SPORTING.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2081, 15 June 1887, Page 2

SPORTING.

THE SOUTH WAIUABAPA STAKES. A STEEPLECHASE OF 600 80VS. A correspondent sends us the following : The event of the season will shortly come of at the old raping ground in the Wairarapa. Two horses have been already nominated, hut it is unlikely that others will enter fur the struggle, X.hp chestnut horse which pulled off iue slakes Off lh? last occasion will possibly come up fresh and well. He is now quietly grazing in the vicinity of Gladstone where the feed (intellectual) is supposed to be good and calculated to put good stamina and condition into this well known steeplechaser. The old grey horse which years ago could hold his own against all comets will agr.in come to the post. He will be heavily hacked this time by an ‘‘ Observer,” who will put any amount of odds on the old favorite, and perhaps if the old veteran takes the jumps well he may first catch the judge's eye and secure the stakes j but as he may baulk at some of the fences at the commencement he may possibly be oat of the race from start to finish. It is expected that the first obstacle that may ba formidable to the old nag will be the hedge at the College corner of the course, as the 11 standards" may be too high and the top rail bring him to grief. The next jump, that at the oorntr by Custom House, may also be too much for the old veteran. He probably will be too week kneed to successfully negotiate this leap and probably come down a crupper at this point, as it is well known that impoi led oats on which he feeds have not the elevating effect of those grown in the district, but at any rote, the stable has backed him to a great „-ul as he knows the course perfectly well and has had many trial gallops over vh? c'd course of late lie may

eventually easily land the stakes amid the plaudits of many small p.veslora on the machine who still pin ihcir f ■•!*> !•> o'' ner. foruiauoea. On the other lim.l, the c.iesluut will be probably, when unclothed, th« very pink of fitness. He has a good sporting mau for a " backer” named the ‘ Major,” sod this gentleman is supposed to have oummai d of plenty of ” tin.” He will be well trained by “ Mr Banka” who has already prosed Ins great ability as a trainer of ” young blood. He (the chestnut) is in bis prime as to ago just at prevent, and be is believed by in* admirers to be " sure footed,” and baa never been known to refuse a jump if within reasonable reach. The only thing that may bring him to grief is bis probat-le refusal < I an awkward obHiuio at the 4 * aiifarer * *ue f nr the water jump, ” the drainers ditch, both of which obstacles lie has bcou known to jib at on former ooc.sions through not being so intimately acquainted with the course as bis opponent. At any rate, if a gold stmt is effected I hope to see a close finish, ana the respective backers will have a good run for tbeir money if the horses come both in good fettle to the post and are carefully trahed for the «i'«oUul*r. *ll^*“ plechases, tbeie unreal uncertainty a* to the result 1 think lie struggle will be very close up the straight and tesul. in almost a lead beat.