THROUGH A PUNTER'S EYES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 967, 7 November 1910, Page 8

THROUGH A PUNTER'S EYES.

ANOTHER ASPECT OP THE OTJP MEETING. NOTES ON THE HORSES AND . OTHER THINGS. \ (By A Punter.) It has sometimes struck me as a punter in a modest and sporting. way that the professional sporting writer more often than not misses the very things we small followers of the sport want to know most about. I can only assume that the average sporting writer does not bet, and is unable to place himself in the position of the punter. One must have suffered to properly appreciate suffering, and ono must have "punted" before ho can diagnose the needs of' the punter in the form of racing gossip. It is as a punter, writing mainly for tho edification of punters, that these, my impressions of Cup Day 1910, are written.'

. It has seldom been my lot to witness a more pleasant Cup gathering— and I write as a punter of many 1 Cup memories. To Riccarton by train in the springtime, even after a two months' drought, is, a delightful experience. Tho English trees which line long stretches of tho road are just coming into full leaf —all shades of green charm tho eye and soothe tho senses. The elms and weeping willows this year have defied the drought with most success —possibly they root deeper than their fellows. But the road itself is a glad sight. Time was when race day at Riccarton was famous for the rush and clatter of its high-stepping trotters, the swinging rattle of skilfullyhandled and record-breaking pacers j the day of hansoms, coaches, sulkies, and the like. But to-day the Riccarton road on raco day is one long, rushing, throbbing stream of motor-cars —a yel-low-red-green-scarlet-white, even blue, stream, which, from the top of a tramcar, is an amusing and exhilarating sight. The patron of tho homely tramcar, if he is any sort of a student of human nature, and is gifted with some sense of ihumour, will 'find much to divert him in tho poses and paraphernalia of the occupants of the motor-cars which scurry past beneath him. . ;

A Dressy Cup. The course this year was hard, and the grounds, despite the time of year, a little dusty. As there are lady as well as men punters who may read these notes, it just as well to remark here that it was a "dressy" Chip day. • Lady Islington, I heard it remarked, wore something which eclipsed anything she has yet introduced, and the gowns generally bore testimony to the good times which have lately prevailed. Blues, I believe, were the dominating colour— all shades were represented, but light blues were an easy winner for numbers. Nothing looked better, however, than the fawns, which were also present in good strength. Two out of every three of the costumes were of the hob-ble-skirt variety—and it may be remarked that the variety appears \mlimitcd. Some quite came up to the comic-paper design, and it filled one with admiration .to witness the ingenuity displayed by some of the wearers of this style" of garment in mounting the multitudinous steps of the grandstand under the handicap of their narrowed skirts. The hats were chiefly remarkable for circumference or height. _ If numbers count for anything the widespreading variety is being supplanted by the type, popularised by the loading lady in "The Chanticleer,",that comes well down over the face. Black was the winning colour in hats.

Picking Winners. When a punter reaches the course nowadays he usually makes the bookmakers his first call. Possibly ho has "a double," and wants to "get in" early— probably he merely wants to see the "odds" on tho first, race, and to get his first sniff of the battle ahead. The meeting, opened with the Hurdles, and the bookmakers appeared to think it a fairly open race, for the shortest price on offer at the outset, was 5 to 1. Looking at the horses in the ring—at Riccarton they aro walked about in a circle —two stood out from the rest in looks—Ruemac and Aorangi. Xavier looked better than I have overseen him, and Coy looked as ungraceful as ever. Why the public made. Aorangi a better favourite than Ruemac is hard to tell. Ruemac is a good cut of a hurdle horse. Aorangi has plenty of quality, but does not take the eye of the punter for hurdle work. As tho sporting writer will tell you elsewhere, Ruemac won. Possibly ho may not tell you how comfortably ho won from end to end. When a top-weight goes to the" front, makes his own pace, and almost canters home he must be either very good or the rest of the field are a very poor lot. The average punter would bo inclined to think him likely to win again in the same company provided tho handicapper did not prove unduly severe. The Spring Plate, which followed, was to be a onehorse race, if tho bookmakers" odds were any criterion. Vice-Admiral was tho correct thing for this race. The punter who knows anything at all always has a very solid respect for any entry to which is attached the namo of R. J. Mason, trainer, especially when the price is short. It was very short on this occasion, particularly in view of the fact that there wero a scoro of entrants, including such quality as Cullinan, Dearest, Domino, and Birkdale. Vice-Admiral is a strong, goodlooking colt, but appears to be backward at the barrier. Dearest, who has been in winning form lately, was at a surprisingly long price for some time, and Birkdalo, a Derby candidate, also was slow in meeting with support. The "good thing" failed. Dearest won nicely from the riso of the barrier to the judge's box. The punter who kept his eyes open, however, would note two things. First, that Vice-Admiral after losing a good many lengths at tho start was within a length of the winner at tho finish; secondly, that Birkdalo was running on at the end of tho race liko a stayer. How Humming Bird came

to pay so substantial a price in the Riccarton Welter is puzzling. The Hon. J. D. Ormond does not train Oaks candidates for nothing, and he has a big racing stud to chooso from. At tlio liutt recently sho finished faster than anything in the six-furlongs race, in which she was a close third to Penza and Sea Queen. Perhaps it is that sho is not ono of tho pretty Birkenheads. John was talked of as a strong probability for this race, but the lliccarton people plumped for Chief Lochiel, trained by M. Hobbs, with Lady Reina, trained by Mason, as next best. To a punter the featuros of the race were Swimming Belt's bold showing for ■ six furlongs; Chief Lochicl's promirienco at seven furlongs, and John's arrant failure. Swimming Belt is looking very well.

The Gup Race. ' Now for the Cup. Personally, I like a smallish horse for a long race, and I do not like him trained fine. In the bird-cage Ingoda looked as well as anything, but does not encourage one to think she is at her best in a big field. She does not give the idea that sho could take a bump without noticing it. Diabolo, on the other hand; has tho appearance of a fighter. I like a fighter for a tough race where there is a chance of a knock or two. He was showing muscle everywhere, but his hard preparation had not taken the fire out of him. He moved around the oneclosure briskly and evidently in fine spirits. Merriwa, who had been whispered of as something exceptional, is a big, evenly-made horse, apparently of sluggish temperament, a nice long-striding, easy-temper-ed fellow to all appearances. Bridge was as well off as any for condition, and, like Diabolo, looked in good heart. He was not at all an outstanding figure in the group, but there was a serviceable look about him. When he gallops he takes tho eye more. Los Angeles was perhaps the most showy of the bunch. He was as frisky as a kitten, looked hard, and was as eager as a two-year-old to get out and have a scamper ' down the track. Taskmaster wore bandages; Martist was too light and fine-drawn; Kopu later on belied his looks, just as Sir Prize did the vious year; Sandstream looked big and sluggish, and the others I did not bother about, although my friend assured me that Cronstadt seemed very well and had greatly improved in appearance of late. In the preliminary Los Angeles galloped very attractively. When a punter watches a race he sees little more than tho horse or horses he is backing. Yet there were several features of this year's Cup race which could not be overlooked. Los Angeles, for instance, ran a great raco for an alleged non-stayer. With a mile gono he was with Cronstadt lengths ahead of the rest of tho field. It struck me that they were galloping one another off their feet. Over a mile and a half Los Angeles will prove a very hot proposition. Then there was Merriwa. I watched this horse very closely up to about a milo and a quarter. He was then running about fourth, and going so well that the stories of his prowess which' had reached me were recalled. Suddenly, however, he appeared to bump Cronstadt, who had stopped suddenly, and Mernwa_ lost eight or ten lengths, and I lost interest in his chances. Yet at the finish he had come again, . and finished seventh. What actually happened could not be seen, but ho plainly met with ill-luck, and the best of him has not -been seen. Diabolo put up a great performance. For the first five furlongs he was well in the rear! Then the big black fellow began to thread his way through, tho cerise jacket clearly indicating his progress as he passed horse after horse on his way to the 'front. At tho mile post he was within striking distance of the leaders; round the bend leading into the straight he was at the heels of Los Angeles and Kopu, who wore now cutting out the running. Close on his heels also was the bluo jacket of the rider of Bridge, who had been in a good position throughout. As they entered tho straight I saw Jenkins just touch Diabolo .with■his whip, and he shot past Kopu up to Los Angeles, and in a few strides was in front. 1 thought it was all over. But that long, heart-break-ing' Riccarton straight is a deceptive thing. The blue jacket was coming along with the cerise, a little behind at first, but closing up. Jenkins was riding hard, and Gray, on Bridge, was also niggling his mount along. A touch with the whip, and Diabolo gained a foot or two, but Bridge ■ crept alongside passing the motor paddock; at the grandstand he had a slight advantage; halfway up the stand Jenkins made nis final effort; three sharp cuts with the whip, but Diabolo was doing his best, and his best could not carry him nearer than the flashing heels of the record-breaker thudding past the judge's box. A length and a half was tho verdict—but the favourite bad been extended; he had broken the Australasian record for the distance. Diabolo had failed where his dam had 'triumphed, but he had not disgraced his breeding. Kopu, the neglected, beat i Los Angeles by a neck for third place.

Welcome stakes and stewards'. It is at Riccarton that the best of the two-year-olds usually settle their first serious difference. Being a punter resentful of small dividends, I did not select the favourite to carry my modest investment for the Welcome Stakes. The bracketed pair, Peirene'and Orton, owned by Mr. Greenwood, and trained by Mason, were hot favourites. Peirene had beaten all she had met, and was, in consequence, carrying a 101b. penalty —a heavy handicap. In tho paddock Masterpiece at once caught the eye. Ho is a beautiful big colt, too big to bo racing yet. Later in the season or next year he will be galloping over most of those who beat him on Saturday. Culprit looked really well. She is a shapely filly, and apparently quite as good.as she looks. Miscount, who has done quite a lot of racing for this stage of the season, was also bright and well, while Rose Red, Tanahauser, and Orton appeared to want a race to sharpen them up. Culprit never left tho result of the race in doubt. She quickly got to the front and stayed there. Some appeared to think that Miscount was pressing her at the finish. I do not. Peirene without her penalty probably would on the day have met her equal, if not her conqueror. I missed the Ladies' Purse—gentlemen riders are too great a handicap for any self-respecting punter to wrestle with. The Stewards' Handicap was a onehorso race^—and the wrong horse at that. Boanerges looked all he was said to be. I have never seen a horse looking better, and he is a. fine-looking horse too. Yet ho was never in the hunt. Equitas was in great form. In her preliminary she was only cantered past the stand, but round tho bend Jenkins let her out, and I went straight to the totalisator. She never left the issue in doubt. At a furlong she was in front, and she stayed there. Jenkins took it easy at the finish, and could have widened the gap between himself and Obsono had he chosen. Kohiuoor • showed a lot of pace for a few furlongs, and Obsono and Bliss came on at the right end, which should bo duly noted for future reference. But horse for the punter to wateh is Maori King. Tho way in which he made up his ground after boing left lengths at the post, finishing right up with the leaders, could not be overlooked. And. he was carrying 9st. 71b. Gipsy Belle also should be worth watching. With 21 horsos all in at the same weight, and over a distance of four furlongs—a selling race at that—a good method of picking tho winner is to shut ono's eyes and dab a pencil at the names on tho race card. A doublefigure dividend is just as likely as' a win oh a favourite. On Saturday Mr. Boyle had two horses enteral—they rail first and second, and paid a doublefigure dividend.

SECOND DAY'S ACCEPTANCES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, November 6. The following are the acceptances for the socond day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan meeting:— MIDDLETON HURDLE HANDICAP, of 200 sovs.; second horse to receive 30 sov6.j and the third 10 sovs. from tho stako. One mile and threequarters.—Ruemac, list. 131b.; Master Paul, list. 91b.; Coy, lOst. 81b.; Xavier, lOst. 61b.; Gold Bird, lOst. 51b.; Hydrant, lOst. 21b.; Stone Ginger, lOst.; Southern Cross, lOst.; Kingman, 9st. 31b.; and Milo, 9st.

IRWELL HANDICAP, of 250 sovs.; second horse to receive 30 sovs., and third 15 sovs. from the stake. Four furlongs.—Culprit, 9st. lib.; Orton, Bst.j Glenroy, Bst.; Query, 75t..111b.-; Bronze, 7st. <llb.; Pleasure Bent, 7st. 21b.; and Ortava, 6st. 71b.

EPSOM HIGH WEIGHT HANDICAP, of 300 sovs.; second horse to receive 35 sovs., and the third 15 sovs. from tho stako. Six furlongs.—Perle d'Or, 9st. 121b.; Obsono, ' list. 10lb.; Dearest, 9st. 101b.; Swimming Belt, 9st. 91b.; War-song, 9st. 71b.; Federal, 9st. lib.; Moreeambe, 9st.; Scotch Plaid, Bst. 131b.; Fasnakyle, Bst. 111b.; Fisticuff, Bst. 81b.; Medallist, Bst. 51b.; Glenspring, Bst. 51b.; Ascalon, Bst.; Crown Derby, Bst..; Inspection, Bst.; Rock Ferry, Sst.; and Bolt from the Bluo, Bst.

JUVENILE PLATE, of 400 sovs.; second horse to receive 50 sovs., and the third 20 sovs from the stake. Five furlongs.—Sunburnt, Bst. 71b.; Kohinoor, Bst. 71b.; Formless, Bst. 21b.; Madam Madcap, Sst. 21b.; Miscount, 7st.; and Peireno, 6st. 91b.

CRITERION HANDICAP) of 500 sovs.; second horse to receive 50 sovs., and the third horse 25 sovs out of the stake. Seven furlongs.—Boanerges, 9st. 41b.; PenateSj 9st. 41b.; Polymorphous, 9st. 21b.; Wimmera, Sst. 41b.; Wauchope, Bst.i2lb.; Bliss, 7st. 131b.; Theodore, 7st. 101b.; Gipsy Belle, 7s't. 91b.; Chief Lochiel, 7st. 91b.; Gunboat, 7st. 71b.; Dreadless, 7st. 71b.; St. Felix, 7st. 61b.; Humming Bird, 7st. lib.; Vice-Admiral, 7st. lib.; and SanSevero, 6st. 71b.

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, of 1000 sovs.; second horse to receive 175 sovs., and the third 100 sovs. from the stake. One mile and a half. St. lb. St. lb. Bridge 8 13 Kopu 7 7 Sandstream 8 5 Outlander... 7 7 Prim 7 13 John .'. 7 0 Miss Mis- Cronstadt... 7 0 chief 7 13 Adjudge 6 13 Ingoda .... 713 Boutade ... 612 ASHLEY HANDICAP, of 130 sovs.; second horse to receive 25 sovs., and tho third horse 10 soys, from the stake. Six furlongs.—Dearest, 9st. '81b.; Elfish, Bst. 121b.; Queen of Spades, Bst.' 51b.; Pilgrim's Way, Bst. 51b.; Directoire, Sst. 31b.; Colleen Mary, Bst. 31b.; Domino, Sst. 31b.; Busyland, 7st. 91b.; The Cornet, 7st. 81b.; Flambeau, 7st. 81b.; Susa, 7st. 71b.: Aunt Sally, 7st. 51b.; Achray, 7st. 51b. j Lilywhite, 7st. 51b.; Ideate, 7st. 31b.; Silver Bullet, 6st. 101b.; Nightlight, 6st. 71b. DERBY STAKES, of 1350 sovs. For . three-year-olds. Colts Bst. 101b., fillies, Bst. 51b. One mile and a half. Messrs. G. D. Greenwood's and W. G. and G. L. Stead's b.o. Vice-Admiral, by Multiform—Rattler. Mr. W. E. Bidwill's b.c. Tribulation, by Birkenhead—Stepfeldt. Hon. J. D. Ormond's br. c. Birkdale, by Birkenhead—Thame. Hon. J. D. Ormond's b. o. Formby, by Birkenhead—Gladisla. '• Mr. Highdon's b. c. Kilosteri, by Kilcheran—Certificate. Sir Geo. Clifford's b. f. Madam Madcap, by Clanranald—Madowla. Sir Geo. Clifford's br. f. Countermine, by Quarrynian—Safeguard. Mr. G. D. Greenwood's b. c. Danube, by Martian —Neva. Mr. H. A. Knight's br. c. Mumura, by St. Ambrose—Flame.