AT RICCARTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 432, 3 November 1898, Page 13

AT RICCARTON.

[By Our Canterbury Correspondent.] The training operations at Riccarton are always interesting just before a big race meeting, and the work given each horse is looked forward to with a considerable amount of excitement by many enthusiastic lovers of horse racing. This year’s work has been watched by a large number of sports, nine out of every ten of whom use that popular iron steed, in the shape of a bicycle, for conveying them to the trysting ground. The Cup horses are taken most notice of, but not a few look forward to the work given the juveniles. A short account of training work since Thursday last will no doubt be read with interest by readers of the Review. Rain on Wednesday affected the course, which was too heavy to admit of any fast work being done. On Friday morning the grass course was in excellent order. Trainers were out sharp to 5 o’clock. Cceur de Lion, Oingo, and Douglas were sent together over a mile and a quarter. Cceur de Lion went freer than the other two, and finished a length in front of Oingo, while Douglas seemed to tire in the last four furlongs. The

time was 2min 22sec. Djin-Djin and Falka ran a mile at a sound pace, the last six furlongs taking Imin 22sec. Starshot had Dundas as a companion in a real good gallop, in which the mile was covered in Imin 59isec. Dundas, as usual, appeared to hold his stable companion safe all • the way. Another good gallop was done by Swordfish 11. and Nestor, who were sent one mile and five furlongs, Swordfish 11. finishing 11| lengths ahead of Nestor. Goldleaf joined in just before the anile post was reached, and set a fast pace in the. last six furlongs, but Swordfish finished in front. Hotchkiss’ son had much the best of the weights, but nevertheless the gallop was a good one. I think he will beat among others ISestor and Goldleaf. Malatua beat Nihilist and Brisa over six furlongs. Heritas finished 'Well in front of Peerage at the end of a mile gallop, which took Imin 48 2-seec. Daystar shaped better than usual in a mile and a quarter gallop. Epaulet and Fulmen were associated in a mile and a half gallop, both horses carrying above their Cup weights. Fulmen appeared to beat his companion, but the pace slackened in the last two furlongs, the full distance taking 2min 45|sec. Boreas strode along nicely in once round, running a mile and a quarter in 2min Saturday morning broke beautifully fine, and some fast work was done. The gallop of the morning was accomplished by Starshot and Dundas, who were started together’ at the mile and a half post. They were ridden hard throughout, and the colt had the inside running. He galloped in rare style, beating his companion by a length at the finish. The whip was used on Starshot down the straight, but she failed to get ahead of Dundas, who finished strongly. Time, 2min 42|sec, the last half-mile taking 54sec. Swordfish IT. cantered twice round. St. Paul, who arrived on Friday, was also sent-twice round, sprinting home the last four furlongs. Goldleaf and Djin-Djin went once round, finishing the last six furlongs fast. Douglas, OingOj and Cceur de Lion started together at the mile and a half post, and ran for a mile, when Oingo dropped out. The Cup horses then came on together, neither being ridden out. Time, 2min 45sec. Heritas and Peerage were sent the Cup distance, but the pace was not, fast at any part of the journey. Peerage seemed to hold his own with the older horse. Epaulet went twice round slowly. Daystar moved freely over once round on the plough. He seemed fresh and lively, but shaped better than he has done since his arrival. Boreas cantered one mile, then galloped a mile and a half in 2min by himself, the last mile taking Imin 49|sec, and the last half-mile 54|sec. A t Yaldhurst, Multiform (with his shoes on) and Altair (with his off) were sent a mile and a half on the grass. Multiform was much too good for the colt, whom he beat easily. Tirant d’Eau covered the same distance, having Motto as a companion over the last half-mile. Mr Gollan’s horse is very fit and well. Qn Monday morning Ft. Paul was one of the first out, and Chaafe sent him twice round at a steady pace. The horse pulled up quite sound. Goldleaf, who does not shape well in her training, was sent a mile and a quarter with DjinDjin, the last mile taking Imin 55?ec. The Cup mare did not move at all well. Boreas, Coeur de Lion, and Fulmen were sent for a mile and a half-gallop on the grass, which took 2min 45sec. All the horses were carrying over their Cup weights, Fulmen having quite as heavy an impost as the other two. Boreas finished a little ahead of Cceur de Lion while Fulmen was three lengths behind. The gallop was a good one. The three horses pulled up sound. Daunt, Target, and Hussar galloped a mile and a half together, the first-named having the best of it. Herifas and Peerage galloped once round at a sound pace, and came hon e fast, cutting out the last half mile on the grass in 52sec. Peerage is improving fast. Swordfish was sent a round steadily, brushing home the lest half mile. Epaulet was sent the Cup distance, the first mile at steady pace, and the second much faster. The last mile t;ok Imin 51 2-ssec. Malatua

left half a mile behind in 52sec. Daystar, 5tar- ...... shot, Dundas, Multiform, and Altair were all X given easy exercise. Bain fell on Monday night and early this (Tuesday) morning, but although the tracks were a little heavy, trainers were out early. Chaafe was first out, and sent St. Paul for a gallop over two miles. No fault could be found with the way the Cup horse shaped, and the way he walked off the course showed that his mentor has got him in capital trim. Swordfish swung round a mile and a half in 2min sOsec, moving well all the way. Douglas and Nestor started together at the mile and a half post, and were joined by Oingo at the five furlong post, the trio finishing together in 2min 50sec. Double Event, who arrived from Ashburton on Monday night, was sent a mile and a half, which he left behind in.2min.43sec. He astonished the touts by the way he shaped with his light weight. In the Cup he will fake a lot of beating. Cannonshot brought Double Event home from the six furlong post, but was eased up before the finishing post was reached. The last mile was cut out in Imin 49sec. Dundas and Hermosa cut out six furlongs in Imin 20sec. Daystar completed two rounds at half pace Boreas and Ostiak galloped half a mile in 50 4-ssec, a splendid gallop. Both finished together. Brett’s colt will be hard to beat in the Welcome Stakes Chasseur beat Skirmisher in a six furlong spin, run in Imin 21sec. Heritas, with his shoes off, galloped a mile and a quarter with Peerage, but 1 he latter, for once, was too good for his companion, who finished some lengths in front in 2min 19scc. Mistra, Jabber, and Reliance spurted half a mile. Mistra finished in front in 52sec Arline was scratched for the Stewards’ Handicap at 3 p.m. on Monday. Mount Clair was scratched to-day (Tuesday) for the Biccarton Welter. At the time of waiting all the Cup horses are at Biccarton except Bubin, who may be put down as a non-starter. Boreas is the only aged horse engaged in the Cup this year. There are three mares in the race, Starshot, Goldleaf, and Tar-

get, but the latter is a doubtful starter. The N.Z. Cup has never been won by a horse carrying over 8.9. Three horses, Tasman (1883), Vanguard(lBB4), amd Lady Zetland (1896), all won the Cup with 8.9 on their backs. It remains for either St. Paul, Swordfish, or Nestor to break the record. The Cup has been won by horses carrying under 8.0 no less than eleven times out of fifteen. There are three three-year-olds in the Cup this year. On track form Dundas should, if he starts, beat both Altair and Peerage, albeit the latter might effect a surprise.