TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 35

TALK OF THE DAY.

N.Z. CUP ENTRIES.

The nominations received by the C.J.C. on Monday for next New Zealand Cup number 60, anil are up to tho average of the last five yeirs, previous to which the Dunedin contingent would have added from a dozen to a dozen and a-half to the list, but since the horses in trainins*

here have been reduced in number no event of the season has suffered more in consequence that the big spring handicap of tsfew Zealand. This time our contribution only numbers four — viz., Pitch and Toss, Ful--jnen, Lord Rosslyn, and Jupiter. The following are the entries on the last five occasions : 1895 56 1598 51 1896 63 1899 60 2897 69 Included amongst the list for 1899 are a fewrising three-year-olds that nothing much is known about at present. The winter favou■rites of last year, St. Paul and Swordfish H, are amongst the entrants, but very unlikely v to occupy a similar position this season. It is not hard at this period to fix on favourites, 'as Battleaxe, Explosion, and Uhlan have alWeady been accorded considerable support, and 'the first-named will in all probability be at the lop of the quotations for some months to come. Backing anything at this early stage is not, however, wise, especially in view of 'younger aspirants being likely to be brought forward. There is also a noticeable falling off in Christohurch horses in the list, their contribution being not very much better than Dunedin. Mr Stead's experience of Multiform and 'Co. in last Cup has evidently kept him from warning some of his available stock, preferring to keep them for classic races. The trio nominated by him are Skobelofi, St. llano, and St. Lucia, other Christchurch contributions -being Huku, Djin Djin, Dundas, Malatua, Peerage, Starshot. Strathnairn, and Sequin. The Middle Island thus have 16 entries, including the Ashburton horse Double Event ;out of the 60 ; the North Island being responsible for the remaining 44, of which the Hon. ftlr Ormond names nine. Several of the entries were received by wire, and they will consequently have- to -be verified by letter, but i do not expect to see any alteration.