NOTES BY SPREAD EAGLE.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 163, 27 October 1883, Page 6

NOTES BY SPREAD EAGLE.

— Melbourne and Bateman are for sale. — Welcome Jack's dam, Miss Flat, has dropped a foal to Apremont. — Hippodamia has done a very good gallop over the N.Z. Cup distance. — £2819 were put through the totalisator during the two-days' racing at Oamaru. — Cheviot, I hear, is working all right again, but it has been "wolf" with him on previous occasions. — A £12,000 commission came from the South, and was got on about Recovery for the Melbourne Cap this week. — Herculaneum and Trickster have been scratched for all engagements at the C.J.C. "Spring Meeting. — Colstoun, Robert the Devil, Nepean, and Welcome Jack (Pilbrow's), have been, scratched for the Melbourne Cup. — " Beacon" says " Tasman is first favourite for the N.Z. Cup, partly because there is a rumoxir Cheviot is amiss." Do not be in a hurry to believe rumours. This is a good colt, but an unlucky one. -k-Tho-Oamaru races were very poorly attended, only 300 or 400 people being present each day. Ladies do not patronise sport in this district, as there were only about- half-a-dozen put in an appearance. » Senes. " says Canard shows the mark of a blister on his near hock, but he now moves eound. So the fact of his breaking down was only a " canard " after all, or else it was some other follow. Mr Davidson, of Tasmania, has Kent over two cross country horses to Dan O'Brien to be nominated for the .Canterbury Spring Steeplechase, and probably other events. One is Mariner, by Smuggler (sire of Dirk Hattoraik and othors) ; the second one is Kanaka. » Actseon " says fair work was done last woek at Iliccarton, Trumpet or. Hippodamia, Talebearer, and Charmer doing .serviceable gallops.', Tasman, Melbourne, Johnny Faulkner, .iand.vjSiesta did, good work, finishing fast. The

— The latest betting quotations in Christchurch ' are as follows :— New Zealand Cup : 100 to 20 against Cheviot and Tasman, 100 to 15 Turquoise, 100 to 10 Welcome Jack and Lady Emma, 100 to 8 Envious and Hippodamia, 100 to 6 Taiaroa, i The Dauphin, Hyacinth, and Adamant, 100 to 5 Nonsense, 100 to 3to 1 anything else. Canter- ' bury Cup : 100 to 33 against Welcome Jack, 100 to 25 Cheviot and Oudeis, 100 to 16 Sir Bedevere, 100 to 10 the. rest. — The first Auckland Meeting at the legitimate game Trill shortly- be here, ancl the 10th of X T oy. ; -will no doubt bring out several horses in fair i form, considering the dirty, sloppy weather wo have had through the Spring. Next week I possibly may know a little more what work some of the candidates are doing, but as far <is I can glean, : and from a' peep at the weights for the Spring 1 Handicap, I like the chances of Major George's best, and Dewdrop, whom I hear is going very well. Maoriland Ihave not seen gallop lately, so unless readers know something, I should advise I them to leave him alone for a little. — The Melbourne Cup horses are thinning out by degrees, and will no doubt keep doing so until the Tuesday preceding the race, when there will be a great exodus for the final weed-out. To lessen the horses down to a dozen, to be made beautifully less next week, I shall pick De Mestre's best, First Demon, Wallace's best, Despot, Pollio, Dirk Hatteraik, Calma, Santa Claus, Black Diamond, Recovery, Coriolanus, and one of the first three in the V.Tfc.C. Derbymost likely Off Color, Napier, or Martini-Henri. — An interesting little anecdote about Escopeta, the first Musket three-year-old that has won a race this side of the line, came to my ears the other day. Some few years ago a mare was imported to New Zealand fiom the Cape of Good Hope and put to Nutwith ; the foal was a filly, and called Winifred. This filly was bought by a well-known Btockmac and rough-rider named Billy Hoggard, who etuek to her through thick and thin in more ways than one, for she was a

terrible buck-jumper. He rode her overland from Napier to put her to Musket, and Escopeta, was the result. However, not seeing his way clear to train the filly, lie leased her to Captain Russell, having previously to sell Winifred, who has not had a foal since, although she has been to Javelin. Hoggard tried to buy Winifred back again, but Mr McLean, who owns the mare, does not care to part with the Nutwith blood, which flows in the veins of Flora Melvor, Waimea, and other good ones. Such a sport deserves a bit of good luck, and I only hope Escopeta may be the foundation of the Hoggard stud farm in the same way that Queen Mary put W. I'Ansou on his feet. — The hunting season ended last Saturday, with perhaps the smallest meet of the whole season. Once more the meet was at Papatoitoi, and as usual, hares were to be found. The field only mustered a dozen, including huntsman and whips. Tom Brown made a cast at the back of the master's house, who for a wonder was not present, and shortly after a hare was started over two or three paddocks, walls being the principal jumps, and though the company was few, it was select. The horses evidently knowing it was the end of the season, meant jumping and did. Puss was run into and gobbled up, and shortly afterwards the hounds struck on to a light-coloured one, which might have been a leveret ; but as I was some distance off, I could not swear to it. This one went where the first one did shortly after. Some larking over walls put in a little time, and then home was the word. Among those present were Messrs Dunnett (Ghost), Isaacs (Dick), Shcra (Sir Garnet), F. Burtt (Cardinal), Crow (Larry), a stranger (a creamy). There was a gentleman from another country on a dark pony, who admitted he was a new chum at the game of sitting over jumps. He was an apt pupil, however, for the first " lep " ho landed between his " prad's " ears, the next on his neck, and the third he about

. — The race for the Caulfield Cup, a sweepstake of 10 soys. each, with 500 sots, added in addition to a gold trophy, value 200 guineas, resulted as follows : — Mr D. S. Wallace's b c Calma, 4yrs, by Yattendon — London Pride, Ssfc 21bs 1 Mr T. Brown's br h Stockdale, 6yrs, by Yattendon— Stockdove, Bst 71bs 2 Mr S. G. Cook's b c Anglesey, -iyrs, by Hawthornden — Algeria, Bsc 3 The following horses also ran : — Sir Modred Oyrs (9st olbs) ; The Gem, oyrs, (Dst 21bs) : Sardonyx, oyrs, (9st lib) ; Fiyingpan, 4-yrs, (Sst lOlbs) ; Boolka, 4yrs, (Sst 81bs) : Nicholas, 4yrs, (Bst 51bs) ; Yately, aged, (8st) ; Footstep, 4yrs, (7st 131bs); Malua, 4yrs (7st i)lbs); Behnont, 4yrs (7st 71bs); The Joker, syrs (7st 51bs) ; Squireen, oyrs (7st 21bs) ; Dukedom, 3yrs (7st 21bs) ; Sparkc, syrs (7st lib) ; Prodigal, 3yrs (7st) ; Josephine, 6yrs (sst 131bs) ; Koh-i-noor, oyrs (Gst 131bs); Wostbury, aged (Ost lOlbs) ; Kathleen Mavourneen, Gyrs (Gst Slbs) ; Tabletop 3yrs (Gst 71bs) ; Norfolk, 4yrs (Gst 71bs) ; King's Sons, 3yrs (Gst 71b,s). Galma in all probability started first favourite, so the books will get hit a bit over this mile and a-half. The winner has always been a favourite of " Auger's," who picked him as one of the best things in the Melbourne Cup vrhen the weights came out. Mr D. S. Wallace, the owner, will get a good lino for Le Grand, and apparently this win has already hardened the A.J.C. Derby winner in the Melbourne Cup betting. Stockdale is not in the Cup, but Anglesey, with 7st lOlbe, should have some show of running forward, as he is four years old, and by Hawthornden — Algeria. — Last week, with the blue sky overhead and a good hack between nay knees, I made for Sylvia Park, hoping to get a peep at the yougsters nominated lately for the Australian two-year-old events. The colts were out in the paddock stretching their aristocratic limbs, and, wishing to be polite, I interviewed the j r oung ladies first. A bay filly by Anteros — Lady Mary, first claimed my attention. This young lady has plenty of length, good arms, and shows bone of the Anteros formation, but is a little long in the couplings. The Ercyna filly, who came next, like Mittrailleuso,

her sister, shows the old blood, by the white hairs at the root of her tail, and the four white logs. She has a capital back for a little 'un. Another bay out of Titania, by Oadogan, is a hardy, wiry sort of filly, with foot like bell metal, though a little upright in her pasterns perhaps, but just the kind to keep the stable in early oats. All Steel's daughter is a big, overgrown filly, with a plain head and bent hocks. She will take a longtime to furnish. Sylvia's filly by Musket is, as might be expected, very pretty, in fact she is level all over. Hannah's Musket iiliy is another nice one, . with great powerful quarters and a drooping rump. Then follows a chestnut filly of rare quality, by Leolinus, showing a broad forehead and beautiful eye ; her pasterns are rather more oblique than I like. Dundee Katy's filly is not my fancy, but Rangi's, by Musket, is, and will show her heels to some of them if she has luck. This is a very pretty filly, with quarters turned as though a tradesman had made 'em, and I fancy she has helped to do it herself, for she's a rare goer iv the paddock. Pearl Ash's Musket filly is another well-grown, big bone filly, that will make her mark in the scale ring, in fact, she has more bone and substance than any, and looks as hard as nails. I then strolled across to look at the colts who were disporting themselves in a neighbouring paddock. Onyx — Musket colt has always been my favourite since he was dropped, of all the foals I have seen at Sylvia Park or Glen Orchard. Ho is so docile that I was able to put my hands on him. and yet ho loads the rest a merry dance in their play in the paddock. I tried to find a fault with him, but I gave.it up. Cap-a-pie has a bright bay representative from My Idea, and I think this was a wise mating, for the production is a very handsome colt. Perfume's Musket pledge is like the mother— a hard bay, wiry, young lady. Bcrgord, the mare that died some months ago, has left behind her a whole coloured brown colt, who with care may mnko n. racehorse. The-colts by Lyra, Locket,

time, when I shall find them in closer quarters, ■where I can better inspect them. In a couple of months' time all these youngsters -will look better ; the warm weather, rich spring grass of Sylvia Park, assisted by exercise, will alter their appearance so much that they will barely be recognisable. — Wednesday morning was drizzling and unpleasant, but as I had made up my mind to have a look at the steeplechase course for the Pakurarjga Hunt Club Meeting, I turned out at five o'clock. On arriving on the course I found several horses warring round in clothing, preparatory to taking a pipe-opener. Tricotrin was stripped, and went round four times at a good bat. This horse is a high blower, but is in fine heart, and did his work as though he liked it. Major G-eorge's Nelson, Paraniena (with Ted Kelly up), Cadet, and Frailty did the best gallop of the morning. After going once round, the two-year-old was pulled off, and Paramena eased down a bit. Cadet brought the cliesnut Nelson home a useful gallop, the colt having all the best of it. Tetford went by himself, and did a onceround slow, going the second round at about three-quarter speed ; this colt moves in nice style. Musketeer did a twice-round slow, also alone. Two of Chaafe's colts (Carbineer and Bevolver, I think), did a good gallop once round, both moving well. Wapiti was then started by himself, and sent a onco-round at half speed in clothing. The Don did three rounds, a bay bringing him home at a good pace. Lone Hand, and the pony Emblem did useful work, the pony sticking to the old grey like a leech. Comus, by himself on the inside, did three rounds. Greyhound, with his owner up, went twice round, galloping well. This horse is bigger than usual, and should run a good horse in the hurdles. Alee Sutherland, on Kalo, did once round slow, finishing the second round with a rousing gallop. Snider did a couple of rounds. Several other horseg were out, but no work of interest was done. A little bay horse did a useful twice round, but as I was on the hill at the time I could not see for certain, but I was told it wa6 Fly. Several of the jumps in the steeplechase course will take a bit of doing, if the race is run at .any pace. There is a sod bank with two rails on the top and a ditch on the take off-side, which the second time of asking will, I think, bring a few of them to & standstill if they get that far. However, to get through the jumps from the start : The distance is 3£ miles, going round .the course twice, and over 9 of the jumps twice, and finishing over one or two flights of hurdles in the run home. The first jump is a 4ft. post-and-rail opposite the stand, closely, followed by an imitation-laid " oxer," without the usual Leicestershire ditch ; then comes the made stone wall, which does not look so big after the two previous jumps, though really it is about the same height. Safe over this, away we go over the hurdle, plump into the water, a twenty-one feet jump if you clear it and land safely. The course then bears sharp to the whip hand, along the legitimate course over a bxished hurdle, up through the ed^e of the cutting, kcLmi across a plantation into Crowthcr's paddock, o^Jer a big timber jump closely followed by thejutnp"^ spoke about above, then down the hill and over i the stone wall into' the course proper ; then, if yo^i have plenty ftp your sleeve, you can sail away over a four-foot sod wall and double ditch that will do an Irishman's heart good to look at. After negotiating this jump successfully, we have only the hurdles, a sprint home, and the verdict first past the post. I will now weigh in, wishing the riders all sorts of luck over these jumps, where every ounce will make a big difference.