RANDOM RACING REMARKS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 62, 1 October 1891, Page 2

RANDOM RACING REMARKS.

[_by

PEGASUS.]

An interesting item would be a list of all those horses that did not try during the A.J.C. meeting just concluded. Is Melos trying the Bravo dodge by going amiss ? I shall believe he is “ gone wrong ” when he is scratched for the Cup. Some backers think there were a few “ stiff ’uns” at our A.R.C. meeting on the igth inst. More unlikely things have happened before. How is this for “ high ” ? Last autumn, when mares are usually better than in spring, Yowi. with 6st 21bs, ran third to Highborn, gst 31bs, in the Sydney Gold Cup, and over the same distance in the Metrop. the other day, each with 21bs. more on their backs, Yowi wins, and fairly “ buries” Highborn, who was not even placed. Where does the laugh come in ? Under the circumstances I hardly felt justified in “tipping” her for the Metrop. My anticipations re the Hawkesbury Handicap were not realised. Only Jack succeeded in gaining a place. A small field of six faced the starter. Whether any of my half-dozen were there does not appear—except Sunshine, who must have gone off. Oxide and Aster are good articles for the Caulfield Guineas Next week I intend summarising my remarks on the Caulfield Cup, and will give a “tip ” for the Guineas. I shall also begin a review of the Melbourne Cup, giving my tip for the Caulfield Cup in the issue of the 15th inst. Bungebah is a red hot favourite for the lastnamed event. He is now quoted at 5 to 2. Too feverish! Result—itch, eh !! 1 Caulfield Cup. (Continued from last week.j Glancing retrospectively over the seven stone division, and taking into consideration my remarks thereon, I am forced to the conclusion that if the winner be there it must be G’Naroo, The Tyler. Laverock, Clonard, Forest King, or Mirnee. Of course I shall be in possession of good information from my Australian adviser before the day of issue, which will be at the disposal of backers through these columns at some early date. So far, then, I have picked out as the “plums of the pudding ” . Correze, Richelieu, Gresford, The Spot, G’Naroo, The ’Tyler, Laverock, Clonard, Forest King and Mirnee. Having waded through the formidable list of horses down to yst., I must now attempt a review of the mixed

I !' , ! 6 STONE DIVISION. I use the remark attempt advisedly, for every one must know that this division contains untried three-year-olds, out-classed and ancient animals, and often a “waiter” or two. That is to say some, although they have to put up little “ weight,” have already put up with a lot of “ wait.” For example, last year Vengeance and Highborn could well be termed “ waiters.” Vengeance’s attempt was successful; but Highborn had the bad luck to drop against a •“ snag ’’—Carbine. It is these waiters that non-plus a sporting writer or tipster, and knowing this, I am inelined to use the word attempt when dealing with this division. Bengal, 6st ijlbs, is evidently “on the job” somewhere this season. I hardly fancy, however, that this event is his “ dart.” Should he be “ slipped ” for it some of them in the race will have their necks stretched. Tiraillerie, 6st izlbs, is undoubtedly a good filly, but when I take into consideration the season of the year, her age and sex, and her short time in Australia, where she needs to be thoroughly acclimatised, I cannot find myself partial to her chance. She will have a far better show in the autumn. Sternchaser, 6st i2lbs, another New Zealander, is reputed to be a regular “ hummer,” but notwithstanding the report that a heavy commission has-been executed in his favour, I can’t stand him. The commission does not prove his goodness, as the greater part of it might be judicially hedged from time to time as the odds shortened. Albemarle, 6st i2lbs, is a rare game colt, as he showed by his second in the A.J.C. Spring Stakes, run under w.f.a. conditions. I am inclined to think he will be “ sent ” for this race, and his owner will reserve Bengal for something later on in the season. Albemarle seems more forward in his training than his stablecompanion, and I must strongly recommend him as “ good goods.” Yowi, 6st 11 lb, has a penalty of 14-lbs to put up for her Metrop. win, thus bringing her weight up to 7St nib. This quite upsets her chance. I should have been inclined to favour her at 6st II lb, but now, like the darkey, I “ guv her up.” I believe she is only “ built” for carrying light weights. Freedom (Vic.)» Sadim, Affiance, and Empire ire each allotted 6st nib. I presume the lastnamed is the “ daddy” of the other three. He has the advantage of a year in age against Sadim and Affiance, which gives him a big pull over them. Empire is reported to be training satisfactorily, and may require a little careful watching. As to Freedom, he would be more in his element at the “ illegitimate game.” He is now 7 years old, and must be losing any little pace, on the flat that he ever had. ' Courteous, 6st rolb, Tea Rose and Bandit, 6st gib each, I cannot see anything in to cause me to recommend them. Aster, 6st gib, at the A.J.C. meeting performed very creditably, and beat Albemarle in the Wycombe Stakes, 1 mile and 3 furlongs, carrying 7st gib each. But taking into consideration Aster’s win in the Member’s Handicap, he wid have a 71b penalty, which will give Albemarle an advantage of 4-lbs. This will be just about enough to give the latter the advantage. Besides, I opine that shorter distances will suit Aster better. Merriwa, 6st gib, a five-year-old, by Goldsborough—Habena, is “ up to the neck ” in it as far as weight goes. . I cannot say I like his dam, though, as a racehorse producer. Anyhow I keep him on my side as one of the “ dark ” division. Fbrtunatus has the same weight, but I expect him to be nothing more than a “ sprinter.” Accident, 6st 81bs, has so far run in nothing but sprint races. He is a five-year-old son of JJewminster, whose progeny are not usually partial to long journeys. Vengeance was about the best of the family at long distances, and he was just five when he “ bobbed up serenely” in last Caulfield Cup. Will history repeat itself ? If Vengeance’s half-brother should win the Cup of’gi, it can be said very truly, I think, in more ways than one, that it was “ won by accident." There are eight of them weighted at 6st ylb. Amppgst them is one named Choice. Notwithstanding this Choice amongst them I think

there is really no choice when discussing their abilities. Yolande belongs to Mr. “ Tradition ” Yoeman, and might “spring a mine” as did Tradition in his seconds in the two Cups of 1888. . Euroka is in charge of J. Chaafe, the wellknown trainer of Yowi. I can’t find anything else in the lot likely to “ upset the apple-cart,” and in the whole of the six stone division am only tempted to consider Albemarle, Empire and Merriwa.