THE DUNEDIN WEIGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 31

THE DUNEDIN WEIGHTS.

The Forbury-trained horses engaged at the Dunedin Jockey Club's October meeting are being pushed along in real earnest, and a few of the recent gallops may be regarded as instructive, though in view of the fact that about half the candidates are trained elsewhere, it would not be wise to make cocksure that in picking the best of the local lot one has placed his ringer on the winners. From all that I can make out the handicaps are on the whole equitably adjusted, and the cleverest judges speak rather cautiously of the prospects. I propose to follow their lead and be satisfied for the present with a few general indications. Of the High-Weight Hack bunch Plotter is doing good work. He had a trifle the best of Belle Clair -it five furlongs on Saturday morning. Benson also is shaping well, as was shown in his five-fur-long spin on Saturday with Abercrombie. The latter won, but there was aot much m :t. j Maydawn is fairly well, and seeing to ha re a show, but I fancy she prefers a lighter sw.Je of weights. Wolf's Crag is a possible if he j can be induced to try, but he is not a fancy j of mine. Edelweiss is hardly ready. I hear favourable reports from Palmerston of the St. Leger mare Santa Barbara. All in, 1 rather fancy Benson, but reserve my tip till later on. As to the Hxirdle Raoe lot, T tlrink Ilex can win with all his weight if he comes down and starts; next to him I should take Dundee and Jib, whilst Lobo may be dangerous if he gets round safely. My idea is that in taking Ilex and Dundee I have got a good pair from which to make a final se n eotion when the time arrives. Fulmen galloped \ery takinsdv in % roile and firffuarter gq on Saiuv-

| day morning, giving Maremma all ho wantecH and on the strength of this I fancy the son qj Hilda for the-Kensington Handicap. Sworcfj fish beat Refugee and Black and Red ovea the same distance a couple of mornings pre 3 viously, and if he is amiable on the day h$ will assuredly run a good race. This is th«j best pair that I can pick just now for th^ Kensington — Fulmen and Swordfish. Perhapl I may prefer one of the visitors after seeing all on the ground. Nihilist is by man? voted a fair thing for the Electric Handicap, and I cannot deny that he has a fair chance, his gallop over the race distance on Saturday being good enough to inspire confidence. But I give Warrington quite as big' a show, on tha strength of his form at Timaru, and with a httle luck Mount Olair would also be dangerous. It is an open race as between three or four of them, and while picking Warrington I would expressly say that he is not good enough to plunge on. The Welter is the sort of race that Double Event shines in, but he failed badly at South Canterbury, and I prefer Fulmen if he should be reserved for this event. Fulmen seems to me to have a fair show for the Kensington Handicap, as I have said, but I hear that his owner thinks of having a cut in for the 0.J.0. Maiden, and if that be the idea Fulmen may run for the Welter instead of the Kensington, since by winning the latter he would lose his qualification for the C.J.O. Maiden.