DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 131, 26 January 1893, Page 8

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

in reviewing the handicap for the Dunedin Cup I pointed out what a bad lot Mr Dowse had had to bring together, and considering their quality, I was hardly prepared, even though the veteran had made a good handicap, to find 11 accept. This number has, however, since been reduced by one owing to Dilemma being scratched for all engagements at the meeting. The top weight Occident, who won last year, has been eliminated, which leaves Prime Warden, B.i i, at the head of affairs. In reviewing the handicap I expressed the opinion that the distance is a bit above the compass of the brother to Sultan, and to that opinion I adhere, though I must at the same time state that he is a bit better class than the majority of those engaged, and I also observe that his stable have taken Saracen out, and are therefore content to rely on him alone. Clanranald, 8.7, is another that has not hitherto shown a partiality for a distance of ground, but it must not be forgotten that his connections backed him for a lot of money for the New Zealand Cup. He went wrong, though, at the end of the winter, and did not see the post. Cruchfield, 8.0, is much more to my liking He was a good three-year-old, and Ted Cutts (who has had charge of him ever since he first went into training) has patched him up since when he had a very suspicious leg, and has won good races with him. He may now score with him once more, and no victory would be more popular than that of the “ blue and gold chequers” of Mr G. H. Clifford, who, though a staunch supporter of the game, has not had a decent one lately carrying his colours. I don’t care for Scot Free at 7.9, but at the weight—7.6 —I like Crown Jewel. She has not. however, run at all well this season, and at Hororata the other day, when a warm favourite for the Cup, she was badly beaten, and afterwards met with defeat by her solitary opponent in the Consolation. If Butler happens to “ nick ” her on the day I think she will have a big show judging by her form of last season, but on this season’s form she cannot be in it. I hardly know what to make of Thame, 7.5. Here is another member of the weaker sex who has shown that she can stay, but she has lately done nothing, and still her owner keeps paying up for her. Perhaps the hon. gentleman thinks that in such a weak field anything may get home, and therefore he thinks it good to take the risk of a further payment, in which perhaps he is right. I will not have Captive at 7.1, but the fact of Awarua Rose, 7.0, being paid up for would lead one to infer that he has recovered from the injury he met with in the New Zealand Cup race, and, if so, he will be handy on the day. He has a

nice handy weight, and the distance should not stop him. In him and Cruchfield — who are both owned in entirely different interests —Ted Cutts has a nice pair to handle. What a smile of satisfaciion will oer’spread the burly veteran’s features should he have the satisfaction of leading either one of them back to scale a winner, for does not Mr H. Redwood, his oldest master, own the “ Rose,” while Mr Clifford, for whom he has won so many races, notably with Stonyhurst, owns Cruchfield. With Occident taken out, Tempest, 6.1 1, is the only representative ofMr J Stephenson’s local stable, and this erratic lady will, I am afraid, find a mile and a quarter of the journey quite enough for her. Wyvern, 6.9, I discard, and at present, presuming he will stand a preparation, I like Cruchfield best. The final payments are not due till the 20th prox., so we can afford to “ bide a wee.”

Mr Dowse’s adjustment for the Publicans’ Handicap, 7 furlongs, has met with the good acceptance of 17. Two Aucklanders, The Workman and Quadrant, have gone out, but we are still represented by Loch Ness and another North Islander whose name is seen is North Atlantic. If this colt should come back to his two-year-old form he will be very dangerous. Hippomenes, 8.1 1, now heads the list, and as I have often pointed out this brother to Regel takes a lump of doing over a short course. Ido not care for Cruchfield, 8.7, Morpheus, 8.7, or Kulnine, 8.5, but I have a bit of respect for Vogengang, 8.4. This colt was a rattling good two-year-old, and though he went off before New Zealand Cup time he managed, though a bit off, to run second to Quadrant in the Farewell Handicap at the same meeting, when Quadrant was conceding him but 1 lb. I thought Sheenan would have paid up for him in the Cup but as he has not done so I like his chance all the better in the Publicans’. Loch Ness, 8.2, was one I selected when the weights appeared ; and another I took to be well in was Lady Zetland, who ran second in the same race last year with Ilb less, but, as I remarked “ since then she has been to Australia, and I fancy the knocking about has been a bit detrimental to her.” She may be all right for aught I know at present, and if so she will run well forward, but the stable have another representative in Saracen, 7.7. This colt is rather of the “ soft” order, I think, judging by his running. He shouldn’t be so, for he is bred “as hard” as the proverbial “ nails,” being by Chester’s brother St. George out of Sir Modred’s half-sister Fair Nell. However, he has shown a weak spot on more than one occasion when the money has been on, and he may do so again. I would sooner stand Lady Zetland than him if it came to a pinch and they were running in different interests. I expressed a partiality, when I reviewed the weights, for Heather Bell, 7.2, and I see she remains in, and I think she holds safe all those below her. If asked at the point of the bayonet at the present moment to select a trio to furnish the winner I should pick Hippomenes, Vogengang and Heather Bell. There is no further acceptance for this event I may remark.

Entries for four of the minor events of themeetingalso closed on Thursday night, with the following results: —Hurdle Race, 11 ; Tally-ho Handicap, 9 ; Hurdles (3rd day), 9 : Stewards’ Welter, 26. The weights for the first day’s Hurdles and Stewards’ Purse are due on the 3rd prox