SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 597, 18 May 1876, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

(Prom the Press ) The coming meeting of the Grand National Steeplechase O.ub promises to be a very sue cessful one, The acceptances for the big handicap are most satisfactory, and tb. nominations for the Maiden and Hunt Club Cup very good. The strangers have arrived, and the course now is quite lively “ for the time of year.” A very capital course has been selected, and laid out under the auspices of Mr Lance, who, it is needless to say, has carried out his task most admirably, Tht course—which is all inside the racecourse—is about one mile and five furlongs in circumference ; the jumps are “various,” and quitt big enough, I should say, to satisfy anyone. The water jump is exactly opposite the stand, so visitors will ha*e a good oppoitunity of seeing what is generally considered to be the “ big lep” of the race.

For the Maiden there are eleven nomina tions, the majority of whom will come t< the post. Fakir is a three year-old, by tht Grape out of Banshee, consequently own brother to Alice Gray. He is a nice looking bowe, and will, I tbipk, be ia the front rank

The Don, Mr Delamain’s recent importation from Dunedin, is a big raking animal, and is said to jump well, which is all I know about him. Terror is a strong bay horse who ran in last year’s Steeplechase, and has since been purchased and ridden with the hounds by Mr Gardale. I hear great things of his jumping abilities, but I should scarcely think he was very fast. Barmaid performed with fair success at Oxford, Huruuui, and Rangiora, but hardly shows quality enough for a first class chaser. Eclipse is a remarkable neat looking bay horse, by Prince Charlie. His only public appearance has been in Geraldine, where he won the Back Hurdle race two years in succession, and ran Theodore pretty closely for the Hurdle race, Dan O’Brien is to pilot him, I believe, and at present I fancy his chance as much as almost any of them, Dan O’Connell ran last year at Waimate, and though quite green at the time, ran very well. He has since behaved very well in the hunting field, and his condition will be, I should say, ahead of most. He is not fast, but very honest; and, I should think, will be certain to run into a place. His opponent in the recent match, Doodlem Bucks, is a. very clever horse, but I fancy the weight will prove too much for him Gazelle is a neatlittle bay horse, who brings down with him. from Nelson the character of being a verygood performer over country. His owner, Mr Nicholson, who rides him, is, I hear, a very finished horseman, and I think the horse ought to run well up for it. He has been, however, very kindly treated by the handicappers in the big race ; so perhaps he may be reserved for that event. His stable companion, Butcher Boy, is a long low powerful chestnut, with grand quarters and muscular arms and thighs. He ought to run well for the big race. Both are well forward in condition. Zetland is at present to fame unknown ; he has been under Richardson’s tuition for some time, and jumps, I hear, exceptionally well. Whether he will have pace enough for the company is another question, but as he has accepted for the big handicap it is to be presumed that his owner thinks well of his capabilities. Coquet, by Tom King, out of Mabel’s dam, is a big raking horse who has performed dawn South once or twice. I hear he has not Been taking very kindly to his jumps lately, but there is no doubt Fred Mathews, who is to ride him, will make the moat of him. Moose is a remarkably nice looking animal. He ran very well in Auckland, where he was purchased by Dan O’Brien, who sold him subsequently to his present owner, Mr Rives, of Nelson. He i« unquestionably a grand and reliable jumper, and has a fair amount of foot. Bar accidents I shall look no further for the winner. His stable companion Don Juan, also the property Mr Rives, is a very powerful chesnut horse, something of the Merrimac stamp ; weight I should say would not trouble him much, and they tell me his jumping is a caution. He has not very much pace, but in fonr miles across country the race is not always to the swift. Both Don Juan and Moose are under Sam Powell’s care, so there can be little question of their being well brought out, so far as condition goes. Septimus, the last on the Maiden list, is, it will be remembered, an old Christchurch horse, who won the “ Brouncker Cup” at the Ashburton races some years ago. The little grey went shortly afterwards to Hokitika, where, as well as at the Grey, he is always a standing dish at the annual race meetings. He has scored a number of wins both on the fiat and over hurdles for his owner, Mr Cameroii, but I fancy this time he will find thei weight rather a stopper to him—usefd’ little horse as he is. In the Maidens I shall expect to sec Moose, Daniel O’Connell, and Eclipse, finish pretty much in the order named. F«>r the big Handicap, of the eight acceptors I. fancy old Tommy Dodd, in spite of bistwelvorseven, ought to beclose on winning it, Butcheic Boy, Don Juan, and Gazelle, I do not know enough of to speak with any certainty. Mousetrap will find eleven stone and iour miles rather more than he can manage in such company, and I think the race lies between Tommy and Auckland Kate. The latter is very well in, and the jumps will just suit her. Her condition will be very good indeed, and her owner is hard to beat over country. Royalty ought to have a good outside show, but for his falling in the Linwood Stakes last year he would have given Tommy Todd a very close run for it, and with only ten stone on him he ought to travel from start to finish. I must, however, plump for the old horse, with Kate second. Of the Hunt Club Cup, it is impossible to say much ; for the running in the first race may alter things so very much, but 1 shall expect to see the race lie between Tommy Dodd and Kate, with Butcher Boy next. Daniel O’Connell and Coquet have not, I think, pace enough, and the useful little Grey Noble will be in too 'good company I think. The following are the latest quotations : Grand National Handicap—2 to 1 against Tommy Dodd, 3 to 1 against Auckland Kate, 5 to 1 agst Batcher Boy, Mousetrap, and Don Juan, 6 to 1 agst Royalty, 7 to 1 against Zet'and.

Coming back from the course the other day I had a look in at Ted Cutta to see the new arrivals, Puriri, the Towton-Waimea colt, stands about fifteen-two; he is the moat powerful of Waimea’s family I have seen yet. He has the regular Towton head, and is a very well developed, muscular colt; he has very racing looking quarters, and is as well let down as any horse I ever saw. If he can’t gallop he ought to. The brother to Lillipea, by 'Towton out of Shrovetide, is another very powerful colt, with quarters like a dray horse. With age he will make a good colt. I had good a look at the handsome Songster ; and also Korari who was in the rough, having been recently blistered. Amohia is looking well, but I ;annot fancy she is the mare she has been ;racked up to be. In the paddock I saw a chestnut filly by SledmeiOj out of Meg Merrilies, recently purchased by Mr Redvood from Mr Mitchell. She is engaged in this year’s Derby. Running with her was a sister of Korari’s, a very handsome filly indeed, but like her brother, very small. She has a beautiful fore hand and plenty of bone, but she is hardly so good as her brother about the quarters. A sister of The Chief’s was also with them, a well-grown but plain filly, who would, I should say, be nore in her place over country than on the fi it. Old Waimea, with a grand yearling Towton colt, was in the yard ; both were looking well. Guy Fawkes was also at home, none the worse for his Nelson trip. Altogether, I came away with the impression that the Northern team is a very strong one, and will take a lot of beating this coming season.

OXNBAD.