GOSSIP BY "HIPPONA."

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 124, 27 January 1883, Page 318

GOSSIP BY "HIPPONA."

— By present appearances, the Takapuna Jockey Club will provide a most pleasant afternoon's sport on Monday next. Considering that two other meetings take place on the same day, the various events of the programme have filled up well, and I expect to see a good crowd present, although the many counterattractions are certain to interfere with the attendance. The first race set down for decision is the Maiden Plate, 1J miles, weight-for-age, which should go to Mitrailleuse, after whom I like Tricotrin ; theu conies the Perry Company's Plate, 1 mile, also weight-for-age, and of the five down on the card, nothing reads better than Merlin, if he starts, while in his absence, Yuba Bill should do the trick. The T. JC. Handicap promises to be a capital contest, the names of those who paid the acceptance money being — st lb s t it, Libeller 8 8 Maori 6 12 Merlin 8 0 Nigger 6 10 Fish woman 7 6 Gilderoy ... 6 4 Lone Hand 7 6 Nebula 6 i There is a bit of " flashing " over one or two horses in this race, so that, at the time of mv writing, it is rather difficult to state who are positive starters. The topweight, little Libeller, is in first-class condition, and as lie is rather partial to the distance, 1J miles, he should be very handy at the finish • while the leniently-treated Maori, if he only takes it in his head to race, will be one of the first past the judge's box. Merlin is not to be despised with Sst, and Fishwoman, if she is herself Should run well forward. Lone Hand, who has a particular liking for this course, is " under a cloud," or he would receive my support without any hesitation, and the others I can't stand at any price ; therefore I will trust to Libeller, or Maori to supply the winner. The Novel Hurdle Race, which is open, at present has an entry of four, and it will be succeeded by the Steeplechase, the lot nominated having paid up, viz..- — ,„. stlb stih Mount 12 1 Chandler 11 o Harkaway 11 7 Cob 10 7 St. S within 11 2 Chanticleer ... '" 10 0 Tricotrin 11 2 There is little need, I think, to discuss the merits of the seven, for, if he is fit, Harkawat has a lot the best of the weights, and his immediate attendants should be Mount and Tricotrin. A Consolation will wind up the afternoon's sport. — The Helensville Turf Club Meeting eventuates on Monday next, and everything promises an excellent day's racing. The entries for all the events are first-class, snd it is indeed a great pity that the fixture clashes with the Takapuna Meeting, or I am sure a very large number of Auckland sportsmen would be present. Only Fishwoman and Lara have dropped out of the "big event," the following eleven having accepted :— x ., „ sfc lb st lb Libeller 9 0 Penrose 7 2 Lone Hand 8 4 Yatapa 7 2 Soukar 8 3 Maid of Erin '" 7 0 Kenil worth 710 Eawenata .. 7 0 Bavenshoe 7 5 Katipo ... 6 7 Vortex 7 2 Although the whole lot will not see the post, there is «very prospect of a good race, and I expect to see Soukar and Kenilworth— who are sure starters— fi°-ht oat the battle for first place. If Lone Hand starts°he should win the double, Hurdles and Publican's Purse. The railway authorities have laid on a special train for the conveyance of Auckland visitors, which leaves here at ten o'clock, starting from Helensville immediately atfer the last race is run. — The Wellington Cup is to be run for on Tlmrsday next, but owing to the shocking bad handicap, the race has created very little interest this year. The following are the names of the horses that paid the final acceptance, and the weights they will carry : — „ st lb S fc lb Bundoora 811 Turquoise ... .81 Mischief 810 Armourer . .70 Louie 8 4 Parcra 6 9 . K The best of the six undoubtedly is Bundoora, and if he y is "wanted," should land the stake, but it is mooted the stable intend trying to win with Turquoise. Whether this is true, I cannot say. It is doubtful, liowever, if the son of Tubal Cain has gofc over the sprain or twist he gave his fetlock-joint while here, and I know it was far from right when he was shipped away. Louie was hardly herself a week or two back but if light on the day, will make Mason and VaUance's selected travel. Of the other three, Armourer is the best at the weights, but has yet not shown sufficient form to win a Cup, Mischief will not like her heavy impost over two miles, and Parera is not class enough. In the absence of anything authentic as to Turquoise's condition I will give my vote to Bundoora, and expect to see Louie close up. — A Wanganui correspondent sends " Sir Lauucelot " the following interesting items : — We have lots of horses in work, but mostly rubbish, as except Messrs Pollock's ana Powell's teams, the others are only nt for hack races or country meetings. Powell has Bayard doing good work ; he seems a bit gummy about the legs, and I doubt if he will stand a thorough winding 1 ■up. The rest of Sam's team look a bit iaded, I fancy He has the English-bred filly Sweet Home in hand, also Fame, a three-year-old daughter of old Maid of the Mist, by The Painter. Maid of the Mist is by Antidote (imp), out of Bgrbary (imp), and therefore Fame is a blue-blooded om; but she is a three-cornered brute, and has not many admirers. Powell has also Last Chance and the two-year-old Leonesßa. Mr Pollock's team in ■ charge of. BirchaU, consists, of Hippodamia, Larry and Hipporina, but I don't think he will make much of the latter, who is half-sister to Libeller. She is one of those known to, trainers as a' wind-sucker and a crib-biter • ' besides, like her mother .Yatterina, she is fearfully excitable, and often almost jumps from under the boy when taken on to the course. However, she is improv-

ing, and may win a short race at some of the country meetings. Among her stable companions is Mystery, by The Painter from Fortuna (Odd Trick's dam). She is one of the very best of The Painter's stock I have seen, and is going to be a big powerful mare, and if as good as her brother Odd Trick, will be about in the Wanganui Derby. — The Wellington Cup lias engaged the attention of the local turfites this week, and a number of straight-out wagers have been written. Bundoora has met with a number of backers at short prices, and Louie also has a lot of friends. The best offer against her now is " two's to one," while a number of backers are to be found at " three's." Takapuna events have also met with a deal of attention, and speculation on the double —Handicap and Steeplechase— has been pretty brisk. Libeller, coupled with Mount and Harkaway, is the favourite pick ; Maori, and the same " goods "in the Steeplechase, being next in demand ; while among other wagers, 50 to 6 has been pencilled about Maori and Chandler, and 50 to 4 Fishwoman and Harkaway. , Even money is offered on the field straight-out. The prices tor the double are as under : — 50 to 10 against Libeller and Mount 50 to 8 „ Libeller and Harkaway 50 to 6 „ Maori and anything 50 to 5 „ Merlin and anything 50 to 5 „ Fishwoman and anything 50 to 4 „ Lone Hind and anything 50 to 4 „ Nigger and anything 50 to 2 „ Nebula and anything. — One of the mushroom totalisator promoters (says " Augur") has made a bolt of it with some £20,000 of the public money, and I shall not be surprised if others follow his example. It seems to me that the imblic prefer swindlers to reliable men, because they fancy they get a little the best of it. It is the snrne in betting and in sweeps. Most of the latter are gross swindles, and their promoters feed fat upon the investors, who would do much better if they entrusted their money to men who have stood the test for years. " Have you seen the Polk ?" is the joke now in the ring. No doubt many of his dupes would like to catch him or them. It is hardly necessary to say that the levanters have no claim to the name of Polk. — Betting is fairly brisk afc Chrisfcehureli on the two coming events— the Wellington and Dunedin Cups. For the former race nothing will go down but Bundooi-a, his price being less than even money. 'Die son of The Peer — Argosy has freely been backed, also for the double ; and little money is at present available at the short odds of 10 to 1 against him carrying off both events. Bundoora in connection with Jack is somewhat fancied, and a few nibble at Sir Modred, but the two Biuidooras are certainly the favourites. The following are the quotations on the Dunedin Cup : — 5 to 1 against Sir Modred and Bundoora 6to 1 „ Welcome Jack Bto 1 „ Salvage, Somnus, and Cheviot 10 to 1 „ King Quail and Lady Emma 12 to 1 „ Vanguard, Louie, and Nonsense 14 to 1 and 50 to 1 against the others.