THE C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 54

THE C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING

Although it is very probable that the acceptances which were handed in for the* principal events to be decided at the Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting will undergo a further shrinkage when the final payments are made, still there seems to be excellent grounds for the belief that there will be sufficient material left to furnish highly interesting contests for the valuable prizes attached to these races. When a. race is regarded as being open by the link-eyed public it is generally safe to assume that good sport may be anticipated : and the substantial proof that such is the cass with tho Easter and Autumn Handicaps is revealed by anyone who cares to study tlie betting market, where investors have by no means confined their attention to one or two horses. Double investors have been placed in a bit of a quandary as to which of the Yaldhurst horses it is most advisable to support ; and going by the book Savoury would appear to be the best business. Macnim, Gun has been found capable of lowering the flag of the speedyAchilles — whatever excuse may be rendered fov the latter, — and the Rubina horse is one whom weight does not appear to hamper a great deal, as witness his Randolph Handicap win, with 11.5 on his back, in the record time of 58sec. Was ever a time record registered with such a burden? His Challenge Stakes form, where he ran a good hor&e to Martian, -with 9.4, on a track which admittedly did not suit the long-striding son of Hotchkiss ; his formover the same distance at Wellington, and! his six-furlong form at Manawatu stronely suggest that even under 10.4-. should the conditions be at all favourable, he must have a great chance in the Easter, particularly in a slow-run race, although the-re does not appear to be much chance of that occurring-, with so many speedy light-weights engaged in the race. Nightfall has proved herself a great mare, and if there is any truth in the published contention that she is the greatest mare that ever carried the yellow and black, then on Cruciform' 3 showing in tho same race the handsome daughter of Multiform will be an extremely dangerous contender if she goes to the post. She is smart on her less, can stay and carry weight, but despite the great chances both, the heavily-burdened Yaldhurst candidates appear to possess, it is Savoury to whom, although probably allotted a little more than, many weight-adjusters would have meted out to the son of Simmer, he writer is inclined to pin his faith. Savoury in bnth his races at Riccarton last November was travelling on at the finish, and! there is no questioning his speed. He, in the writer's opinion, appeared to win. with at least 101b or a stone in hand -when he captured tho Members' Handicap. H'& now meets Vladimir on 151b worse terms: but Ailsa, to whom all and sundry give a great chance, only meets the ~S"aldhur.sfc horse on 41b better term?. Ailsa in the Members' Handicap did not finish in tho first six. although she ran well in tho Stewards' ; but she is now travelling well on the training track, and is entitled to more consideration than she appears to possess on paper. Vladimir has a good chance on paper, and he will land at the post fit and well, so (hat under ordinary circumstances ho should he there or thereabouta at the business end of the iournev. Petrovna is also very well, but many are inclined to think that the iourney is beyond her. A clos-> study of r-er form, particularly by tho<=e who have witnessed it, will f!o a groat deal to disabuse thafc doubt. Convoy showed him c elf to be in. good order by his form at Timaiu last week ; and Boris is the fir^t met in the handicap of a stable team which holds a strong hand in the rao°. His chance is highly estimated by tho«" who know hi 9 boM ; and Ghoorka nbn is setting; better with a°e. has a racing weight which should not givatly hamper the pace- he can show when in th<? humour. Ciolden Vein and Stronghold po<".?ss a areat chance, if ono is inclined to look with a favourable oye on their form ; but the former is a bit slow on his legs vomotimes in the oarly part of his races; but if his Avon Welter form (9.3 in lmin 29 2-ssec), together with? the beat of his other form, can be reproduced, there is trouble in store for tho opposition. Stronsrhold is a bit =oft_-heartpd, and may find things too busy for his likinsr. The fact that Lady Lyouois has been sole?, practically on the eve of battle, that although slvo may possess a grcafc chance, some of her recent stable companions may be better at th^ weights. One or two of "the others may be fonml competing in something easier when the time comes to weigh out, except, poihaps. Sandy, who has a drop of 151!> on hisCrave-re Plate form to recommend him, in addition to his more lecent running Ailsa will probably be the stable elect of her lot, and consequently Ciichlon. who is Roing won, \\ill be fouud missing from the field and $

likely winner of the- Autumn Plate. What- ' ever may be said in favour of the various candidates, it still remains a fact that the:^ can't all win, and to sum them up, they may read as the placed lot at the finishSavoury 1. Ailsa 2, Vladimir 3. I

The result of the Great Easter will have a

considerable influence on what is likely to „ happen in the 12-furlong race- For instance, Convoy may run a good horse in the Easter, but still get beaten, and that would be xaken as something tending to enhance his Autumn prospects. In the event ol iiis winning the Easter with its 141b penalty, this would have a conirary effect. The same remark applies to Vladimir, Savoury, and others also engaged in the first leg of tre double. If Savoury were reserved for the long race he would constitute the writer's l/)ssible No. 1 for the Autumn, but it

appears idle to wander in the realms of •what might be, and treating the Easter as non-existent, the 'following forecast of the judge's verdict is made: — Savoury 1, Quarryman 2, Convoy or Ghoorka 3. The minor events on the first day may result as follows : — Kildare Hurdles, The

Mohican; Russley Plate. Cuirassetia or Stead's elect ; Epsom Welter. Signalman ; Soekbum, Calibre; Autumn Plate, Crichton ; Champagne Stakes, Sungod ; and the Challenge Stakes on the second day may be captured by Achilles.