Sporting Notes

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 128, 8 April 1886, Page 2

Sporting Notes

(By Sir Aubrey.)

What promised to be the most successful meeting ever held on the Feilding race course, has been partially, if not wholly, spoilt by the vagaries of the handicapper. I consider the Hurdle Eace to be the best of his efforts, but thete are two or three weights apportioned which I quite fail to understand. The Druid on his late running has, I think, been harshly treated. Why Diotnodes should be asked to give weight to horses like J. L. Sullivan, Egmont, and Patent Safety, I fail to see, and I certainly think that Maminga should change places with Onepu, the former being an untried mare over the sticks, while the latter has run some good races. To sum up I think that the winner will be found in Patent Safety, Ngatitoa, and Onepu.

The Feilding Handicap is, in my opinion, one big jumble from start to finish. Speculation heads the list with Bst 121 b, Bayard next with 7st 101 b, this is allowing no difference for the big doing Bayard gave the mare last week at Taranaki ; and I wonder how it is Mr Higgie overlooked this. The owner of liuapehu will probably be more flattered than pleased to find his horse placed within three pounds of Bayard. The same remark may be applied to Reputation and Morpheus. G-ermaine comes next with 7st 6lb, and is undoubtedly the worst treated one in the race, as anyone who has seen the running between her, Landseer, and Lady Artist, must clearly see. I think there ought to be a difference between Lady Artist and Tawera, the former having shown that she is a real good mare over a long distance, while the latter has not shown why she should give weight to Goth, who has the light impost of 6st 91b. Linnet is properly treated with 6st. To sum up, I think the winner will be found in Bayard, Lady Artist, and Laudseer.

For the Winter Oats Handicap, the most glaring of many mistakes is the placing of Hagar and Morpheus at even weights. The only one I can see in the race is Hagar, with Lady Artist and Miss Puritan the most likely ones to boil the pot over.

The District Handicap resolves itself into a match between Parvenu and Hagar, the horse for choice. I am very pleased to see that the privileges fetched such satisfactory prices, and the only thing that is wanted is a good acceptance and a fine day to make this year's Feilding meeting the most successful ever held. The energetic and courteous secretary (Mr Franklin) has greatly helped to increase the popularity and stability of the club.

A track has been ploughed on the course to enable horse owners an opportunity of giving their horses a thorough preparation.