DUNEDIN PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 129, 12 January 1893, Page 9

DUNEDIN PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP.

Considering The Workman’s dual victory • ■ under 9.8 and 9.5 at the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting last week, Mr Dowse has certainly “flattered”

him by giving him only 9.3. Major George has before now given this same Publican’s Handicap a big shaking, especially when Reprisal was only beaten a head by Pique, and should he send The Workman down to the Otago capital, I’m sure the son of Robinson Crusoe will acquit himself creditably. Quadrant, 8.13, is without doubt a most brilliant horse at any distance up to a mile He was not seen out at the A.R.C. Summer Meeting, and as he has been entered for the Newmarket Handicap at the V.R.O. Autumn Meeting, it is quite on the cards that his owner may make a descent on Australian shores with him. What a gamble there would be, though, were such tip-top sprinters as he and The Workman to meet in this Publicans’ Handicap. I really don’t know which I should prefer at the weights now given them by Mr Dowse. But there is one just below them that will have to be reckoned with, namely, Hippomenes at 8.11. A brilliant horse this, and with the brief spell he has had he should come out like a giant refreshed next month. Be it remembered that he is locally trained, and is therefore more likely to start than either The Workman or Quadrant. I take it that it will be a great race between these three top weights if they all start. Ido not care for either Cruchfield or Morpheus at 8.7, but Kulnine at 8.5 and Vogengang at 8.4 are well dealt by, and so is Loch Ness at 8.2. Young Cheviot has recently put up some good records over sprint courses, but I should prefer him with 21b or 31b less. The same remark applies to Bay Bell, 8.0, and Flinders, 7.12. I will once more decline to stand. Of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s trio—Free Lance at 7.9, North Atlantic at 7.9, and Thame at 7.8, I would prefer Thame if she were not a starter for the Dunedin Cup. Lady Zetland is in her proper place at 7.8. With lib less she ran third in the same race last year, but since then she has been to Australia, and I fancy the knocking about has been a bit detrimental to her. Whakawatea, if in anything like his old form, would at 7.7 have a show second to none, but he is not himself, and therefore I must reluctantly pass him by. I like Saracen at 7.7, though I fancy this young gentleman has a will of his own, and will only travel when in the humour. Ido not care for Captive and Johnny Faa at 7.5, but Mr Dowse has been lenient to Mr Stephenson’s pair Lustre and Huguenot, the former especially, seeing that he won the Federal Handicap at Dunedin last No vember. In that race he carried 7.0, Bay Bell (second) having 7.9, and Saracen (third) 7.6 Now with a furlong further to go he is raised 41b, Bay Bell 51b, and Saracen lib, at which Bay Bell has the worst of it, but probably the handicapper had in his mind the fact that this mare ran second to Cynieca in the mile and a quarter race on the second day of the D.J.C.’s Meeting. Heather Bell is extremely well dealt by, and I think she has the best of all those below her. Taking all in at the weights I like best The Workman, Quadrant, Hippomenes, Loch Ness,, Lustre and Heather Bell. Acceptances for this race are also due next Thursday.