CAP and JACKET

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 920, 22 August 1896, Page 19

CAP and JACKET

RACING FIXTURES, Nov. 9, 11 & 14— C.J.C. Spring. COURSING. Aug. 32— Auckland Coursing Club.

CAULFIELD AND MELBOURNE CUPS. The first acceptances for the two ever attractive mammoth events of spring racing in Melbourne closed early this month. There will not be another acceptance for some time. The next payment usually means a good weeding out, which cannot be said of the first, as the first acceptances for both Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have caused very little reduction in either list. I intend to have a short chat on these events, during which I shall point to inst a few of the horses whose names appear in the lißts, and which seem to me most likely to come to the post aod run well forward. It is not within the possibilities of Uie space at my command to more than briefly refer to what I consider the better: class animals at the weights, and taking into account other reasons which •cause me to fancy their chance, condense as much as possible their individual claims for comment.

Hopscotch has accepted for both events. Whilst there is a doubt as to his two mile ability, there is none regarding his quality as a weight-carrier. Which race he is likely to bo trained for will be revealed later. He will probably start in both. But his Melbourne Cup impost is ao much in his favour that it seems reasonable to suppose he may be reserved for that race. In either race I would respect his chance.

The es. Maorilander, Bloodshot, has the same weight in each race, viz., Hst 121 b. He is at a bad age for showing good form early in the saason, but Patron, Malua and others won their Melbourne Cups at four years old, though as yet only once has the Caulfield Cup beeu won by a horse of that age, and that. as far back as 188.!, wheu Calma was victor. Bloodshot did a deal of racing as a two- year-old, and was the great colt of hia year. Asa three- year old also he did good service to his then owner, Mr Stead, his best performance being to my mind, that of the Royal Stakes, when he beat Fabulist, St. Regel and others. During his New Zealand career Bloodshot was apparently trained only for short distances, and was raced, with one or two exceptions, only over distances of from four to six furlongs For this laat reason probably is deducible the prevalent opinion that Maxim's eon will fail over long distances. His contour, however, and also his breeding lines tend rather in favour of a reverse opinion, and if trained for long distance races I ao not see why he should not prove a really good stayer. Regarding his handicaps, perhaps he has quite as much weight as compared to other horses in the race, but if he prove able to gallop to the end of a journey like either Cups, his brilliancy will bring him well forward at the finish.

Three pounds below Bloodshot in the Caulfield Cup is Cremorne's name. Cremorne is now an aged gelding, and has in the records of New South Wales racing some as brilliant records as any horse now racing. As a four-year-old, Cremorne was almost invincible in the better class handicaps Sydney side. Weight seemed no trouble to the glorious gelding. He carried 9st 81b in the Final Handicap of the A.J.C Autumn that year, and ran the mile in lmin 2|secs ; and later, cut out the lh mile of B.T.C. Birthday Handicap in 2min 38isecs, with 9at 9lb in the saddle. Cremorne's running for the past two seasons hs-s been indifferent, and latterly he ha3, l believe, been in retirement. Recently, however, he was again taken up, and recont files tell us that he is showing a deal of promise to regain somewhat of his old form. If he again attains his best at Caulfield Cup time, I shall mark him as a very dangerous horse, for although his past two seasons' lack of form is sufficient excuse for the letting down by the handicapper, I feel certain there are very few in the race which would have any chance at all of beating Cremorne with Sat 91b up, if he were at, or nearly at, his best.

Dreamland has been a sort of a bogey. That is a natural outcome of a nightmare. Seriously, I believe Dreamland to be a good horse So far he has done little in tne way of real live performances to merit

much praise. He won the Marybyrong Plate as a two year-old. Favourite all through the following winter and early spring for the V R.C. Derby of that year, he early disappointed his fanciers by failing badly in the Caulfield Guineas, and has not so far non a race since his twoyear old performance. But ill-health has had more to do with his failure to fulfil his early promise than lack of quality as a racehorse. He comes of a great stock — sired by Trentou — and when his trainer does have tbe luck to bring him to the post for a big race, quite fit, I feel sure he will make amends for. .-past disappointments. Bnt I would not recommend him for an early investment, as, being a hard horse to train, the risk of bin falling out is too great. The Melbourne Cup will most likely be the race he will be tried for, aB, coming from a gceat staying family, and having also been tried as a three-year-old for a distance, I doubt not I am right in my conclusion.

Toreador is a doubtfully bred one. But whether by Chester or Abercoon, he is not of doubtful quality. But he is a racehorse, and bids fair to be a great one. I believe there is just a slightly suspicious look about his forelegs, but he seems to be training on well, and many Sydney backers are not afraid to make their early Cup investments on him. Toreador showed nd form as a two year old. Being a big built one he probably required time, and it may be will require to get over this season be fore we see the best of him. That is only assumption, however. But to better guage his qualifications for spring racing we must take into account his past season's form, which on the face of it is marked, if not excellent, at any rate, above the average three-year-olds. Toreador only won one race l»st season. Thiß was the Hawkesbury Clarendon Haudicap, ljm, 100 yds., which he won with tbe minimum weight in 2m 21s At the. A.J.C. Spring, he deadheated for third place in the Derby (won by Bob Ray), second to Quiver in the Randwick Plate, 3m. At the V R C Spring he was second to the Trier, in the Hotham Handicap, lim, run in 2m. HSsec ; deadheated for secoud place with Reconstruction in the Spring Haupicap, won by Mischief ; was third in the Spring Stakes, won by Oscalator; and later, at Sydney, finished second to Wallace in the Sydney Cup, 2m , run in 3m 21 sec Toreador is >\ four-year-old, and has Sst 41b in the Caulfield Cup, and Sat in the Melbourne Cup. His performances point to a staying ability of the very best order, and is built on lines for weight carrying. Sst is a feather weight to one of his build. The betting market points to the Melbourne Cup as likely to prove his bid, and other conditions alluded to point that way also I expect to see him figuring in the field for that event, and all being well with him, he will probably be one of my selections on the day.

Bob Ray, had he stood, would probably have proved the best three year- old of this year, as he was of the previous one. Bob Ray has exactly w.f a. in the Melbourne Cup, plus gelding allowance, viz , 9st. It will be remembered that after winning the A.J C Derby, and just when his prospects of winning also the V.R.C. blue riband looked most rosy, he most unfortunately went wrong, and has not raced since. He is again in work, and it is hoped no further trouble will be caused by reason of his ailment. If he trains on he will be a dangerous horse in the race, though I doubt his ability to give other improved four-year-olds a stone or more over two miles.

Next week I shall have something to say about a few others of like calibre to the foregoing, and attempt to sift out the most likely and profitable investment for either race.

A fancied Cup candidate in Aquarius pulled up lame after working at Caulfield the other day.

Melbourne Sportsman reports police raids on tote shops. One in particular is a bit amusing. Since one Saturday afternoon's haul at a shop where forty-two gamblers were indulging, the total amount of capital amongst the crowd was represented by £6 sterling. About three ' bob ' a-piece. The coursing meeting that was to have taken place yesterday (Wednesday) has been postponed for another week, in consequence of the batch of hares not arriving in time. The first lot sent nearly all died. I hear the crack Shylock is on his way back to Aucklaud, and may take part next Wednesday.

The local ring were missing from their usual haunts on both days of the Christchurch Meeting, having betaken themselves to the opposite corner near the Stock Exchange.and peace reigns once more around the old Occidental corner. I think they have acted wisely in the matter, and Councillor Thome was very tolerant in withdrawing his motion from the City Council. You can hardly expect shop keepers paying big rants putting up with the constantly increasing big crowd they have all round Queen-Btreet and Vulcan Lane corners.

It is reported that Maluma will not be raced in England, and that she will at once go to the stud.

Complaints in regard to the misleading quotations re starting prices in Melbourne daily papers are said to be becoming pretty frequent.

I am sorry to hear that Mr James Kean is only mending very slowly, and it is to be hoped that the spring weather will soon put the veteran ou his legs again. He is greatly missed amongst his associates, especially on the track dnring the time the horses are being worked.

Donald.Tayler, the old-time trainer, has Messrs Blaikie and Philpot's pair, The Flirt and The Owl, both looking tip top, and if they do not score the coming season, it won't be Donald's fault. I may remark that this trainer had that good horse, Redfern, when he won all his best raceß in Australia.

The curtain was run down on the 1596 racing season at Christchurch on Thursday and Saturday last, and taken as a whole, waa successful Maiden captured the Grand National Hurdle Race, and that very consistant old horae, Mutiny, the Grand National Steeplechase. Local backers were very much disappointed in Donald McKinnon not starting in the Hurdles, and getting badly beaten (through falling) in the Grand National Steeplechase. The dividends on the first day were above the average, but on the second day they were rather poor. Our local heavy weight champion, St. Kilda, ridden by the owner, was well backed, and paid the nice dividend £11 IDs in the Winter Handicap. A red hot pot boiled over in the first race on the opening day, Sam only getting second. Armstrong, the winner, paid his backers the handsome dividend of £71 17s on a field of seven starters. I suppose the name is so suggestive that very few punters care to back an animal carrying that cognoman.

Seneschal and Te . Whiti, two horses that have been nibbled at for the Caulfield Cup, are reported out of training The Carbine colt, Charge, is spoken of by Sydney writers as a promising one. He -has, however, Suspicious looking forelegs, and that connot be said to be promising.