THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 21, 20 December 1890, Page 4

THE TURF.

[by

OLD TURFITE.]

The acceptances for the Auckland Cup are much better than was anticipated, Tirailleur and Wolverine being the only two of any note that have dropped out. The former might have been expected to do so, as he had plenty of weight allotted to him, and his next journey will most certainiy, I think, be on the other side. In the last issue before the acceptances came to hand I mentioned that I considered Dudu, Hilda, .Crackshot, Medallion, Strephon, and Leorina as the best handicapped horses in the race. As all these are amongst those that remain I will only treat with them. Dudu, Bst 131 b, cannot be passed over lightly. Her running last year proved that she was a good mare over if- miles. This year she ran second to Wolverine for the New Zealand Cup, giving

him 231 b, and as the Ellerslie Course is much easier going than at Riccarton, besides the weather is likely to be much better than in November, and there is nothing to warrant the belief that she cannot get these two miles. Hilda, Bst lolb, has never got the distance. At the difference of 161 b. Dudu beat her in the Wanganui Cup, distance if- miles. In the Stakes, i£ miles, she ran a good second to her, giving away 2olb, therefore I consider Dudu holds her safe. Now take the running of Crackshot, Bst 31b, and Medallion Bst. The running of this pair has been of rather an in-and-out character during the present season. Of the two I prefer Medallion should he come fit to the post and that all is right. The former, though a good horse, is, as I have mentioned in previous articles, a “ speedy cutter,” and that is a class of animal I cannot stand, as they are liable to strike themselves too hard, falling lame, or even coming down. Strephon, yst lolb, is another that is well in. Many that saw him run third in the New Zealand Cup maintain that if he had been properly ridden in that race he would have won. He then came out for the Metropolitan Stakes with ylb more on his back and wins comfortably. Several of those behind him have since run well, and as the Ellerslie course is an easy one he must be held in great respect. At the same time we must take into consideration that Kapo, 6st, is in the same stable. His owner has paid up for him in the Derby and also entered him in the Trial Stakes and Auckland Plate, w.f.a., where he was sure to meet the cracks. Now on his two-year-old-form he has done nothing to show that he is more than a moderate animal, so one cannot understand his owner throwing money away in acceptances and entries unless he has done something in private to justify it. Leorina, 6st lolb, I think may be dismissed unless she can keep in front all the way, as she does not like to be collared. However, she has an outside show. Taking all things into consideration, I prefer the chances of Strephon and Dudu, but Leorina may come in and upset all calculations.

The next important race on the first day to go through is the Great Northern Foal Stakes. The acceptances for this are not as good as they should be, taking into consideration the value of the stake, only six having paid up. The race, therefore, is entirely a match between Lebel and The Workman. Of the two I prefer the former, as he is most likely to be the fittest, and his public performances are decidedly the best, besides being a good-looking colt. The handicaps for the first day have been issued by Mr. Evitt, but as the acceptances will not be declared until too late for me to analyse them, I will only pass lightly through them. Mr. Evitt cannot be congratulated on them, and I am sorry to see that he is running in the groove so pernicious to handicappers, and which most of the Colonial ones too readily fall inio. The Hurdle Race is not the worst of them, but why Sentinel and Fishmonger are placed within 21b of each other, and Hune having to give them a few pounds, I cannot understand; but it appears to me that the race will lay between Orlando and Waterfall. The Railway Handicap, six furlongs, puzzles one to know on what grounds it is made. Leolantis is called upon to give The Barron 51b, and Reprisal has to concede lib to Capella, while Quadrant and St. Andrew are within 31b of other. This race depends on what will start, but “allin” I should plump Jfor St. Andrew. Now one comes to what is supposed to be the Nursery Handicap, but can any racing man call it one ? Tulloch is started at the Takapuna meeting and ran second to a very moderate one, yet he is put top weight. In the Welcome Stakes, five fuilongs, Workman, the best two-year-old in Auckland, is first, Brigand second, Roie a poor third, Orestes and Lady Belle unplaced, yet in this precious handicap of Mr. Evitt’s they have to give weight to Brigand, who finished in front of them —therefore, on all book form, Brigand ought to romp home. The Christmas Handicap is a little better performance, as he knows some of them, especially Hilda and Cissy, are not likely to start, so he has attempted to bring those likely to go to the post together, but there are so many “ ifs ” in this race that I shall leave it alone, and advise my readers to to the same, until they see some move when the numbers go up.