SPORTING NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 73, 21 July 1896, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

THE Yv'ELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE MEETING. By Gipsy Grand.] The first day's racing in connection with the above meeting take;-; place on the Ilutt Park Racecourse ts-morrow, and given fine weather a really firstclass day's sport should bo witnessed. Good fields, judging from the list of acceptances, will face the starter in each c fnt and from the class of horses enr'xgtd <onie excellent finishes should result. The handicappers' adjustments hiv been favorably received by horseowners, and winners have been pretty well hidden, which is evident testimony to the abilities of Messrs Henry and Evett. It will be remembered by my readers that owing to a dispute about a totalisator permit, the Wellington Eating Club was debarred ['om holding an Autumn meeting, and to make this gathering as successful as possible they have larg-ly increased the stakes, and gone to much expense in altering the steeplechase course so that owners of horses can now depend on having a really first-class track to race upon. The Thompson Handicap which is usually run at the Autumn meeting, and which is such a desirable win for horse owners, has not been placed on the programme for this meeting, and it is safe to say that it will not be run for till next May. Much comment has been occasioned by its absence from the programme, but as a recompense several hunters' races have been added, as well as the Parliamentary Handicap of 120 sovs. In the first race of the day—the Stewards Handicap—fifteen horses have cried content. These include some real good 'uns such as Waiuku, The Miser, Slaiden, Dummy, Haeata, Sylvan us and several others. On recent going, The Miser, Sylvanus, Slaiden and Haeata each look the best of good things, and to pick the winner is no easy task. In trying to do so I shall place them as follows : SYLVANUS Haeata The Miser With Crawley, if well, to effect a boilover. The "Winter Hurdles comes up next for decision with eleven acceptors. Hopeful occupies pride of place, and if lit and well will take a lot of beating. Next to him is The Plug, the winner of the big hurdles at the Ilawke's Bay meeting. Then he carried lOst and now is raised 101b, but that should not prove a bar to his winning. Other horses I have a fancy for are Tenby and Rangipunehu. 'The former won with ridiculous case the hurdles of 1»J miles on the second day of the Hastings Jockey Club meeting, and the latter has his double win at Napier Park in his favor. To sum up, 1 think the race will lie between Tenby, The Plug and Rangipunehu, and will place them as follows : Tenby Rangipunehu The Plug In the Maiden Steeplechase, which is next on the programme, there are ten acceptors, and on his form here Otaeiri stands out prominent ; but Coastguard's win over bigger country at Onga Onga must be taken into account. Yoilence is also a splendid jumper, and will have to be reckoned •with. I shall place them in the following order : Otaieri Violence Coastguard Next in order is the Maiden Hack Race with eleven entries, the best of which appears to be Totja and Spermaceti, and I shall expect either to win. The Parliamentary Handicap is the next for decision. Seventeen horses have decided to face the barrier, St. Ivilda occupying top position with list 121b. This race should be the best one of the day, as the list of acceptors includes some of our best horses in the North Island. All have recent performances in their favor, and to select the successful one is a difficult task. I like Solitaire, Haeata, Westmere, Flying Shot, and Strowan the best of the crowd and will place them in the following order: — Strowan Westmere Haeata In the Hunters' Hurdles, there are eighteen acceptors, the best of which appear to be Rossall, Glengarry, Silent Friend, Pescador, and Cyrus 11. The race ran by the first-named against such a racehorse as Zaccho at the local meeting stamps him as a really good 'uii. Glengarry's qualifications are too well known to need commenting on, and his win at our late meeting with 13sfe 9ib proves him to be a very consistent jumper. The others I have mentioned are all good performers over cross-country. I will select Rossall Glengarry Tippler in the order named to fill the places. The First Hack Race conclude:; the day's sport, in which there are twelve starters. Included in that number are Princess Cole, Mystical, Crescent, First Result, and Sir Agr.es, who have all done good performances on the racing track. Oil his going here and at JJtaki, I have a very greatfancy for Mystical Pn in cess Cole Ckescent and shall place them accordingly.

RACING ITEMS.

Writes "Augur" in the Mail:— F. Kingan is now a resident of "Wellington. The Sydney trip appears to have benefited him physically if not financially, and I believe it is to his advantage to be " coupled." Golden Fleece is not slow for three or four furlongs, but Kingan informs me the Sydney ponies, besides being in most

ciscs thoroughbred or nearly so, are particularly quick in getting away 'ir-.un th« barrier. She is now owned by a Sydney sporting boniface, a patron of E. liat-toa'a stable, which shelters the champion pony on the Sydney side, Cinderellen, whose parents (Trenton and the sprinter Cinderella) were both bred in Auckland. Cinderel len recently won a handicap with 9st 121b up. The stable also scored recently with North Bric'sh, a twj-year-old brother to Saditr, :.y Gozo, whom I regard as a successful sire. For riding in pony event 3at Sydney, F. Kingan stands down for three months, and at the Hutt will appear among the spectators.