Coming Events.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 287, 23 January 1896, Page 6

Coming Events.

[by

borderer. ]

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB SUMMER MEETING. When acceptances closed last night for the Takapuna J.C. Summer Meeting it was found that the satisfactory total of 109 horses were left in their engagements. The Cup attracted 14. a similar number paid p for the Stewards’ Handicap, 22 remained in the Maiden Plate, while out of the dozen youngsters entered for the Calliope Handicap 10 paid up. The result is eminently satisfactory, and it only requires fine weather next Wednesday, when the meeting opens, to make the gathering a big success. Starting my anticipatory comments with the Cup, I find it hard to pass by the top weight (Fabulist) in looking for the winner. The only bar to his winning is the sharp turns of the Shore course, which is a perfect snare for favourites. A short-coupled, handy racer has all the best of things on such a course, and that is just what Fabulist is not. Still, it is very hard to see how the Great Northern Derby winner is to be defeated. He carried 8.10 in the Derby, and ran it in record time, and next Wednesday he will be asked to put up an extra 81b. He has the build of a weight-carrier, and stands out as far and away the pick of the chances. St. Regel has fallen out, but St. Clements, to my surprise, has accepted. I don’t like him over twelve furlongs. Nor is Doris to be trusted,, and Panoply, failed at Wellington. Anita has quite enough with 8.6, but I can’t write her out. Three Star (8.2) has

a really good chance, and so has Eve r who is particularly well treated at 7.0. She is coming into form, and must run well. Yattenfeldt and Miss Nelson both have chances, but the others have not. Fabulist, if he starts, is my straight-out pick, and to take two I name Fabulist and Three Star. The Steeplechase requires no consideration beyond the question—“ Will Bombardier stand up?” R. Wright replaces Morrigan this time as pilot, and perhaps! with a change of riders luck may come to the Brigadier gelding. With a stand-up he has the race at his mercy, so we have only to unearth the next best in case of a fall. I should take Disturbance and Othello to be the best pair to trust, the former for choice, so my pair against the field are Bombardier and Distukbance. Doris (9.6) has a lump of weight in the six furlongs and a half Stewards’ Handicap, but they are a poor crowd against her. Eve has a chance, so, for ... two, I select Doris and Eve. The five furlong handicap has a strong’ field of sprinters, and will be hard to pick. This is Forma’s only engagement during the day, so I suppose that can be taken as a sort of tip. Lady Marion is the build of mare likely to score, for she* will slip very easily round the bends. Eve (7 10) must have a chance again here, for she ran five furlongs in 1 min at Ellerslie, and that takes a power of beating. Right through the piece thia mare is very well treated, and she must ( be dangerous in whatever she starts for. I like Forma and Eve. The pony race has eleven acceptors,, and looks a good thing for Kit or Fidget. The nine hurdlers left in the Handicap Hurdles, two miles may be reduced to a quartette, viz., Bombardier, Ladybird, Warrior, and Disturbance. Warrior in his old form would win, but I do not know his condition. Disturb mce takes a lump of weight (201 b from Ladybird, who will not carry 11.8 so easily as Bombardier will the 11.10 allotted him. Tho-ught-weights appear to have no chance, and my vote wavers between Disturbance and Bombareier. If the Maiden Steeplechasers are not beaten by Kingswood, John Rae’s horse is no good. The two-year-old race, the Calliope Handicap, should give a really good contest. On their running at Wellington, Antares and St. Elmo will be a hard pair to beat, but, on her own course, Lady Anna will give them a hard job to catch the eye of the judge. The light weights have no chance, unless it be Admiral Hawke, who is a good colt and will pay a dividend yet. Lady Anna and Antares look good enough to take against the field. The Maiden Plate is a rare bottle of mixed pickle. Frankly, I can’t see daylight between the twenty-four moderates left in 1 <st night, and the man who picks it deserves a good win. If I tried a wild plunge in the dark, I should name Cleopatra.