RANDOM RACING REMARKS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 88, 31 March 1892, Page 3

RANDOM RACING REMARKS.

1 BY

PEGASUS.]

Sydney Gold Cup. The handicaps for this event appeared over a week ago. Mr. Scan has evidently made his adjustment of weights on the principle of bringing the “ racehorses ” together and throwing the “ scrubbers ” in anyhow. This would denote that he knows something of his profession and the art that overlies it. Certainly he has a goodly number of “ classics ” to deal with, which is greatly in his favour. Had he only got half-a-dozen or so good ones, and the others mediocre, his abilities would have been severely taxed to frame a handicap whereby a good acceptance list would result from his labours. As it is, however, he has fortunately got at least a score of “ real jam,” while the other thirty-two run from fair and medium to poor. Of course there is often a “ waiter” in the light-weight division, but these have less chance of effecting a coup when the “top sawyers ” are not assessed too high. This is the case in the present instance. Marvel, gst gib, has been made “dux” of the class. Although he has not yet essayed a two-mile journey, still he has proved himself “ very brilliant ” over other distances, from six furlongs to a mile and three-quarters. Weight does not seem to trouble him, and I fancy if he be himself on the day that the 1351 b impost will not prevent him troubling the best of them in the race. Should he start he i** really worth backing for a place. Highborn, gst 41b, after his win in the Australian Cup of 2| miles carrying the same weight might be voted “red-hot,” but it must be borne in mind that he meets Marvel on 61bs worse terms than in the Royal Park Stakes, 1 mile -5 furlongs, which the latter won. lam rather inclined to think Marvel holds him safe even in 2 miles. Furthermore, there may be a few lower down the list that may also “ worry” him “ a few.” On the Australian Cup running Strathmore, gst 21b, meets the winner on 61bs worse terms. I prefer Zalinski for this. Megaphone, Bst izlb, has ylb less than in in the Australian Cup, but he would seem to have lost all form since his accident in the Melbourne Cup. I cannot find myself favourable to his chance. Zalinski, Bst lolb, is a very “ slippery cuss,” and if as good as Strathmore will be very hard to beat. It is, indeed, a difficult matter to gauge him with the others engaged. Freedom, Bst lolb, has done some good trials in New Zealand ; but, so far, his most meritorious performance on the other side was getting fourth in the Australian Cup. He has now 61b less to carry, and I should think this difference, together with the quarter-mile less distance to travel, will just about bring him in front of the placed division of that event. He meets them now on respectively 61b, 121 b and jib better terms. He is worth a place. Greygown, Bst 81b, has always been going to do “ something ” and failed, so I expect this one will find him in the same place as the other “ somethings.” Tirailleur. Bst 41b, has most undoubtedly got a great “ chuck in ” at this weight. He has been dropped i6lb from his last Melbourne Cup weight and 11 lb from his Australian Cup impost. Still he only meets Freedom on 61b better terms than in the latter event, in which Freedom ran fourth, Tirailleur seventh. Although Tirailleur ran second in the St. Kilda Cup the other day with Bst gibs there is no certainty that he can “ get home ” in this race, even with the winner—Swing —out of the way. G’Naroo, Bst 41b, has a handy weight and

I might “do the trick.” Meantime I shall keep I him in reserve and await developments. Stromboli, Bst, cannot complain of his weight, but he gives one the impression that he is a “ cur,” and will invariably “ drop his tail ’’ when asked to finish. Alchemist at the same weight I must pass over. Thus far I have dealt with those who figure at Bst and upwards, and I find I have commented most favourably on Freedom, Marvel, Zalinski and Highborn, with G’Naroo as yet “up mv sleevo ”in reserve. Next week I shall continue and complete my review, and will make an absolutely final selection in the following issue. lam hopeful, however, of being in possession of all reliable information by the Monday previous to that date. Sepoy was “ overdosed ” with “ la grippe ” in the Pony Race last Saturday at Papakura. The feather-weight Walter Scott got home first in that event, followed by La Grippe and Sepoy. Evidently the winner escaped being affected by the troublesome complaint and overcame it easily. In future if anyone suffers from it they had better prescribe some “ Walter Scott ” instead of Walker's Scotch, which is said to be a very good antidote. Mr. E. D. Halstead should have reason to “ shake hands with himself” over the result of his efforts in connection with the Helensville Club’s weights. The acceptances for the different events are extraordinary good. Of the original nominations very few have dropped out, the discontents being as follows : —Cup 2, Hurdles 1, Flying Stakes o, Hack Race 3, Maiden 1, Novel Race 1. These results are simply wonderful. One is almost inclined to think they are “ too good to be true.” The Cup is one and a quarter miles, and on past form and present condition it reads like a fight between Ingorina, Miss Sly, and Leorina, who may finish in that order, although Brigade might take a fancy to win by way of a change. Miss Sly will be found a very “ sly puss,” although she does not belong to a “sly pus(sh).” The Flying Stakes, six furlongs, depends greatly on previous events of the programme. Apart from that, Acacia and Brigade read very well at the weights. The Hurdle Race, one and three-quarter miles, should rest between the three top weights, and I like them best in the order —Kate, Cloth of Gold, and Bryan O’Lynn. The other events are very open and are apt to be “ readied up,” so that it is difficult to say how they will result. In the Hack Race Transit, Tiger, Fusilier, and Forget-me-not are a very “ dangerous ” division, and if asked to select one I should go straight for Tiger. Next in order of real merit comes Transit, Fusilier, and Forget-me-not. As in the Hack Race so in the Maiden Plate with a field of eighteen, the result is—as one person remarked —rather “ nebulous.” Personally, I like the same lot as mentioned for the Hack Race with the addition of Miss Sly and Acacia, but how to separate them is a mystery. Readers had better do this on the course. Bear in mind, however, that Tiger, Miss Sly, and Acacia are each worthy of notice in whatever they may start for. The Novel Race is best left alone Anything may win from Comet and Reuben to everything in it. The Avondale Jockey Club’s lists have filled well, and after the Helensville Meeting a line may be got as to some of the probable winners for it. From time to time in the columns of this paper have appeared remarks upon the rules adopted by the Metropolitan Clubs of the colony. These remarks were of a varied nature. In some cases drawing attention to the ineffectuality of some rules, in others to the ignoring of the rules by clubs, horseowners, and others, and so on. Had space permitted I purposed this week going through the rules seriatim and drawing attention to all points wherein many of them were useless, ambiguous, anomalous, or inapplicable —this latter more especially in the case of other than Metropolitan Clubs. I shall, therefore, have to “ adjourn the debate” to a future issue. The Taranaki Jockey Club “ unravel ” their events to-day and to-morrow. To-day’s events have not filled at all well considering the large nominations for the Cup and Flying Handicap. Glancing cursorily over the weights I incline to think the Cup will lie between Awarua Rose,

Whisper, and Krina, preferring them in that order. The Welter Handicap reads well for The Dreamer or Torpedo. The Ladies’ Bracelet may fall to Melas or Durus in that order. The Flying Handicap looks like a “good thing ” for Heather Bell, whose worst opponents appear to be Weka and Prestige. It is very difficult, though, at this distance away, to know what is going on there.