SPORTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 1 October 1907, Page 3

SPORTING.

By Probable. Racing at Wanganui was carried out first day in showery weather, which considerably affected the attendance. Nevertheless, some good racing was witnessed. The Guineas winner, Bunyah, easily disposed of his field at the business end, and Tilley should win some good races this season with the chestnut son of Pilgrim’s Progress. Glenculloch was made a hot pot, but was never prominent, the slippery going evidently hampering Sir. Geo, Clifford’s representative.

Gold Crest and All Red, Prosser’s representatives, were the unlucky horses first da} 7 . The former had a ver} 7 bad passage in his race, while All Red looked like a winner in the Hack event, when he slipped badly, which lost him second position. He was sixth when he recovered, but managed to get up fourth at the finish. Both these nags won second day. though All Red may have been troubled with Catapult, had that horse not stumbled badly when racing alongside All Red. The latter is a bit green yet, but may turn out the champion he is supposed to be ere long. Irish Rifle won a double at the meeting in good style, which convinces me more will be heard of the chestnut son of MusketryElement.

The best of the N.Z. Cup candidates seen out at the meeting, in mr opinion, were Frisco and Maniapoto. I will have the former as a great stayer, and if they both go to the post, will tip him to beat his stable mate, Apa, at the weights. Frisco simply cantered home in the Open Mile the second day. Maniapoto is a Lit big, but by Cup time should be fined down a lot. With his big impost he was prominent in his only start at Wanganui, and certainly looks well in heart and muscle. Syd. Reid has been engaged to ride the son of Soult in the big Cup, so he will not be wanting on the score of horsemanship. What with Apa (Jenkins), Ginnurman (Jones), Maniapoto (Reid), Master Delaval (Buchanan), Frisco (Olliver), Paritutu (Young), Elevation (McCluskey), and others, the North Island should have a great chance of annexing this year’s Cup. Goldbeater was not expected by his party to annex the Flying at Wanganui, otherwise he could not have paid £l2 odd. Flimsnap is worth watching in the near future, as he ran as well as could be expected in both events last week.

Hurimoana showed greatly improved form on his Bulls and Marton displays, and simply cantered in first day in Hack Hurdles, though his shrewd conections got a shock when Geo. Delaney’s Te Kainui downed them second day. It is said Billy' Tuck, of Webb fame, participated greatly in the first day’s win. Asteroid, ridden a bad race, should not have lost big hurdles first day. With McConnon in the saddle, this mare should annex the Hurdles at Hastings to-morrow.

Local representative, Waitapu, seems partial to Wanganui racecourse, and ran one of his best races to Irish Rifle second day. I will not have him to win a N.Z. Cup though, much as everj'one would be pleased to congratulate the popular Toney Messena on securing such a big stake. Still, the horse that beat him on Friday is a good one, and besides, The Lark and St, Joe finished behind Waitapu. Bonny Doon, another Foxton rep., ran a good third in the Maiden —a creditable performance, considering Dusty Morn and Bobrikoff, who finished ahead of her, are first-class hacks, also that the local mare was suffering from sexual troubles. Bonny Doon should not be long gaining a winning bracket. It is a fact worth recording that of the seven races run at Wanganui first day, only two mares ran into a place —Bonnie Doon a third, and Asteroid second. On the second daj T , Flying Wind was the only one of her sex to gain a place. Of the 14 races eight geldings and six colts survived.

A feature of the Wanganui race meeting was the tuneful music discoursed by the Wanganui Garrison Band. Their chorus melodies brought forth well deserved and repeated applause. It is doubtful if Andrew Laing’s Glengowrie will ever face the racing track again. The son ot Soult will probably go to the stud. I learn that Mr Laing has leased a three-year-old filly by Euroclydon--Muriwai, for racing purposes. It is to be hoped this newcomer will repay the popular sport for his late run of misfortune at the racing game. The Otaki weights should draw forth good acceptances. The form at the Hastings meeting to-morrow and Thursday should throw further light on the prospects of New Zealand Cup candidates.