RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 166, 19 August 1914, Page 9

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. August 29—Amberley Steeplechase Annual. September 2—Martoji J.C. Spring. September 9 —Dannevirke R.C. Steeplechase. September 10 and 11 —Ashburton County R.C, Spring. September 24 and 25 —Geraldine R.C. Spring ACCEPTANCES. August 24 —Amberloy Steeplechase Annual. August 25—Marton J.C. Spring. September I—Dannevirke1 —Dannevirke R.C. Steeplechase. September 4- —New Zealand Cup. September 4 —AshlniTton County R.C. Spring September 17 —Geraldine R.C. Spring.

TURF TOPICS.

It is hardly necessary to remind owners of light harness horses that entries for the New Zealand Trotting Cup fall due this evening. Already a number have been received by Mr Rattray, and when the full list comes to be made up at eight o'clock this evening it is probable that at least twenty horses will be named. Of the sixty-six horses handicapped for the New Zealand Cup, Merry Roe is the only one assessed as being up to ■weight-for-age form. As the result of their latest victories George and Iliads Hero will in future have to race in open company. The action of the Wanganui Jockey Club in abandoning its Spring Meeting has been generally censured. It will upset the arrangements of many trainers who were getting their charges ready for the fixture, and one writer suggests that there are other aspects of the matter which may be dealt with if the club does'not reconsider its decision.

Though it was announced some time back that Anna Carlovna had been sold to a Victorian studmaster, the New Zealander still hea<le the quotations for the Caulfiejd Cup.

Usually the best of the olds gets-at least weight-for-age in the New Zealand Cup handicap, but this season-Mr Henrys has evidently formed a poor opinion of their capabilities. In conformity-with'-the president of the Racing Conference's express wish the Amber!ey Steeplechase Club intends holding its annual meeting as ad : •vertised. The club fully recognises that more harm than good would be occasioned by a eurtailjsent of the national pastime. Of the 66 horses handicapped for the New Zealand Cup only a dozen have been ask ad to carry Bst or over.

In future no jockey \s retainer will be recognised in the Dominion unless it is in writing by the parties concerned and registered with the secretary of the Racing Conference. On actual performances Sinapis and Expect appear to be two of the best treated, horses in the New Zealand Cup. Handicap. The American sportsman, Mr H. B. Duryea, who won the English Derby this year, has accepted with three colts for next year's Derby, one of them being Muskateer, half-brother, by Irish Lad, to Durbar 11.

NEW ZEALAND CUP WEIG-HTS. A FLATTERING HANDICAP. The declaration of weights for the New Zealand Cup comes at a most opportune time, and will serve as • a debatable . topic to -.tide over the dead season of racing. Want of space will permit of nothing but the shortest review of the adjustments, and as form changes so quickly in the early season a detailed criticism at this time of year loses all its point a ''couple of months hence.

' It cannot be said that Mr Henrys has been at all severe on the top weights; indeed, it is somewhat unusual to find him starting the big handicap of the yarn' at 9st. Eveu so, the majority of early speculators will profit by the example of former years and confine their attention more to the middle weight division than to those at the head and the tail of the handicap. Such a proved stayer as Kilrain cannot be left out of calculations, but as he was amiss last autumn he would best be left, alone-till definite information as to his-likelihood' of standing" a preparation "is available. There is little-chance of Cherubim facing the music, while Merry Roe will, probably be kept for weight-for-a go events. ' Sinapis is a likely starter, and at Bst 9tfe," "which, is a pound less than she won .the Wanganui : Cup under, the St. Ambrose mare has been given a rare chance. . Sir Solo is. another quite capable of running out a solidly-run two miles, but on Wanganui Cup running he is very badly treated, through Sinapis. In. that event he Avas receiving a pound'from the mare, and finished a poor third. Now he is asked to meet her on equal terms. Bon Eeve ha? been handicapped on his Australian rather than his New Zealand form, a ml might have been let off with a. few pounds less. Expect is sure to be one of the early favourites, probably more from his associations than-from actual performances. He is not overweighted, and on Hawke's Bay Cup form is much to be preferred to Sea Pink. Bleriot, Prince Merriwee, and Kooya all seem too near Expect and Sinapis to have much chance. The better of. Mr Buchanan's pair, Tannhauser and Thrax, will assuredly have to be reckoned with for neither are overweighted. La Reina will probably be troubled by. the distance, and it is doubtful if Bed Book will be brought back from Australia* to I take .his place in the field. Of the half-dozen on the 7.11 mark, Warstep and Flora Macdonald read the best;, indeed, the fprmer seems to have very fair prospects. Sir Knox's owner has nothing to complain of, for in all his last season's essays the Sir Laddo gelding performed like one quite capable of running out a two-mile journey. So far all Multiply's essays have been made over short courses, but on breeding and conformation there seems no reason why he should not stay with the best of them. Given a special preparation for the race, he will be extremely • dangerous under such a handy Aveight as 7.9. Riianaui and Byron do not impress one as twomilers, but Royal Arms cannot be overlooked at 7.G. There seems little chance of Lord Renown, Palisade, or Peroneal seeing the post, though none of them are overburdened. In letting Hyettus and Balboa in at three' pounds less than weight-for-age, Mr Henrys pays the best of the three-year-olds a rather poor compliment, evidently looking on them as non-stayers. Specialforin and Portraiture, on the 7.0 mark, seem | equitably placed, and there are possijbilities about both of them. Should 'Shaki be the Karamu stable's elect, he i is sure to have a big following, Avhile j another pair of three-year-olds in jßlackall and Football have much to recommend them. Already rumour is busy Avith the former's name as likely I to be Mr Watts's representative on the I day, and if that is so the half-brother to Noctuiform is bound to see a short price. "'No less than eighteen of the entrants figure on the (5.7 mark, and I most of them haAe been flattered even ' by being entered for such a race. Al-

together Mr Henrys has produced a very flattering handicap, and lie cannot be accused of having sacrificed the. top weights in the interest of those at the bottom of the handicap. TEMPLAR.