy King comes Tetford (Sst), who is absolutely pink in point of condition. For this horse I have very great respect, and though be lifts his forelegs ft bit too high when extended it only amounts to an eyesore, and does not affect his going. Artillery is similarly weighted (Sst) and he is built; on most approved lines, but he fails to show Tetford's dash in his gallops. Quibble. (7st 121b) is a great public fancy, and ridden by the crack New Zeulan t jockey, Derrett, he wilS no doubt make a big bid for victory. Snapshot has done very little work on the training track. but he has done a lot of swimming, and though this is hardly a generally recognised method of training horses there is no gainsaying the fact that it brings the muscles into play even better thau galloping. Indeed it is not improbable that swimming may yet become an important factor in the preparation of racehorses, just as pedesttiauism is a feature in aquatic training. Torrent, who is yet a maiden apparently, goes remarkably well, but St. Clair is not fancied, neither is The Brewer, who has completed his preparation away from the scene of action. Spriugston, however, is a dangerous customer. He has improved greatly since ho competed uusiucr Sifully at the Spring meeting here; yet in an attempt to " spot" the winner I will plump for

TETFOBD, who oi'gtit to lie handy at the :finish provided be can s'.ay home, and his most daugerous oppoucnts may be Swiixgstos aud Tobrest. For the I'nblioaiis' Handicap the local stables appear to have a fair look in, and La Rose or Silvs'rmark moy be good enough to net the stake. The following are selections for other races :— Haadi-ap Hiirdlo Kace—Gahibaldi or Dnui.uce ; Champaguf! Stakes—Carbins or Manton; Selling' Hare—Uebbv; Mwden Plate— Tohkent or Count D'Oesay ; Selling Two-year-old Race—Matamata ; Stewards' Purse Welter—Cixdkdella.

Fomiuuy Training' Notes. The sjalloping done yesterday was hardly equal to that of the previous morning, but some strong work was dene nevertheless. Ravenswing was sent twice round steadily, as were also Bluebell and Haka. Lady Consts-.nce and Wolverine (in colours) raced six furlongs, and afterwards cantered a mile. Snapshot cantered twice round the middle track, aud Carbine and Vandal were given a good mile gallop. Adulation was sent a similar distance steadily, and Little Nell and First Lord compassed two miles at an easy rate. Artillery was riven a two-mile steady gallop, accompanied by Hose nud Black aud Mantou alternately. Tetford went a capital spin over the Cup distance, attended by Cinderella over the last mile. Reputation compassed two circuits at a serviceable pace, as did also Garibaldi, and Sultan negotiated a mile at top. Torrent went two miles, accompanied by Fleur de Lys .'elding ov«r the latter half of the journey. St. Clairwasseuttwicjrouiid.Quibblepickingbimup on the completion of the first mile, but neither was fairly extended. Chantilly was given _a striding two-mile gallop, and Kavensctaig and Sir Julius covered a mile at top. Mizpah went twice round the turf finllop; end Apres Mm and Dod-or raced six furlongs. Se=i etaiy compassed two miles at a fast rate, p.nd Mon Loup accompanied Dunlucc in a similar gallop, bt. Ives was treated to two-mile fast work, ami Derby was dven a clinking spin once round. Wakatipu was sent two miles at top, aj w»s' also Elammoc, and Kuhv and Springsum covered the Cup course m grand style. Dispute aud Fleurette went a mile at top, aud Sweetbriac covered a like distance sharply. Betting. Theio is no change to chronicle in the market whatever. Wagering, indeed, apptars to _bo played out, comparatively, for the time being. The following, however, are the ruling prices ;— DU.vsnif car. :> to latest Gipsy King .i_l — - Quibble f, i Springston ,} _ i Artillery and Tetford j _ i Snapshot and Torrent 10 — 1 St. Ulair 20 _ 1 The Brewer. DOUULES. HO tr 0 on tlie (ii-lil for the Dunedin Cup and Publicans' Handicap.