CAP AND JACKET

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 52, 10 September 1881, Page 620

CAP AND JACKET

MY NOTE BOOK,

By "Sato."

" Is Saul also amongst the proi>liets."

—The Stud Company's mares arrived, per Albion, on "Wednesday. — Prince's sti-ing arrived safe and well in Melbourne, per Te Anau. — It is doubtful whether Monmouth started for the Australian Derby. — Wave, the dam of Virginia Water, has dropped a bay filly to Albany, — Hcsperian'a price for the Melbourne Cup is now 100 to 10. — Mr Edgar has sold Ariel to Mr Seagar Buckland. Price, £380. — During the -week, Mata has been freely backed for the Canterbury Cup at 100 to 33. — Dauphin is first favourite for the Christchurch Derby, the Peeress colt being next in demand. — Patsy Butler lias sold the entire Fiction to Mr T. Cook, of Palnierston South, for 200 guineas. — Latest betting at Christclmrch Tattersalls : — C.J.C. Handicap— loo to 20, Grip ; 100 to 15 each, Libeller and Lady Emma ; 100 to 10, Louis d'Or. — Since the Sydney Derby was run, Wheat ear has been backed in Auckland at 100 to 6, Sardonyx at 100 to 5, and Gem at 100 to 4 for the Melbourne Cup. — Mr Nosworthy has at his stables near Christchurch a speedy looking two-year-old sister to the Governor, by Anteros-Eevoke. — The double event of Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup has only once been brought off by the same horse, viz., in 1167, by Tim Whiffler. — A correspondent from Waitara, Taranaki, informs me that the Yaitendon-Gnlnare filly purchased some time since by Mr Matthews is for sale. — W. Frewin, a trainer and jockey, who can ride Bst. 71bs., is at present in want of a billet. Address, Choketon, Christchurch. — It is reported that Mr Donald Frazer intends selling all bis horses very shortly. A capital lot of animals will be offered, if he does not alter his determination. — Bylong will not f ulfil any of his engagements at the Napier meeting, for what reason is not known, as he appears to be very well treated. — Camballo has been sent to Calcutta. He is consigned to Lord William Beresford (" Ulundi Bill "), one of the leading lights of the Indian turf. — What a pity it is Thebais is not in the Leger. The race would then be something more than a match between Iroquois and Peregrine. — I am not addicted to vexatious complaint, but it does seem a lectio "rough" for southern sporting scribes to clip my notes, and then attribute them to "Phaeton." — The Barb and Grand Flaneur are the only horses that have secured the double event of A.J.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup. — Mr James Thomas, of Amberley, lost a thoroughbred calt, by Guy Faux, last week. This makes eights colts and horses he has lost this season. Overfeeding is supposed to be the cause of death. — Mr J. Hart died in Adelaide a few days ago. The deceased gentleman took great interest in sporting matters, and was the owner of Lavinia, who ran a dead heat with "Welcome Jack for the Maribyrnong Plate. — Hesperian won the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap last year, and was an immense favourite for the Metropolitan, but could get no nearer than second to the Pontiff, who won by a length. — Upon only nine occasions has the Epsom Derby winner proved successful in the St. Leger, the cases in point being those of Champion, Surplice, Flying Dutchman, "West Australian, Voltigeur, Blair Athol, Gladiateur, Lord Lyon, and Silvio. — Monnmoutli won the mile Hawkesbury Guineas easily, but only just got home a head in front of the Gem for the mile and a quarter Mares' Produce Stakes. Evidently, then, the mile and a-half A.J.C Derby was too much for him. — The great interest taken in Australian racing by Aucklandera was evinced by the crowds who thronged the Thistle Hotel on SaUirday and Tuesday evenings, to learn the result of the Sydney Derby and Metropolitan. — A "sport" now in Christchurch ■writes: — " Very little betting doing here just now, partly in consequence of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, and partly because of the big knock the public got over Soninus and Sir Modred." — The Waxy that ran second in this year's Metropolitan is not the Waxy that was third for the Melbourne Cup of 1878. This one is by Gemma de Vergy out of Queen Bee, and will only carry sst. lOlbs at ITleinington, so that he ought to make a good show. — Some excitement has been caused at the Christcliurch Tattersalls during the week by the backing of Mr Stead's Louis dOr for the C.J.C. To begin with, 500 to 30 was booked, after which 1000 to 100 found a taker. Lotiis dOr is by Traducer, out of the imported mare Eupee. — It would save " Phrcton " a lot of trouble if, instead of re-writing " Saul's " notes, he cut out the column bodily, and transferred it to the Weekly News and Hei-old. — During the week there has been a lot of betting on the Sydney Kaces and coming Melbourne Cup. After the telegram announcing the result of the Metropolitan was fixed up in the Thistle Hotel, " the talent" assembled there in force, and liberal offers on the field for the great race of the year went begging. — Result of the Sydney Metropolitan : — Mr J. Mayo's eh h Hesperian, by Yattendon— Silver Bell, syrs., 7st. 81bs., Ist ; Mr It. Rouse's br h Waxy, by Gemma de Vergy— Queen Bee, 6yrs., 6st. 51bs., 2nd ; Mr C. G. Baldock's b h Wellington, by Panic— -Frou Frou, 6yrs., Bst. 121b5., 3rd. Twenty-one horses started. — "Martindale " has been visiting Middle Park to see the foals by King of Clubs. He thinks Charm's colt the neatest, though the youngsters by Idalia and Bed Kose are remarkably well developed. The week before last, Aglia foaled ti fine chesnut colt to the same sire. — Horses placed in the Sydney Metropolitan are generally good goods for the Melbourne Cup. Warrior (the Cup winner of 1869) ran third in the Metropolitan ; so did The Quack (1872), and The Pearl (1871) was second. Goldsborough was placed in both events, and Dagworth, the winner of the 1872 Metropolitan, was placed in the Cups of both 1872 and 1873. • — " Spectator " says Banshee "is likely to go to the West Coast for the spring meetings, and will probably be taken to Auckland, to run in January. Her owner intends getting her served by Musket, and I should say the union would prove a successful one, as Banshee is a fine roomy mare, and should make n. good Stud matron." — " Martindale," says Mr Mitchell, has placed his two colts in Sam Powell's hands to be trained. One is a three-year-old by Maroro, dam Malvina ; the other, named Tasman, is one of Mr Eady's shipment, a two-year-old by the Blair Athol horse St. Albans, from Zillah by Peter Wilkins. This colt is closely related on the dam's side to Quamby. — At the special meeting of the V.R.C., to be held on Monday, the 22nd proximo, the following motion was to be considered : — " That the minimum weight in any handicap on the flat shall be 6st. for three-year-olds and upwards, and that in steeplechases or hurdle races the lninhmuu shall be 9st., or to alter in any way the members may determine the present.low scale of weights in handicaps." — " Soukar," of the Wanganui Herald, says the price Mr Morrin paid for King Don was £130. He winds up an extravagant eulogy of the steeplechaser thus : — " During this horse's whole racing career he has never been known to refuse a single fence, and in the last nine races for which he started he has only made one mistake, and that was caused through jumping onjanother animal and by no fault of his."

— Wheatear, the winner of the Australian Derby, is a half-brother to Warhawk (the third in the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap) by Epigram, and belongs to Captain Osborne. The colt mode his first appearance at the A.J.C. Autumn Meeting, where he won the Maiden Stakes, ran second to Somerset for the Substitute Stakes, and won the Nursery Handicap. He is engaged in the Melbourne Cup (6st fibs) and Champion Stakes, but not in the V.X.C. Derby. — The field for the St. Leger, run on Wednesday next, will not in all probability be a large one, and may be made up as follows :— Mr Lorillard's Iroquois, ridden by Jeffery ; Lord Alington's Peregrine, ridden by Archer ; Mr Crawfurd's St. Louis, ridden by Fordham; Mr Gretton's Geologist, ridden by Cannon; M. Lefevre's Maskelyne, ridden by Goater; Mr Jardine's Ishmael, ridden by J. Osborne ; Prince Soltykoil's Scobell, ridden by Webb ; and Mr Perkins" Lucy Glitters, ridden by Snowden. — The Australasian of the 20th ult. says, "The sensational wagers of 10,000 to 400 booked last week about Prince George for the Maribyrnong, and 10,000 to 400 against Chatterer for the Melbourne Cup, have formed the principal topic of conversation in betting circles this week. There has been little business of consequence. Segenhoe has increased in favour for the Maribyrnong Plate, and 100 to 8 has been taken. There is no change to record in the Derby betting, and for the Cup the only altei'ation we have to record is the advance of Sir Modred, about whom 2,000 to 100 has been pencilled down." — On Wednesday morning, I paid an early visit to the Kohimarama stables, the property of the late Mr James Watt. This well-known training ground has been leased by Donald Taylor, and possesses advantages tin surpasso Pdn the Auckland, district, having twelve splendidly built loose-boxes, well drained and ventilated, as well as an excellent course. Shortly after I arrived, the horses commenced work. Harkaway went three miles at a slow pace on the beach. This horse has improved very much since the Papnkura meeting, his lameness having entirely disappeared. Bawenata followed, doing two miles fnst work, and finishing very strong. Vampire, who looks very well, did slow work in clothing. Ace of Diamonds, now undergoing preparation for the Pakuranga meeting, had a steady gallop of two miles, going very free and well. — In the Doncaster St. Leger, run on Wednesday next, Peregrine and Iroquois will renew their Two Thousand and Derby struggles. When the mail left London, most of the sporting writers seemed to be of opiuion that Peregrine, like Stockwell, the Marquis, and Petrarch, will reverse the Derby running. The Americans, on the contrary, are of course staunch to their equine representative, and fully anticipate he will, by securing the double event, follow in the footsteps of Gladiateur, Lord Lyon, and Silvio. No one seems to anticipate a " turn up," but greater pots than Peregrine and Iroquois have "boiled over" at Doncaster. Old sports need not be reminded of what occurred in 1856, when the plater Saucebox, against whom 40 to 1 was offered vainly, beat the much-fancied Rifleman ; or of the 1861 race, in which the Derby winner, Kettledrum, succumbed to the 100 to 1 chance, Caller On. As a rule, however, favourites fare well in the Leger ; in fact, only i'our regular outsiders have won the race during the last twenty years.