TE KUITI MUNICIPAL CUP, 1913.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 563, 30 April 1913, Page 6

TE KUITI MUNICIPAL CUP, 1913.

By Bad Bill.

This year's Municipal Cup like previous years was provocative o£ much public interest. For months rumour was rife that there would be a large field of starters. Those laying the odds Were anxious for a good go, but the punting public once again proved themselves good touts. Quite a number of well-known past performers, as well as colts were mentioned as cer tain starters.

"Compos Mentis" had many admirers; last year"s winner of the Cup was looked upon as a might-might-not starter; "Electricity" found favour with a section of anxious speculators, but old "Indispensable" up to the a late moment showing a decided disposition to-baffle the most best endeavours of the stable to get him to strike form suddenly did a gallop that proved to his many admirers that there was still a cup in him. His last jockey being unable to "coom up" having a permanent engagement in the Dargaville stables, "Public Opinion" got the mount, and from that moment, the cup was practically over. "Compos Mentis." a stable mate, was scratched early, "Electricity" did not satisfy those with the watch on him, and only a few hours before the acceptances closed, "Might-might-not" was declared a non-starter. Thus the. J«a-yorai Cup has once more go.n& to "Indispensable," who is now practically the Carbine of the Te Kuiti municipal t'd'rf, having thus three wins to his credit. He is an old iron grey horse, a bit groggy in the knees, but a wonderfully good stayer when asked to gallop. Everyone seems extremely gratified that so grand an old performer has had a walk-over,and already the cunning push are out to take any odds offering for the next cup, should he face the barrier.

THE COUNCIL FLYING HANDICAP. Never before has there been so much excitement over the above event, perhaps because of the new blood in the field. A strong association syndicate, immediately the 1913 programma appeared, put into solid work five horses with a view to capturing the first five places. Fourteen horses in all have been nominated, so that the public will have the pleasure of seeing a good race. In all there are nine prizes, a fact that lends considerable interest to the race. This syndicate's horses are "Archiect," "Straightgoer," "Reticence," "The Favourite," and "Facta Non Verba." "Architect" is an aged horse with no past performances, brought here sorre time ago from New Plymouth. His trainer, Pat Cotter, is absolutely certain that the syndicate are wasting no oats on his horse, who is now in their stables. He should run well, if his track work is any indication. "Straightgoer" is a comparatively young, shou-legged colt, with a big head and a knowing eye. He is credited with an easy win in the Shearers' President Cup, run in Masterton two years ago. He has been in steady work ever since, and is now considered fit to render a good account of himself in the Flying Handicap. The public can rely on getting a straight run for their money when jockey Trinnear dons the colours, and the barrier goes up. "Reticence" is a black colt, so far, untried. At present he carries very little public money, but the syndicate seem tu be touting him freely. He may prove a dark horse, but though, so far, he has done nothing to justify him a probable place, he is sound in wind and limb, and, Well—you never know till the numbers go up. "The Favourite" is a well bred, imported colt, new on the track here. Some years ago he was shipped from England to New Zealand, and loose boxed from Auckland to Raglan, where he ran at several unregistered meetings, winning easily several times. Some two years ago he was brought to Te Kuiti, and sound judges decided to send him for Wednesday's event, although he took a lot of prepaiation. He carries tons of public money, and when the post is passed the horse behind him will be about second,

"Facta Non Verba," another English imported horse is a well-bult, leggy chestnut, with a good mane. His first public performance was in the Engineer's Purse, where he scored an easy win, following on which he was matched to gallop "Julianus" on the Hamilton course, but this time failed to score a victory. Those in the know reckon he was a "bit short of work" or he would have cantered in. Those desirous of making money can easily do so by having a sporting wager, as he's bound to be well in at the finish. The syndicate go nap on him.

"Sixanate" is an ex-Auckland light bay, muscular looking colt. In local events he has had several wins, start-

nig successfully in the Race Committee Handicap, the Mokau Syndicate Flutter, th 9 Matrimonial Bracelet, and the Parliamentary Hurdle Rac.. Good on the flat, he is a wonderful jumper, and can be relied on at the critical moment. His jockey, SkirretArrowroot, has every confidence in his horse, and though not in the syndicate stable, they are punting heavily on him.

"Any Advance" is a abort built horse, aged, and well-known on the Scottish turf. He has scored several wins on the Palmeraton North course, and won in a canter at Masterton weight-for-age races. He is a bad tempered horse, but ridden with a snaffle, will prove tractable, and being a gritty old steed, he'll snort if defeat threatens him. Being a good doer, and in the capable hands of Boddie and Somerville, who assure "Bad Bill" that he is taking his oats, will be there when Judge Tammadge declares the winners.

"Electricity", a well tried young horse, has again found favour amongst the throng in the betting arena. Those who backed him when he started before have every right to do their bit on him again. In the Open Handicap three years ago, with twenty starters, Re, then an untried colt, ran fourth, and at a later ppriod he outclassed "Fair Play" in a private match, distancing him at every post. Being such a reliable geegee, there is no doubt he'll justify his reputation on the thirtieth by a sprint equalled only in brilliancy by a 100 candle power light. "Compos Mentis," a burnt chestnut, Dunedin bred horse, known to all Te Kuiti turfites. Ever since his choice as a racer he has laid emphatic claim to the good opinon of all sports. He is a reliable and trustworthy bit of horse flesh, always game at the psychological moment, and capable of holding an honourable position at the finish of any race. He was a likelv candidate for Cup honours, but being schooled from his Te Kuiti infancy in the same stables as "Indispensable," his owners scratched him in favour of the veteran performer.

"Explosion" ia a fiery tempered iron grey horse, bred in Ireland, and at present is in hard training on a limestone track, on which few horses are capable of striking form. When the barrier rises he'll go off like a packet of crackers, and it will be a good geegee that will take precedence to the slim built, but hardy importation from the Isle of Erin. In the School Committee Handicap he proved a decent sprinter, and got there easily, and when nominated for tne first municipal race, he scared every horse off the track by cutting out a mile on a Portland cement truck in one minute, timed by Enbelusk. Wednesday night at 7 o'clock, when the race is over will find him somewhere about fifth. "Ruddy Bob" is a stout little ginger cob, badly spaivned, and suffers from permanent corns. He has not had a fast life on the turf, but in a preliminary canter in the Endeavour-to-Stand Stakes, showed decided pluck. Mangaorino touts are very reticent as to his time, but Jack O'Brien and Tom Snowden have been seen lurking behind gorse bushes, watch in hand, to catch his best gallops. He is at present getting the finishing touches put on him in Grocer Nicholl'3 stables, and has quite got over the Mellin's food training stage. During the past week he has been on crushed corn, and at times looks dangerous. If it rains and the track is heavy and wide, he'll gallop well. "The Major" is a very old white horse, who has stood the test of training on many occasiors. It was thought by those in the know that he would not accept, although he had been doing slow work for some time but at the last moment when jockeyed just previous to nomination day by rider Bob, he plunged and reared so spiritedly that the old war horse is now in the betting, and should show his hind heels to at least five or six of the other well trained aspirants for places of honour. "Fair Play" is a medium sized colt, better known in Feilding racing circles. Though a bit ehotover he shows better form than when Wee Peter blew him out in a match some time ago. His other performance against "E Pluribus Unum," was proof that he can stand training. He is a horse that can be trusted, showing much dash when well ridden, and will easily beat a large section of the nominated.

"E. Pluribus Unum" is an undersized Taranaki-bred horse, a bit inclined to shy. When tried first in a local event he was distanced by "Fair Play," whose owner and trainer showed good judgment, bringing their horse to the post in splendid fettle. Subsequently he had a walkover for a small event, all the horses being away at the Auckland meeting. Given a chance in double events he would be more at home.

Several other well known performers were anxiously looked for as starters but failed to face the music. The high-spirited, well tried equine, "Julianus," got back from the course after doing a final gallop just three minutes too late for nomination, and has since been quite off his feed. It is said by some that his stable was frightened of "Facta Non Verba," but the sporting public will take the rumour for what it is worth. He iB in with the knowing crowd, and still looked upon as a rod in pickle for a big future event.- When the Old Identity Stakes is contested look out for "Julianus."

Finally, owners of losing horses have this consolation. They can get a decent freehold section on easy terms from Young and Co., land agents, King street, the morning after the election-—no municipal or political clause in the agreement.