SPORTING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 17

SPORTING NOTES.

If coming events cast their shadows before, the racing season, which commences with the Geraldine meeting next month, ought to be an unusually good one. Already the course is very busy of a morning, and the various strings are not only numerically stronger, but, takeh as a lot, are far ahead of former .years in point of quality. On my last visit to the course Ted Cutts was, as usual, the first to open the ball. Of his team only The Chief, Lillipea (the Shrovetide colt), and Guy Faux were out, and Ted sent them all a steady gallop once round. All three have greatly improved, and I fancy from hia style of going that the big Chief will prove a more awkward customer than is generally anticipated. Kauri (the Waimea colt) the Certainty colt, Wainui, and and Harakiki colt are now worked in the

afternoon ; as, being short-handed, Cutts t cannot take the whole string out together. ™ Mr. Redwood, I believe, will shortly be down, bringing Hercules, and probably other additions to a string which is already I fancy the strongest one he has yet had. Bob Ray was out with Tadmor, Daniel O'Rourke, Tattler (the Deception colt), and the Termagant mare. The Utter did slow work, and the other three went a strong gallop. Tattler went remarkably well, and his style of going pleased me immensely. Tadmore improves but slowly, but little Dan is looking well. Sonnambula and Tommy Dodd are both in work, but being like Cutts, Bbortbanded, Ray has also to double bank his work. Mr. Webb commenced by sending the Mo3s Rose and Sweetbriar colts (stripped) a good three-quarter mile •pin. Both went very well, and they are well forward in their preparation. As to which may eventually prove the best, opinions differ very considerably, but I think both, will prove good serviceable colts. The Tantrums colt, who looks very well, went .twice round steady, the fint time travelling with the Ghana filly, and the second time with Richmond. The latter I do not fancy over much, and the former has only been up a very short time. She shows quality, and moves fairly, but is. not up to- her half sister's mark by a very very long way. The Phoebe colt went once round steady. while Castaway, who was in physic, did not put in an appearance. Old Tarn did a serviceable three mile canter, going well. The old horse looks well enough. Pakeha and Lough Neagh were absent, being both in physic. The former, Dan O'Brien tells me, is improving very much in his style of jumping, and the latter is doing good work. Nectar went a striding two mile gallop, and went remarkably well.' This game little mare has wonderfully improved since last season, and I hope Mr. Lunn will have a cut in for some of the good things of the season. Alice Gray has not yet been taken up, but will, I believe, be shortly in work. A Dunedin correspondent writes me that King Philip aud Rory O'More will shortly arrive, but he scarcely thinks it probable .that our southern Mends will send up any more horses for the coming meeting. The Geraldine meeting promises well, and I fancy several of ' our Ohristchurch teams will contribute a candidate or two. I beg to remind owners of horses that nominations for the Hurdle R^ce, Publicans' Purse, and Geraldine Handicap mast be in the hands of the Secretary on or before September 11th. The latest betting is as follows :— For the Derby, Kagri is freely backed at 5 to 3, The Chief, Castilian, and Pungawerewere come next in favour at from 8 to 10 to 1; 10 and 12 to 1 can be obtained about Tattler and Daniel O'Rourke, and 100 to 6 seems to be the ranging _price about anything else. For the Cvp 1 Castaway* is a firm favourite at 5 to 1, Kauri comes next at 100 to 15, Templeton is now and again touched at 100 to 10, and the same price can be obtained about the Phcebe colt. Tamburiniahd Pungawerewere have been backed at 100 to 8. In the doubles the following are about the odds for Derby and Cup— loo to 14 Kauri and Kauri, 100 to 12 Kauri and Castaway, 100 to 8 Kauri and Phcebe colt, and 100 to 5 anything else. For the Melbourne Cup several horses have received support at Victorian prices. The following appear to be the most fancied — Imperial, a strong favourite at 100 to 12 ; Duke, 100 to 7 ; Goldsborough, Kingaborough, and Neotsfield being backed at 100 to 6. From 100 to 2to 100 to 5 is obtainable about any other horse in the race. — Sinbad, in the Christchurch Press, ■