SPORTING.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 707, 25 September 1876, Page 3

SPORTING.

THE TRAINING GROUND. (from the Press) A correspondent, whose opinion on racing matters is of some value, sends us the following Bporting items : The approaching races do not appear to be a subject of very great interest to the public up to the present, but no doubt the publication of the weights for the 0.J.0. Handicap will attract some little attention, and a few remarks about the horses that will take part in our annual festival may interest some of your readers. A few visits to the course lately have convinced me that no Lurline's or Manuka's are amongst the three-year-olds, while the public form of the older horses is at best only second class. Early work is not the order of the day yet, so that 7.80 will be in time for any visitor who wants to see the horseß at work. Templeton is looking and going better than he did last autumn, he moves more freely and appears in better heart, He may pick up some of the crumbs, but he cannot carry lOst in the weight-for-age races and win, and neither can he do anything with 9st 91b for the C.J.O. He is a good game little horse, but 9st is the extent of his tether, if the company is at all good. Pungawerewere is looking rough, but very healthy, and Monaghan evidently means mischief with her; she is far and away the biggest horse in training, and ought to carry her weight-for-age without difficulty. Her public form, however, has at best been only moderate, while on several occasions she has run so unkindly that I think her Cup prospects not very bright. Redwood has a long if not a strong team, but I much question if the quality is even moderate. The old Fox looks the best of the bunch, and in fact a handsomer little horse is seldom seen. He is a rare cut and come again one, and although about a mile and a half is the length of his tether, he can on a pinch get two miles if the weight is not too much. Bar Korari, his form was the best of the year's, not even excepting little Daniel's. If asked to take one horse out and out for the Cup, I should at present plump for the Fox. Korari holds everything safe

on paper, but he was a bit lame last autumn, and until it is seen if he can stand his preparation this season it is scarcely prudent to back him for much. He however, is doing some steady work, and is in a very clever stable, so that they can bring him out fit if anyone can. I know his owner has backed him heavily, and will win with him if he can. Puriri is a wellknown cheßtnut colt, and as all Waimea's family can run a bit, he is not likely to be an exception; but 1 have seen him take several gallops, and cannot say I am favorably impressed with bis action. It is true, I have only seen him in his slow work, and he might improve when thoroughly extended; but he strikes me as a slow horse. At pre* sent I think his Derby chance very poor indeed. Songster is another of Redwood's string; but he must find something better in his team if he is to carry off either the blue riband or the cup. His action behind is very peculiar, and it appears to me that he is lame. Maroro is a decent looking chestnut and can move a-bit, but his form I am certain is not first class. It is rumored that he goes to Geraldine, and I think country meetings more likely to suit him than our Metropolitan races. Stirabout is a great rakiDg chestnut, with ugly hocks, lumbering action, and a hollow back. The stable are supposed to like him, but he would suit a doctor's brougham better than a racecourse. Little Tara is a sweet looking filly, but so very small. She, however, shows immense strength for her size, and being sister to Koran, she will probably race a bit. Her action, however, when set going, is not like her brother's, as she scrambles along more like a pony than a race-horse, and I am convinced the company will be very poor when she is first past the post. Amohia, Lady of the Lake, and Sister to the Chief do steady work of an afternoon, but they show very little quality, and need not be feared. Bay has fadmor looking very well, and from the nice weight he has in the C.J.C. Handicap, he must become a very hot favorite if his clever stable mean him to go for it. Nothing looks better on paper to those who look below the surface of Tadmor's last season's performances. Danebury is exceedingly fit, and is, par excellence, the best mover on the course. I have seen him take several good gallops lately, and I think the Derby pretty well over, while he must have a great show for the Cup. I did not think much of his Champagne win, but he looks stones better than he did last April, and he has beautiful action. Dead Heat is fancied, and as it was the rider and not the horse that was beaten for the Champagne Stakes, he is entitled to some consideration. He is a well grown colt, but I do not like his head or neck, neither do I like his hind quarters, but he is a grandly bred colt, and will probably prove a useful horse, but with Danebury fit and well he will not get more than second place. I had almost forgotten Fallacy and Lady Lea, The former is coming into favor, and she ia in very forward condition. Her party appear to like her Derby chance, but she is no favorite of mine, while Lady Lea is nothing very great. Webb has a very handsome colt in Wrangler, and one that moves like a race horse. He is looking exceedingly well, and will, I am certain, be fast, but he makes " a noise," which I suspect is the after effect of a bad attack of strangles. If his wind is not touched he will be a dangerous horse to beat. Tasso is the Fireworks colt, and may be passed over as a plain mean looking horse, not likely to do anything more than cost his owner money. The Lady Florence colt looks well, and is fancied by many. I think him too narrow, but with a light weight up he may earn his oats. Nectar is in work again, but I think Bst will stop her repeating herjlast year's coup, Cloth of Gold looks exceedingly well, but he is an ill-tempered beast, and I think very little of his show for the Cup. Ariel is healthy and well, and must not be He is a fair race horse and has improved a good deal. I think he has a very good chance for the Handicap, as he can go fast as well as stay; Ngaro is here again, but does not look very pink. I never liked the mare and time has not changed my opinion. The Handicap was the chief topic of conversation on the course on Saturday morning, and as usual the opinions were very diverse. The position of a handicapper is perhaps the most unsatisfactory that can be imagined. It is purely a post of honor here, and a? a rule all the reward a handicapper gets for his many hours' thought and study, is, a string of abuse from some black sheep who has tried to mn blind but has been found out. On the whole the handicap just published appears to give satisfaction The top weights cannot complain, but they cannot carry 9st 101 b and 9st 91b successfully to the fore. Pungawerewere seems badly treated, as she is asked to give Ariel lib and the sexual allowance, while I consider Ariel's last year's form on the whole fully 71b the best of the two. Rob Roy is exceedingly well in, as his beating Ternpleton and his two later races in Dunedin must not be forgotten. Isaac Walton is another of the light weights that must not be overlooked, but he is a determined bolter. As the Derby will keep the best of the three-year-olds out of it, I think the race lays between Tadmor, Rob Roy, Ariel, or Isaac Walton, with Cloth of Gold and Fishhook well up. I purposely omit the three-year olds, as in the absence of public form there is no line, They have however been remarkably well treated, but as I said before the best of them will be reserved for the Derby. The course is in excellent order, and will be very good going by the time the meet comes off.