Political Sporting Notes.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 2 December 1890, Page 2

Political Sporting Notes.

I • (By Carbink) The Parliamentary Steeplechase ; winner to receive 150 soys. yearly ; for colts, welther weight for age. The entrants for the above, number three only, and as the great deciding day is near at hand, I offer my usual tips. Taking those engaged in the order in which they have appeared, the first I have to deal with is. Mr James Lackie's "Promising Fred " by Anarchist out of Strike, by Arrant Humbug out of Deceiver ; Deceiver by Impudence. I must say at once that I do not like this 'uns breeding. His appearance does not give an idea of staying, whilst he has a shambling way of getting over the ground which does not please me. He is a jet black, and has been trained very fine. He has given great anxiety to his trainer as he has never been over the course before. Report says he has been well tried, but if he goes the distance ? he must be ridden in blinders on , account of his liability to shy and run off at the Land Tax, Education and Teetotal obstacles. For all this he will carry a lump of money, but I nono of mine, as although he will ' start well, my information is, he is a * bad finisher. "Promising Fred" comes from a well-known i'alinerston stable, but the defection of two or three well known supporters in that place, looks oniinou-', find were he turned loose in the race with a postage stamp on his back, he could not win. (Since writing the above I learn I that at a private trial at Sandon ' last week '• P F " went all to pieces, having developed a bad curb and a big splint, and was fairly knocked out of the betting). Mr Walter Sleevcr's ' ' The Nabob " by Cocksure, out of Good Intentions ' by Once Tried, out of Quite Enough, ~ is of a different stamp altogether. He is a fine upstanding follow, with . p'enty of bone and substance, and good staying capacity, and under J other ciroim&tances I should look no further for tho winner. He is in the 3 bands of one of the cutest trainers on L the coast, viz, Bob Steerans, and » although this is the first candidate he has prepared f"i such a classic event, Bob has done condors for the ! stable. i! The Nabob" has the advantage of having won a similar event in an adjoining district, when the way he finished, after a most desperate race, won him many ' friends. I believe he has clone some ' astonishing private trials, and although he has not quite recovered ' the effect of his recnt visit to India, 1 will strip in the pink of condition. In ray opinion his greatest drawback will be a want of knowledge of the , track, and the late period in which he was taken in hand. 1 Tho third candidate is Colonel Brandingiron ; s "True Blue" by Straightgoer out of Honesty, by 1 Well-tried out of Independant. In- ' dependant out r-f Squatter by Land 1 Grabber, i must sa\ at once this ' is my fancy, as I am a thorough ' believer in public form, when you know straight running has been the rule. <l True Blue" iB no stranger 1 on this track, having won the event three years in succession, in very fast time. His be.st performance was wheu he won on the post by a nose from Izardious, who was trained to the hour by old Pillbox. That i finish will be long remembered. His jockey the well known Steve Phat, on that occasion was nearly caught napping, and it wns only by the most determined riding, and tho game style in which True Blue responded that a t>are head victory was secured. I hat famous trainer, the i Oroua Downs Squire, although unable, owing !o indifferent health, to i take the responsibility of traiuing, > has yet exercised a watchful eye on

the candidate's work, find ho tells mo that he is satisfied he was never better, and I can. put my last "flimsy "on him. I know he has done some good trials, and one, at Foxton, to which the public were admitted, pleased his backers immensely. I -must say there is a taint in his pedigree I do not like, but I believe no danger from that source need now be feared. I have only been able to ascertain the rider of True Blue. The veteran Steve Phat has now too much flesh on to undertake the mount, s> MaeKl!an of Foxton, who can just ride the weight, is to be put up, and although Mac is a bit new to this class of race, backers may vcly he will throw no chance away to land his charge first past the post. I shall therefore place ihoin as follows : — TRUE BLUE (with a bit in hand) I THE NABOB '- ITiOMISING FEED (distanced)