SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18889, 3 January 1927, Page 12

SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP. Nominations for the Wellington Racing Club's Summer Meeting, and the Foxton Annual Meeting, close on Wed- ; nceday. To-dav there will be racing at Auckland, Stratford, Hawke's Bay, Mnrton, [\Yaiiarapu, and Southland. Backers had a bad time at Ellerslie on Saturday, as with exception of Commendation, all tho favourites were we beaten. Tho dividends were nearly all kubstantial, averaging well over double ligurcs. Lvsander met his first defeat this ftcaiTon when Commendation beat him in tho Great Northern Derby on Saturday It was the first time that L>tandcr had raced over a longer distance than a mile, which apparenly is the extent of his capabilities at pres- j cut. ! Although Count Cavour has not yet von a nice at this Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, his secouJ places in tho Auckland Clip ftncl Racing Club Handicap have earned him 1000 sovs in place-money. Tho Morris Brothers were prominent in the principal events at Ellerslie on Saturday, B. H. Morris winning the two big handicaps—the Racing Club Handicap and the Newmarket Handicap; and L. G Morris riding the Derby winner, Commendation. Haae has still to lose his maiden certificate. Although he was sent out second favourite in tho Ellerslio Handicap on Saturday the best he could do was to finish fourth. Stormy, who was made a hot favour- ■ jte in the Queen's Plate at Ellerslie fln th« first day, was rather neglected by backertt on Saturday, when he was tenth favourite in the Glasgow Handicap. He, however, stayed on to finish fourth. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed last night that weather conditions are unsettled, but the acceptances and final payments for to-morrow's racing are up to the average, and given * Sne day interest in the racing should be well maintained. Most interest will probably be centred in the meeting between Rapine, Commendation, and Count Cavotir in the Clifford Plate, which may give rise to spirited speculation. All three are lit, and perhaps Rapine may find most support. Twenty were paid up for in the Grandstand Handicap, and Desert Glow, Master Poon, and Town Bank may prove tho most formidable to Footfall ond Oreum. Of the eighteen acceptors for the Bowen Handicap, Day Guard, who beads the list, Nancy Lee, Licinius, Cawnpore, and perhaps Stormy and Rascal will be amongst the best-sup-ported. Stormy is engaged also in the Grey Handicap, in which Haze, Rahepoto, and Antrim Boy will be well supKirted. Royal Ceree, Cosmetic, and oree are likely to give a good accounttof themselves in the Sylvia Handicap.

Directly after the Wyndham Noting concluded, heavy rain set in, and fell for nearly twenty-four hours, which will have the- effect of making the spins for the opening day of the Southland Racing Club's Summer Meeting heavy, and all in favour of strong horses. Guncase will be well suited by the going and distance in the hurdle and will probably find the strongest opposition from Kapuna, who has good form at both Wingatui and Wyndham to recommend him. Baldowa was one of the unlucky hones at Wyndham, a,nd with F. B. Jonas in the saddle, will probably see a short price in the Flying Handicap. Booster, who will be ridden by Emerson, is partial to a heavy track. Good aa Gold and Eaton Bells will go well in the going. Mime has gone wrong, and will not be a starter. Sparkling Eyes and Red Racer, both in for Ellirs stable, are fancied in the New Year Handicap, but Top Gear won so well at Wyndham that, despite his penalty, he still has a good chance. Set Sail, who will be ridden by 0. * Emerson, is a strong favourite for the Inrercargill Cup, but the heavy going will be all in favour of Full Swing Countersign, after her Wingatui suecoss, most be eiven a great chance, and Cupidon will only have to reproduce his Wyndham Cup form to win. Soldier's Hope and Blue Dragoon are a likely pair in the Waikiwi Handicap, and tfio extra furlong will nuit the ' former better than the , six furlong race at Wyndham, when he dead-heat-ed with Cassolette for second place behind Black Duke. Queen Balboa, Miss Winkie, and Pink Note have such good form to recommend them thatthev must be the popnlar selections for the Waihopai Handicap, and each can be relied on to see out the full journev a recommendation not possessed by manv of

the others. The «x-Riccarton horseman, 0. Cul- > Ism, bad his first success in South Australia on December ilth, when he rodo. the winner. Lord Hatan, of the Summer Hurdle-Race at Tattersall's Heet;ng. On the same day B. Rosen rode the second horse. Steel Bronze, ill the December Handicap. TROTTING NOTES. Acceptances for the Northland T.C.'s Annual Meeting fall due to-morrow. The Westland T.C.'s Annual Meeting will be held to-day. The Canterbury Park Trotting Club's Summer Meeting will be concluded at Addiugton to-day. and the excellent acceptances received should ensure capital ■port. The first race is timed to start at 11.30 a.m., and a frequent tram Mirioe will be run from Cathedral •guare to the course. Racing will open with the Progressive Handicap, and though Nourmahal has been penalised for running second in fast time, on the first day, ne must be regarded as dangerous, and {he same nay be said of Rose Audo and Frisco Beau.

A bie field 'will face the starter in the Prebbleton Handicap, and the field will include the three-year-old Rey Logan, a smart pacer. Terence Dillon •boald ran well, as should Wairua and Holly Bell.

A good field is engaged in the Park Handicap, and interest will centre in tbe doings of Tom Thumb, who will have to be on his best behaviour to defeat Cardinal Logan and Black Admiral. Master Audo is set to give away 120 yards in the Hornby Handicap, and will probably find the task beyond him. Frisco Bean, if reserved for the race, should go well, and Lee Todd and Red Oak may be the hardest to beat, while in the Selwyn Handicap. Brentloc. Becky Logan, and Logan Chief should be prominent. The saddle horsee engaged in the Middjeton Handicap are not a good lot, and Nipper ana Alvira should run prominently. Shine Soou showed such good form at the a Ashburton Meeting last week that be is, sore to be well supported in the Telegraph Handicap, and he will perhaps find General Bingen the hardest to beat. •

>-The Meeting. will conclm'- ' 1 the yjn«* Handicap, of a mile. Class is well represented in this event, and Brentloc, JJelaran's Quest, and Becky Logan tbould be handy over the final stages. -