SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 198, 27 January 1875, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

Since I last wrote various meetings hare taken place in the different racing centres of New Zealand, and at most of these, animals that contended at our Christchurch Metropolitan meeting were competitors. Canterbury owned horses have had a fair share of success, and both at Wellington and Auck. land the winners of the principal events hailed from the City of the plains, Tambourihi having been credited with the Wellington Cup, which he won in the most hollow style, never having been really asked to gallop ; whilst at Auckland, Templeton carried off the Cup, Town Plate, and Grand Stand Handicap, and the Belle put the Maiden Plate to the credit of Mr Delamain. The Tuapeka meeting, just over, showed us Traitor, after four previous unsuccessful attempts, in the.character of a winner; but the animals he disposed of in the Maiden Plate were not, I fancy, of a very high class, whilst in the Flying Stakes, the very moderate Earl of Lynne ran him closely home, thus proving that whatever may be his powers over a long course, he cannot be considered a wonder over a short one. The acceptances for the Dunedin Cup were made on the 21st, and the number left in the race points to the fact that most of our horse owners are content with the weights apportioned to their nags. We shall probably know to-day whether any of Mr Redwood's entries still remain in the big Southern race, and a good many persons will be disappointed if Ngaro does not figure as content. Tambourini, having to make his appearance on the West Coast, does not figure in the list of acceptors, which is now headed by Templeton, the game little son of Belle of the Isles having incurred a penalty by his victories in Auckland, and having* the respectable impost of Bst 121 b. to carry. It is, however, too early to attempt any analysis of the merits of the different horses remaining in, and therefore I shall merely say that at present Traitor looks as well as anything to my fancy, whilst I should not be surprised to see old Yatterina run a better mare than her performances in Auckland would lead one to expect, and of the remainder I have a sneaking fancy for Hercules and the Ada gelding (three years). There has been very little betting about the Dunedin Cup, but two or three horses have found backers, and Templeton and Pertobe have each been backed to win a few hundreds, the price being in the case of the latter 100 to 11. Concerning doings in the various stables near Christchurch I have very little news to impart. Champagne candidates are being got ready for the autumn meeting, and Mr Webb has two "terribly high bred cattle" in Gilda and the daughter of Barbary. They are both by Ravensworth, which is hardly a recommendation in the eyes of many people here, as this horse's stock have disappointed their backers in a good many instances, and some of them would appear to have a decided den chant for bolting, Papapa and Ngaro both having indulged in a freak of this description on the Christchurch course, and Guy Fawkes (I believe) having done the

same at Wellington. I hear, however, that Gilda is a most docile, even-tempered filly, and if so she will probably be a hot favorite on her first appearance on any course, and thatshemay turn outas good as her half-sister Lurline, is my sincere hope. Mr Campbell's colt Castilian is a big powerful horse, though eh may hardly show to advantage as a two-year-old. Mr Delamain has two, both fillies, and the Golden Grape—Atalanta filly (which I hear is to rejoice in the jaw breaking name of Punga-were-were) is a powerful animal. The other youngster in the stable, by Ravensworth—Belle of the Isles—l do not like. I presume that Mr Redwood will shortly be down with his candidates for honors at the Autumn meeting, and I am prepared from report to see a fine lot of youngsters from the Spring Creek stables. However, we have so often heard the same story that I shall not say anything more about this lot until I have seen them. With regard to news from Australia, it will be seen that Lurline is showing a little better form, as in the Midsummer Handicap the winner (Woolamai) and the old mare were well away from the rest of the field. She gave the winner, who has long been mentioned as likely to do a good thing some day, when wanted, and who is the same age as herself, twelve pounds in weight, so that the performance was a fairly creditable one. I must confess to being rather sorry that the mare ran where she did in the Midsummer Handicap, as I am afraid the Sydney handicapper will remember it when the time comes for apportioning the weights for the Sydney Gold Cup. Lurline is left in as top weight at Geelong, and, if she has gone on improving since her performance on New Year's Day, I expect to hear of her running a good mare at this meeting. Calumny seems unable to win. in Australia in any company, and never ought to have been sent over. Fapapa has returned to New Zealand, not having showed on any Australian course, most probably the wisest course that could have been pursued with him. If they can patch him up again, he might be able to win something down here amongst the moderates he would be called on to meet, but I think we have seen the last of him in the character of a racehorse, and that his probable future will be at the stud. To turn from racing for a short time, the general topic of conversation now is the forthcoming Interprovincial Cricket Match, and as is usually the case in these contests, the home team are better favorites than the visitors. Certainly the Canterbury team are a strong lot, and ought to take a good deal of beating, but the chances of the southerners are not so forlorn as the trifling speculation which has taken place about the match would make them appear. One enthusiastic individual went so far as to lay the liberal odds of 5 to. 1 on the Canterbury representatives; odds that are not all warranted by the doings of either team. I certainly think that our men should win, but I trust for the sake of every one connected with, or taking any interest in, the successful bringing, off of the match, that the contest may be a close and exciting one. The arrangements will be more complete than on any former occasion, and' the number of spectators ought to be the largest that ever attended at an Interprovincial Match. The chances would at present appear in favor of fine weather, and the wicket is bound to be a good one, and all that I wish is that the best team may prove victorious. Some little speculation has taken place concerning the highest scorer on the Canterbury side, and sundry small books have been opened. Messrs Corfe and E. Fowler would appear to be the general selection of backers, but almost every member of the team has some admirer who pins his faith on him. Various bats are promised to those who distinguish •themselves in the match, and for a wonder, bowlers as well as batsmen have a chance of getting their services recognised. I trust that all the men will be in good form on the day, and that, our visitors may have what the Americans term "a good time" during their stay in Christchurch, though I must confess that my sympathies in the forthcoming contest are, with Canterbury. HERMIT.