TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 47

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bj Sentinel THE DUNEDIN SUMMER MEETING. Wingatui is quite at its best at the slimmer meeting, and anyone fond of a day's sport" can enjoy it there under pleasant circumstances. This year there will be only a one-day card on offer; but Boxing Day is such a splendid date, which sets all and sundry free, that an excellent attendance should be assured. The 7st minimum adopted by the Dunedin Jockey Club might naturally be responsible for a slightly higher scale of weights than usual; but a glance at the various handicaps will show that Mr J. E. Henrys has given every consideration to the top-weights, and not asked them to race under any. extra burden because the tail of the handicap has 71b extra. Where the 7st minimum comes in use it w-M bo noticed that Rorke's Drift, in the Otago Handicap, of 500sovs, one mile and a-quartcr, has only 61b more than the regulation Sst, which is the lowest allowed under racing law; and in the Federal and Farewell Handicaps he also shows every consideration to those in tho pride of place. The higher scalo of weights is all in favour of such a horse as Rorke's Drift, as he has proved himself a capable performer under substantial burdens, and is such a fine, strong sort that welterracing decs not hamper a display of his best form. At 9.6 he is asked to concede 51b to Ardenvhor, and with that pound l age comes in on better terms than when they last met over the distance, when the Martian horse ran second to Thaddous at Timaru. Rorke's •Drift, on that occasion, carried 9.9, and was giving 101 b to Ardenvhor, whilst the Calibre gelding was < close up. Over ,the extra quarter of a mile Rorke's Drift, who showed at the New Zealand Cup (although he did not win) may be in better condition than the other, and_ also a better horse at tho scale of weights. Margerine has wan over a mile and a-qnar-ter, but under less than she is asked to carry in the Otago Handicap. She won the St. Andrew's Handicap with at the last Wingatui summer meeting, when R-dPko's Drift was unplaced with 9.11. The Calibre gelding won the Otago Handicap with 8.8. in 2.34, and on their last running at Wingatui Margerine now meets him on 171 b worse terms. Marserine also won at the North Otago mooting over - mile, but failed over an extra quarter on the second day. She, however, should now be a better stayer than she was 12 months ago. At the New Zealand Cup meeting Rorke's Drift made a bold show in_ tSfe principal event by piloting the way into the straight in a fast-run race. Ho finished fifth m tho

Jockey Club Handicap, and the merit of his form on that occasion is displayed when it is recalled that the placed lot were Fiery Cross, Teka, and Seadown. Margerine was in the field, getting 201 b from Rorke's Drift, and as tho proved stayer of the two the latter reads well treated in coming in at Wir.gatui on 51b better terms. In tho Metropolitan Rorke's Drift finished fourth to Teka, Multiply, and Johnny Walker, and hero again his form is very good but unlucky'; and even though Margerine, under a light burden, subsequently won the Fendalton, Rorke's Drift seems to have an excellent ohance of beating her, at the weights and distance, in the Otago Handicap. Maro Antony has been running out of form _ for some considerable time, and before giving him even a chance on paper should havo some indication that he is in condition to go something near his best running. He has been allowed a few pounds on his luck, and has at least that much in his favour if landed at the post. Marsa was handicapped to receive 51b from Maro Antony at the Timaru autumn meeting, and in tho last Birthday % Handicap beat him when finishing second to Highwater when in receipt of lib from the son of Volodia. On that form she looks fairly safo to beat him again at the same margin, as she is the more likely to be in condition to repeat. Marea, however, has more the best of it through Rorke's Drift, who meets her on just about the same terms as when ho finished in front of her in the New Zealand Cup and J.C. Handicap Jock failed at Wingatui; but at the Gore meeting he won in rather attractive style when tho field, apart from Thaddeus, was not, however, a very formidable one. At the Dunedin winter meeting, it will be remembered, ho won in hollow fashion, and at his best would lend interest to the race. Battle Eve will probably run at Timaru, and that should supply a ?ood line as to his chance at Wingatui. Ho made a bold show in tho Metropolitan, and should strip a much better horse if raced at Wingatui, where he meets Rorke's Drift on- 31b better terms. Battle Eve will have to improve, or Rorke's Drift will beat him again at the concession. Kauwhero is an improving sort, and one likely to go on\ improving. For his success in the Winton Cup he meets Jock on 111 b and Aviation on 71b worso terms, and as he won a#ain on the second day cannot be considered a harshly-treated horse. Tho trio, at the minimum, have 71b more to carry than they would under ordinary circumstances, and the acceptances will shows what their owners think of the situation, i THE AUCKLAND CUP MEETING.' Amongst the many racing events which will take place on Boxing Day it is safe to say that chief interest will be centred in the Auckland Cup, for which the final payments have just been declared, xxn excellent field of 18 still remains, and, from all accounts, there is not likely to be much further shrinkage in the numbers. > The N.Z. Cup winner, Menelaus, occupies the pride of place at the head of the list with 8.12, or an increase of 111 b over the burden he carried at Riccarton. Menelaus finished with great resolution on that occasion, and, as he meets his stable companion Johnny Walker on 31b better terms at about a stone higher scale of weights, he should beat him again. The stable has, however, another candidate engaged in the shape of Seadown, and if he has given a satisfactory response to a trial with the two Martians he is obviously a dangerous horse. Seadown must have shown something fairly good, or surely he would not bump against two proved stable companions. Fiery Cross has been doing a 1 good solid preparation for the race since ho won at the Cup meeting, and, as he is rather well treated through Snub, he holds very good prospects. He has been handicapped as a nonstayer; but that is an assumption likely to bo upset. Snub ran a really good race in the N.Z. Cup, in which very little in his favour would have placed him first instead of a close third. Ho now meets Menelaus on 81b and Johnny Walker on 111 b better terms, and a repetition of his Riccarton form over two miles should see him giving those from J. Lowe's stable a good deal of trouble, as the poundage in his favour should teil a tale a." the end of two miles. Adjutant has a handy weight, and as. he has beaten Snub decisively over a mile and a-half at even weights in the Midsummer Handicap, and followed it up by another good effort in the Great Autumn, he is one that cannot be ignored. Still, if the Auckland Cup comes to the south, either Snub or Fiery Cross may prove the means of gathering the spoils of war. It was pointed out when the handicap appeared that some very wide margins had been made. For instance, Multifual meets Menelaus on 201 b and Johnny Walker on 231 b better terms, and ic is interesting to note that the Multifid gelding still figures in the field. The consistent Teka is also another that remains in the Auckland Cup ; but he looks very badly treated in going up 111b —the same amount a- Menelaus. Toa Tore has a lot of friends, and Mullingar finished almost on terms with Snub in Ardenvhor's cup. Johnny : Walkor should, at least, beat those who follow him in the list, unless they are above tho ordinary : but as Rebel ran a fair race in the last Great Northern Derby, and is apparently fancied, he may be found helping to make things interesting. A smart lot of sprinters are engaged in the Railway Handicap, and it is a race which will require a pood deal of winning. Form points towards Nanna, who is a brilliant beginner, and can be relied upon to run a merry six furlongs. The stable has also another very dangerous arrow in its quiver in the shane of Hymestra. Form Up won tho Stewards' after getting badly away, and in scoring under such a disadvantage put up a rather remarkable- performance. This suggests that he should again beat Croesus and Wrestler. Gazique may get nearer the money than he did at Riccarton, as there h no doubt he is fairly brilliant, and he has a handy weight. He also got badly away in the Stewards': but, _ although he failed in subsequent efforts, it is perhaps worthy of note that he ran one of the best half miles put up at Riccarton on the eve of the Cup meeting. It will be interesting to note how Hymestra gets on with Estland if they should meet in the Derby, and the two-year-old events should provide some excellent sport with so many good sorts engaged. CONSISTENCY. A very frequent and unchallenged statement is the oft-recurring remark that horses are not machines. It seems to have become so generally accepted without question that it is now indeed quite a castiron phrase, apparently ..as unbreakable as the laws of tho Medes and the Persians. Nearly evei\y variation of form is accounted for by the so-called fact that horse 3

arc not machines, and cannot be expected to run with tho consistent regularity ol a machine. Those that hold and express such an opinion in its cast-iron aspect are welcome to it; still the writer ventures to claim that nothing is further . trom the truth, and, on tho contrary, olaims that nothing is moro consistent than a thoroughbred he and well —not, bear in mind, looking well and pretty so far as a brignt and blooming coat is concerned, but really lit and reacty to race. Looking well and being fit • and well may bo two totally different things so far as a racehorse is concerned. The consistency of a genuine racehorse, capably 'trained, is simply little short of marvellous. One has only to recall and think over the triumphant which a genuine horse of good class frequently makes through its racing career to readily allow a very liberal discount or completely wipe out the shallow statement that horses are not machines, and consider it little ehort of an unwarrantable libel on thrj noble and courageous thoroughbred. A genuine racehorse, fit and well and honestly run, will show the top of his form 'time .after time and season after season. In fact, horses are so much superior to machines that they improve with age and work, and are invariably expected to do so, until, of course, tho natural deterioration which is the lot of all animals sets in. Think and ponder over the deeds of tho best racehorses that havo made racing history, and one cannot but marvel over the clockwork regularity with which they reproduced form to an ounce time after time, or, better still, excelled previous efforts which might have been accepted as the absolute apex of their form. Think, for instance, of our equine idol r Carbine, with his unbeaten two-year-old career, and who never ran a really bad race whenever he sported silk. He suffered defeat, but. not through inconsistency. Others may have been his superior on some particular day or other through unsuitable going, horsemanship, or perhaps just plain solid superiority. There is, however, a vast difference between superiority and inconsistency. Many a dofeat attributed to inconsistency may bo really due to superiority, the luck of the race, the weights, or something which on close analysis is not explainable by mere inconsistency. Carbine's defeat in the Derby was not due to inconsistency, and when Marvel beat him over a mile it was, if memory is not at fault, due to being raced barefdoted on wet ground, or perhaps it really was superiority at the time over that particular distance. He was consistent at weight-for-age, and in handicaps was always there or thereabouts. So also were his most stalwart rivals, Abercorn, Melos, The Australian Peer, and also Lochiel. Consistency is a jewel, and Carbine was an equine jewel of Consistency. He ran in 43 races, scored 33 wins, six seconds, three thirds, and was only once unplaced. What better evidence could one supply of clockwork consistency, and those who defeated him or seriously challenged his success were just as reliable as the world-famous son of Musket and Mersey. . Outstanding racing merit such as that exhibited by Ormonde, St. Simon, Barcaldine, and other cracks was always on hand when required, and the same remark applies to latter : day champions, such as Desert Gold. Even amongst the rank and file of handicap horses the majority will run to the book when ripe, and ready. Take, for instance, Snub, who has been deemed a quitter.; but when raced at his distance what could be more consistent than two good placed performances in the New Zealand Cup and another in tho Auckland Cup on the only occasions on which he has contested these events? Many other cases of consistent form shown by handicap performers could be quoted; but let it suffice with that of an alleged rogue in Snub, who has run some bad races over short courses or on smallish tracks. It is immaterial whether a horse is a good or moderate Get them fit and well, and if run in their class and at their right distance there will not be much inconsistency in their form. They may find a better horse at the weights, but one should not be disappointed or babble about inconsistency if a horse is defeated on an unsuitable track or going or at a distance not identified with its beet form.