C J.C. GRAND NATIONAL EVENTS

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1179, 3 August 1901, Page 10

C J.C. GRAND NATIONAL EVENTS

The very satisfactory acceptances for the C J.C. Grand National Events leaves turfites Btill with two very open races to deal with, to say nothing of the Winter Cup, about which they are not likely to trouble themselves until the day. Whilst it Beems in the South a somewhat general impression that Moifaa has been set a task bejond his powers with the great weight allotted in the Steeple, that is not the cpinion locally, or at least it is not so pronounced. Personally, whilst admitting that I think Moifaa has earned his 13it (i b, I also believe that weight will fi ad him oat A good horse like Moifaa mast be weighted np to the top of his ability to giveotherß a chance, but he needs to be in hi 1 * very best foim to win with it — and to have the luck on his si3e aB well. Southerners appear to ba pinning their faith a good deal on Sjcial Pest, a tried natural jumper and good weight carrier, but cot a proved good chaser. It is very probable be will become the latter later on. He ia ac least a dangerous horse. Auckland has a good representative in Cannongate, who, if thoioughly well, is quite up to the requirements of such a race. His recent foim is rather against him, but he left here looking really well, and if he retains his condition after arrival at Riccarton he should prove worthy of support He ib aboot the best handicapped horse in the race Gobo's Wellington form was good enough for a Riccarton following With a light weight in bis favour, there is every reason to anticipate his giving an excellent inn. Straybird is another that haß a fair chance. The Hurdle Race is even more open than the Steeplechase. A larg9 number of good juniper?, all f*st, figure in it, any one of which may win. Auckland id well represented in this also. The Needle will probably be well supported by Aucklanders, and I anticipate he will carry their money well if in good trim on the day. He left bere in good order, and it may confidently be left to his careful and rxperienced trainer to get the best from him that is possible. On Wellington form Hotu must be given a chance, and Hadyn, though he did not rnn as well as was expected, will meet his Wellington victor on much better terms. Great expectations Are existant in some quarters in regard to Dartmoor's chance in the race, and indeed if the confidence Baid to be placed in him by his trainer rider be well founded, be mußt be a dangerous horse Amongst the light weights is the not altogether outside chance, The Hempie, who has come through come good schooling and is known fora fast galloper ; whilst higher np in the list is one whose former light has for some time been hidden by some not altogether explained ailmentß. This is Marins. Her track form of late has induced some hope that she may very soon strike form again. Altogether, these two racers promise excellent contests, and, in the meantime, dutant speculators have a very pretty task before them to unearth the winning doable. My own fancies lie with the horses mentioned above, but I shall reserve a final decision till a later issue.

Equine birthday to day. No extra tote permits next season. Benvolio backed for the Caulfield Cup. Scotty is to be chipped to Sydney shortly. New Zealand Cup acceptances due to-morrow. Seahorse is popularly considered aa well Bold. Cannongate left this week for Rice ar ton. Renown the biggest winner of last (season with £3185 St. Leger again at the head of the liat of winning sires. Moifaa is third in'the list of last season's winners with £1903, all woo in jumping contoßta.

Okoari is in favour on the Coast for the N Z. Gap. Derrett's appeal to the Racing Conference dtsmiaaed. Cavaliero withdrawn from his C. J 0. G.N. engagement The oorrect spelling of Moifaa's name is said to be Moifad. The Needle continues a strong local fancy for C.J.O. G.N. Hardies. Social Peßt promises to start favonrite for the G.J.O G.N. Steeple. Kecord Reign may be given a run at the V.A D.C. Meeting on Saturday Both Battleaxe and Okoari are re ported to have wintered exceptionally well. Ihe favourite double Wanganui way for the Grand National ia Dammy and Dartmoor. Dartmoor, considered a dangerous horse in the T.J O. G.N. Hnrdlea, ia reported in excellent health. The Messrs Nathan's new importation, Fiizaimmona, arrived by the e.s Pakeha early this week. Marina is looking up again. Riccarton reports show that she is coming on well, and it ia thought Bhe may give a good acconnt of heraelf shortly. A Riccarton writer says that the general opinion on one tracks there is that Moifaa has been ' smothered ' with weight in the G.N. Steepleohase, and that he will not have a chance. Statistics of the past season show that the Auckland Glob secured the greatest turnover through the totalisator and paid the largest amount in stakes of all the clubs in the Colony. Caunougate should arrive at Ric carton with fully enough time before him to make np for the few days' idleness en route. His connections seemed satiefied with his conditions prior to leaving, and coafident that he will ran well in his G.N engagement. Hotu, winner of the Wellington Winter Hardies, d d good service- by that victory to his lady owner, Mrs Bachelor, of the West Coast, who, acting on tha advice of Hotn'* trainer and iider, J. Wateon, backed the horse freely and won, in addition to the £300 stake, £500 in wagers. Pampero is pretty generally fancied for the N.Z Gnp in all the leadiug centres of the colony, and has been snpported saflialently well to pnt him in the place of second favonrite. A considerable amount of local money has been laid to Southern fanciers of the St. Clair horse. Hinau, the smallest horse of the Wellington Steeplechase field, is said to have jumped the biggest, thereby spoiling his chance. Apart from this, however, a mishap- occurred to HigganB 1 liding gear, giving him an unpleasant ride and presumably lessening the chance of his mount in the race. Mr G. G Stead last season retrieved bis position of first place amongst winning owners. The previous season (1899-1900) he was only fourth on th«list, with £3238. For the season just ended he is fmt with £7135. With the exception of the one season mentioned above, Mr Stead has ococpied first place for eich season since 1893 4 A Wellington writer says that the general opinion of heavy backers operating with bookmakers over the Hatt meeting is that the Bystem of paying on both first and second horses is in their (the backers') favonr, better prices being obtained through the general public backing outsiders for second place, the money put on these increasing the dividends of favourites Layers throughout the colony show a chariness to quote fre?ly agftinft Advance for the N Z Cap. So far, it is not known what the stable intentions are, for as yet It haa given no indications tbrongh the betting market. Backers show a strong tendency to back the black, at a price ; probably. 7s would be accepted. As it i», Advance's presence in the raoe is somewhat stagnating Cup business. The Avondale Jockey Club have just isaned their book programme of fixtures for the forthcoming season, in which Spring, Autumn and Winter meetings are programmed. These programmes are emphatic in their Bhowing of the wonderful progress madn of late by the Avondale Jockey Glob The stake values are beyond comparison to those of a few seasons back, and a substantial increase in a number of events on those of last season. This clnb will again have the privilege of opening the new season in the Anokland dietriot with their Spring Meeting, the dates of which are September 21st, 25th and 28th. With a cap of 300 soys, stakes and guineas of 150 soys each, and other events proportionately well endowed, the new racing season will be afforded a very substantial beginning

Rae and his team have arrived at Biooarton all well. Plain Bill's defection from the Grand National list came as a surprise to some Northerners. Ricoarton appeared to them to be the mission of this horse. ' Hotspur,' recently returned from Sonth Africa, tells Referee Otago correspondent that whilst In South Africa he recognised Cleopatra in the mount of Colonel Merrick'a orderly. Cleopatra was troubled with lameness, and it appears to have been the. intention of the Colonel to destroy her, for when ' Hotspur ' told the Colonel the antecedents and history of Nelson's daughter, he determined not to shoot her, but to have her sent to England to be bred from. The field for the English Derby this year, says an exchange, was somewhat singularly constituted in the matter of jockeys. There were no fewer than seven Americans riding (L. Reiff, J. R°iff, J H. Martin, M Henry, D Maher, M Turner and C. Jenkins), one who may be described as an Anglo French rider (E. Watkinß), two (A. Nigbtingall and Anthony) who are better known across country than on the flat, and one amateur, Mr Randall. Sir Joseph Ward knows exactly how to iDnratiate himself with such a body as the N.Z. Racing Conference. He is ingenuousnesß itself. He admits graciously that he may not know much of the ins and outs of racing, and adds parenthetically that that may not be an unmixed evil. He gives expression to a keen deßire to cooperate with the members of the Conference to maintain the high character of Bport attained, and here confers a delicate and well-earned compliment on that body. There has been no big business locally on the C.J C. G N. doable since the acceptances, thongh a fair amount of small business has been done. Moifaa, notwithstanding his big weight, finds some supporters, and Cannongate, now that he is on his w»v down, has given his admirers more confidence. Dartmoor is gaining favour in the Hurdle?, also Hadyn and the Hempie. However, there is not a bie market, and few leading lines of sufficient volume to be pronounced guides. Betting will probably liven up during the next few days. Christchurch Referee suggests the inauguration of a long distance w.f.a race from ljm. to v l oa , for horses of five years old and upwards, the race to be neceaeariJy for a substantial stake and to be run preferably in the autumn. Amongst other argumenta put forward by the Referee in favour of the institution of auch a race ia the advantage which three and four-year-olds have over older horses in w f a events under the conditions at present ruling in the colonies. It considers also that a race of the kind enggeßted would encourage owners to test the stamina of mature horses and guide breeders in their choice of stallions.