TIMARU STEEPLECHASES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3798, 17 June 1880, Page 3

TIMARU STEEPLECHASES.

fßy Voltioeub.] Poor fields will, I am afraid, faco tho starter to-morrow, but if the course has been judiciously laid out thero might yet be good racing. Amongst the horsea already at work at Timaru are Lonehand, Ivanhoe, Shillelagh, Deceiver, Robin Hood, and Johnny. Sammy Osborne arrived with the two latter on Saturday, and took up his quarters at H. Cornelius' new stables at the' Lynwood. (By-the-bye, I may as well draw the attention of hunting and racing men to the fact of these stables being now occupied by Mr H. Cornelius, who has had bo much experience in both lines at Home that ho should have no difficulty in finding plenty of customors here.) Deceiver, I hear, is being put through tho mill by his old friend, Charlie Joyce, who apparently is nofc full of him, which I should be. Gentle work only was dono on Sunday, but on Monday, Lonehand did a fast two mile gullop, apparently going well. A Timaru correspondent kiudly sends us the following : — " To-day (Tuesday) the best work that has yet been dono was commenced by Charlie Joyce sending Deceiver two miles over tho hurdles, tho horse, after ono refusal, jumping well. Robin Hood, with Sammy up, wus then sent a steady four milo journey, jumping tho hurdles in grand stylo. Ho should, I think, be very near tho Maiden. Lonehand, with Fred up, was, after three or four jumps over the hurdles without baulking, sent with Ivanhoe three miles fust, tho grey horse having all the best of ifc. Sammy Osborne finished the morning's work by sending Johnny a three mi'o joumoy, half speed, over the Btieks, tho littlo horso jumping very well. Shillelagh arrived hero to-day, and was taken charge of by C. Goodman, who is I believe to ride him in all his engagements hero. Tho horso does not look much worse for his Oamaru work." Out of six horses, the winner surely should not be hard to pick, and I shall commence by stating my belief that tho race will lie between Agent and Claronce ; RoysUy and Shillelagh being the two mosfc likely to run into a placo. Agent is now meeting Clarence on 171 b better terms than he was at Oamaru, and as ho has now to concede tho latter only Ist lib, a very close race thould bo tlio result. In his palmy days I should always have said ho was a stono better horse than Clarence,, hut I fancy he is a bit stale now, and the other being tho youngest and freshest of the two, I would rather rely upon him. Lonehand is in no condition to win a raoe, even if ho went straight. I think if ho knew tonight what is in Btoro for him if he refuses to-morrow he would probably eat Fred Hedge at morning stabka ! Tho rest I cannot rely on if ifc is s*fc all a fast run raoe, although it must nofc be forgotten thafc ifc is a vory opon race, thero being such safo jumpers as Royalty, Ivanhoe, and Shillelagh, so that if anything did happen to tho fast division it would let the [ certain ones up. However. I prefer to rely upon thojo who cau gallop as will as jump,

so I Bhall go for my Blenheim friend, and pla:o them CLARENCE ... ] AGENT o KOYA TV ... ." .".' 3 Whbtovcr stands up throughout the rare will win the Maiden, but I should not bo surprised to sr-c them all come do*n. Stella, however, if she does ceme down is not in a hurry to get up again, so my champion must be her nexfc most formidable opponent, and I shall expect, the judge's verdict to be— ROBIN HOOD ... l STELLA " 2 DEi.'EIVKE ** 3 Altogether fche meeting ought to be a very pleasant one, and with six such jocks as Mr if. Lunn, T. Lyfo'-d, C. Goodman, T. Sheehan, C. Joyce and Fred. Hedge riding in the big race it should be worth seeing for jockeyehip alone. I hear Little John is likely to be an absentee having met with an accident.