TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 55

TALK OF THE DAY.

THE D.J.C. SPRING MEETING. With a promptitude that is in danger of becoming proverbial Mr J. E. Henrys has issued his. adjustments for the first day of j the' Dunedin. Jockey Club's spring meeting, I which will occupy the attention and, it is to te hopei*, "the patronage of^ all our racegoers who may be within striking distance of Wingatui next w«ek. In the first place, those anxious to glean a line as to the possibilities of the New Zealand Cup meeting' may garner something of use by attendance at Wingatui ; and, judging by the> manner in which the handicaps have been compiled, some excellent sport should be witnessed by tue clubs patrons. "Vladimir holds .the pride of place at the head of the Mosgiel Handicap with_ 9.7 opposite his name, and he is asked -to concede 121b" to Convoy and Bulawayo, who follow the eon of Mist on the list. Amongst Vladimir's wins last season were the Stewards' Handicap with 9.0 and Great Autumn with B.f ; -and taking his unsuceess- ; ful efforts, In which he has carried well over 9st, his 9.7 is not too harsh a task. Vladi- 1 anir is asked to concede 121b to Convoy, or, | in other words, meet the Vanguard gelding on 171b worse terms than they met in the Great Autumn,, when Mr Buckley's gelding was generally admitted to be a, bit above himself, in addition to which he met with ill luck in slipping his saddle during the j raoe. An allowance of 171b appears to be liberal enougb under the - circumstances ; but Convoy went amiss prior to the National meeting, and iis chance on paper may be discounted by that all-important fact. Vladimir, however, has also been under a cloud, and was missed' from the track for fg>me considerable time, but at present he is doing good useful wort in attractive 6tyle. Bulawayo won the Ashburton Cup with 9.0 on -his back, and scored very handsomely i and although he .did not, meet anything of great class, he reads nicely treated at 8.9. Beau Seaton was handy in the AshburtonCap until well over a. mile, and whereas he ■was beaten, at 131b over 11 furlongs the son of Tres Belie is now- conceded 161b over eight furlongs. The writer has heard Beau Seaton as being singled -.out to hare a good chance, . but is not altogether inclined to ■ agree- with that opinion. Beau Seaion won the Birthday- Handicap; one mile and a-quarter, with 6.9, but failed badly over a mile with 7.11 in the Provincial Handicap, one mile, which was won by Crichton 6.11 from. Calibre 8.'2. A strong consideration in regard to the present handicap, however, is that in the D.J.C. Beau Seaton failed to concede a atone to Crichton, but now the former meets the I»ochiel horse on 241b better terms. At the National meeting Crichton won both his races in a most convincing style. In the Heathcote Handicap, under welter weights, Crichton beat Beau Seaton out of a place over seven furlongs after the latter had been prominent in the early stages, and now pays 81b for the beating. The difference reads in favour of 'Crichton, who appears to be an improving horse; but to send the Lochiel colt higher would have placed him nearer Bulawayo and the rest of the- top-weights, so that Beau Seaton might have been let away a couple of - pounds without being & blot on the handicap. Particularly is this the case ■when he is gauged through Bulawayo as well as Crichton. ? Aika is a mare in the unfortunate position of "having some_ good place performances to. her credit earning the fruits of victory, butf at the came time gaining the attention of the weight-adjuster. She won the Templeton Handicap with 8.1 in lmin 14 *-ssec, and aHao - ran a close third in the Easter with 7.9 in good company; but her staying credentials are not very high. Tirole, on hia best form, reads to have a good chance : anjl Apollodoris, in being allotted 7.0. has abo~ut as much as he is entitled to, and the same remark applies to Koputai. who beat Tirole 0, Timarsu over a mile in the autumn, when in receipt of 81b. At the present stage, to name one likely to supply the winner of what reads an open race, the selection, of Bulawayo is made. Acceptances ar« due on Friday next, and a final selec-

tion for the various events will be hazarded prior to the meeting.