SPORTING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 256, 15 December 1914, Page 3

SPORTING.

Now that the elections are over, sportsmen will be enabled to devote more time to the consideration of tbe Auckland Christmas meeting, ,and more particularly the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap. For the principal event, Reputation, Bst lib, is the ruling favourite, and his victoiies this season in the Wanganui and Hawke's Bay Guineas, the Wellington Champion Plate, Canterbury Cup and Stead Memorial Cup, quite justify the position. Tbe next best fancied are Warstep, Sinapia, Sea Pink and Jack Dclaval. Warstep has been executing particularly pleasing work at Kiccarton since the New Zealand Cup meeting, Sioapis is said to be improving and Sea Pink still ranks as a good stager. It is generally conceded that Jack Delaval, 9st, has been awarded quite his full share of weight, but while this ia so he cannot be left out of the reckoning, and but for Reputation being in the acceptances would be nearly favourite. Among tbe lower weights Sir Knox, Kooya, Allegation, La Reina atd Maniaroa are fancied, but a better line may be gained when they all put in appearance on tbe Ellerslie tracks.

For the' Railway Handicap, the Downahire colt. Downham, owned bv Mr E. J. Watt, is first favourite, others popularly supposed to have giod chances uf victory being Postilion, Sauci, Beldame, Dimeter, Prnce Soult, Goldiire and Crown Pearl. In this race bo much depends upon the position of the contestants at the starting post, that the result is quite one of chance. Victory docs not always go tu the speediest, especially it they are placed on the outside ot big fields.