ASSEMBLY SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2366, 2 November 1881, Page 3

ASSEMBLY SPORTING NOTES.

THE WAKANDI HURDLE RACE. [By the Fbxab.] I must tender the most ample apologypossible to my sporting friends in the Wakanui district for not having sooner noticed the various entries for this fixture, which Is a maiden event, and for which, up to the present time, three only have accepted, viz., Knickerbocker, by Rakaia from Corwar ; Mailboy, by Printer’s Devil from Rostrum ; and The Poet, by Pettifogger from Cllentelle. As to their previous per formances, the first-named horse ran some few seasons ago at the Coleridge meeting, where he showed the other acceptors his heels, and placed that important stake to his stable’s credit. The other horses are new to the turf. They have all taken their trial spins. Beginning with that of Knickerbocker, on the Rakaia bank course, I can find no fault with his condition, which is very good indeed; he is still somewhat on the big side, but I do not think that will tell against him on the day of the race, and 1 am glad to record that he has a big following, which I think is fully justified by his style of going, which is attractive ; he also fences better than he did at the Coleridge race. 1 noticed the same boy, Lavington, was entrusted with the mount, and as ho rode him to victory on a previous occasion, I fancy he will do likewise again. He started off in grand form, and gamely cleared the Rent Hurdles, but sent the Top House sticks flying. The Education Hurdles were taken in grand form, and putting on the pace, he cleared the big Local Option water jump in splendid style. Then came the Property Tax fenced jump, and his stylo of taking it proved that he is a really good horse. I regret I cannot say the same for the little black horse Mailboy, whom I also saw at work. What could possess the stable to enter such a rank duffer for such an important event is past my ability to divine. I am sure he will never be brought to the post in anything like condition. When he was brought out on the Ashburton course no time was lost in starting him on the track, and he went off at a rush. The Class Legislation fence was crossed, hat he didn’t take the Top House hurdles kindly, whilst at the Policy barrier be went with a will, knocking down the hurdles. The Licensing Bill gully and the Native water jump were cleared after a little persuasion, and whilst ho got somewhat mixed at the Land jump and Squatters’ Gully, the Education Hurdles wore well negotiated, as also were the Local Government and Chinese fence jumps. At

the West Coast Railway Dyke he blundered considerably, and at the Protection Hurdles he was by no means so grod as he ought to have been. After he had cleared the Railway Tariff fence he was eased off, amidst the cheers of some small boys who had laid out a few shillings on him. I then crossed to the paddock, where the loet was doing his preliminary, and I must say candidly his style was not such as to inspire confidence. His condition told against him, and I was not surprised to find he baulked at the Policy Hurdles. He was in better form at the Local Government Fence, and seemed to fairly revel in the Opposition Jump. At the Railway Tariff Water Jump he was somewhat better, and he put on the pace to clear the Squatters Land Jump and the Native Fence, but at the last he fell somewhat heavily. He was thou taken slowly to the Education Barrier, which he cleared. After this he refused the Direct Steam Service Water Jump, but at the Licensing Hurdles ho picked himself up, nod got over somehow. He was then eased off, and brought in walking very lame. There is no comparison between those horses, and as the result of having witnessed their performances, I shall unhesitatingly declare for Knickerbocker, who ought to load Mailboy by six lengths, The Poet being nowhere.