TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

THE OUP ACCEPTANCES.

Although the scratching pen ha been freely used on the names of some of the horses originally included! in the entry for the New- Zealand Cvp i the field of 39 which still figures on the list is very satisfactory, particularly when it is remembered that a number of horses which have gone out had little- or no pretension to be styled Oup horees. The t-hre-e top weights— Achilles, Mafoutonga, and Nightfall—have continued their engagements, and the first horse of note lyhieh has been deleted from the list is Vladimir; bu* has Cup prospects had looked ratbei dim for some time past, <is be had- b&etn running out, and, aftei looking him ov€c in ais box & couplo of weeks ago, the opinion was expressed that he could bai'dly be got ready to do liimeelf justice over a two-mil© journey in November. The onoa brilliant Nonetfce has made another payment; so has Quarryman and Maniopoto. The last-named was backed last ■week, and is ->,t present the ruling favourite for the Epsom Handicap, for whioh race those who know something- about the son of Soult state ho will require a ton of beating. In addition, his track form at Randwiek is of a very attractive order. The defection of Gladstone was a, bit of a shock to come, as in one hand a commission was placed backing the colt for about £3000. Shortly after he was scratched a private wire came through stating that the colt had gone amiss; but now there is a story current that he was struck out because his owrei deemed his horse harshly treated. Orloff's withdrawal would not create any surprise, as it is doubtful if he could be trained for such a race ; and that is probably th-e reason Jhat St. Michael's name is missing. Roseal and Mclwood axe in tiho sanoi9 category as Vladimir, Orloff, and St. Michael; bufc Sir Tristram's absence from, the list of acceptors was unexpected, as he' was generally regarded as a very promisingeolt. It is to ba hoped that the colt has not succumbed to the exigencies of the training track, as otherwise he should do his owner good service over short courses this year. A batch of tibree-year-olds in Porcelain, Cuneiform, and Notus were practically ■unknown quantities; bu>t Aroologps and Multifid were regarded an pcssibles in some quarters, whilst tfce non-accepian-ee of suclv as Thunderer, Secret So-eiety, Royal Grown, . jand one oi. two others dees not call for special comment. Convoy, who went amiss prior to the National, c has paid up, and - should ihie train on he would spive a gcod account of himself with 111b less than he carried into fourth place last year. , Melodeon, which; has a pound less to carry ' than whan he finiohed upsides with Mahutonga, meets the latter on 311b better terms, has continued his engagement, and on paper looks to ha.v« a good ci'aamce, particularly when his Wellington Oup fora» is remembered. At present Spotty appears as well fancied 1 as anyfchin? in the race: bufc tho form at the A.J.C. spring meeting may unearth something new to engage the attention of punters.