SPORTING ITEMS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 12, 18 October 1890, Page 5

SPORTING ITEMS.

Titan still has some enthusiastic admirers, notwithstanding his recent failures. He has been backed to beat Gibraltar, 1,2, 3, in the V.R.C. Derby for five thousand pounds aside. Each of che parties interested in this little fancy bet is a member of the Melbourne Club. The American horse Salvator is credited with having run a mile at Monmouth Park in imin. 35|Secs., carrying yst. 121 b. This beats all records, including that of Bendigo, who ran the Lincolnshire Handicap course, 1 mile, in imin. 36 This performance is doubted, so may Salvator’s. Work during the week at Ellerslie has not been of such a nature as to call for special mention. The tracks are in good condition, and trainers are able to give their charges steady exercise. On Tuesday, Glaucus, Vendetta, JEgyptus, Reprisal, Tatchwork, Hopeful Kate, Landseer, Madcap colt, Antelope, Nap, My Queen, Nigger, Moderator, and Priscilla were all responsible for serviceable work, but no fast gallops were recorded. “ Asmodeus,” of the Leader, in describing Megaphone, writes : —“ He is a colt of immense substance and power, and while admiring his all round conformation, I could not help dwelling my eye on his magnificent set of legs and noting their splendid bone and general absence of anything suspicious about them. With Carbine and Megaphone Mr. D. Wallace should farm nearly all the weight-for-age races, unless one of the dark three-year-olds turn out a First King or Grand Flaneur.” —[What about' The Admiral ? —Ed. S.R.] The full programme of the Pakuranga Racing Club’s Spring Meeting appears in our advertising columns. The meeting will take place on the Otahuhu racecourse on Saturday, November 22nd. will be distributed in stakes, the principal event being the Tamaki Cup of 50 sovs., one and a quarter miles. Nominations for the principal events close on Friday, October 31st, and the weights will appear on Tuesday November nth. This is one of the legitimate annual meetings, and it is to be hoped that when Mr. Williams—the energetic secretary — opens his nomination papers, he will find owners and trainers have made a liberal response in the shape of entries for the several events.

It is reported that Lamond has gone .amiss, and will not take part in the meeting at Flemington next month. Says “Spectator” in the Weekly Press'.— “ The very indifferent form displayed in the Hawkes’ Bay Guineas, on Monday last, by Mr. G. G. Stead’s Nordenfeldt—Locket colt Medallion is a regular staggerer to punters who follow the fortunes of the Yaldhurst horses. In Christchurch, and evidently in Napier too, nothing else would go down with this class of •backers, but it may be mentioned that a few very well informed backers here on the day of .the race were putting their money freely on Crackshot, indeed some of them who had money on Medallion at “tote” odds transferred it to Crackshot on the strength of information received.” Vgtv few cup u dreams n have been recorded this season. An old lady some months ago dreamt that Clare had won the Melbourne Cup, and now “ Freelance ” in the Spot isnian records a couple of other nocturnal visions which have come under his notice: —The one dreamer saw a chesnut horse with “ Sinecure stamped on him with eight little electric, lights, with the letters composing the name of Sinecure “ winning the Caulfield Cup in a canter. The other gentleman who dreams dreams and. sees visions, appears to have some very consistent nocturnal visitations. It was revealed to him one Sunday night recently that an old horse called Oakleigh would win a Cup (he isn’t sin's which), and like Campbell’s, soldier, “ thrice ’ere the morning he dreamed it again.” The following description of the V.R.C. Derby favourite, The Admiral, written by “ Sterling ” in the Sportsman, who recently paid a visit to Mr. S. G. Cook’s stable, will at the present juncture prove interesting to our readers: — “We were introduced to The Admiral, a colt who, since Titan’s defeat, looks like being Victoria’s champion for the Derby, though he was bred by Mr. Blackler, at Fulham Park, Adelaide. This son of Richmond and Footstep is a beautiful rich bay with black points. His head is perfection, having the beautiful quality often found in The Premier’s descendents, with fine ears, broad forehead, and sensible, bold, yet kind eyes, set forward ; a head full of intelligence and confidence, and well carried on a loose throated well crested neck. He has very strong, but beautifully balanced shoulders, the points being rounded as in many of Fisherman’s descendents, and they are well clothed with muscle over the arms. • He has a deep, clean brisket, throwing the girth far back, with a splendid barrel, with great length from point of hip to setting on of tail; very deep and square from hip to point of stifle. He has great full gaskins with straight thighs. Not a tall horse, he covers a lot of ground, is a rare one to follow, and while very forward, is as mellow and healthy as his best friends could wish.”