EGMONT RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 145, 4 May 1893, Page 10

EGMONT RACING CLUB.

Next Wednesday, 10th inst., will find the above club ‘ making merry ’ over their Steeplechase gathering. Last week I dealt briefly with two of the principal items. At the time of writing, however, acceptances were not to hand, and I had to deal with them somewhat haphazard. Now I have the acceptances to hand, and find that in the Hurdle Race of the five I selected as best in only one of them has been content, viz., Disturbance. Last week I * remarked ’ that Couranto, 11.13, and Waterbury, 11.5, would have to be reckoned with if their old selves. Couranto is left in but Waterbury has dropped out. , The former must surely be in good order, and I think of the others who have '■ ‘ cried off,’ future events looming up before them must have had a very powerful influence.- Empire, 10.12, has been doing well of late over sticks, and may be the * correct pea,’ but I still think Disturbance will down him. So also Couranto. Chester, 10.6, I do not know enough about to warrant me choosing him. As for-Jacob, Union Jack and Bradshaw, I am inclined to think they will find the company too * hot.’ I feel constrained to look for the winner in Disturbance, Couranto and Empire, and I shall accordingly ' place them in that order. I took four as a ‘ main ’ in the Trial Steeplechase, and three are still left in, viz., .Waterbury, 11.3, Allegretto, 10.2, and-Karewa, 9.1 i l Many of the rest are almost, if not entirely, unknown quantities. Iroquois is spoken of favourably in many quarters and evidently the handicapper ‘ knows a little ’ by the weight he has allotted him— 10.9. Union Jack, 10.2, is rather harshly treated, I should fancy, for his running has been only very mediocre. He may have improved, though, meanwhile. Disturbance I prefer in the ‘ small stick ’ event. Darebin would appear to have some confidential parties behind him, seeing that he is accepted for in both this: and the Egmont Steeplechase. For that reason I shall take a ‘ pot, shot ’ and put him down as the *■ cock boat ’ of the party in either event. Apart from that I cannot see why this event should not end—Waterbury 1, Allegretto 2, Karewa 3. The ‘ big money ’ event of the day is the Egmont Steeplechase of 150 sovs, about 3 miles. This has a field of eleven, and, as usual with all such events, is not an easy task to unravel. Shillelagh, 11.9, is tbpweight, and will surely take a lump of beating. Empire, 10.9, comes next, and if as good at this game as he is over hurdles, ought to have a say. I much prefer the next —Booties—at 10.7. This ‘ joker ’ has been in ‘ lavender ’ for some time past, and has always given a good account of himself in the past. He won a couple of steeplechases last year, and has thereby proved his ability to negotiate ‘ country.’ I am of opinion that what beats him will about win. I have been watching a rong time for his reappearance. As I said before, I do not know enough of Chester 10.5. Auckland, 10.2, I am afraid to trust. I have no inclination for ‘ resurrected ’ ones. Of the others engaged my ‘ remarks ’ on previous events will now similarly apply, and if any of the six are to do the trick it may. be Allegretto, 9.7, or IroqUoiis, 9.12 —the former for choice —with Darebin, 9.7, again as a ‘ cockboat? Summing up the ‘ whys and wherefores’ I make a bold splash and ‘ pan out ’ the result:— Booties.. ... .. 1 Shillelagh .. .. 2 Allegretto or Empire .. 3 ’ The other items of the programme are not to hand at the time of writing, so .that I cannot deal with them.