SPORTING.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 254, 5 April 1875, Page 3

SPORTING.

Canterbury owners in general, and Mr Delamain in particular, have every reason to be satisfied with the results of the last Dunedin meeting. Templeton, to whom the big event of the meeting fell, and who was also victorious in every other race for which he started, was a credit to his trainer, and his superb condition, added to the fact that he is of a better class that many of his opponents, enabled him to carry successfully his heavy impost in the Dunedin Cup. As he has now won no less than nine races running, he has fairly earned his oats for the winter, though we suppose he will not go into retirement for the season until after our forthcoming autumn meeting Little but good, it is only a pity that there is not more of Mr Delamain’s horse, as if there were, he might stretch the necks of some of the cracks on “ the other side,” and show them that racehorses are still bred more frequently in New Zealand than our Australian cousins give us credit for. Hercules, who also ran in Mr Delamain’s name, also succeeded in putting a race to that gentleman’s credit, and the number of Consolation Stakes that have been won by the Yalhurst stable must be very large. Hercules may improve on his latest performances at the Autumn meeting, as he is well in the big handicap, and there is no doubt but that, when in the humour, he can go a rare pace for a mile and a half, though his action is high and tiring. Elfin King also paid for his trip, and though this colt will never be anything but moderate, he may land a handicap if he gets in at a light weight. Castaway, Traitor, and Tadmor, did not do much to sustain their credit, but to Tadmor’s credit it must be said that the boy lost one race on him, and not the horse. Traitor who was ridden out to the end secured the third place in the Cup, but we doubt if the twisting Dunedin course is the most suited to his action, and we think if he is ever going to do a good thing, it will come off on our big course at Christchurch. Still, his most infatuated backers, even including “ The Druid,” must have had pretty nearly enough of him, and he will not have many friends when he next saddles up, but in this case, acting up to his name, he may put them all in the hole, by winning when least expected. Ngaro, too, is a beauty for unfortunate speculators to follow, and yet there are individuals sanguine enough to back her for the Leger. The Earl of Lynne was another nice pill, and the wisest thing the late owner of this horse did was to sell him. Of those ancient specimens of horse flesh, the Flying Dutchman and Barwon, the former broke down, and the latter ought to have been kept at home. Bight Bower ran a better horse than I, for one, expected, but he is very moderate at the best of times, and of the other animals who figured on the flat, I shall only notice that very useful colt King Philip. This is a good fair animal, and he ought to have a good show in the Autumn Handicap, provided he comes fit to the post. Battye will be able to ride the necessary weight, and Captain Hutchison must be labelled “dangerous” at our next meeting. If he should be victorious with his imported colt, no one will grudge him his victory, as he has shown himself one of the pluckiest race horse owners in New Zealand.

With regard to the prospects of the autumn meeting, the great handicap appears to have given general satisfaction, though of course there are a few growlers. Of the top weights I may dispose as follows —Tambourini is (I believe) stumped up. Templeton may go, but it is asking him too much, good little animal as he is, to carry 9st 71bs. Old Yatterina will hardly show, and even if she does, shall not have my vote. The Dutchman and Pertobe are virtually out of it. Of the middle division Traitor, has disappointed every one connected with him too often for me to stand him. Castaway will win a fairly good race some day, but his time has hardly come, as I think he will not be very pink when he shows in the saddling paddock. Right Bower should be about, if his owner sends him, but I shall not look to him for the actual winner. Parawhenua, those may follow who like, amongst whom will not be “ yours truly.” Next follow four dangerous ones; King Philip, Tadmor and Hercules are bound to finish some where near together, on their Dunedin running, and judging from his performances on the Coast, Guy Fawkes must be with them. As for Ngaro, “not any, if you please.” And Spritsail, Septimus, the once great Wainui, and Princess Mary 1 can't have. It is too early as yet to pretend to give any tip for the race, but as it at present stands, I shall go for the four three-year-old colts in the race with a leaning towards King Philip.

The Leger Stakes will show but a poor field at the post, and on public form should lie between the dickey-legged Somnambula and her stable companion Tadmor, and of these commend me to the colt.

The Champagne Stakes should bring a good field together, but I shall not venture any opinion on it as yet, beyond saying that Daniel O’Rourke showed at Dunedin that he could go. The news from Australia lately must have been most gratifying to those, who through good and evil report, have stuck to their belief that Lurline and Calumny were animals of a class we do not see every day. Calumny in especial has steadily run back into the form which made her so dangerous in New Zealand, and as she has now won five races running, must have been a profitable animal to those who purchased her, Lurline too, by winning one of the most important handicaps on the Australian turf, has at least shown that she could gallop, but I still think, that even with this win thrown in, she is not, and I am afraid never will be, the mare she was over here. Mr Lancelot Walker must have been proud when he saw the mare, whose sire and dam he had purchased in England, sailing home in front of her field for the Australian Cup. If report does not lie, as it usually does, he backed his opinion, that she was a racehorse, and had the best of it at the end of the meeting. Mr Walker invariably persisted in his assertion that Traducer would get racehorses, even at a time when almost every one else ran the old horse down, and the correctness of his judgment has now been fully borne out through a series of years. Let us hope that Gilda will turn out a worthy half sister of our New Zealand champion, and that Mr 'Walker’s colours may again be seen in front as they were in the days of Master Rowe and Nounuahal. HERMIT.