SPORTING.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 383, 3 September 1875, Page 3

SPORTING.

(From a correspondent of the Press ) If coming events cast their shadows before, the racing season, which commences with the Geraldine meeting next month, ought to be an unusually good one. Already the course is very busy of a morning, and the v.rious strings are not only numerically stronger, but, taken as a lot, are far ahead of former years in point of quality On my last visit to the course Ted Cutts was, as usual, the first to open the ball. Of his team only The Chief, Lillipea (the Shrovetide colt), and Guy Faux were out, and Ted sent them all a steady gallop once round, All three have greatly improved, and I fancy from his style of going that the big Chief will prove a more awkward customer than is generally anticipated. Kauri (the Waimea colt), the Certainty colt, Wainui, and the Harakiki colt are now worked in the afternoon; as, being short-handed, Cutts cannot take the whole string out together. Mr Redwood, I believe, will shortly be down, bringing Hercules, aud probablj other additions to a string, which is already I fancy the strongest one he has yet had. Bob Ray was out with Tadmor, Daniel O'Rourke, Tattler (the Deception colt), and the Termagant mare. The latter did slow work, and the other three went a strong gallop. Tattler went remarkably well, and his style of going pleased me immensely. Tadmor improves but slowly, but little Dan is looking well. Sonnambula and Tommy Dodd are both in work, but being like Cutts, shorthanded, Eay has also to double bank his work. Mr Webb commenced by sending the Moss Rose and Sweetbriar colts (stripped) a good three-quarter mile spin. Both went very well, and they are well for ward in their preparation. As to which may eventually prove the best, opinions differ very considerably, but I think both will prove good serviceable colts. The Tantrums colt, who looks very well, went twice round steady, the first time travelling with the Gitana filly, aud the second time with Richmond. The latter Ido not fancy over much, and the former lias only been up a very short time. She shows quality, and moves fairly, but is not up to her half sister's mark by a very very long way. The Phoebe colt weut once round steady, while Castaway, who was in physic, did not put in an appearance. Old Tarn did a serviceable three mile canter, going well. The old horse looks well enough. Pakeha and Lough Neagh were absent, being both in physic. The former, Dan O'Brien tells me, is improving very much in his style of jumping, and the latter is doing good work. Nectar went a striding two mile gallop, and went remarkably well. This game little mare has wonderfully improved since last season, and I hope Mr Lunn will have a cut in for some of the good things of the season." Alice Gray has not yet bsen taken up, but'will, I believe, be shortly in work.

The new scraping boxes are nearly finished, and will no doubt prove a great convenience to trainers. They do not afford any too much accommodation, but as the proposed new stand will contain five scraping boxes ; the present ones are only to be considered as a temporary arrangement. The ploughing of the new gallop is now finished right round, and when laid down will make a grand two mile grass training gallop. The ladies' lawn is being thoroughly renovated, and it is, I hear, the intention of the Jockey Club shortly to plant both the lawn and the far side of the course.

A Dunedin correspondent writes me that King Philip and Rory O'More will shortly arrive, but he scarcely thinks it probable that our southern friends will send up any more horses for the coming meeting. The Geraldine meeting promises well, and I fancy several of our Christchurch teams will contribute a candidate or two. I beg to remind owners of horses that nominations for the Hurdle Race, Publicans' Purse, and Geraldiue Handicap must be in the hands of the secretary on or before September 11th. [ paid Mr Nosworthy a visit at Riccarton recently to have a look at the youngsters. His brood mares are located at the Wilderness, and 1 have not yet had an opportunity of inspecting them. I hear great things of the filly foal by Traducer out of Mermaid, and if as good or anything like as good as her brother and sister, Castaway and Lurline, she ought to be uncommonly valuable property. The mares Azucena, Flatiron, and Amuri, 3old by Mr Nosworthy to Mr Dodson of Dunedin, have, I hear, arrived safely. Azucena and Flatiron are both in foal to Traducer, and Amuri to Albany. Mr Nosworthy's youngsters all look well. The chestnut Traducer—Mermaid colt is as big a yearling as I ever saw, and is very like Lurline about the quarters He is a rare shaped colt, and if looks go for anything ought to be a clinker. He has just been christened " Le Loup." The yearling colt by Talisman out of Amuri is a well grown useful looking youngster, and a bay colt by the same sire out of No Name shows quality, but was looking rather low in condition. There are in the same paddock three Traducers out of Watcrwitch, Azucena, and Flatiron, the latter is a rare good legged 'un, but I prefer the Azucena one of the three. A brown filly by Slanderer out of Deception shows lots of quality, but being a very late foal appears at rather a disadvantage in comparison with the rest. An elder half-sister of the last by Sled mere, is a most promising filly, being not only well grown but a very symmetrical aristocratic young lady. Mr Nosworthy is erecting a commodious set of loose boxes for the accommodation of Traitor and Slanderer. They are both located at present at Mr Smith's, at Riccarton, and the appearance of both do "Hokitika" great credit. Coming home I had a peep at Mr Webb's four youngsters, all by Traducer. The son of Ada is a very grand colt, with rare legs and back, and racing looking quarters, and the Tantrums colt is also a very promising colt. 1 like the one out of Kaspar's dam as well if not better, but my pick of the lot is the Ada colt. The Lady Florence youngster shows lots of quality, but is not to my mind up to the mark of the other three. Time did not permit of my looking in at Mr Griffith's, so I hold his lot over for a future paper. I may however mention that Traducer's list is so nearly

filled that it behoves owners to make early application for the few places there are to spare.

The latest betting is as follows :—For the De by Kauri is freely backed at 5 to 1, Ihe Oh; i, Castilian, and Pungawerewere come next in favor at from 8 to 10 to 1 ; 10 and 12 to 1 can be obtained about Tattler and Daniel o'l.lourke, and 100 to 6 seems to be ihe ranging price about anything else. For he Cup Castaway is a firm favorite at 5 to I, Kauri conus next at 100 to 15, Templeton is now and again touched at 100 to 10, and the same price can be obtained about the Phcebe colt. Tamburini and Pungawerewere have been backed at 100 to 8. In the doubles the following are about the odds for Derby and Cup—loo to 14 Kauri and Kauri, 100 to 12 Kauri and Castaway, 100 to 8 Kauri and Phoebe colt, and 100 to 5 anything else. For the Melbourne Cup several horses have received support at Victorian prices. The following. appear to be the most fancied—lmperial, a strong favourite at 100 to 12 ; Dilke, 100 to 7; Goldsborough, Kingsborough, and Neotsfield being backed at 100 to 6. From 100 to 2 to 100 5 is obtainable about any other horse in the race.

SINBAD.