Notes by " Maxim."

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 62, 1 November 1888, Page 2

Notes by " Maxim."

The busiest time of the year for turf scribes in the colonies is now upon us, as the V.R.C. Derby is to be decided on Saturday, and the New Zealand and Melbourne Cups on the following Tuesday, and nearer us is the Wanganui Spring meeting on 9th November. For the V.R.C. Derby, New Zealand will be represented by Dan O'Brien's crack colt, who, in company with Melos, shares tbe doubtful honor of figuring at the top of the betting quotations as first favorite. In Melos he will have a very strong opponent to contend with. The latter has already this season proved himself a first-ciass oolt by winning the A.J.C. Derby and Hawkesbury Guineas, putting down sucb flyers as Volley, Lauiond, Pearlshell, and Bonnie Spec, On the score of condition and climate, Melos will oertainly have au advantage over tbe New Zealand colt, and sporting writers on the other side are of opinion that he will strip a stone better horae on Saturday than when he won the above races. Besides Melos there are engaged the following good performers : — Volley, Ensign, and Wycombe. To conclude I can hardly think that O'Brien would throw away the chances of winning the New Zealand Oup and Derby, and venture brer the other side for a larger stake, where he has to compete against better horses, unless his horse ran bim a good trial. So I shall tip Carbine to win the V.RC. Derby of 1888, with Melos 2nd, and Volley 3rd. The weights for the Wanganui Spring meeting appeared last week. In the principal event, the Wanganui Stakes, Mr Evett has alotted Marlborough Bst 51b, and I consider him the best treated horse in the race. Last May he carried Bst 71b the same distance in Wanganui, and won easy, defeating the majority of those handicapped below him in thiß race, According to Recluse's running he should have a show. All those below the latter are but moderate, and I think the winner will come from one of the two. In the Hurdle Race there are several errors. Tbe most noticeable one is asking Martonian to concede 12ll>8 to Corsair, who won a number of Hack Hurdle races last season, whereas Martonian has never run once over sticks in publio. I will give my final tips for this meeting next Thursday, the Bth instant.

My notes on the Melbourne and New Zealand Cups will appear in Saturday's issue.