Coming Events.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 125, 15 December 1892, Page 5

Coming Events.

[By

Sir Launcelot.

AUCKLAND CUP.

The acceptances for the Auckland Cup closed on Friday, and when Mr Percival made up his list it was found that 15 remained in. This I regard as a very satisfactory acceptance. Cynisca, North Atlantic, and Stepniak had “ defected” before acceptance night, so that really the only horses of note that' dropped out on Friday were Clanranald, Fraternite, Rosefeldt, and Crown Jewel. I thought Mr Douglas would have paid up for Rosefeldt, but with that exception I am not surprised at the absence of any of the other malcontents.

I went into the handicap at great length last week, so that I have little more to say this week, the more so as in the next issue of the Sporting Review

I shall have to give my final selection. The arrival from the South of Crackshot, Merganser and Brigand has infused a lot of interest into the race, which judging by the diverse opinions held by good judges should result in a triumph for Mr Evett, the weight adjuster. Below will be found the opinions of several New Zealand turf scribes anent the handicap, and it will be seen there is quite a diversity of opinion which will delight the heart ofJ.O.E. In reviewing his adjustment last week I selected eight as best in, and the only absentee from them is Wyvern. I shall once more reiterate the opinion that the winner will come from Crackshot, St. Hippo, and Coalscuttle, and for a good outsider commend me to Brigand.

What the Turf Scribes Think.

“ Castor,” in the Canterbury Times, says :—“ With the exception of his treatment of Merganser Mr. Evett has made a fairly good handicap; but very few of the northern handicappier’s friends can say that he has not perpetrated a most serious blunder by the way he has handicapped the Otago Cup winner. It is so long now since Mr. Evett has visited the south that he can hardly have guaged the form of a large number of horses running here during the past twelve months accurately, and one or two more blunders of this description will cost him a good deal

of the reputation that he has gained during the past decade. Of course, Merganser may not win. Mares are uncertain animals at the best, and the daughter of Albatross will have accomplished enough travelling and hard work by the time she reaches Auckland to detract largely from her brillancy. Still, any handicapper who had seen her perform at Riccarton and Forbury could hardly have done otherwise than have given her at least 71b more to carry. In adjusting the weights for the St. Andrew’s Handicap, run on the second day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, Mr. Dowse, who, besides being on the spot, was present at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, handicapped Merganser at 9.3, Cynisca at 9.2, and Clanranald at 8.2. Merganser did not start, as she was engaged in the Onslow Plate on the same day. Cynisca certainly won the race, but she has failed repeatedly in her efforts to stay two miles, and Merganser won the Otago Cup so easily that she could apparently have covered another half-mile without inconvenience. * * * Next to Merganser

8.0, I prefer the chances of St. Hippo 8.9, Clanranald 8.2, Impulse 7.8, Rosefeldt 7.8, and as the Auckland course evidently suits Crackshot, 8.12, I shall select him, although I do not consider Mr. Harris’ horse fairly treated on his Riccarton form.”

“ Spectator,” in the Weekly Press, writes :—“ Mr. Evett, in framing the handicaps for the Auckland Racing Club’s biggest prize, did so under a disadvantage, as he was not present at the C.J.C. Spring Meeting. However, with the very complete reports of the meeting, as well as the result of the Otago Cup to go upon, he has not performed his task as well as he should have done. Crackshot, notwithstanding his defeats, does not get any weight taken off; indeed, he has now been asked to carry more weight than he had in the New Zealand Cup. * * * In raising St. Hippo to 8.9, and putting 8.5 upon Stepniak Mr. Evett treated those colts in a manner that no three-year-olds have ever been treated before for the Auckland Cup, and we have had some pretty good ones entered for the race, too. I don’t quite see why St. Hippo should have been asked to give Stepniak 41b, though there are plenty of people who believe that he could do so. On his Australian autumnal form The Workman at 8.5 reads exceptionally well, and more particularly when looking at the way he was handicapped for the important spring races in Australia is this so. On paper he looks to me the pick of the handicap. * * * Merganser on her form at the C.J.C. Meeting, and later on at Dunedin, has been very kindly dealt with indeed, and has escaped with several pounds less than she should have received. Of those lower down, Impulse, should he come to the post fit, may have a show, and last year’s winner, Pinfire, who is a far better horse than most people think, will run forward if he should stand a thorough winding up. * * * Scot Free has not raced well on the right handed course at Auckland since he was two years old, after which time he had one of his hips knocked down, but should he be as fit as he was last autumn he would have a chance. * * * Like The Workman there are others well enough treated on their best form, and these are Fraternite, Crown Jewel, and North Atlantic, but unless The Workman should be well, about which there is some doubt, I fail to see anything to beat Merganser, and taking all the probabilities as to fitness and what horses are likely to start into account, Crackshot and Rosefeldt may prove the best of the others for an outside investment at this stage. I should hardly expect Mr. Nathan to start St. Hippo to court almost certain defeat.” [Since “ Spectator” penned the above three “ who were well enough treated on their best form.” Fraternite, Crown Jewel, and North Atlantic, have dropped out, and so has Rosefeldt.—Ed. 5 R. J Says “Mazeppa” in the FPZ/wm:— “ Poor old Crackshot, notwithstanding his infirmities and his many defeats, is still being paid out for his record-cutting performance as a three-year-old. He is now honoured with top weight in the Auckland Cup. We have become so accustomed to seeing this horse’s name near the top of the handicaps that the unfairness of giving him that position once more is apt to be overlooked, but that the present estimate of Orackshot is wrong is surely proved by recent results. In the New Zealand Cup he was dead on the job, was excellently ridden, escaped interference, and finished only in front of the pulling-up horses. If they had all )een ridden out he would have been

nearer last than fifth. Then in the Metrop he carried 8.12, and was decisively beaten by Cynisca, 8.9. The mare (who by the way is scratched) was handicapped to give him ounces ior that hollow licking. In fair play she should give him weight. I am confident that Crackshot hasn’t a 100 to 1 showjin this Auckland Cup. Probably his show would be a poor one even at a lighter weight, but it would have looked better to extend mercy to a horse that never has a smell at a A Cup nowadays though generally run out. Personally I think The Workman should give him weight. This paar were put on the same mark in the New Zealand Cup, and The Workman has done nothing since to get weight off, while Crackshot has gone on losing. And Merganser, too, why should a mare like this receive weight from him ? She won' the Otago Cup with a stone in hand, I should say, and if so that makes her*as good as Cynisca at a mile and a-half, and why it should be supposed that she can’t get two miles I can’t see. It seems to me ' very plain that Crackshot is crucified. On the other hand, I am inclined to. side with Mr. Evett as against those of his critics who say that St. Hippo is-; tbo leniently treated. My opinion is that the New Zealand Cup winner could hardly have been asked to carry more than 819. He is only a three-year-old, he -has 61b more than Crackshot had when he won;at the same age, and if St. Hippo .wins under his present impost he deserves to. You mustn’t crush a horse because he is a good one. I estimate that St. Hippo has a fair chance if he is quite well, but he must be in his best trim, and until we know that he has thoroughly got over his efforts at Christchurch—he was notoriously going off there he should be left alone. Backing him.pn the day would be better business. Further, I back up Mr. Evett in his Calculation that St. Hippo can give Stepniak 41b over two miles, but there is no D&ed to enter on reasons since Mr. Stead’s colt is scratched. * * * But if I ■ were betting I would not touch these or any other of the horses so long as Merganser remains in the race. She is pitchforked in, and if she goes to the post as well as she was on the day when she won the Otago Cup it will be good business to take level money about her chance. 5 That is my notion. Looking further down the list Morion’s name catches the eye. He ' did not show his form at Christchurch, and now has 31b off his back. * * I should not like to declare too hastily that Brigand has no show. So far as I can see it would be a good handicap that Mr. Evett has issued for this Cu,p, if Crackshot had been let off a bit lighter and Merganser shoved up. , For the present I am satisfied to select Merganser to win.”

In the face of the events for youngsters to be decided at the Auckland Racing , Club’s Summer Meeting and other evqnts later on in the season, in which the young stock other than those engaged in Auckland may compete, we append the following comments on the form of the juveniles made by the special reporter of ■ the Canterbury Times, who was present at the D.J.C.’s Meeting:—“ The twpyear - olds seen out were, on tjie whole above the average. Skirmisher was very sore, and in fact quite unfit to race, but he performed very well ,in the Musselburgh Plate on the second day, and would have finished a good deal closer ;to the winner if he had not stumbled a couple of hundred yards from home. Strowan has improved out of all knowledge since he finished unplaced in the Spring Nursery Handicap on the third day of the C.J.C. Spring. He is evidently coming on, tpp, as he ran better on each occasion 1 on which he started, and his run in the last 100 yards of the Glasgow Plate was really a brilliant effort. Outpost is an extremely nice looking youngster, and. a meeting between him and Strowan wdtild have proved most interesting. He isj'a very lazy colt, and required to be hard ridden some distance in both the races he won, but in each instance he answered the whip in the gamest manner possible, and won comfortably enough at the finish. Of the other two-year-olds Beadonwell is certainly entitled to be placed next. He was only beaten ahead in the Maiden Two-year-old Race, won by Strowan, and on the third day, with all the worst of the position, fairly cantered over Geraint and Token in the Nursery Handicap. The son of St. Clair is'in everyway a credit to his sire, and i§] a colt which will improve with age. Qf.tne other youngsters. Geraint ran gamely pn each occasion on which he started, but as I have already pointed, out we jiave probably seen the best of him. * ! •’ *

Quite the finest colt seen out at the meeting in point of looks was Gitano, a full brother to Gipsy King, who takes a good deal after his distinguished relative excepting in colour. He was, however, very backward, and should his legs stand satisfactorily I shall expect him to win a good race in the autumn.” [N B. — Gitano is full brother to Mr. McNicol’s horse Gipsy King, who is now standing in the Waikato. — Ed. S'J?.]