GOSSIP BY "HIPPONA."

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 116, 2 December 1882, Page 190

GOSSIP BY "HIPPONA."

— A number of horses are out daily at Ellerslie undergoing their preparation for the Summer Meeting, and the work is now commencing 1 to get a bit interesting. Tim Whiffier has been doing some very strong gallops, and is looking exceedingly well. Proffit put most of his team in physic after their arrival, and tlioy are now doing gentle exercise. Tricotrin will be prepared for the Steeplechase under his owner's personal supervision. — " Augur," in a late Australasian, says : — " Unless some of the three-year-olds make considerable improvement between this and New Year, the Champion Stakes should be a good thing for Commotion, who seems to be the best stayer in the land. Navigator I've my doubt about, because Mr De Mestre would hardly care to allow a rich prize like the Canterbury Stakes to go by if there were no,t something in the background. Calma and Segenhoe should improve, and I shall not be at all surprised to see the Hon. James White's colt turn out Commotion's most dangerous opponent, for the distance is too far for Darebin, who requires another year to thoroughly mature. Prometheus, too, may recover, in the event of which I shall expect to see Mr Whittingham's colours rather prominent in the three-mile contest." — A couple of friends of "Beacon's" who natter themselves that they know a good deal about racing determined on the Melbourne Cup day to speculate £1 jointly in the Princes-street totalisator. Each had his fancy, so that for a long time no agreement could be come to as to what horse was to be backed : at last, as a mutual concession, it was decided to put the names of all the acceptors in a hat, shake them rap, and the first drawn out was to be invested on. The preliminaries were duly arranged, and the horse drawn was The Assyrian. "Oh, that won't do; that scrubber can't win !" was the simultaneous exclamation of both parties, and it was speedily resolved to pop the lot into the hat again. The result was that Mistaken was drawn, and on him the £1 note was invested. As we all know, The Assyrian won the race, and the totalisator in quostion paid a dividend of £123 ; while the unhappy pair of speculators, who first decided to abide by their luck and then funked on it, were " Mistaken " indeed. — The weights for the Wellington and Dunedin Cups were issued last week, and the latter, with one or two exceptions, is a first-class handicap, which is more than can be said for the Wellington Cup adjustment. For this event, Salvage, Bst 111 b, Tasman, Bst 81b, King Quail, Bst 61b, and Welcome Jack, Bst 41b, are badly treated, and it is not surprising that Mr O'Brien and Mr Horsfall ran the pen through their horses names. The stewards, who allot the weights for the Wellington Racing Club, seem to have a perfect down on the "little sneaker," judging by the way he has been treated in their recent handicaps. At the present time of the lot engaged, I prefer the chances of Bundoora, 7st 91b, Vanguard, 7sfc 121 b, Louie, 7st Blb, Turquoise, 7st 61b, Envy filly, 7st 51b, and Matanaka, 6st 41b. The Dunedin handicap is such a good one that it is rather a hard task just now to select the best dozen, and the handicappers are to be congratulated on the successful manner in which they have concealed the winner. To make a selection, however, I incline to the chances of Vanguard, 7st 101 b, Lady Emma, Bst 51b, Louie, 7st 91b, King Quail, 7st 51b, Salvage, Bst 31b, Bundoora, 7st 131 b, Cheviot, 7st 101 b, Welcome Jack, 7st 81b, Emir Bey, 7st 61b, Fitzherculcs, 7st 91b, Envy filly, 7sfc 4lb, and Taiaroa, Sst 71b. — Despite the Takapuna Meeting, there has been a considerable amount of speculation during the week on the Auckland Cup and Steeplechase, and it is expected after the acceptances appear to-night, business will be very brisk. Backers still wish to support Welcome Jack at 100 to 15. Vortex, on the strength of good work, has been backed to win £1000 straight out, and, coupled with Tricotrin- in the Steeplechase, 1500 to 15 was taken that it comes off. Soukar has many friends, and on Monday was supported to win £400 at 100 to 5. Piscatorious is enquired after, and £400, at 100 to 8, has been pencilled about him ; while Hilda was backed to win £200 at 100 to 7, and Merlin £200 at 100 to 6. A number of other horses have been inquired for, and supported to win small amounts. The quotations are:—