NOTES ON THE GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1588, 22 March 1879, Page 3

NOTES ON THE GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP.

[By Tbleobaph.]

[pbom oxra own oobbespondent.]

Dunkdin, March 21. " Pegasus '* writing on the Great Autumn Tlandicap, thinks Mata one of the best things in it. He cannot see Foul Play in it. Why Camballo is giving 71bs to Laertes, when the former with 21bs only beat his head off at Tiinaru, is not understandable. A more flagrant error than putting Loaglands in at 7st was never heard of. Last year as a three-year-old he carried 7st 31b, and won in extraordinary time, and though, according to Canterbury weights for age scale, In should have by this time improved 141bs, he actually has 31bs taken off what he carried to victory twelve months ago. He certainly did not show to advantage this season at Christchurch and Wellington, but at those meetings every one knew the horse was not fit to go a yard, and that his form was far from the real thing. Whether or not Coutt3 has brought him round again the writer cannot say, but if he has the race is at Longland's mercy. Nemo, if he can be kept straight, will have something to do with the finish. Of the light weights, he fancies Naiad or Vampire. In conclusion, he says if Longlands were not under a cloud he would select him to win right out, but, in the meantime, he likes the chances of Mata, Camballo, Fishhook, Nemo, and Vampire, being of opinion that Ray's lot are handicapped out of the race.