SPORTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4878, 9 November 1876, Page 2

SPORTING.

CHRISTCHURCH RACES.—Second Dat. BY TELEGRAPHChristohDUOH, Wednesday. There was beautiful weather, and, a very large attendance. A large amount of money changed hands, one bookmaker being very hard hit on the Cup, his losses being said to be £I4OO. The racing was much better than Tuesday’s. All the events except the Tradesmen’s Handicap were closely contested throughout.; Four came to the post for the Maiden Plate. The Fanny Fisher colt from his running in the Derby was made .first favorite, -but -why he should have been so much fancied for the Derby and Maiderr Plate, it/is difficult to understand. He is a good mover when extended, but none pf his family ever distinguished themselves in good company. Being by Dainty Ariel,' he may be good enough for the North Island, but when he has to meet Traducer'ff, T'roton's, and Steamers' stock, he must be something better than he is to win. Middleton is a colt of the right sort, and better.adapted for staying than pace. As proof that he was thought to have a good show for the race only 2 to 1 could be obtained about him, a confidence ho fully justified, as all the way in the race he had his horses in command. , Fallacy, from her breeding and the high opinion held of her by her trainer, who considered her the best , of his three-year-olds, carried a lot of money, and; ought to have won the race; but there, seems to be some fatality attached to the progeny of Deception, which in trials have invariably promised 'we,!!, yet in public races have not been able to stay out the distance. Such hais been the fate of the last. throe descendants of Deception. ‘ 'Titania, being own sister to Elfin King, ought to have had a good chance, but was not forward enough in condition, and her rider dare not force the pace, Lady of the Lake, though showing plenty of pace, had not been taken up long enough to stand the racket for a mile and a

half. She is by Stedmere out .of Meg Merrilies, and ought to be good enough' for the best of them, but doubtless 'the St. George strain in her blood prevented her from racing.. The Canterbury Oup, second to none hitherto in New Zealand, now: appears*' likely to be eclipsed by the Dunedin Cup, which this year has added money to the amount of £500; but notwithstanding this it is a question whether there is more honor in winning that than the Canterbury Cup, which being weight for age must always be won by the best horse in the colony. Next to Templeton, who was scratched owing to the splitting of his hoof on Tuesday, Guy Fawkes was top weight, and therefore his chance of winning the Cup was for a long time thought to be very doubtful, especially if there should be a good “three-year-old in it. Lately he increased in favor, and after his running in the C.J.C. the Cup was considered almost a moral for him. He fully justified this confidence, as all through the race he was able at any moment to run up to the first place, .and when called on inside the distance post he went to the fore in an instant, Pungawerewere, as usual when she is in going humor, led off directly the flag fell, and kept first for some time, the other horses, contrary to the general plan, not letting her run away, but keeping close on her quarter. Danebury had the foot of her, and was able at any moment to pass her. No sooner did he do so than she completely shut up. Danebury showed himself the best of the three-year-olds out this and his running shows it was very .unfortunate that he was scratched for the Derby, as he could not have lost it. His chance for the cup is considered good, especially as Guy Fawkes had to give him 321ba. Danebury ran well, and stuck to the front rank all the way, and was only just beaten, losing by a short neck.' Cloth of Gold ran much better than in the Canterbury Jockey Club, keeping well up during the whole race, and finishing third. He has a very good turn of speed, and seems to grow better the oftener he is raced; so that on Friday he may pay for his corn. He has superior condition perhaps to anything stripped at this meeting, and reflects great credit on his trainer. Webb’s Songster’s running in the cup completely proved that the Derby winner of 1876 is not to be compared to Daniel O'Rorke, who last year won both Derby and Oup, beating both Templeton and Guy. This also proves that Daniel was a far better three-year-old than any we have had this season. Walters had his first success in the Publican’s Purse with Isaac Walton, who this time did not repeat his old trick of bolting off the course when hard pressed for a considerable distance. Mangle, sou of Flat Iron, ran in front, but when challenged by Isaac at the distance posts he gave way. Fishhook was not a favorite, but got a bad start, and though looking well, seemed out of all form, this season. Wrangler, the great Derby colt, never showed prominently in the race, but came blowing away at the head of the second con ■ tingent, and just managed to run into the third place. The Tradesman’s Handicap was a very hollow affair, Tadmor jumping away with the lead, and was never even approached by the others. Pungawerewere beat the much overrated Bob Roy for second place, Latimer after the first quarter of a mile being quite out of it. Kingfisher got a bad start, and ran last nearly all the way. Ngaro, as usual, was nowhere. *• • , . ■ MAIDEN PLATE, 100 sots, added to a sweepstake of 10 sots. "Weight for age. 14 miles. Webb's Middleton (Clarke) .. .... .. 1 Nosworthy’s Fallacy (Matty) .. 2 Walters’Fanny Fisher, colt (Cantell) .. ..3 Titania and Lady of the Lake also ran. Maroro and Mangle were scratched. Betting—3 to 2 against Fanny Fisher and Fallacy, 3 to 1 against Lady of the Lake, 4 to 1 against Middleton. Middleton and Fallacy made the running ; Fanny Fisher soon went up, Titania and Lady of the Lake tailing off. Fanny Fisher and Middleton led for a mile ; the former then fell back, and Fallacy went up. A splendid race home was finished by Middleton winning by a short neck. Time, 2min. 45sec. CANTERBURY CUP 250 sots., added to a sweepstakes of 15 sots 2J miles. Redwood's Guy Fawkes, 9st. 61b. (Lyford) .. 1 Noswortliy's Danebury. 7st, 21b. (Watty) .. 2 Studholme’s Cloth of Gold, Bst. (B. Cotton) .. 3 Pungawerewere, Dead Heat, and Songster also ran ; Templeton, Ariel, the Fanny Fisher colt, and Fallacy were scratched. Betting—Even on Guy, 5 to 2 against Danebury, 3 to 1 against Songster, 5 to 1 against others. Pungawerewere cut out the running, .with Danebury second and Cloth of Gold third, Guy Fawkes fourth. Dead Heat, bolted off the course, and was out of the race. At the end of the mile Danebury went up to Pungawerewere; Guy Fawkes passed Cloth of Gold, the rest tailing off. Danebury and Pungawerewere led to the bottom turn, when Guy improved his position rapidly. Entering the straight Pungawerewere fell back beaten; Guy and Danebury came away together, and a magnificent race home ensued, Guy winning by a short length, Cloth of Gold a very bad third Time, 4min. ISJsec. publicans’ purse handicap. Three-quarters of a Mile. Walters' Isaac Walton, 9at. 61ba. (French) .. .. 1 Mallock s Mangle, 7st. 61bs. (Osborne) .. .. 2 Webb's Wrangler, 7st. 61b. (Clarke) .. 3 Black Pine, Fishhook, and Foils Farina also ran. Tadmor, Songster, and Amohia were scratched. Betting—6 to 4 against Fishhook, 3to 1 against Wrangler, 5 to 1 against the others. Isaac Walton and Mangle got the best of a very bad start, Fishhook being left on the post. ' The first two raced together all the way. Isaac won by a length and a half. Time, Imin. 20Jsecs. tradesman’s handicap Of 100 sovs. One mile* Bay’s Tadmor .. .. 1 Delamaine's Pungawerewere 2 Stevenson's Rob Roy .. .. 3 Kingfisher, Ngaro, and Mangle also ran; six others were scratched. A very bad start was effected. Tadmor got away, and won in a common canter by ten lengths. Time, Imin. 47sec.