Cap and Jacket

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1182, 24 August 1901, Page 16

Cap and Jacket

By Boz

NEW ZK ALAND <TP

NOW that tin; big jumping contests at Riccarton Jiavi>. heen decided, sonic interest will lie shown in \e\v Zealand ('up matters. Until now, business has been comparatively small, though some fairly good lines have been done in various parts of the colony. The majority of backers appear to be waiting developments regarding Advance, and the assertion that his presence in the race has had something to do with the sinallness of betting operations would seem to be well grounded. On the other hand, Hen own, Pampero, Palaver, and one or twq, others, have each a number of strong supporters in their several districts, as well as general followers throughout the colony. As yet, there has been no racing to give backers a lead, ami I anticipate that it will be well on in the spring before the race awakens the lively interest it is bound to attract some time before the day. Some turfites prophesy that Advance will fall out, but the grounds of their prophecy are not very clear. It is certain, if he should do so, an impetus will be given to the betting, and the race will decidedly look more open. In the meantime, it is perhaps the best thing backers can do to wait. Spring racing will open directly, and the Cup candidates will be seen out at the various meetings, when it will be strange if some do not furnish some sort of a clue to the Cup itself.

lladyn was ;i strong tip llawera way for t he G.N. Hurdles. Seahorse's selling price is now reported to have been I.KJO guineas. Dartmoor is eitlier not so well or not so good as lie was thought to he. There was not a single fall in the (hand National Steeplechase at Ric-i-artoii. Wairarapa Racing Club is prospering. It intends giving £-2;>00 in stakes this season. There are now only five three-year-olds in N.Z. Cup •.„ Shellback, Canteen, Calibre, Ta, and Nonette. Malatua started in the Islington Handicap at Riccarton, but appears to have taken but a very poor part in the race. Favona made a bid for the G.J.C. Ladies' Bracelet, and heat all but the winner: Sy's old favourite can gallop Gobo's tiiuein the N.Z.G.N. Steeplechase constitutes a record for that event. He knocked H : { seconds off Dummy's time. . The acceptances for Caulhelcl and Melbourne Cups resulted in over fifty horses dropping out of the former race and nearly that number out of the latter. There were quite a number of races at the C.J.C. G.N. Meeting for which only four hor.ses started, and, theerfore, over which only one dividend was paid in each case. Long Tom, second in (J.N. Hurdles, was hardly spoken of up here in con nection with the race. He had a strong following on the day, being third favourite on the machine. Stray bird actually started lirst favourite for the G.N. Steeplechase, and that strong favouritism was not altogether misplaced, for Straybird ran a very respectable third. Though he afterwards won the Beaufort Steeplechase, his G.N. Steeple backers would not get much of their lost money back, as he started at 2 to 1 on.

Calibre iR back again on the track at Riccarton. He has filled out during his short retirement, and looks big and well. /

Sant Ilariu was at Iticcartou running second to Muscovite in the Hummer Handicap. He appears to have been easily defeated, and his running in this race does not enhance his Cup chance.

Marina appears to have run a good race in the G. N. Hurdles, and, seeing that her condition has been emphasised as being very imperfect, we may expect something good from her in the spring.

Straybird's victory in the Beaufort Steeplechase was almost barren of profit to his backers, who had to lay two to one oil to reap their dividend. The victory seems to have been the easiest one of the meeting.

The champion Southern sprinter, (ioldspur, went down under weight, list 101 b, in the August Handicap at Kicearton, Cora Lynn and Sundial both beating him for places, (ioldspur was favourite in a field of 17.

The big weight carried by Moifaa in the G.N. Steeple had the effect of completely anchoring the great coastal chaser. In the earlier part of the race he was with his field, but the later stages saw the death of his chance.

The Heinpie ran well in the G.N. Hurdles, better than was expected after his. sudden collapse at his finish for the Maiden on the first day. The Hempie's admirers were not far wrong ill their estimate of the mare's chance in the Grand National.

The new system of paying dividends took on at liiccarton as, successfully as on its inauguration at Wellington. Though the great increase in the totalizator turnover may not be due jn toto to this new arrangement, it must at anyrate have been a big factor in that increase.

The Bulled ii has heard ( ,f ;i yt. Kilda (Melb.) lady devoting £7 which she wow in a Tatt. sweep to the er— service of the .Lord. Anyway, the lucky Christian matron straightway paid a year's rent in advance for her pew sitting at x\U Saints' Cluin-li. What more than that can the parsons want '.'

The nominations for the Avondale Spring Meeting give promising indications of a satisfactory opening of the racing season in Auckland next month. The best of our handicap horses have been nominated, whilst the goodly number filling up each event for which entries have been dosed show the satisfactory state of training matters.

Two fortunate local backers won a couple of centuries each over the N.Z. G.N. double, whilst a local layer, at present in Christchurch, is also reported to have " picked it " on a confrere for a similar amount. Said layer is proverbially lucky, and it comes as no surprise to hear. of him repeating a trick of which he seems to possess a most extraordinary knack.

The Guard's old game of coining with a rattle at the finish seems to have been piayed in the Grand National — a game, however, that played him out. It was, however, seeing the weight he had to carry, the proper game, and Gobo's staying him out, more due to the advantage of so much less weight at the last pinch than to any other apparent condition of the running.

Dummy went wrong in schooling at the brick fence in the Riccarton ground. For fifty yards after landing, Dummy ran on with his oft' hind leg swinging, this distance being compassed before Johnson could pull him up. Dummy must have struck hard; He seems, however, to have recovered very nuickly, for the next day he \va^ brought on the course and indulged in a sand bath.

The Grand National events at Christichurch attracted, as usual, great locaj interest. A large amount of specula} tion was indulged in locally, and bookmakers were kept busy through all three days. The corner and its precincts presented a more lively appearance than it has done for many {, day — so lively, indeed, that were thero other racing of equal general interest; to follow, it would soon be a case o : "move on" to the newly-assemble< [ habitues.

The Avondale-Jockey Club have not jet announced whether they intend to pay double dividends at their forthooming meeting, but it is anticipated they will follow the trend of public desire, fall into line, and give backers the benefit of the new system.

With the line weather now ruling and the good promise of a fair Spring, trainers are assuming a cheerful aspect, and the training ground is becoming more lively. Horses in training are numerous, and there is every reason to prophesy some good, racing at the opening meetings.

Victorian legal authorities are not, as is the case with those of X.S.W., hampered by narrow limits as to the definition of " what is a plane ?" in so far as betting is concerned. T'other day, hookmaker Gallagher, operating at Fleniington, was fined k*2o for liet ting while wearing "tall hoots, ahout lft high and s in broad.'' ■linllr.Hu.

Several local bookmakers report having been struck over the N.Z. G.N. double. One local layer had rather a bad time of it, the rest' getting offlightly. (iobo and Haydn was not such a stray pick as the generality of turlites might imagine, both being fair performers. The majority of backers, however, fell badly through the favourites in each race passing out at t he eleventh hour.

ISoth Gobo and Haydn were included in my bunched selections tor the Grand National events. The presence, at the time of selecting, of Social Pest and Cannongate in the one case, and of Needle in the other case, precluded my choosing either of the winners straight out, and though Haydn might have won in any case I doubt very much whether Goho could have beaten either Social Pest or Cannongate.

Turfites' attention has been almost wholly devoted to the N.Z. G.N. events, and seem to have been almost oblivious of the presence on the calendar of such an event as the N.Z. Cup, even. Scarcely any business in the big Spring event has been done during the. past week. Renown, however, found a backer at 200-to 12, and except that Advance is slightly easier, there is nothing else fresh to report.

Local backers bad extreme bad luck over the 'Grand Nationals. It is reasonable to suppose that both Cannongate and The Needle would have run well in their respective races had they kept right, Both had been strongly backed in doubles, and as both were going well until the very eve of their engagements, scarcely an admirer of either escaped, whilst layers had their worst of each event put safely out of the way of possible liability.