CAP AND JACKET

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 31, 16 April 1881, Page 332

CAP AND JACKET

THE COMING RACES. By "Old Turfite." The general entries for the Autumn Meeting are far larger than was anticipated, thirty-five horses being engaged in the different events. Many of them are, however, entered four and five times ; therefore, till the numbers go up, and the intention of their owners is known, the public had better leave them alone. The fields on the first day will, in all probability, be pretty fair ; but on the second, backers ought to have a pretty good chance of picking the winners, as the horses form Avill have been "been much discounted by previous running. The acceptances for the Easter Handicap and Steeplechase are not very good, only ten out of the original twenty -four entries crying content ; while in the latter there are only seven acceptances out of fourteen entries. The handicaps, when they first appeared, were declared by the "cognoscenti " to be anything but good, the compilers having been unduly severe on Libeller and Yatapa. The acceptances have proved that the public, who, afterall, are generally the best judges, were right, and that the weights were not adjusted with proper care. Taking the Easter Handicap first. Foul Play heads the list, as might be expected, with 9st. Slbs. At this weight he has nothing to complain of. At the Auckland Summer Meeting he romped home for the Auckland Cup and Plate. Since then he has run very badly ; but I hear that Proh'tt has him now in capital form. If so, he should render a good account of himself. Ariel (Bst. 4lbs.) I have no fancy for, as I think his day is past; still if he runs (which is doubtful), and the course is heavy, he may bear his popular owner's colours into a situation. Sir George (Sst.) has got rather a heavy weight on him for a three year old, still it is not more than he is entitled ' to. With 6st. lOlbs. he ran home an easy winner for the Wanganui Cup, much to his stable's astonishment, as they preferred the chance of Libeller ; and at the same meeting he won the Flying Handicap, with 6st. 7lbs., from some speedy cattle, thus proving that he can both stay and go fast. He is meeting Dan and King Quail — the former on Gibs, better, and the latter on only olbs. worse terms. Maori (7st. 71bs.) is one of the great blots in the Handicap, as, if he runs up to anything like his form, or even as well as he did the first day in the Waikato, there is nothing else in it. He is, however, one of the biggest rogues that ever looked through a bridle, and one capable of breaking anyone who continues to back him ; still that is no reason why the handicappers should ignore previous performances and handicap him on his Dargaville and Henderson's Mill running. This time he may, with his light weight, take it into his head to go in front and keep there. Maid of Honour (7s t. 71bs.) Ido not fancy; moreover, I am informed that she will not start. Dan (7st. Bibs.) and King Quail (7st. olbs.) are held safe on paper by Sir George. Matau (7st. olbs.) is made a great favourite, but on what grounds I am at a loss to know unless he had an immense lot in hand in the Taranaki Jockey Club Handicap, as he is meeting Dan on 1S1I)., and King Quail on lulb. worse terms. They also in turn are held safe by Sir George. Tim WhifHer (6st. 101 b.) is a nice little colt, but I doubt his beingfit enough to get two miles in this company, and some of the shorter races will suit him better. Ranenata (6st.) is out of place. In summing up, I prefer the chances of Sir George, Foul Play, and King Quail, in the order named, though Maori may take it into his head to get hold of his bit for once and come right through. The Steeplechase is always a dangerous event to touch on, especially over the Auckland course, as the race does not always fall to the best horse, but often to the best jumper. The acceptances are poor in the extreme. Lone Hand (12st. 71bs.) heads the list, and if his jockey can keep him straight he ought to run forward ; bxit lie has never gone straight over this course, and I doubt his doing it this time. Matau (list. 121 b.) has a good turn of speed, and report says that he is a good fencer ; but never having seen him I can form no opinion on the point, except by report. Sportsman (lOst. 71b.) reads well ; he is one of those genuine horses that always runs up to his form, though he is deficient in speed. Harkaway (lOst. 21bs.), I doubt, will not get the course ; and Ranenata (lOst), Argyle (lOst.), and Whakahehu (lOst.) I know little about, and do not fancy them from what I know. The race, I think, will lay between the three top weights, and of these I prefer the chance of Sportsman, with Matau next. + The racing commence on Monday with the Tradesmen's Handicap, of 50sovs., 1 mile, which has an entry of fourteen. The weights appear to have been pretty fairly adjusted, though, as many of the horses have other more valuable engagements on the same day, it is useless to attempt to pick the winners until the acceptances appear. Paramena (7st. 71bs.) and Maid of Honor (Sst. 2lbs.), however, read as well in as anything. The Ellerslie Handicap of lOOsovs., £ mile, for two and three year olds, has an entry of eight. Sir George (Sst. lOlbs.) reads the. best, but I think he will be kept for the Easter Handicap. Kenihvorth (7st. Slbs.) and Tim WhifHer (7st. 121b5.) are handicapped pretty well together, but I prefer the former. Miss Domett (7st. 21bs. ) is a speedy mare but a most uncertain one. The same remarks apply to Rifleman (6st. lOlbs.) These two are sure to give some trouble at the post. Rosarina (Gst. lOlbs. ) is a fair filly when fit, biit all the summer she has been dead amiss and I doubt her being now in condition. The Slander filly (6st. ) is a useful one, but Ido not think she is able to beat some of the three-year-olds at the weights. Tenambra (6st.) is a dark one, but, from the short time she has been in training,

she must be a real clinker if she is able to finish in the front rank. I prefer the chance of Kenihvorth (as he has been prepared especially for this race) the most ; but it is a dangerous event to touch until the numbers go up. The Hurdle Race has eight engaged. The weights I am sorry to see come down to as low as 9st. I cannot understand why sonic handicappers will persist in ignoring the Grand National I Rules. These light weights are detrimental to sport, and all true lovers of racing must regret jto see them persisted in. If a horse cannot ! cany lOst. over sticks he had better have his throat cut. Lone Hand (12st. 71bs.) is all there | if he only runs straight and has a good man on j his back. Matau (list. lOlbs.) comes next. He is 1 a smart horse over hurdles, but why he should have had this weight allotted to him I am at a loss to conceive. At Taranaki, in the Hurdle Race, he gave Morning Star 181 b., and was beaten by a head after a slashing race. He is now called upon to give him 24lbs. Harkaway (lOst. Slbs.) and Rewenata (lOst. slbs.) I do not fancy. Morning Star (lOst.), from his running at Taranaki, reads as well in as any tiling" Whitefoot (lOst.) has nothing to complain of, but he is one of those uncertain horses that it is never safe to trust. Lady Grey (9st. 51 bs.) is not one of the safest jumpers, and the hurdles will not stand taking a liberty with. Whakaliihi I know nothing about. Taking all things into consideration, I prefer the chances of Lone Hand and Morning Star ; the latter for choice. The five entered for the Novel Handicap are so poor in quality that I will not make any remarks on it. The Publicans' Purse of o'Osovs., K miles, weight-for-age, has eight entries. Most of them have engagements earlier in the day, therefore it will greatly depend on previous running ; but on paper I prefer the chances of Maid of Honor and $ir George. The second day's racing commences with Flying Stakes of oOsovs., 1 mile, weight-for-age, with penalties. This race lias the same horses engaged (with the exception of Maori) as in the Publicans' Purse, therefore it is greatly dependant on the running in that race ; still 1 fancy that the Maid of Honor will again be returned the winner. The Steeplechase I have already treated. The weights for tlie Autumn and Shorts Handicaps do not appear till the evening before. The Selling Race of 1} miles reads a good thing for Paramcna, if in anthing like his summer form. In writing these notes I am of course labouring under great disadvantages, as many of the horses are engaged in several races, and the acceptances do not come out till after this will appear in print ; Ido not, however, think they will be very far out. Since the above was in type I am told that Sir George is a certain runner for the Cup, and that the owner of Matau, being disgusted with his weight, lias scratched him for the Hurdle Race.