SPORTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3718, 2 October 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

I |By Early Bird.] I Racing at Wanganui Spring meeting was held under very j favourable weather conditions and the result was a large attendance of visitors and good racing. The meeting was conspicuous for the phenomenal success attending horses trained by Fred Tilley, the Fordell mentor. On five occasions his charges won outright, while Polycaste also dead-heated with Rustique in the principal event the second day. Perhaps The Lark will prove to be the best of the bunch trained by Tilley, who had most of his charges looking well in the coat. St. Joe was made hot stuff in the Marangi Stakes the second day, but he did not get away too well and could get no nearer than third to Armistice, who finished full of running, and should have an outside chance of annexing the big Exhibition Gup in November. Martello was sent out twice at the meeting, but displayed no pace whatever to make any one favour his chance in the N. Z. Cup. The name of Price was becoming monotonous for repeated successes at Wanganui, and out of ten flat events W. Price rode five firsts, a dead heat, and a second ; Geo. and Dave Price each caught the judge’s eye one occasion. Quite a number of visitors to the meeting were conspicuous by their absejce of head-gear, amongst the latest to join the ranks of the hatless brigade being Mr Hartgill (judge). Tarima, who scored in a hack race, is worth watching in the near future. By St. Clements, this nag is possessed of pace, and finished his efforts in a thoroughly workmanlike style. Followers of Tilley’s stables gave the books a bad time, and some big wins were repo.ted amongst ordinary punters. In fact, the layers of the odds would soon be extinct if they had many such meetings to contend with. A load of money was lost on Capulet (first day) and Volume (second day) when they lost their races. Ito was perhaps lucky to win the Guineas from Frisco, who got away badly and was galloping exceptionally fast in the concluding stages of the event. Mr Moffatt concluded his duties as secretary to the Wanganui Club at the recent meeting, and the pressmen present marked the occasion by presenting him with a silver entree-dish. Mr U. Shannon acted as spokesman, and appropriately worded his remarks. The retiring secretary suitably returned his thanks for the unexpected gift. Lady Plunket was present on the second day, and many pretty dresses were worn by the ladies present. Quite a pleasant feature of the meeting was the tuneful music dispensed by the Wanganui Garrison Band, their playing eliciting much applause. Mataari is privately said to be the best hack in the colony. How good must The Lark be ? The latter easily defeated Mataari each day at Wanganui, and giving Mataari a good allowance in weight the second day. Glengowrie was very green at Wanganui. On the first day he refused to leave the starting post and returned to the paddock, while the second day, the son of Soult finished next to last. On his Wanganui form, it will be some time before Mr Laing’s charge is ready to win. I received word from Wellington that Solution prevailed in the Metropolitan Handicap run at Sydney yesterday. L. H. Hewitt, N.Z.’s crack jockey rode the winners of the Epsom and Metropolitan at Randwick.