AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB SPRING MEETING.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 925, 3 October 1896, Page 27

AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB SPRING MEETING.

The advantage to the Avondale Jockey Club of being able to hold two meeting ß daring the season of two days each is considerable. The smaller gatheings of the Club in the past have always been well patronised, and have always proved worthy of snch patronge. And now that the Club has advanced a considerable step in stake giving, and made each of its meetings a two days' fixture, the extra inducement to horse ownerß, and the increase of good sport to race-goers, should all tend to increased prosperity to the Club. With restricted racing, those fixtures which remain should be productive of a high class of racing. And there is no reason to doubt this will be so. We have already experienced an exceptionally good opening to the new season at Eilersiie. Most of the horses which ran there will be found competing at the Avondale meeting next Saturday and the following one. The fields for Saturday's events, though not large, are sufficiently so for good racing, and are of such a character as to inspire speculation. Ellerslie form may not be fully exemplified in all cases at Avondale, but those who follow it will, in my opinion, be the wisest. That at anyrate must be my data for attempted anticipation, which I hope may be more than moderately successful. Saturday's sport opens as per programme with the Maiden Plate, G furloDgs. St Gordon ; The JJ'lirt, Napoleon, and others ran at Ellerslie. The three named showed more or less form. The unmentioned ones were not prominent. Jjillie, Bst. 71b., on the past season's running, is one quite likely to win. But I do not know what condition she is in. To take one from the lot, notwithstanding the increase in weight, I shall select St. Gordon, Lillie (if forward), and The Flirt next. In the Hurdle Race, lfim., Levanter is not over-burdened in weight for such a good performer, and being so well should win. Next to him I like Aughadowey and Molly Hawk. The race for juveniles, a four furlong nutter, comes next. Miss Rose is highly penalised for her runaway victory and big dividend at Ellerslie. Repo ran consiatently there, and I think should be, most faacied here. Next to Repo, I like Knight of Athbl, but I think the former should ■win. The Avondale Cup, ljm, will, I think, be w»n by St. Paul. Too much account, I think, should not be taken of his defeat the second day at Ellerslie. Although, supposing he had had the same clear running as Daystax and had still been defeated by him, the difference of weight between the two was pretty wide. I think St. Paul's most dangerous opponents will be Anita and Lady Marion. The next event is the Steeplechase, 3m.— The field is almost a repetition of the ElersJie fields, at different weights, Kingswood taking Levanter's place. Will he do ao at the finish ? My idea is that he will, and I feel bound to tip him to win, with Forello next best. I think St Leonards will run a good race. Archduke leads the way in the matter of weight for the ponies. Bst 101 b seems to me quite enough for him, and I think the winner will come from Fidget or Topsail. There is not one in the Flying Stakes, 6 furlongs, I care to pick out to beat the top weight, St. Clements, if a starter. -. But if he should" be absent, St. Elmo should beat the ießt of the field; Wairongomai close up. The top weight, Molly Hawk, with Glengarry and' Outlaw, should furnish the winner for the concluding event .of the first day's programme. For preference! would take the light weight — Outlaw.