SPORTING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9148, 18 May 1908, Page 5

SPORTING.

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB. The annual general meeting of the above Club will be held in the Borough Council Chambers tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock. THE EGMONT MEETING. [By “Turf.”] The racing at Bgmont started with the Railway Handicap for which Kirsty was scratched. Hydraulic was the first to show out from Nicotine, Tiptoe a length away on the outside. At the five-furlong post Nicotine had worked up to the leader, and the pair raced abreast 'to the home turn, where Tiptoe took command and ran up to the post an easy winner; Nicotine two lengths away being half a length in advance of Hydraulic. Nukutihi’s fetlock was dislocated at the post, but has since teen re-set.

The Tawhiti Scurry brought out a field of eleven. After a short delay, caused by the fractious Noifa, the field were despatched to an excellent start, from which Clemency was the quickest on his legs, and led by a couple of clear lengths to the entrance to the straight, where the field star ted’:to close up, and in an exciting finish Burton was first to reach the post from Lady Menschikoff by half a length, with Clemency close up third. The Tongahoe Hurdles was voted a “good thing” for Compass, hut he suffered defeat by a couple of lengths. Mount Cook and Lingererled the field over the first hurdle, the nine competitors jumping in faultless style. At the four furlong post Compass started |to improve his position, and his chance was loudly proclaimed until at the half-distance Mount Cook put in a final claim, and swerving badly crossed Compass and ran home a two-lengths’ winner, with the tiring Lingerer third. The Hawera Onp saw Maharauui, Climax, Kilmarnock, Aureole, King’s. Birthday aud'Roselake go to the post. King’s Birthday lead the field at a merry pace to the sixfurlong post, where Kilmarnock ran into second place and caught the leader four furlongs from home. Here Maharanni and Climax closed up, and a capital race down the straight ensued betwixt the placed horses, Maharanui winning under the whip by two lengths. The Ladies’ Purse proved a runaway victory for Virtus, who ran home an easy winner from Motukawa.

In the Waihi Handicap Recreation led for the first half-mile, at which point Mallet, Mistress and Nightmare moved up, and running in close order to the straight Mallet took command and was being hailed a winner, but Nightmare closing up with a sharp rattle snatched the victory on the post; Mistress a fair third.

Out of the 14 on the card for the Telegraph Handicap ’.lnaha, Lothair and Taupo were scratched. Golden Dream was the fastest to move out from an even line, and clapping on the pace had a four-lengths’ lead when entering the straight, where the field started to reduce the gap, and Kirsty coming away from the others caught the flying filly in the last few strides and won an exciting finish on the post; Clemency close up. On the second day Tiptoe had another easy win in the Ngamutu Handicap, whilst Contour easily settled the opposition in the Borough Handicap, Yirtns being the only one able to pace it with the winner. Five started in the Manawapou Hurdles. Otaroa’s chance being greatly fancied, and he led the field at a sound pace past the stand, all jumping splendidly. When the back stretch was reached Mount Cook ran up to Otaroa, and a little further on Compass started to .improve his position, the whole field racing strongly up to the last hurdle, from which an exciting finish ensued, Comapss gaining the victory in the last couple of strides from Otaroa by a head.

Burton, Lady Meuschikoff, Supplement, Oannonshot, Wiaari, Golden Dream, Buoyant, Clemency, Flying Wind, Timothy, Lothair, Kirsty and Astraea, comprised the field for the Shorts, and the last three were the first to move out from the large field, and finished well ahead of the others, Lothair being full of running at the finish.

In the Manaia Handicap Research was the last to get away, but quickly running through his field led one of the prettiest races of the day into the straight, where Mallet started a staunchly-sustained run, cut him down in the lastTew strides, and won by a narrow margin; Miss Yera close up. Another large field faced the starter for the Corinthian Handicap, and in an interesting struggle up the straight Mistress just succeeded in beating Recreation, with .Lingerer a length and a half away. In the concluding event, the Opeke Handicap, Maharauui, Inaha, Muritai and Lantern went to the post. Muritai caused a little delay at the start, and was slow to begin. Inaha, was soon in command, and led to the commencement of the straight, where Maharauui tackled iier, but was gradually bored out to the centre of the course, where the pair fought out an exciting finish, in which Maharauui gained the verdict by a head in’ the last couple of strides. SALE OF MARGUERITE. For some weeks past Australian buyers have been looking for a useful handicap horse for the other side, and during the last few days Marguerite changed hands at 1000 guineas, at which figure she should turn out a good bargain. The daughter of Stepniak—Hngenot, has had rather an easy time of it this season, and is just- the sort that might follow in the footsteps of Solution and Maniapoto, and win a Metropolitan Handicap. From a mile to a mile and a half there are not many better performers in Australia, and with a reasonable weight, the writer would not consider a Caulfield Cup beyond her. Last season she had a fairly busy time of it, and was looked upon as a sprinter until she romped home in the RangitikerOup in record time. That her win was no fluke she demonstrated next day in the Greatford Stakes, in which she carried 8.11, and ran a mile and a distance in Imin 56sec. Probably her best performance was in the Groat Autumn Handicap in which she carried 9.0, and was beaten a head in 2miu 35 -l-ssec. She also won the Egmont Cup and Conolly Handicap at Wanganui. This season she ran second to Gold Orest in the Summer Handicap at Treutham, and fourth to her stable mate in the Easter Handicap at

Auckland, The Wanganui Cup distance, one mile and three quarters, she found for the second time beyond her. , With 8.6 she put down a useful field in the Stakes, and ran a mile and a half iu 2min 35 2-ssec. Her last appearance was at Trentham, where she ran third in the Autumn Handicap with 8.11, which impost she had carried on several occasions. The New Zealand trainer, D. J. Price, was after Marguerite, but the name of the purchaser the writer did not hear. —Times.