TO-DAY'S GALLOPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 8 November 1916, Page 7

TO-DAY'S GALLOPS

THE FIELDS REVIEWED. . • The Riccarton' carnival will .bo advanced another stago to-morrow, when the items.of most interest to race-goers will be the. Oaks Stakes arid Canterbury Cup. There are also several well-endow-ed handioap events, suck as the Jockey Club Handicap, of 1000 sovs., and Spring ovursery Handicap, of 400 sovs., that should help to provide excellent ontertainment. It is quit© probable that at least eight taseful fillies will go to the post for tho ""ladies' race," and they are a much more even lot than usually contests that event-.

In the Hurdles Banian is 'loaded with a big weight, but he is only mooting a •poor field of hacksj and tho Birkenhead gelding may- againr oarry - tho confidence 'of the majority of investors. Ample, who finished just behind Kilrea in tho Welcome Stakes, may bo favourite in the Spring Nursery. ICilrea yon vefy decisively on tho middle day, which makes Ample's chance a good ono. ..Lingerie ran badly in tho Welcome Stakes, and is evidently not right yet. ?None of the' others havo shown any form. as yet. .

The Avon Welter Handicap has a field of 1-1 engaged, but tho publio investments may bo on the top weight (Seadown), who had a bad run in tho Stewards' {Handicap. To-day ho will bo ridden by :A. Oliver. Gold Soult is racing consistently of late, whilo. Bunting's finish •in the Spring Plate entitles him to consideration.

Nones will be having her first start at the meeting in tho Canterbury Cup. Sho .will bo up against a hard task to dispose of The Toff, seeing that tho Derby winner has such a big pull in. the weights. The issue looks like resting between the pair named.

Oxenliopo established a New Zealand record when he won the Criterion ■Handicap, and he iinishe f d so well that he should run a great mile in. tho Jockey ■Club Handicap to-day. For a beating on Monday Taringanratu now mepts Oxenhope on a stono better terms, which should bring the pair together. Killena an 4 Disdainful are tho best performers of tho Oaks candidates. Tho former is more seasoned than ,who pulled up badly after lior raco in the Juvenile Plato on Monday.

Mnrgerino, who finished c)ose up in the Stewards' Handicap, appears to bo well handicapped in the Randolph Handicap. Trials and Glorify cau also bo expected to run well.

Tho Otaio Plate, 0110 niilo and a half, is the concluding event. Art is alwaja a better horse alter a race, and ho may go out favourite to-day. "While galloping at Ricrartou on Tuesday morning Encore broke a leg, and had to bo destroyed, and Specialfonu dropped dead at Oamaru on Monday morning. The mare was on a visit to the imported• Kilbroney. Tlio manner in which Biplane smashed up the opposition in tlio Juvenile Plato stamps him as one of the best two-year-olds seen out this season. Ho was bred nt Sol Green's stud, near Melbourne, and cost Mr. Greenwood 375 guineas as a yearling. The Toff's achievement of equalling Desert Gold's record in the Derby stamps him as being a greatly improved colt. That tlio paco was solid all through is demonstrated by tlio fractional times, which, readQnarter-mile 26 4-ssec„ half-mile 53sec., six furlongs Jmin. 18 3-ssec., mile 1' min. 44 l-ssec., jßilo and a half 2min. 84 t-Ssec. l The seven-furlong record of lmin. 23

;i-ssec., established by Oxenhopo in the Criterion Handicap, has only twice been bettered in Australia by Jolly Beggar (Imin. 25 3-ssec.) and Aleconner (linin. 2525ec.).