RANDOM RACING REMARKS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 86, 17 March 1892, Page 2

RANDOM RACING REMARKS.

1 BY

PEGASUS.]

The V.R.C. Autumn Meeting of i 8 92 i s now a thing of the past. Taken altogether very few of the favourites won, which must have been a “ good thing ” for the layers of the odds. Still they must have had a “ facer ” in several events, Camoola proved his quality in the Hopeful Stakes. Wintering well, this colt should be worthy of notice next Spring, and I quite expect to hear of him again before 1892 departs. Autonomy won several events during the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting, and has thereby shown himself to be a “cut above” the ordinary run of “ horses of the season.” He should bear watching for future events. Forty Winks, after funning third in the Australian Cup, managed to catch the judge’s eye in the Autumn Handicap, beating Portsea, Annesiey, and a large field. Evidently this sleepy customer cannot see the end of a long journey.

The Auckland Racing Club have received very good nominations for their Autumn meeting, but the mixed character of the “ cattle ” will exercise the handicapper’s judgment in no small degree. It will be a difficult matter to bring some of them any way near together. I was pleased to find since penning my article on the multiplication of small meetings that several other turf scribes were “in the same boat” with myself. “Phaeton,” of the N.Z. Herald, refers, in a recent issue, to some notes on the subject which appeared in the Weekly Press of a late date. Considering that I had not seen either article at time of writing, confirms my opinion that my “remarks” had been well timed and quite within bounds. I am still further convinced of the correctness of my theory by the acceptance lists of the Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Clubs. I trust the matter will continue to occupy the attention of other “turf scribes,” and that ultimate good will result.

Many readers are anxious to know why the Whitford Park Races had been indefinitely postponed. My remarks of a fortnight ago might explain this, together with the fact that too many similar gatherings are en tapis. What price Midnight now ? When I tip him to win he is “not there,” but “crops up” nicely when left to himself. The handicaps forthetrotevents will hardly bear daylight in upon them. lam keeping count of a few, and will turn my bull’s-eye upon them in a future issue. The above items were amongst other “ random remarks ” of mine which were all crowded out last week.

The various trotting clubs around keep us going with the “ music ” to a pretty merry “ tune.”

I have been carefully noting the differed compilations and time allowances which have been made from time to time, and find that the handicappers are evidently making them up by a sort of “ rule of thumb’” similar to that of handicappers for horse-racing events to which I have referred repeatedly in previous issues. Now, if the different clubs are to keep up their prestige, as also that degree of popularity which is absolutely necessary to make the thing pay, it is imperative that more time and care will require to be exercised when allotting the “ portions ” to each pony or trotter. In • the early part of the season I refrained from “ remarking ” on some glaring mistakes which appeared ; but now that a fair start has been made, and the capabilities of all the horses are better known, there is not the least excuse for not bringing the contestants much better together. For example, take the recent Otahuhu and Onslow Meetings. At the former meeting in the Handicap Trot the result was—Bess, losec, 1 (won by 100yds or so); Rambuster, 3osec, 2 ; about 40yds ahead of Tyrone, josec, who ran third. In the same event Hurricane scratch, Rover 2osec, Midnight josec, and Broker 4osec, also ran unplaced. In the Onslow Handicap Trot we have the starts increased as follows: —Bess, losec more with a win; Rambuster, 18sec more for a second ; and Tyrone, 22sec more for third place. Compare the others who were unplaced, and we find the following increases:—Hurricane 22sec, Rover i7sec, Midnight 27sec, and Broker 3osec. Here, then, although Bess wins by 140yds from the third horse and over- that from the rest, she meets the unplaced lot on only i2sec, 7sec, i7sec, and 2Osec worse terms respectively. Allowing an average of nsec per 100yds, it will quite apparent that, although she meets the second and third horses on very fair terms, the others are almost entirely at her mercy. Another item is the Maiden Trot, in which many similar vagaries “ crop up.” I shall only take one item, however, to exemplify my contention. At the Otahuhu Meeting Tyrone, with i3sec start, ran second, beating Vixen, 25sec, and Broker, 2osec, badly. In the Onslow Maiden Tyrone is brought back 13sec to scratch, whilst Broker and Vixen are reduced respectively Bsec and ssec, thereby leaving him on ssec and Bsec worse terms only than beforeNo wonder he won the latter event easily. To my mind the most glaring case is that of Rover, when compared with Rambuster, Vixen, and others in the two Handicap Trots. Readers can look up and compare them for themselves. Similar “ remarks ” would apply in the pony events, but I shall content myself to await further developements, when I shall again “put in a spoke” if necessary. I trust, however, that these “ remarks” will have the effect of causing more careful work to be performed in future, and that I may be spared the unpleasant duty of again referring to such carlessness as has been hitherto exhibited in this important matter. I must take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy for Mr. Hewitt in his loss of the ’chaser Sentinel. Racegoers have experienced a great loss thereby also, as Sentinel was our “ boss ” steeplechaser; in fact, one might almost say he was the only “ real ” we had. “ Oh, what a surprise” ! !—The result of the Wanganui Cup, I mean. Crown Jewel must be a “ hummer ” to cut out the mile and three quarters in 3min. 6sec. The Australian record for this distance is jmin. 3sec„ which was done by Correze with yst i2lbs up. I opine that C. J.’s penalty will affect her a great deal in the Hawke’s Bay Cup, run to-day. For the H.B..Cup a fine field of twenty-one acceptors appears. This event will be “rolled out ” to-day, and ought to prove a great contest. The Wanganui Cup result throws very little light on it. Only Crown Jewel of the placed division is engaged. It will, therefore, be a troublesome task to “ unravel ” the others. Cynisca, gst, appears to have too much weight with which to get over such a long journey. By the Egmont running Whisper, Bst 71b, should “ go down ” before Fraternity, Bst, who, I think, will also beat Morion on the same mark. Dolosa, 7st lolbs, ’ has a nice light weight, but is such a jade one must.always pass her over with a “ grunt.” Lochness reads exceptionally well, and compared with his running with many of the others in past events he would appear to hold a pretty fair “ mortgage ” over the event. Retina, 7st 51b, to my mind is

about the pick of the handicap. In the Egmont Handicap, 2 miles, carrying yst 81bs, she ran third to Whisper, Bst, and Fraternity, yst i2lb. She now meets this pair on iclband jlbbetter terms respectively. The quarter-mile shorter journey should help her home in front of them. I fancy she will need a “ power of Thame, Krina, and Pani may be “ lumped ” together as uncertain, although any of them might pop up unexpectedly on the scene. The Dreamer, yst 21b, on his Auckland Cup run j ning, has a great deal more than an “ outside show, although he did not appear to advantage in the Wanganui Welter; but it was only a 60 sov. event, and perhaps he would prefer “ waiting ” for this 400 sov. Cup event. I like his chance muchly. Of the others below, to judge by recent performances, none of them have a “ghost of a chance” except Crown Jewel, 6st rolb, whose penalty of rolb for winning the Wanganui Cup raises her weight to 7st 61b. This extra load will greatly discount her chance, but still it is wise to “ follow up ” form. She may win again, of which, though, I am very dubious, but might gain a place. To sum up the chances of each, I am inclined to look to Retina, Fraternite, and Lochness to supply the placed division. The Railway Stakes, also run to-day, has many of the same horses engaged. It is therefore difficult to gauge the chances of each, but I shall select Krina, Heather Bell or Ranee Nuna to furnish the winner. Pani might “ boil-over” either event. The Papakura Racing Club, under new auspices and in a re-modelled condition, hold their inaugural meeting on the Papakura course to-day. “Chestnuts!” I hear someone say. Well, there is no doubt the meeting, and more especially that grandstand, have come in for a good deal of comment at the hands of the turf scribes during the last few days. For all that, 1 trust the Club will have a successful afternoon of it. The acceptances, except for the Cup, are fairly good, and some good racing should ensue. A lengthy programme of seven events is to be got through, so that each one will require to be run off sharp to time if visitors are to return in comfort. The Hurdle Race, If miles, has a field of six, and the result should rest ' etween Cloth of Gold and Stepper in that order. There are six ponies engaged in the Pony Handicap. To my mind there are only three “ in it.” Sepoy, Walter Scott, and Romeo, and I expect to see them finish in that order. The Cup is over a mile and a quarter, and this item has an acceptance of five only. Pinfire and Leorina are on their ground here, and ought to know every inch of the course, which may give them an advantage over the others I fancy their most troublesome opponent will be Capella, who has, if fit and well, a “good say.” I shall give the result as Pinfire or Capella .. .. .. 1 Leorina .. .. .. .. 2 Ida 3 In the Maiden Plate, one mile, we have a “ mixed ” mob. This reads a “ dead bird ” for Tuna, with perhaps Acacia next. The Steeples ought, from the nature of the “ country,” to prove an interesting race. The Colonel or Mangere ought to get home first, with Kate close handy at the finish. The Flying Stakes, six furlongs, is the worst event to pick. Should Accacia be saved for this event, she will be troublesome. The other likely ones are Helen McGregor, Ida, and Raglan. Ida and Acacia are engaged in previous events. Should they each fulfil those engagements, I would place them — Helen McGregor, Raglan, Acacia, Ida. Otherwise, I should say—Acacia, Helen McGregor, Raglan Sort up this last item to your own liking. In Idst week’s issue are some good notes on trotting meetings, handicapping, etc. Many of those notes are worthy of perusal and consideration. There is one part that to my mind cannot yet well be carried out until another season at least, and that is with regard to the application of the first principle of the art of handicapping. As yet we have only a very limited number of trotters, so that very poor fields would result were that principle to be strictly adhered to at present. There is no question as to the truth of the matter of handicapping that all who really understand the business thoroughly know there is but one guiding and ruling

principle which is mentioned overlapping the whole art of true handicapping. However, I should be inclined, as already pointed out, to allow some small degree ot latitude in the case of trotters for a season or so. As an example, take the quality of the “ cattle” that started in the last Onslow Trotting Cup, and how many good ’uns do we find. I think I may safely say one, and that is Rarus. Had the appointments been made on true handicapping lines the result would have been Rarus first, the lest somewhere. Still the question will have to be kept steadily in view in the future if these meetings are to bring about those results for which the various clubs have been ostensibly created, viz., the improvement in quality of trotting generally and the class of horses engaged therein. I hope these matters will receive that due consideration to which they are entitled, and that permanent and ever increasing good may be the outcome of the repeated remarks of various turf writers.