The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-19 00:00:00

readers of The Sun through the innumerable shoals
abounding in the sea of turf speculation; with what
success

"--the mark no moratal
Or surest hand can always hit,
Fur whatsoe'er we perpetrate,
We do but row, we're steer'd by fate,
Which in success oft disinherits
For spurious causes greatest merits—"
never hiving been absolutely wrong in my Derby se-
l.ctions, and having three years successively placed the
first two for the St. Le4er, will testify. I commence
this my sixth annual scribbling campaign, with invige
rated forces, armed at all points,

"cramm'd
With observation—the which I'll vent
In mingled fancies;"
leading off, as usual, with the "introductory epistle," a
sort cf prologue, bill of fare, or index to that which is to
follow, in which I shall forthwith proceed to glance at
the probable fate of the principal stake of 1850, and en-
deavour, if possible, to illuminate the world (the spott-
ing portion, I mean) with the names of those favourites of
the fickle goddess, destined to create a slight sensation at
Epsom, Newmarket, Chester, and elsewhere; for (as the
master-mind dotted down)
"In such indexes, although small pricks
To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
The baby figure of the giant mass
Of things to come."
By the way, I cannot help remarking how marvel-.

iousiy correct my "introductory epistl;s" have been,
Take last year's, for instance. Published in February, it
announced to the sporting fraternity that it was my
opionion Tadmor would win the Column Stakes, Nan-
nykirk or Honeycomb (former for choice) the 2,000
Guineas, Tadmor or The Flying Dutchman the Derby,
the. Industry filly (Lady Evelyn) the Oaks, and The
Flying Dutchman or Nunnykirk the St. Leger. Now,
if I can but accomplish a similar feat this year, those
who take The Spirit for their pilot ought to weather the
storm bravely.
Plunging in medics res, I begin my running comments
with the richest and most important racing stake in the
universe, called, par excellence, The Derby, which will
be contested for the 71st time on the fir-famed Downs of
Epsom, on the 29th day of May next, and for which no
less than 205 horses have been nominated; one, however,
being wrong, four dead, and forty out of training. Of
the remaining eight score, some thirty or forty will en-
gage the metallics of the Ring between now and that
memorable period to the denizens of "the village," yclept
the Derby-day.
Last year I drew up a list of the principal horses
in the market, and handicapped them to the best of
my judgment, not being ruled altogether by their
past performances, but looking to their qualities and
condition at the time, as well as to the peculiar nature
of the course; and as I was successful enough to place
the Flying Dutchman and Tadmor at Bst 71b, each at
the top of the list, why I'll e'en express my opinion in
the shape of a handicap again, as follows:
at. Ibi

Ghillie Callum
Sweetheart
Bolingbroke
The Nigger 8 4
The Italian . 8 3
William the Conqueror 8
Knight of Avenel 8 2
Mickleton
Clincher
Mayors 8 2

Blarney
Hardioge 8
Cyprus.
Compass
Mildew
Penang
Nutshell

at. lb.
The Swede 7 12
Voltigeur
Windhound 7 12
Pitsford
Python 7 10
John o' Groat 7 10
IDeicoon
Yew-tree .
Lady Geraldine, colt 7 9
Garforth
61oultan
Dark Susan, colt 7 8
Charley
Cranberry
'Cadzer 7 7
Confidence

About Pontifex, Nutcracker, Stingo, Little Bob, Sir
Charles, and another or two, I shall not hazard an
opinion at present, but reserve it until the Craven Meet-
ing shall hare passed away into the gulf of time.
From the foregoing handicap it will be perceived that
I consider the Goodwood trio, Day's, Diswson's, and Ed-
wards' cracks, to be the lot from which the winner must
spring, and I shall be sorely deceived if it does not fur-
nish the second and third as well as the first.
Ghillie Callum, by Gladiator, out of Reel, premier
favourite, was a remarkably early foal, having been
slipped on the 25th January, nearly three months pre-
vious to Sweetheart's appearance upon this sublunary
ball (April 12th); he was got into easy training early,
the advantage of which will be apparent, if he can bat
stand the finishing preparation. That he is one of the
speediest horses of his year I should think must b"
patent to every one on the turf ; but whether he can
travel on hilly ground as well as the Nigger remains to
be seen; as long as he does his work well, I must con-
sider him the " flower of the Goodwood flock," as I ob-
served some six months ago, and still stick to my opinion
as expressed then, that " should the Bee Hunter win the
Guineas he will see 3 to 1 before running fur the
Derby."
Sweetheart, by Touchstone, out of Catherine (a pedi-
gree no one can find fault with, the sire having won the
St. Leger in 1834, and the dam having won more races
than any animal that ever trod the turf), made his debiit
at Stockbridge in the Triennial Stakes, and though
slightly amiss, ran Bee Hunter to a dead heat, but
got, as a matter of course, beat into fits in the de.
tiding heat, by the rattling son of Gladiator and
Valentine. His next appearance was at Newmarket,
where he won the July Stakes very easily by two
lengths, in 1 min. 9 secs., the shortest time on record,
and three seconds better than the Flying Dutchman's
time in 1848 This performance was about the beat ac-
complished last season, perhaps with the exception of
the officious spurts of that little wonder, the daughter of
Pantaloon and Baleine. Sweetheart's last appearance vs
a two-year old was for a Produce Stakes at Liverpool,
where, dead amiss, he ran nowhere to Harriott, Bst 11b,
first, and Probity. Sat 41b, second. This nsg, if brought
to the post quite up to the mark, will be, as people say,
" there or thereabouts."

With respect to Bolingbroke, for whose qualities I en-
tertain the profoundest respect, the Nigger, the Ita-
lian,: 'William the Conqueror, cum multis aliii, more
anon.

The Oaks is a mystery which I cannot penetrate, at
least not now, but would have no objection t) take the
following dozen against the field, viz.:—Tingle, Tiff,
Probity, Countess of Albert arle, Claymore, Impression,
Rheilycina, Necklace, Mabascab, Countess, Regina, and
Miss Larkaway; giving the preference to Probity, Im-
pression, with the Countess of Albemarle, and Sir J.
llawley's best, Tingle or Tiff, would divide my second
choice.

The Great Northamptonshire Stakes seem destined for
Osterley, 4 yrs, Tat, or llarriott, 3 yrs, sst 101 b; the fol-
lowing however are well-in :—Flatcacher, 5 yru, Bst slb;
Mahratta, 4 yrs, sst 11lb; and Bastinado, 3 yrs 4st 613.
The Great Metropolitan Stakes look anything but
cheerful to the betters. round; Mr. Grit wicke's filly, 4 3 rs,
Est, at first sight appears to be a certainty, but I ex-
claim with Byron,

" There's no such thing as certainty, that's plain
As any of mortality's conditions;"

therefore, with a licw to keeping on the safe side, shall
keep an eye upon Chantrey and Clarissa, each 4 yr,, 7st
51b; Snowstorm, 4 yrs, 7st 41b; Melody, 4 yrs, 7st; Lam-
mermoor, 4 yrs, 65t 61b; and Bastinado, 3 yrs, 4st 71b.
For the Newmarket Handicap, I am inclined to place
my trust in Saucy Dick, 4 yrs, 7st 41b; and Little Jack,
3 yrs, sst lib; with Flatcatcher, 5 yrs, Bst 51b; Herbert,
4 yrr, 7st llb; Strongbow, 4 yrs, 7st; Chterfol, 4 yrs, sst
121 b.; and Bastinado, 3 yrs, 4st 61b, as a reserve corps.
The race for the Column Stakes will lay between
Mickleton and Ilardinge, Cariboo third; Pontifex and
Longinus, I presume, will be non est. Lady Evelyn
will, in all probability, be the first past the post for the
Port Stakes.

Puffy's star looks bright at Bath in the Somersetshire
Stakes at 6st 21b, at which weight he ought to dispose of
Midis, 4 yrs, ist 21b; Sea-gull, 6 yrs, 6st Gib; and
Won't-you-come out-to-night, 3 yrs, sst, his principal
opponents; whether he will or no time will prove.
I can discover nothing likely to beat the Bee-hunter
in the spin for the 2,000 Guineas, and if I place Mickle-
ton and Hardinge second and third, with Pitsford
well up, I think I shall not be tar from the mark.
The 1,000 Guinea Stakes may fall to the lot of Sir J.
Hawley with Tingle or Till; or to Mr. Green with the

Countess of Albemarle, Mr. Combo's Necklace being
handy.
The Chester Cup winner I opine will be found in John
Day's stable.

The Bee-hunter, if he starts, will win the Dee Stakes,
and be a rattling favourite for the Doncaster St. Leger;
for the latter race Ghillie Callum, the Nigger, and Bo-
lingbroke must not be forgotten.
The Flying Dutchman and Canezou will be the pets
of fortune icr the Emperor's Plate; and it will be mere
question of health with the former for the Great 300
Says. Stakes at Goodwood.

For the Derby of 1651! the following _animals will
merit attention at the hands of the Ring, Tiz :—Primi-
titip, in Edward's stable; Lord Stanley's trio, Storm,
Croupier, and Crotchet, and Neominster, in Scott's; La-

mardne in Day's; Boriie Dundoe in. Ribert's; and the
PAntAlonade colt in Wadlow's.

For the Derby of 1852!! the following foals of last
year deserve notice:—A large lengthy colt, by Bird-
catcher, out of Beeswing; a strong colt, by Lanercost,
out of Alice Hawthorn; a colt, by Birdeatcher, oat of
Blue Bonnet; and a remarkably promising colt, called
Peppermint, by Sweetmeat, out of Pantalonade.
As Warwick opens the legitimate racing season of
1850 tl-morrow, I will conclude this random epistle
with a few words thereanent.

The Trial Stakes—Rose Pompon, Mark Tapley, and
Knigh of Gwynne, first, second, and third.
The Willoughby Handicap to Fugitive.
The Free Handicap to Andalusian or Doubt. -
The Two-year-old Stakes to Louis Napoleon, Stafford,
Beaufort, or filly by Venison, out of Darkness; a very
dark lot, the filly for choice.
The Great Warwickshire Handicap I feel inclined to
book to Pelham or the Dart, expeaing to tee St. An-
tonio and Defaulter in close attendance.
" Thus far our prophecy; and rum we pause,
Though not for want of matter; but 'tis time,
To slacken sail."
I am, Sir, yours, &c.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.
March 18, 1850.

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