Anticipations.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 609, 18 September 1902, Page 15

Anticipations.

AVONDALE J C- SEEING MEETING On Saturday next the Spring Meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club will be commenced and continued on the following Wednesday and Saturday. After the long winter months the Spring Meeting \ of the Avondale Club is always gladly welcomed by the. sporting community, and the interest which this gathering creates seems to grow from year .to year, and now we look upon the racing of the Avondale Stakes as indicative of what two-year-olds are Hike, while the Guineas teach us what to expect in future classic events. This year both events are fraught with interest, particularly the Stakes, as Auckland can boast of more two-year-olds in work this season than in any previous year of our Turf history. It is to be hoped that the weather will be line, and if it is so it is safe to assume that the ver- ' diet of the Club’s patrons wall be that the Avondale racecourse is now a delightful rendezvous. There has not been time yet for the trees to grow in the saddling paddock, but the luxuriant coat of grass and the white shell paths are decidedly pretty, to look on. Avondale was voted a very fine place in the autumn, but it will be voted a very much finer place in the spring. The course is in splendid order. We have had a considerable amount of moisture of late, but the drainage at Avondale appears to be so good that the water is not allowed to lodge in any part of the running track, w T hich at the present time is springy and firm. The drive to Avondale at this season of the year is a pleasant one, and those who prefer the rail to the road will observe by an advertisement in this issue that the Government have put on a number of special trains, and all things considered, -I fully expect to see a record attendance. The first race is timed to start at half-past twelve o’clock. Proceedings will be started with the Maiden Plate, six furlongs, for which there is a field oi fifteen, and I full} expect that the race will take some picking. Rosiphele was a bit of a disappointment last season, but I hear that she has been doing fairly well at the Shore. Still La Valiere is such a wellbred one that I cannot pass her over and I will select : La Valiere 1 Rosiphele 2 Mechanic 3 The First Hurdle Handicap has nine in it and on Riccarton form I like the top weight, and I. will elect

Mars 1 Bellman 2 Dingo 3 For the Avondale Stakes of 200 sovs, four furlongs, the following have been left in at the time of writing Mr T. W. Armitage’s b f Lady Annie, by Soult—Miss Annie Mr W. K. Brown’s br c, by Soult —Mysterious Mr E. Cecil’s br c, by Torpedo—Antelope Mr P. Chaafe’s b c, by Castor —Lady Peer Mr H. Friedlander’s b c Lord Seaton, by Seaton Delaval —Miss Letty Mr H. Friedlander’s b f Kamo, by Seaton Delaval —Waitemata Mr H. Friedlander’s br f Sans Peur, by Soult —Forme 0 Mr W. M. Handley’s b f Merry Soult, by Soult—Merry Maid Mrs Jno. LennarcYs b f, by, Seaton Delaval—lda Mrs Jno. Lennard’s br f, by Seaton Delaval —Vieux Rose but I expect to see a good field range up at the barrier, and there will be a lot of smart ones among them. Stibbington, the half-brother to St. Paul, some time ago promised to make a name for his sire, Ben Godfrey, but a nasty kick has put him back a bit. Thorpe has a very strong hand to play, and what he elects to will take a power of beating. It is the popular opinion that Kamo, .the fullsister to Porirua, will be the trusted representative of the stable, but it must not be forgotten that in San Peur, the half-sister to Cruciform, the stable has a very slippery customer. The stable, I think, may expect most danger from Cordon Rouge, who has been educated by Frank Macmanemin. This fellow is a very quick beginner, and I fully expect to see him the first to leave the barrier, and he will take a lot of catching. The trio, Kamo, Sans Peur and Cordon Rouge appear to be more forward than many of the others, some of whom will be seen to better advantage later on. I will select Mrs Jno. Lennard’s b f, by .Seatort, Delaval —Dorothy Mr H. Moody’s b c by Soult —Helen McGregor Mr W. Lovett’s br f, by Cuirassier —Lady Moth Mr H. Nicol’s br c by Soult—Lady Antrim Mr J. Chaafe’s br c, by Ben Godfrey —Satanella Mr J. G. Ralph’s l.r f, bv, Soult—First Love * Mr W. Ryan’s Ln- c Cordon Rouge, by Soult —Lady Emmeline Mr J. T. Ryan’s br f, by Seaton Delav a l —Charente Mr C. Salisbury’s b f, by Seaton Delaval —Lottie Mr F. Stenning’s o c, by Ben GodfreyAgatha Mr W. L. Thomson’s b f Lelania, by Seaton Delaval —Campania Mr A. Tooman’s br f Bonomiana, by Soult —Ellen Boone Mi- J. B. Williamson’s br c, by Cyrenian— Minola No doubt a number of the above will be scratched on the day of the race, Kamo or Sans Peur 1 Cordon Rouge 2 Lelania 3 The Avondale Cup should result in an interesting race. There were twelve acceptors, and most of them will go to the post. The best handicapped animal in the race, to my mind, is The Shannon, who is asked to carry only four pounds more than she carried in the Wellington Rating Club Handicap, when she beat St. Michael, Cannie Chiel, Melwood, Ostjak, Canteen and others, cutting out the mile and a-quarter in 2min 12secs'. She is looking well, albeit it is said that she had a little bit of a chill, and if she has not been seriously affected by it I expect to see her win. Formula has been doing well, and will be very dangerous. Grey Seaton has undergone' a good preparation, and Vai Rosa' may be expected to run forward. I prefer them thus : The Shannon 1 Vai Rosa 2 Grey Seaton 3 . There are thirteen in the First Hack Handicap, and if La Valette is started he should win. He may be reserved for the Flying Handicap later on, and in that case I prefer the chances vf Romeo 1 Marshall Soult 2 Set onia 3 A dozen has accepted for the Steeplechase, which may result as follows : Cannongate 1 Dingo 2 Tarragon 3 The First Pony Handicap has not attracted a very strong field, and of the half-dozen left in I like

First Whisper 1 Girton Girl 2 Sentinel 3 The Flying Stakes will bring the day’s racing to a close. It wears a pretty open appearance, but I have a preference for them thus : Wairiki 1 La Valetfe 2 St. Olga 3 On the second day the Guineas will come up for decision, and I am inclined to think that Idas will confirm her two-year-old form of last season, and the judge may place them thus : Idas i Grey Seaton 2 Wairiki 3i The following have been left in the Guineas ; — Mr T. W. Armitage’s b f Mary Seaton, by Seaton Delaval —Bragela Mr P. E. Baldwin’s ch f, by Hotchkiss — Sy I. il Mr T. B. Bell’s br f, by Hotchkiss —Reproach Mr E. J. Evans’ ch o Spalpeen, by Gossoon —Windmill Mr E. J. Evans’ br f by Cydnus—lrma Mr H. Friedlander’s b f Glaa’isla, by Seaton Delaval —Miss Gladys Mr H. Friedlander’s ch c Kelbum, by Hotchkiss—Lady Augnsxa Mrs Jno. Lennard’s br f Idas, by Seaton Delaval —Ida Mrs Jno. Lennard’s b c Lavadel, by Seaton Delaval —Dorothy Mr J. Reginald’s b f Austerlitz, by Soult —Sappho Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan’s gr c Grey Seaton, by Seaton Delaval —Vivandiere Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathans b c La Valette, by Seaton Delaval —Miss Letty. Messrs L.'D. and N. A. Nathan’s ch f La Valerie, by Seaton Delaval —Charente Messrs L. I). and N. A. Nathan s ch c Northumberland, by Seaton Delaval — Campania Mr F. Walcot’s br c Sensation, by Hotchkiss—Ouida Mr R. Walker’s br f, by Hotchkiss—Vixen Mr W. b a Wairiki, by Soult——Rose and White Mr J. ' Warner’s ch c, by Castor —Lady Wellington.