THE A.J.C. SPRING MEETING.

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

THE A.J.C. SPRING MEETING.

On Saturday next the mind's eye of our sports will be centred on Randwiek, whers several of our horses are booked to carry silb, and, judging- by the- support already accorded them, it is something more than mere patriotism which hss caused our Duntera to plank down their bullion on their chances. The main interest' surrounds Maniapoco, whom the Randwiek critics state is tlvs horse which created 1 more discussion thaa any others des-tined to run at the- meeting. Maniapoto is regarded to a certain extent as an unknown quantity, because he has never yet met and defeated a good field of hoises. Nevertheless., the fact remains that he has accomplished something which it takes a good horse to accomplish, as witness his form at the last Manawatu meeting. With 9.13 he won the Welter Hack (one mile) in lmin 45seo, and on the second day he scored over ssv«n furlongs in lmin 28see, jyith 7.13 on his back. These performance*, alone stamp him as a horse above the ordinary, particularly when it is noticed that; Lady Lyonors occupied! lmin 29 4-sseo in winning the Champion. Hack, with 7.13 to carry, and Machine Gun defeated Achilles over six furlongs in the Manawatu Stakes in lmin 14- l-ssec. That is to say, with about a stone less to carry Maniapoto ran ovar seven furlongs at a pace which was not a great deal slower than the champion?, raced over six furlongs. Maniapoto, according to the Record, invariablj has won his races by a length; but it is safe to assert that that margin doas not fully represent the real merit of his wins. His win in the Hawke's Bay Cup with 8.2, after cutting out 10 furlongs in 2min 9 l-ssec% reads fairly well, as he beat such useful! performers as Mystification (6.8), Gold Dusb (6.8), Starshoot (7.13). Madrigal (8.0), Full Cry (7.11), Eleka (7.3), and others, and his time is within a fifth of the best 10 furlongs race which has been run on the course. Since Maniapoto has arrived at Randwiek, he has been responsible for some good work, which has had the effect of tightening him in the market, and the eon of Soult all round should take a power of beating. The writer has it on tha best of authority that Machine Gun's respiratory organs are now in better order than when ho racsd in this island, and consequently he should take a good deal oi mastering in the Epsom. The Randwiek mile is probably not much severei than one of seven furlongs the. eon of Rub'ina has ran at Riccarton. and on that contention! he should run a g°cd mile on a coursa which is undoubtedly the fastest, and consequently the easiest, track in the colonies. Grand Rapids and Canteen are also booked to race at the meeting, and latest report to hand agree that both horses arc fairly well. 'Both these horses, togethei with, Nightfall, are down to meet Emir, Fitzgrafton, Tartan, Gladsome, Boabdil, and! others iv the Spring Stakes, one mile and a-half; whilst Machine Gun also claims an engagement in the Kensington Handicap, seven furlongs, which is also run on the first day of the meeting. On the second day Isolt (Multiform—Bellicent) 's engaged in the Spring Maider Stakes, one mile* and a-quartei-j aud Grand Rapids, Canleea*

end Maniapoto are amongst the acceptors , for the Metropolitan. Dingo, Up to Date, Sultana, and Haydn are in the Steeplechase, two miles and a-half ; and Canteen in the Squatters' Handicap, one mile and a-quarter; and Sungod, Noctuiform, and Isnlt in the New Stakes, one mile and furlong. On the third day Maniapoto, Sungod, Noctuiform, Nightfall, Machine Gun, Gladsome, Canteen^ Grand Rapids, are booted to meet other cracks in the Craven Plate, one mile and a-quarter; and from the list one could easily imagine the race being decided at Ricearton. They ■will have \o meet Charles Stuart, Marvel lioch, EamousfEmir, F. J. A., Tartan, iPitzgrafton, and others;, so that if any of the New. Zealanders batch the judge's eye as a ■winner it will have to be accomplished with a minimum of loitering between the posts. Maniapoto 'is also- engaged in the Suburban Handicap, one mite, and Mr Stead's three-year-olds -ar-a in the Grantham Stakes, run over "the s^'me distance. Maniapoto, Isolt, ■and Noctuiform axe also engaged in the "Wyeomb©. 'Stakes, one mile and thee fur- . Jongs,.. jmd-{ -the -Soult 'horse is alao in the Sydney Handicap, one mile and a-half, in ■which.eyent'-iNightf&ll' alaa claims an engage- . - went. , ; \On;'the "last., "day jdt the-, meeting Machine tGnri is 'in %he~ "High-weight Handi-_ cap-,- six.'; rfurlongsf," and- -Isolt, 'Sungod,- Noc-tiiif6Tm^Te;-itt.the-jVlenibeis' Handicap, nine" furlongs. Dingo. TJnto.Dafcs, and Sultana axe^itf tHe^ -Steeples, thi^ee miles; Nightfall ;in.th©- "Waseriey: "Handicap, one' mile, and ,threerquarters, 'and.^alsa , in the- ' Ban3wick -Plate, - J two miles and a-quarter, in ■ - whidxJCsnteen,"-'Grattd- 'acrd^GJadBorne are also down to measure strides with ■ Charles Stuart and the- other Australian' .eradks. „-.---