TIMARU CUP.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 922, 12 September 1896, Page 5

TIMARU CUP.

The South Canterbury Jockey Club opens the ball of spring racing with the meeting which eventuates next Thursday and Saturday following. Whatever of local interest is centered on Timara meeting is caused chiefly by the presence of some half-dozen or so ot N.Z. Cup candidates. The Timaru

Cup has often in the paßt been accepted as an early guide for Cap running, bnt it seems to me the event is run rather too early to have much weight placed on the running in that respect. However that may be,- it seems pretty certain that the race this year will be more than usually a good one, for on looking into the field one is compelled to admit it is a first class one. If all engaged were well and in good forward racing trim, I would have no hesitation in selecting the two top weights for victory. But 1 fancy the lighter weights will prove better worth following. I know Quiltiri, though perhaps hardly what one would call fit, is in fairly forward trim. He is rather too heavily weighted, or at least too near the two top weights for one to select him unreservedly. Yet I would as soon back him as anything in the race, at present. Lady Somnua is likely to be very much an ontaider, but she really has a chance, being ao well at Grand National time. Captive was reckoned an improved horse at Biccarton last month. The bad luck he met with prevented its being proved, so that he too may have to be reckoned with. At present I like Quiltiri.

Kacing commences again in Auckland next week. Hopscotch is favourite for the Epsom Handicap. The Sydney Derby will be run on Saturday, 12th inst. Malula won the Mentone Handicap on Saturday, August 29th. The Timaru Cup is to be "run on next Thursday, 17th instant. The Hon. Geo. Davis, M.L.C., Victorian horse-breeder, is dead. Uhlan is the Cuirassier — Aida 3-year-old in J. B. Williamson's stable. Captive's gums are still sore, the result of getting hung up in the tapes at Christchurch. — Otago Witness. Belle, in schooling the other day, took out a good lump of the sod wall. Belle suffered no-damage herself, seeing at what a butt she went into it. Mx J. C. Booth's pony Romp won the fifteen hds. pony hurdle race at Kensington (Sydney) on August 27th Romp started at 3 to 1. Maude F being favourite. Antic was also a starter, finishing fourth. Not the least interest was taken locally in the Hawkeabury Handicap, run last Saturday — a race which a few years ago held as much outside interest almost as the Melbourne Cup does now. Mr Dowse, handicapper for the D.J.C., has declared his weights for the Otage Cup. Gipsy Grand and Euroclydon he assesses at equal merit and places 9st 61b on each. No one can groan at that. St. Clements has been dealt with kindly. Lottie's three-part sister has little resemblance to J. Kean's old Oats winner — the Muskapier mare. This youngster is the reverse of smart at the carrier, and doe 3 not seem to have the least idea how to jump off. Charge's run at Sydney Tattersall's has forced him into the betting for V.R.C Derby, for which he is now quoted at 8 to 1. Newhaven has shortened to 2's, Coil to 6's The A J C racing this and next week may be responsible for alterations. Carbine's son Charge ran a great race in the Hampden Stakes. He was last in the straight. Hopscotch only beat him by a neck. Coil carried a 101 b penalty, which seemed to settle him. Charge finished full of running. It will be interesting to note how these two run at the A J.C. A local penciller, who left recently for one of his periodical descents on the N.S.W. capital inquest of ' burnished gold,' is reported to have made a quick return by backing the winning double at Sydney Tattersall's — Amiable and Checkmate — at £1000 to £4. Ten to one is the best prices to be obtained about either Euroclydon or Fabulist just now locally. A point longer than this about either would be eagerly snapped up, and it is only a question of health for both horses to see even a much shorter price very soon. The American turf possesses a phenomenon in the form of a jockey named Bobby Hathersall, aged 15 years. He weighs 3st 13lb. Cn May 23rd, on Rubberneck, and in Jane on Redskin, he won the Owners' Handicap (so called from the privilege given owners to name the weights of rider 6) 4st 21b. Between 2nd May and 13th June Bobby had 65 mounts. He won 27 races, was second 11 times, and third 8 times. Recently, he won a two-year-old race, riding Bst 41b, and it was as much as he could do to carry saddle and dead weight to scales. — American Exchange.

Prioress has gone to the stud. ! North Atlantic is not likely to race again. St. Simon is taking kindly to the jumping business. To-day (Thursday), the final payments are due for the Metropolitan Stakes, ran at hand wick next week. Eight Honourable, by winning the Hawkeabury Handicap on Saturday, has incurred a 51b penalty for Melbourne Cup. The Hawkesbury Handicap, run on Saturday last, was won by Kight Honourable, Ganlus second, Messmate third ; time, 2min 24seca. In last Sydney Referee Right Honourable's name was not mentioned in the betting Hat on the the Hawkesbury Handicap, won by him on Saturday last. Tippler, injured whilst racing at the recent C.J.C. G.N. Meeting, is on his legs again, but it is not considered likely that he will ever be sound enough to race again. New Zealand Cup betting in the South, was at the time of publishing latest fileß received, a dead letter. The only line of importance recorded is a wager of 400 to 9 Babreur. Rosefeldt, who died recently in foaling, held the New Zealand record for I two miles, made when she won the New Zealand Cup in 1893, her time for the race being 3m. 295. Mr George Cutts is just now a frequent visitor af. Ellerslie, teaching the youngsters to jump off with the rise of the tape. With few exceptions the two yearolds are almost proficient scholars at the barrier. There are twelve acceptors for the Timaru Cup. Of these no less than seven are New Zealand Cup candidates. These are Quiltiri (8 4), Casket (8.3), Chaos (8.3), Maximus (7.13), Vandyke (7.2), and Esau Daystar has been backed by local punters during the week for the New Zealand Cup, for small amounts. Twentyfive to one is being offered and taken about this colt. Backers are simply following the lead of the colt's owner, who has a nice bet about this son of Castor's. The big two-year-old half-brother to Grenadier is not unlike his older rela* tion. It is to be hoped, for the sake of his owner, that this young one does not inherit a temper anything like Grenadier was possessed of. This youngster, tnough timid, does not look a bad tempered one. Amongst the list of candidates for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups is a horse called Erewhon. This is the Grand Flaneur horse until lately known as Reconstruction, one of Mr J. B. Clark's nominations. Erewhon is simply Nowhere spelt backwards. The Hon. Geo. Davis, whose death is announced, was a prominent member of the V.R.C. Tim S wiveller, winner of a Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Race, and V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, ran in bis colours. Tim Swiveller, it will be remembered, also won a Caulfield Cup, but was ' disqualified for boxing, Sanfoin getting the stake. Mr Hill, caretaker at Ellerslie, has wasted no time during the dead season, and all the appointments in connection with the training ground and racecourse are in first-class order. The A.RiC. are only just commencing improvements in connection with the scraping shed and saddling paddock, and this work will of course not be finished for some little time. * The A.R.C. seem determined to make their course the most perfect. Coil's penalty in the Hampden Stakes, run at Sydney Tatteraatl's meeting, Saturday week last, brought his weight up to Bst. 4lb. Charge, who finished second to Hopscotch, carried 7st Sib., whilst the winner's weight was 9at 61b. Hopscotch was afterwards backed freely for the Epsom Handicap. Coil made a great run in the race above mentioned, and but for the excessive penalty might* have won. It was great going, however, to make lm. 575. for nine furlongs. The Sydney Derby will be decided at Eandwick on Saturday (12th inst.). There are just thirteen acceptors, and what a grandly bred lot they are. Amongst them is one colt sired by Manton, a colt named Coombwood. Of the lot, Coil and Charge stand foremost as likely to be most dangerous. Charge's run recently at Eandwick was his first public appearance, and snch a debut was well worthy a son of old Carbine. Coil, however, meets Charge on 131 b better terms in the A. J.C. Derby as compared with the Hampden Stakes, and he may possibly reverse the positions.