SPORTING.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 24 February 1880, Page 3

SPORTING.

DUNE Hi N RACES. Dunedin. Monday. On the Dunedin Cup, the betting is 3 to 1 nest Titania. 4 to I Mata, 7 zo 1 Natator and Hornby, 8 to 1 Libeller and Foul Play, <1 to J Betrayer, 100 to JO to 3 the remainder. The St. Lcger —2 to 1 agst Hornby and Betrayer, 3 to J Grip, 4 to 1 Libeller. Doubles—loo to 10 to fi on the Cup and Publicans' Handicap ; 100 to 12 to 0 on the Cup and St. Leger.

TIIE CUP. “ Vestas," in the New Zealand Sun, for the Dunedin Cup prefers the chance of Mata, Libeller, Titania, Foul Play, Natator best; for choice he kiees Mata 1, Libeller 2, wi! Titania or Rob .ison s chosen one in attendance.

“Mazeppa” (Saturday Advertiser) in his comments on the Dunedin Autumn Meeting says : —“The next race is the Cup. Of Mr Ray' kntr reprer ;nf ives Titania and Hornby .j to be profc ed to the old on . Tern n 1 as perfor iod so indif- “ r~ntly of late that it may at last be presumed‘that be is going down the hill ; and Maritana’s absence from other race-lists seems to indicate that she has not the confidence of her owner to any great extent. At the weights 1 should say Titania is to lie preferred to Hornby, her 2Clb under w.f.a, being well within the ability of the mare, unless she has forgotten how to gallop. Foul Play’s penalty for winning the Wellington Cup places him exactly on a level with Mata in relation to the weight-for-age scale. They are both of the same age, and the gelding carries 31b less, which is precisely the allowance he is entitled to. So that, as between these two horses, the question is which is the superior animal over the distance ? This is tiie problem which, if solved, would furnish a good clue as to the probable result of the race, for I have a notion that tlic best of this pair will not bo far oil'winning. .Judging by the consistency with which his position in the betting market is mantained, Mata’s party are pretty sure of success ; but if Foul Play is the chosen representative of his stable, I should not like to have him running against my interests, despite his penalty. His performance in the Wellington Cup was not only highly creditable, but one which did not reveal the full abilities of the horse, lie won easily then, and if he puts his best leer forward may repeat the trick on the For bury. Natator I don’t reckon to see here, but Grip, the third representative of the Robinson stable, must not be despised. At the dillerenee in the weight 1 prefer him to Betrayer, and if he should be sent he will give a good account of himself. Of the others in the list, the most formidable to my mind are Caraballo, Volunteer and Libeller. To make a long story short, 1 shall expect to see the places filled up by Mata, the best of the Hon W. Robinson’s three (which I take to he Foul Play), and Mr Ray’s best (presumably Titania), with Hornby, Grip, and Libeller close up. If 1 were going to back one, 1 would justas soon select Titania as anything.

Twenty-one horses have paid up for tiie Australian Cup. Suwarrow is chief favorite at 100 to 15. Secundus, Sweetmeat and Darriwell are fairly supported.