TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 39

TALK OF THE DAY.

By MAZEPPA.

D.J.C. OCTOBER MEETING.

Mr Dowses weights for the racing at Wingatui on the 10th October were published last Friday, while the Geraldine meeting was on — an oversight on the part of the club. It ought to have given Mr Dowse a chance to revise his handicaps in the light of all the Geraldine results. In the Hi die Race we have Ilex set to give Dundee 131b. At Oamaru on the 13th September Ilex won with 11.9, and Dundee with 11.2, after leading a while, finished a bad third. On that form Ilex should do Dundee again. Dundee at his best would win this race easily, but he seems to be off as the result of his training for the National. But 1 am not much in love with Ilex either. He was twice beaten at Timaru and once at Oamaru — certainly by a good horse, though, and I don't think there is a Skipper amongst the light weights this time. The ones he has to fear are Clinker and St. Hiko, both z-easonably weighted and of the improving order. As the Witness is published on a Wednesday 1 shall have a final speak next week. Meanwhile, in this Hurdle Eaee I take it to be a contest between Ilex, St. Hiko, and Clinker, and with ?ome diffidence I select them in that order. The Hack Handicap will very likely be a hard race to pick. La Reine gets top weight because of her winning the Second Hack Race at Dunedin in May with 8.1 from Benson 8.4-, and she won a similar race at the March meeting with 7.12, doing the six furlongs in lmin 18 3-ssec. She must have a show. So must Tsaritsa on her Oamaru form, though she met nothing very strong there. Off Chance I like by reason of her dead heat with St. Denis in March when with 8.6 she got to the end of the six furlongs in lmin 13sec, St. "Denis giving her a slone. It wasn't a true-run race. All the same, 'Off Chance's form was distinctly good, and on it I like her for this event. Bensuon is a horse that may be improved this spring, and if so he will have a show. I name them thus : Off Chance, Benson, Xia Heine. Coining to the Mosgiel Handicap we have Jupiter conceding 21b to Nihilist' at a mile and a-quarter. At Timaru, -Nihilist tried to give Jupiter lib at a mile, and the latter won. Jupiter I take to be quite as good as, if not better than, Nihilist over the extra distance, moreover at Timaru Jupiter was only fit. I think "he will beat Nihilist this time. Fulnien at 8.13 must not be overlooked. He won the Birthday Handicap with 8.3, and Jupiter 8.11 and Nihilist 8.9 were behind him. Next day, at a mile, Fulmen 8.12 was second and Nihilist 8.6 third. Nihilist has probably improved since, but there ,is the fact for what ie is worth that 3Tulineii gave Nihilist 61b and now Nihilist gives him Xlb. Maremma I pass by. On his ' Farewell Handicap form last May he has not much chance, and every season sees him growing woi'se. He can't win in a true-run race. But Briea is up to her eyes in it. In the Provincial Handicap, a mile, she won with 7.8 by two lengths from Fulmen 8.12, and now she is giving only lib for that result. I pick her to win — that is, if she is sufficiently forward in condition, unless her stable mate Pampero, practically an unknown quantity as a stayer, should show good enough form. It would be no surprise ir a candidate for the Canterbury Cup, a& this colt is, were to win right out; but I don't know much about him, and therefore prefer the mare. My first choice, then, is Brisa to win,_and a good race for place honours between Jupiter and Fulmeu. As to the Electric Handicap, the handicapper has piled 11.10 on Goldspur, and I scareelj' expect the old horse to start. St. Denis looks to me like a winner, and I talcs him as my pick, though he may have to gallop to beat the better of tho Hon. G. M 'Lean's pair of youngsters, or whichever of them starts. • If Brisa is reserved for the Welter, as she was in May, I shall be satisfied to stand her to win. Next to her I fancy Abercrombie, but Proposal, Off Chance, and Edelweiss all have some sort of say in it, and if Brisa is withdrawn we shall probably see a good contest. Acceptances are due on Friday of this week.