Cap and Jacket

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 42, 6 July 1907, Page 15

Cap and Jacket

By Boz,

Phaetonitis is jumping well at Riccarton. Stronghold is still slowing signs of soreness. The Wellington Steeplechase is run . on the 24th inst. Probable has been doing some good work at Riccarton, shewing improvement in his jumping Corona jumped especially well the other morning at Riccaiton in company with Idasa and Stronghold. There is a splendid entry of fiftytwo horses for the C J.C. Winter Cup, some very fast torse« being in the list. The handicaps for the C.J.C. G.N. Steeplechase, G.N. Hurdles, and Winter Cup will be declared on the 15th inst. Christhchurch reports show that Waitarere is in favour for the C. J.C^ G.N. Steeplechase, and Cuiragno for the G.N. Hurdles. Monkey Puzzle, sister to Ostiak, has been taken up recently, after a short spell. She is one of Moraghan's lot at Riccarton. Carlo, in Moraghan's stable went lame at Riccarton the other morning, and it is thought unlikely he will be got to the post this season. Aqua Regia started in the hurdles each day at the Napier Park Meeting. She had no chance the first clay when Creusot won, the Auckland mare finishing out of a place. On the second day she ran second to Lavinia. There are twenty-four entries for A. J.C. Derby. 1908. _ Mr G. G. Stead has nominated eight, Hon. J. D. Ormond six, Sir George Clifford and Mr G. P. Donnelly three each, Mr D. O'Brien two, Mr H. F. Nicol one, and Mr J. B. Reid one. Very few anticipated Romany Lad's win in the Napier Park Steeplechase. The Gipsy King horse had a very easy win, though he very nearly threw out near home. He was again a winner on the second day in the Park Steeplechase, apparently having an easier win even than he had the first day. Napier Park Meetings are usually notable for small dividends, but the Winter Meeting last week proved an exception to the rule. Golden Comb paid £14 16s in the Moteo Hack Hurdles, Lady Warwick £9 19s in the Stewards, Romany Lad £8 6s in the Napier Park Steeplechase, Outer £9 4s in the Bracelet, and Hatley £8 2s in the Winter Oats. L. Hewitt was not faring very well at the time of our latest files to hand left England (says Sydney Referee), therefore his mimerous friends were pleased last week when a cable came announcing that he had won the Royal Hunt Cup, 7 furlongs 16 yards, at Ascot, on Lally. That horse, it may be remembered started favourite for last year's Derby, but cut up badly, and it was subsequently discovered that sprinting was his forte. Since the suppression of the bookmakers in France there has been a tremendous increase of totalisator betting, and at the commencement of last month, though the racing season had barely commenced, the Minister of Agriculture announced that the turnover since the commencement of the year was" £4,040,000, or £640,000 more than had been put through during the whole of the preceding year. The gate-money returns had increased in like proportion, being £114,000 for four months, as against £102,400 for the whole of 1906.

Kremlin booked for Australia. Certainty has been entered for the C.J.O. Winter Cup. Master Del'aval has a nice handicap of Bst. 41b for Melbourne Cup. A record entry of 201 has been received for A.J.C. Derby, 1908. Maniapoto has been supported for New Zealand Cup for a big stake. Both. Outer and Romany Lad scored doubles at the Napier Part Meeting. The Gisborne Racing Club's Winter Meeting opens to-day (Thursday). Slow Tom is in active ■work again at Riccarton, though h : s standing a preparation is considered doubtful. The Medallion horse Melodeon, who has been spelling since last Spring, has again been \taken in hand. Cambrian, who has been spelled for a few weeks, is now doin? medium pace work at Ellerslie, with a view to Spring engagements. Irish was brought back to Auckland from Hawke's Bay on Sunday last. Aqua Regia was dropped at Gisborne to fulfil engagements there. Lionbeart won the Moonee Valley Hurdle Race, and as a result is now equal favourite with Prestonpans for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. The V.R.C. Derby winner Scarpia Hate F.J.A.), who is now in England, is said to be so near broken down that he is unlikely to do much more racing. Private information received from Sydney is to the effect that Mr "W. Lyons is taking Kilderkin and Larly Nannie to Melbourne to compete in pony events there. Aqua Regia's connections had a fair commission in the market on tlie occasion of her victory at Hawke's Meeting, when she paid the nice dividend of £6 Is. Auckland will be well represented at Gishorne this week with Loch Fvne, Engraver, Silica. Kanaka^ Bonomiana anrl Anna Regia. All have reached Gisborne in good condition. It has transpired that the two Auckland horses, Irish and Lo^h Fyne. were nominated for the C..T.0. Grand National Steeplechase, their names being somehow omitted from the published list. Amongst the entrants for C.J.O. G.N. events are six previous winners — Slow Tom, Inniskillen, Haydn and Phaetoni+is having previously won the G.N. Steeplechase, and Crensot and Cuiragno- the G.N. Hurdles. The backing of Manianoto for a larcre sum for the New Zealand dip is the first move of interest in hottins: matters over the race. The ■commissioner did what appears to bo food husiness, prices being 50 and 60 to 1. Australian Spring events this year should be specially interesting to New Zealanrlers. Amongst tb« dozen or so New Zealanders engaged in the leading events are some that should, under favourable conditions, give a good account of themselves. Some writers are apparently concerned that Elevation should have been rushed for New Zealand Clip when it was doubtful > whether Ms owner had any intention of having him prepared for the race. But backers of early Cup favourites never do consider owners' intentions, and it is one of the risks they knowingly take to P"et on to a possible good thing.