ASSEMBLY SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2393, 3 December 1881, Page 3

ASSEMBLY SPORTING NOTES.

GENERAL REMARKS.

[By the Fbiae.]

The North. Christchurch fixture next claimed my attention, and as the stable where Cremation is located oame first, I pulled up, and having alighted, I lost no time in going to the loose box occupied by this knowing old son of Aqua Pura. In response to my Inquiries, Little Jimmy, to whom I believe the mount is to be entrusted, told me he felt confident of landing him in advance of the big black on the 9th ; and, agreeably with my wish, he brought the old horse ont for inspection, and there is no donbt he has had a lot of preparation, although whether of the most judicious kind remains to be seen. I told him it was not, to my way of thinking, the wisest course to adopt to overdo the cold water preparation to which he has been subjected. In reply to which, Jemmy said that too much had been made of that by outsiders ; that he never believed in it himself, and report had not spoken truly as to the extent or value of that method of treatment, which leads me to the conclusion that the rumour has been circulated with a view to rig the market. I noticed the old 'un looked rather puffy in the understandings, and although the trainer called it nothing, 1 think it will tell against him in the jumps, which are formidable, and I believe they are holding the rival stable too cheaply. He has not been doing much work lately, and, all things combined, I see no cause for jubilation in his condition or appearance. The other horse, Time o' Day, is in splendid fettle, and has been kept well to work ; and, as I saw him doing his preliminary, everything as regarded work and condition was so far satisfactory, that I have no hesitation in adhering to my former opinion, and spotting him as the winner. The South Chrißtchurch horses were next interviewed by me. Capias is not looking bo well as his most sanguine friends could wish, having fallen away from his original form very much indeed, and, therefore, despite the flourish of trumpets with which his preliminary was hailed, I do not think he is all there. It wants something better than "a roarer" lor the South Christchurch course. Biting and kicking never yet won a race, and never will. The old horse, Metalliclan, is looking well, and has settled well to his work. I therefore shall declare for him, seeing that although somewhat slower than Capias, he will not baulk at his fences, but take them in good form, and that is where he will tell on the •' broth of a boy." I therefore most unhesitatingly accord him a winning bracket, seeing he runs honestly, does not jib. nor take the bit in his teeth —faults and vices to which the other is sadly addicted. From thence I proceeded to the training stables where the horses engaged in the Sydenham fixture are located. Old Mortmain was on the war path with a new boy up, but his style of going was so palpably wretched, that out of the many onlookers, only about half a dozsn could be found who wonld give him a second thought. He made a sad mess at the Fourth Estate corner, and all his calculations as to the height and breadth of the various obstacles was anything but reassuring to his slight following. After the foregoing, I need hardly say I still place him last on the list. The next brought ont was the little black horse Stonechatter, and although I still adhere to the opinion that the company he will meet on the eventful day will prove too good for him, I am pleased with his style of going. Whatever the result will be, he will run honestly and do his level best, yet as a steeple-chaser he is not the corroot thing, and the Municipal Flat Race is more suited to bis constitution, In which he has proved himself very good indeed. The next horse was the hot favorite Wbiteboy, bat, although he has plenty of

friends, and has caught the eyo of the Judge on the South Waimakariri, Municipal, and Drainage Board courses, I must differ from those who believe in him for the Hurdles. The uncertain style of going to which I have previously referred Is still painfully noticeable in him, and despite all that he has done <>n the flat, I shall be very much surprised if he scort'B a win on this occasion. I look to Quilldriver for the winner. He is good and staunch, takes his fences in grand form, and, barring accidents, he is bound to be first past the post on the ninth. On the occasion of my visit he was brought out looking every whit the grand horse he is, and the manner in which he has cleared euoh obstructions as the wide Squatters' Gully, on his many spins, is alone sufficient to stamp him as a good performer. I therefore anticipate this big race will result with Quilldriver in the van.