CAP AND JACKET MY NOTE BOOK.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 16, 25 December 1880, Page 139

CAP AND JACKET MY NOTE BOOK.

By "Old Turfite."

For the Wellington Cup twenty have declared content out of the thirty-nine entered. Le Loup having declined, the weights have been raised a pound, in accordance with the rules. Most of those that I selected as well in have accepted. Foul Play is hoav the top weight, with Betrayer next ; these two will have their merits discounted, as they are botli engaged in Auckland. Mr. Walters' three will also have performed, and some of the others, though left in, could not win with any weight. Backers should therefore not have much trouble in selecting thewinner from the public performers, as there does not appear to be much danger from the outside division, the only one well spoken of being Hailstorm. The Cup, however, will not attract much attention before the Auckland meeting, a,s the races here will have a great effect on it.

The general entries for the Auckland races .are not so good as they have been. Several horses that are in -work in the neighbourhood and belong to Auckland people are missing from the entries, either from being amiss or through having been found wanting Avhen tried. Amongst them are Othello, Blackcock, Rose of Sherwell and Piscatorius. Thirty-three horses make up the S7 entries. Luckily the Ist of January being on a Saturday, the horses will have a day's rest before the last day, or else if the ground was hard the fields would be very small. The entries for some of the races, especially the short cuts and the Hurdle Race, are much fewer than might have been expected. Billingsgate, who, this year lias proved himself almost invincible over the short distances, may have frightened many away ; still there is no accounting for an entry of only four for the Hurdles, which generally attracts good fields and proves an interesting race. The first day's racing which, according to the programme, takes place on the 26th (which happens to be a Sunday) commences with the Maiden Race, which has a good entry of eleven. This should prove an interesting race, as several of the horses engaged have the reputation of being able to gallop a bit. At the present time it reads a good tiling for Kenilworth, but from the work he is doing it would appear as if his owner intended to send him for the Cup. Tim Whiffler has improved a good deal, and should give a good account of himself. Mr. Walters' Rosarina has the reputation of being a smart filly, but has been amiss, and therefore may not come to the post quite fit. Woolbroker is a fine colt, but his infirmity will be almost sure to stop him over a mile and a quarter. For the others I have no fancy. In the absence of Kenilworth I expect either Tim Whiffler or Rosarina, if at all fit, to he returned the winner ; but I shall reserve my final selections till the last minute. The Hurdle Race and Free Handicap had better not be touched until the numbers go up, as judging from the previous handicaps, they may be curious productions. Billingsgate should have no trouble in winning the Railway Plate if Mr. Walters chooses to send him ; if not, his half-sister is good enough to win it, but the rules forbid any owner running two horses for a Plate. The Auckland Cup is the race of the meeting ; but there is not so much interest taken in it as in former years, owing to the Southern horses being let in so easily. From the moment the weights appeared it Avas voted a certainty for either Foul Play or Betrayer, and they immediately became the two favourites and have gradually come to the short price of 6 to 4 and 5 to 2, whilst Lara, another Southern horse, is at fours ; 10 and 12 to 1 is obtainable about any other. This cannot he called good handicapping, and has given rise to some very strange stories. Foul Play, who is going and looking very well, seems to have the race at his mercy. Betrayer, who was his most formidable opponent, appears to have suffered from the voyage and is going very short ; that bete noir of trainers who have to ship their horses, — fever in the feet — has most likely attacked him ; if so, he will in all probability get worse instead of better, especially if the ground is hard. Lara has only just

arrived, quite late enough, so no opinion can be formed of him. At the present time the race appears a certainty for Foul Play, though many think that a turn up may occur and one of the home stables be the means of upsetting the certainty. Maid of Honour is greatly fancied by many, and has been backed to win a good stake ; she is reported to be very well, and has clone a good deal of work, though this last day or two she has been eased, most likely all for the better ; still doubts are freely expressed as to her staying powers. King Quail is no doubt a useful little horse, and has greatly improved. His owner stands to Avin a good stake ; he will] however, I think, find the pace a little too fast for him, though he may run into a place. Old Ariel is looking very well, and if the ground is heavy may beat more than beat him, but I am afraid he is not destined to win a fourth Cup for his popular owner. Grand Duchess is talked about as a good thing, still there are curious reports about her, and till seen at the post she had better be left alone. Kenilworth is a greatly improved colt and goes like a racehorse, still it is asking a three-year-old to do a great thing. However, he is a great favourite of mine, and if he is sent for the Cup I should not be surprised to see him get a place. Ido not think that there is any danger to be apprehended from any of the others. I shall therefore rely on Foul Play being returned the winner, and Kenilworth and King Quail, who are sure to stay home, to fill the situations.

Since the above was in type the weights have been issued for the Free Handicap and the Hurdle Race. I shall leave the public to form their own opinion as to their merits, for my own part, I fail to see under wheat rules they have been compiled.

As the time draws near for the Auckland races the more certain it appears that the fields will be select. I have never seen so many crooked and inferior animals in training as at present Foul Play is a king amongst them. Unfortunately Betrayer has gone amiss, and Mr. Walters' stable, I hear, is not quite up to the mark. Attempting to pick the winner is always a difficult thing, but more especially in New Zealand, as much depends upon how the money goes. Therefore I shall only attempt to point out those that look well in on paper, and hackers must use their own discretion as to how the money goes. The Maiden Race ought to he won by Kenilworth, or in his absence, by Rosarina or Florence. Free Handicap, Billingsgate and Paramena appear best in. The Hurdle Race ought to be won by Harry Mount, who looks uncommonly well, as the Agent is big, and Lone Hand uncertain, but the market, when the number go up, will be the best indication. The Railway Plate ought to fall to Billingsgate, and the Auckland Cup to Foul Play, who, I expect to see followed home by Mr. Walters' selected one, either Grand Duchess or Lara and Kinjr Quail. Lara, after landing, was sent to Mr. Walters' stables, at Papakura.

The entries for the Hawke'sßay Jockey Club Annual Kaces are very good, not only showing an increase in the number of horses, but also in the quality. No Club has made greater progress than the above-mentioned. If the landing of horses was easier it would soon take a leading position in the North Island. Having secured good entries, it is to be hoped that the handicaps will be fair, and therefore attract large fields, as they deserve every success. The Napier Handicap has 42 nominations ; the Railway .Stakes Handicap, 41 ; the Hurdle liace, 21 ; and the Hawke's Bay Guineas of ISB2, 1G entries. One thing is noticeable in the telegram that .Sir Modred, Hilarious, and Longlands are entered in Mr. H. Prince's name, though in many of their engagements down South they were entered as the Hon. It. Campbell's. If racing is to flourish in New Zealand, the rule compelling OM'iiers to run their horses either in their own name or else in a duly registered name, will have to be strictly adhered to. As things are now being done the public, who in fact support racing, are gradually getting disgusted with it ; therefore, in a few years, it will be a mere gambling machine, and gentlemen of means who race for the sport will have nothing to do with it.

Judging from the long list of quotations published in the Herald, betting on the Auckland Cup must be very limited, and the bookmakers are having a had time of it. Every quotation is only offered, not taken. These quotations are telegraphed South and cause much amusement among the sporting public, especially as some of the horses that appear in the list have never arrived ; therefore it is any odds against them. As the Herald take the trouble to compile a list and send it South, they had much better see that it is properly done. As it is at present it is only deceiving the public at a distance. The following bets have come under my notice :— 6 to 4 Foul Play (tk.) ; sto 2 Betrayer (tk.) ;6to 1 Lara (off.) ; 100 to 10 King Quail (tk.) ; 100 to 8 Maid of Honour (tk.) ; 100 to 6 Kenilworth (tk.) ; 100 to 5 and 100 to 2 against the others (off.).

" Sinbad " of the Press and '' Beacon " of the Otago Witness have entered into a long and latter controversy regarding the merits of Messrs. Lance, Stead and Griffiths. The former, as he is bound to do, extolling them, while the latter says: — "But everybody also knows that the Canterbury Jockey Club has for some time past de facto consisted of Messrs. Lance and Stead, ana no one is therefore greatly surprised that ' Sinbad's ' writings should unconsciously show a Lance mmi Stead bias.' The controversy goes on with regard to merits of the different handicappers, "feinbad" supporting the handicaps of Messrs. Stead, Lance and Hustler, also Mr. Sherwin. "Beacon" disputes the right to his being called a Canterbury handicapper, and states, "He was an Otago nandicapper for many years, but his labors in Canterbury have, I believe, been restricted to the little meetings of Waimate (where he re-

sides). Mr. Sherwin, I consider, the best hanr dicapper in the colony ; but I cannot stand his being classed -with Messrs. Hustler, Stead, Lance, and Griffith until, like them, he handicaps for the leading Canterbury meetings." I rom the tone of this controversy and that of other sporting writings, it is quite evident that the appointment of a public handicapper for the whole of New Zealand is as distant as ever. The Canterbury Jockey Club are determined to have one of their own clique, while Dunedin, and many of the other Clubs are adverse to it and say that it ought to be an independent man, as Christchurch handicappers have never given satisfaction in other places. This, I know to be the case, as Southern horses are always leniently dealt with, and certain stables especially so. Who does not remember Lara and Pinfire's performances in Auckland, and later still, Foul Play's atChristchurch and Wellington? For the good of racing it is to be hoped that the day is far distant before a piiblic handicapper is appointed for the whole colony. There should be at least two in the South and the same in the North Island. Then all owners would have a chance, otherwise a clever man with two or three good horses could work them so that the whole of the best handicaps would fall to his stable. The question of handicapping will doubtless be ably handled by other writers, but things cannot continue as they are Avithout being detrimental to the interests of racing.