SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 803, 18 January 1877, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

(From the Press.')

The acceptances for the Dunedin Cup have appeared and the number of those who have cried content must be very satisfactory to the handicapper. I am very sorry to see the Victorian quartette among the nonacceptors, as two out of the four certainly were most leniently treated by Mr Moore ; and Oleolite was backed both here and in Dunedin immediately the weights appeared. Of the other non-acceptors the principal are Korari, Ariel, Tadmor, and Kingfisher. With regard to the former it has been a question all along whether he would stand anything like the severe preparation required for a race like the Cup, and I suppose the stable found he would not. The same remarks apply to Tadmor, and Kingfisher too I hear Js on the sick list, The penalties incurred by Ariel at the recent Auckland meeting account for his absence. I thought Folle Karine would have cried content, but Mr Delamain has three others well in it, not to mention Titania whose chance I cannot think very rosy. Of the twenty-six left in the race I pass over Btormbird, Rob Roy, Stanley, Freestone, Titania, Merrybird and the Chloe filly as not good enough ; Amanda, Purirl, Stirabout, Mororo, are, so far as performances, to fame unknown, for the Champagne performances of the latter colts cannot be regarded as any criterion of their abilities. Of the rest Messrs Redwood, Delamain, Ray. and Logan have each more than one string to their bow, and it is of course impossible at present to spot the one which will represent their respective stables. Of Mr Redwood’s, should Guy Faux not incur a penalty he willcertainly run agreat horse, but at the weights I think Templeton, fit and well, shouldhold him safe. Puogaand Elfin King are both doing very well, but the former is too uncertain, and the latter though leniently treated by the handicapper, has never, so far as I am aware, gone two miles in public yet. He showed a good turn of foot in the Metropolitan, which he won under a light impost, and he may perhaps be looked upon as having a good show now. Of Ray's trio the recent performances of Danebury scarcely look like getting two miles and a distance under seven eleven, Middleton and Fallacy are both better treated, but I should fancy the former the better stayer of '* the two. Fishhook I look upon as very dangerous, and King Philip and Right Bower are, the latter especially, very formidable. Cloth of Gold is another uncertain horse, and I think is hardly class enough. Dead Heat is wonderfully improved, and I hear will run very differently from his Christchurch form. The Fanny Fisher colt is still I believe on the sick list, and Princess Mary’s previous performances scarcely Induce the belief that she is a stayer. At present I fancy the winner will be found among the following—Guy Faux, Templeton, Fishhook, King Philip, Right Bower, Middleton, and Dead Heat.

There is a considerable amount of work done now on the course. Mr Redwood's string, or at least a portion, is being wound up for Wellington, and Mr Webb’s team, which is a large one, is also beginning to do very strong work in view of the approaching Dunedin and Christchurch meetings. J. Lunn, who has returned from his successful West Coast trip, has also several in hand, and is, during Ray’s absence, superintending the work of Marilla. On my last visit to the course Lunn was the first to put in an appearance, and a very early one too. He sent Grecian Bend by herself twice round slow. The mare looks none the worse for her trip to the other side of the range, and went well. Rainbow is a fair looking horse, and may become useful across country. He wentasteady gallop with a raking grey who has just come into Mr Lunn’s stable. The latter is by Traducer, out of Victoria ; Victoria by thj Peer out of Marcia; so bo is not by any means a bad bred ’un, but he has only been up a very short time. He seemed a very passable mover, aud may train on into something useful. Marilla, who is furnishing inio a big powerful mare, did a light sweat. She is very much on the gross side of condition considering the length of time she has been up. Cutts sent Puriri, Songster, and Stirabout a good steady gallop of about a mile and a half. The Derby winner seems to have rather the worst of it. The chesnuts went well. Guy Faux and Tara went three times round the plough with the sweaters on. The old horse went in his usual determined manner, aud the diminutive sister of Korari was quite unable to pace with him the latter part of the journey. Maroro and Korari work later in the day, aud I hear tare doing well, Mr Webb sent Tatler and’ the Bthelred filly about throe miles, finishing the last quarter of a mile at a clinking pace. Tatler, who has only just gone into work, seemed healthy and sound, and the filly has certainly improved very much, both in her style of going and condition. The Revoke colt, with Tell Tale aud Equation aa his companions, went about a mile steady. They were picked up at the turn by the Betty Martin filly, aud the four rattled along for a quarter of a mile. In the flutter home the Revoke colt and Tell Tale were most prominent. Both are rea l ly very neat goers, and ought to give a good account of themselves in April next. The two-year-old Tantrums colt and the Kaspar colt were both in physic. Mr Delamain’s string were not out, but I hear they work at home. 1 hear that Templeton, Punga. and Elfin King are doing good work. The Middle Park Champagne representatives, Eglantine and the brown colt, were out, and did slow work.

Oxford races are fixed for the 17th March, and Rangiora will probably come off on Easter Monday, The Timaru meeting will, I hear, bo held either the week before or the week after the Christchurch Autumn ; and Ashburton, I suppose, about the same time. When Little River is to come off I do not know, but it’s time the various up-country clubs commenced to think about publishing programmes. Mr Webb has sustained a severe loss in the shape of the Ravens worth—Barbary mare. She never raced, but from her breeding she would have been a most valuable brood mare.

The first instalment of the Middle Park Company’s English purchases has arrived safely in the Crusader. She is a two-year-old filly by Narbonne, out of Rosina, by Orlando ; Narbonne is by Chevalier d’lnclustru. I hear she has arrived in good condition, and hope the M.P. will be equally successful with their other tions.

I see by advertisement that Ray is offering Danebury, Middleton, Mariila, Tommy Dodd, Hard Times, and Dan O’Connell for sale. Particulars cun be learned from Mr 0. F, Barker.

StNBAD,