TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 46

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel.

THE OTAGO STEEPLES,

The ICOOsovs stakes attached to the Otago Steeplechase attracted a good field, but the possible strength likely to be found at the post will not be known until after the declaration of acceptances. Vascular has only to stand up to his work to be the most likely one to start favourite. He landed a double at Timaxu, and won in such fine style on the second day that the manner in which he scored proved him to be a very much better horse than on the first day. The Wingatui country is anything but easy, and in that' respect requires perhaps more " getting" than any other course in New Zealand; hence a jumper's chance has always to be well considered. Only two completed the course without' mishap last year, when Stone Ginger and Palladio dead-heated from the remounted Sylva, who on that occasion looked a likely winner, when Zarkoma brought him down at the third last jump. Sylva's display at Timaru was not too encouraging, but the race should sharpen him up, and he may prove the best of the light-weights. Of the others_ Crib made, b poor show at Oamaru, and is probably on the verge of going amiss in the wind. A better idea on the point may be furnished by the acceptances. Silver Spire and Palladio have both been shaping: well in the south, but Zarkoma gave himself a severe gash on the arm when he fell at Gore, and would then have to be stopped in his work in consequence. The presence of the North Islanders —Foeman, Tirau, Bollin. Diavolo, "and Styrax —would help to buiid up the interest in the race. The fact of a three days' card being on offer may tempt them to make the journey. Foeman may prove the best of .the northern brigade. At the present time the strength of the field is rather problematical; but it at least should furnish an interesting race.

THE DUNEDIN WINTER MEETING. The experiment of launching out with a three days' programme in connection 'with the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting naturally aroused far more interest than usual in the gathering. Horse-owners made a good response by way of nominations, and, with favourable weather, each card should attract a very large attendance. Evidence that the enclosures are likely to be well filled is supplied by the fact that all the accommodation at the principal hotels was booked up for the week some time ago. Last week the race tracks at Wingatui were unusually hard for the time of the year, and the wet weather which set in early this week will do a tremendous amount of good by improving the going to the happy medium, let it be hoped, of soft enough for jumping, but not so deep as to prevent horses from racing near the top of the ground. The field to contest the Birthday Handicap will _ not be strong in either numbers or quality, and there is • no doubt the club would have received a far larger list for the race if the 10-furlong journey had been retained. Eorke's Drift pulled up very lame after galloping on Saturday, and is not likely to be seen out at the meeting. Wardancer comes next on the list, and if he can reproduce the form ho showed when carryin 8.4 into second place to Margerine in the Dunedin Cup of last Fenson, ho should be a rather tough proposition for the opposition. He appeared at the C.J.C. Great

Autumn meeting, and finished fifth in tho Courtonoy Welter, won by Gamecock, with Sisyphus and John Barleycorn in tho places. On that occasion he was giving Sisyphus 271 b and John Barleycorn 41b. He has been kept up to tho mark, as it will be seen that he meets them on very little better terms. Going back to his best form, however, Wardancer reads well enough treated, as he was getting 91b from Rorko's Drift when ho heat him out of a, Elace in tho Dunedin Cup, and next week e was down to meet him at 161 b. John Barleycorn has showed a return to something like his best form by winning at Timaru and Oamaru. He was giving Sisyphus 231 b when tho latter beat him a head in the Courteney Welter, and now meets him on 221 b. The Sarto gelding a 3 a proved stayer reads nicely treated in the light of recent form. Marsa was distinctly soro when on the Wingatui course last week, but the sting will now be out of tho ground. She made no show when racing at the Great Autumn meeting, and has nono the best of it on paper in meeting Eleus on tho same terms as when tho latter won the Final Handicap. She was giving him 91b in the Southland Cup, and he beat her in the Awaxua Handicap when in receipt of 191 b. Since then Eleus ha* trained on, and won at Gore and Riccarton. He stays well, and will probably prove one of the best horses owned in Southland. Burrangong won the Oamaru Cup, and ran a really good race in coming round tho field and finishing right with the placed lot in the mile and a-quarter race, run on the second day of tho Oamaru meeting. He is now asked to meet Eleus at 131 b worse terms than in the Oamaru Cup, and it is rather doubtful if he can do so with success. Burrangong was receiving 131 b from John Barleycorn in the 10-furlong race, in which both had a bad run. and the latter should beat him again at an_ extra 21b. Burrangong, however, was finishing strongly at tho end, and was galloping, as if a little extra distance would not stop him. Tin Soldier appears to hold a remote chance on paper with John Barleycorn and Burrangong, as the former beat him out of a place at 181 b, and now allows an additional 41b, and. Burrangong meets him on only 21b worse terms. Samiel on his best form should help to make things interesting. In the spring he won the October Welter with 8.12, and followed by capturing the Ranfurly Handicap with 7.8. Ho won at the recent Riverton meeting, and is apparently in racinjr shape. Highwater was twice placed at Riverton, but her best recommendation is the win in the Birthday Handicap of 1917. Sisyphus has been mentioned abovo, and as he beat Thistledown a head when giving him 201 b oyer 10 furlongs at Oamaru, he looks certain to beat him, if there is anything in handicapping, at even weights over 12 furlongs. Probably when the betting ends it will be found that Wardancer, Eleus, and John Barleycorn will receive - most attention from punters. AN IMPORTANT SALE. An important sal© will take place next week at Wingatui, when Mr H. Friedlander will offer all his horses in training, and in addition some untried young stock and brood mares. Students of public form should know all about Mohawk, Royal Star, Cave Rock, Sleepy Head, Linden, Marjery, and Sedd-el-Bahr. The last-named underwent an operation for respiratory organ troubles some time ago, and that may make possible buyers timid. It, however, is worthy of note that Euripos and Bore, two recent winners over a country and distance, have obviously benefited by the same treatment. Sound and well, Royal Star, Cave Rock, Marjery, Sleepy Head, and Linden should certainly pay their way on the racecourse, and the fillies also carry good value as breeding possibilities. Marjery is one of the speediest two-year-olds seen out this season, and her form through Sunart at Oamaru makes her close to the best of the year. Sleeply Head has shown brilliancy, and it should not be forgotten that she comes from a good staying line. The two-year-olds Too Cnow, Calauria, Samum, Red Mac, and the Eng-lish-bred Glamis should not be discarded through lack of form in public. As a matter o"f fact, the stiff, clayey going at Wingatui does not help the development of youngsters, and they may prove very much better than superficial knowledge of their form may suggest. Tho lack of a ' winter track at Wingatui is a great hindrance to trainers handling youngsters, and the going at that time of the year tends to drag the sneed out of baby equines instead of building them up. That is particularly so in a bad season. The yearlings can speak for themselves when they enter the ring, and of the brood mares special attention is drawn to Gowanbrae, the young daughter of Treadmill and Bonnie Brae, who is being sold in a good cause. Gowanbrae (sister to Heather-brae, Briar Patch, and Brambletye) is a member of the successful No. 14 farmily, and was got by Treadmill, son of the St. Simon horse Bill o' Portland, from Bonnie Brae, by Clanranald —Golden Crest, by Apremont. In addition Mr J. F. Reid is offering threo youngsters. list consists of a Solferino —Raid gelding, a Solferino —Elain© filly, and a Canine Chiel—Northern Light gleding. THE NORTH OTAGO MEETING. The North Otago Jockey Club's winter meeting proved to be one of the most successful ever held on the course, and it stands as a good augury for future gatherings that the attendances on the first day seemed to be a record for a face meeting held in the White City. . The card for both days supplied some particlularly interesting racing, of which the only discordant note was that made by the long-delayed start for the principal event on the second day's card. Far too much consideration was allowed Claverhouse to the detriment of the well-behaved horses in the field. To hold up a field for over 20 minutes because one mule-headed is at the post but declines to leave it is beyond the bounds of tolerance, and all notoriously bad horses at the barrier should not receive half so much consideration. If Claverhouse had managed to win it is safe to say that a section of the attendance would have made a big noise. Apart from this, however, the meeting went smoothly right through the piece, and left a pleasant impression on those who aro anxious to see the North Otago meetings flourish and prosper in efforts to cater for the sport.

THE AUCKLAND WINTER MEETING. The Auckland Racing Club's Great Northern meeting looms up in the near future, and will, as usual, bo followed with a. great deal of interest. Killard, who has shown his best form in the South Island, is amongst the acceptors for the

Connolly Handicap, and a small but goodquality field stands in tho Great Northern Hurdles. Pareora, Art, Sleight of Hand, Kauri King. Euripos, Master Lupin, and Sir Fisher should supply a good battle for supremacy.