TURF TATTLE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 19, 6 December 1890, Page 2

TURF TATTLE.

[By

NORDENFELDT.]

The approaching Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club will now be the principal topic of conversation among racing men until that carnival is a thing of the past. The Auckland Cup, will, of course, be the chief event of the meeting. Even before the weights are out earlv punters have been backing their selections. Writing, as I am, before the handicaps are declared, I cannot of course form any idea as to what will have the best chance, but this I will say, that I believe the Cup will remain in Auckland. Mr. Morrin’s couple of mares. Hilda and Cissy, are the best of the locally owned horses, but if any classic performers come up from the South, as they are sure to do, I think they may carry away the rich prize with them. I shall not expect to see Medallion taking part at the meeting, but Mr. Butler is sure to come this way with Crackshot. After Freedom’s meritorious performances at Dunedin Mr. O’Brien may think it worth his while to bring him this way and start him in the Derby, and possibly he may bring another couple of horses to accompany the son of Captivator. There is nothing in Auckland likely to trouble the best of the Southerners in the three-year-old classic event. Leolantis is a long way below first-class, and Reprisal I don’t believe is a stayer, and if anything can make the best of the visitors travel perhaps it will be The Dreamer, who, by the way, is fast improving since he ran here in the Spring. If Crackshot is well on the day, I don’t think we shall require to look much farther for the winner of the Great Northern “ Blue Riband.”

The Great Northern Foal Stakes will be full of interest if Mr. Stead sends up Lebel, the Nordenfeldt —Pulchra colt, and if Mr. Gollan brings Na Moa, the Nordenfeldt —Tres Deuce filly, to take part. Both of them will have to be at their best to “ down ” Major George’s smart colt The Workman. Although the running of Lebel has been rather in and out, I quite believe that be is all his Southern admirers make out, viz. : —a real “ hummer.” Although Na Moa beat Mr. Stead’s colt in the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, I do not believe that was the colt’s true form. Mr. Stead may prefer to save him for an Australian campaign in the Autumn, as he is particularly fond of visiting Melbourne about Newmarket Handicap time. Three times during the last four years has he supplied the runner up for the Ascot Vale Stakes, with Maxim, Rose Argent and Medallion, and on each occasion has he been beaten by horses carrying the late Hon. James White’s colours. Possibly Lebel may be more successful than the other Yaldhurst representatives, and if Mr. Stead has made up his mind to send him across, I hardly think he will send him up to take part at the A.R.C. Meeting. Orestes is a colt I have always had a great fancy for, and if the spell since the Spring Meeting has benefittted him, and he has not had too much work, I think he will materially improve on his Welcome Stakes running. He appeared to be quite stale at the Spring Meeting.

The Steeplechase will be full of interest if Uranus, Jenny and some more of the Southerners put in an appearance. Aucklanders have a splendid representative to do battle on their behalf in Orlando, and if the little son of the Painter is not too unkindly treated by Mr. Evitt, it will take a real good one to haul down his colours. Both Jenny and Uranus will have crowds of admirers if they start on the day.

The sprint events of the meeting promise . to fill well, and if St. Andrew pays us a visit additional interest will be given to the meeting.

Cissy, Quadrant, Antelope, Reprisal, Leolantis, t The Baron, and The Dreamer, will throw down the gauntlet to the Hawkes’ Bay Guineas winner, and these, together with Whipser, Cynisca, Bay King, and a few others, will provide some excellent finishes.

Mr. Edw. D. Halstead, the handicapper to the Avondale Jockey Club, issued the weights for the Club’s Spring Meeting early on Monday, the advertised date. Other handicappers might very well take a leaf from his book, and not delay the publication of handicaps until the last moment when there is no tangible reason for doing -so. I believe the present compilation of weights is the first production issued solely from Mr. Halstead’s pen, and I am glad to be able to congratulate him upon his happy efforts. It is not my intention to review the handicaps at any length now, as next week when the acceptances are before me I shall go through them seriatim, and select what I think most worthy of an investment. I shall content myself now by saying that in the Avondale Cup, Antelope, Patchwork, Cartridge, and Vendetta, all appear equitably treated : and in the Steeplechase, Sentinel, Hopeful Kate and Larrikin read as well as anything.