THE DUNEDIN CUP.—No. IV.

Evening Star, Issue 3750, 1 March 1875, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN CUP.—No. IV.

By Pegasus, Captain Hutchison’s Spritsail, 4 yrs, 7st 91b, won the Maiden Plate last year, after an exciting finish with the Revoke Colt, Elfin King (then a two-year old) third. The same day she was beaten by half a length by Mabel (5 yrs, 7st 51b) for the Publicans’ Handicap; and on the third day in the Forbury Handicap she was not placed. In the last race, however, Mr Redwood (her then owner) declared to win with Calumny Since that meeting Spritsail has not appeared in pbblio, having some months ago been severely knocked about by a train o i the Ciutha railway ; but she must have quite recovered from the injuries then sumtained, a? those in whose hands she is have snapped up al the money that was to be got about her for the' Cup. She is in light enough, as she will carry I (jibs below her weight for age. In conuiug over the horses that precede her on the Oup list I have s'ated that 1 prefer Spritsail r,o Templeton, raitor, and Yat'erina; that she has no show against Castaway ; and that she an 1 Atlas are about on a par :he austra iaus are al 1 . in better than sheis, as regardsage, except Flying l mtchman, who is in on the same terms. Tripolia is not good enough for her company, as was shown last year in the Pul • beans’ Handicap, but Ngaro would be, if their respective weights wore more fairly adjusted—it 1s almost too much to ask the latter to throw a way 151bs to a web-bet mare like Spritsail. Sonnambula, f)r a similar reason and more strongly in her case, cannot get anywhere near Captain Hutchison’s mare in this race, and the only remaining opponent that she need be on.her guard ag rinat is Hercul s. Mr J. Monaghan’s Tripolis, 4 yrs, 7st 71b, by Malton out of Ada, ran at our last annual meeting as the Ada colt. In the St. Kilda Stakes, a weight-for-age race, he ran second to Lurline, Elfin King thi d, with only three atarfcers ; for the Publicans’ Handicap, carrying 7st 41b, he was not placed, finishing behind Mabel, Spritsail (7sb 41b), and Border Lad (7st); on the third day he won the Consolation Stakes, with fist, beating Parawhenua (Sat 51b), 'Atlas (Sat), Tambourini (Bst 81b), and others. He next appears at Tnapeka, having been purchased bv Mr J. M'Kellar for LlfiO, after winning that race. At Tuapeka he won the Lawrence Handicap, with 7st 101b up, beating Right Bowor (Tat Sib), Unknown (Sat). Pcrtobe (Bst 41b), Earl of Lynne (7sb 81b), and Kathleen (fist 121b); and next day, with 7st 12lb, ran second to Right Bower (7st 3 ! b), for the J. C. Handicap, Pertobe (7at 51b), and Bothwell (fist 12ib), a long way behind. He then went crooked, did not put in an appearance at Tapanui, and is now, I hear, as good as out of training. Even if he could be got fit, however, I would not think of him f>r a moment as a i 'up winner, though he mighu spread-eagle some of the “ rough-’uns,” His owner has a second string in Medians, who is reported to .be the better of the two, and he hod need be, with such horses to meet as he will have when facing the starter. Mr Watt’s Ngaro, 3 yrs, 7st 51b, by Ravensworth out of Countess, is my next subject. At the Christchurch November meeting she was winning the Maiden Plate in a canter, but swerved and ran off the course ; The Belle and the Ada gelding, the only other starters, taking first and second places. On the th rd day she won the Christchurch Flite, carrying fist 9ib, beating Traitor (Sat 61b, 4lb over weight), after a terrific struggle (in which Bob Reay got every fraction pub of the hoise that was in him) by a head I ambourini starred fur this event, but, having to carry 10st 71b, was not pushed. Ngaro won the Wellington Cup in ecember, beating Guy Fawkes, Remnant and Nanakia ; but was not placed in the next race - the J. C. Handicap in which she carried 7st 61b, and was beaten by Parawhenua (Bst 91 •), Remnant (Tat), and Princess Mary (fist fi:b). At Auckland she won the Railway Plate, a weight for age race, beating the Belle, Medea, and Never Mis?, and ran second to Templeton for the ‘I own Plate, also weight for age, Sir Charles, the only other starter, being third. It is to be said that at Christchurch Ngaro was brought out short of work, and at Auckland she was amiss; so that J am inclined to look even more favorably on these not discreditable performances. She now carries within 11b of weight for age, and will meet Templeton on 51bs worse terms than at Auckland, and Traitor 61bs worse than at Christchurch, so that Ngaro cannot appa*

rently have much show against these twrj ‘ tlas and t'pritsail are in pounds better than Mr Watt’s fitly, ynnambula &be:can give the required 21 bs to, butftn Hercules she may find an opponent worthy of her steel. . For the “ tail,” 1 don’t think she need trouble, though she is fiv ng them all lump* of weight. Ngaro is tlu best thiee-ye&r-o din the race, unless the “ dark ’ Hercules turns out something extra, and, as I,think the weight will not scop her, I look upon her as having a good outside show for the Oup. Mr 8. Nos worthy’s Sounambula, 3 years, 7st 31b, is full sister to Tamburini, and is a big rakina filly, but has done nothiug to make me admit the likelihood of her winning the Cup, in which she carries within 31b of weight for age in the hnstchurch Derby she finished next to Ta liuor (tier stable companion) and Kangi, who nude a dead heat fur first place, but she was not placed in the Cup cunce then, she was idle until the Tuapeka meeting, when she ran in the Maiden Plate, won by her stable companion Traitor. At Tapanm she walked over for the Maiden Plate,. Sultana, her sole opponent, goLn.. to the post only ; the next day, carrying 7st 41b, she came in third to Fly mg Dutchman (Bst7ib), and i nvy (tiat 121b) m the Flying Handicap ; and on the third day, with7at4lb, was beaten by Unknown (Bst 7ib), and Fenian Bst 6>b). These ded - pro e her to be of a ver; different calibre to her cel ebrat a d brother; or else that she has, as has been urge i by her friends, been totally unfit wb' never she baa started. Traitor will, without doubt, be the representative ot the stable for the •’ up, so that it would i-e only wasting time io say any mire about the -filly. Mr F. W. Delamt-iu’s 'iercules, 3 yrs, 7st 31b, is by Ravenswoi ih out of fully, a d is reported to be a graud looking cult. He is brother to Monarch, a horse chat performed a*ell iu Nelson a coupl of yea' s ago, and was well thought of for the Christchurch Derby. Before that meeting he we t wrong, and did not make his appearance, so chat the Dane* din Cup will prubab'y witness his deb&t. I | -hall look for this w.th interest, for I have always heard good accounts oi the colt’s ap* pearanoe and style, and he is now taking to his work like a glutton. He should carry his impost with tolerable ease, and come ' very near winnmg the Oup,