SPORTING.

Shannon News, 2 June 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

OTAKI TO-MORROW

The Otaki Winter Meeting commences to-morrow and concludes on

Monday. The acceptances for the first day are good, and the horses engaged are of a class that should provide .interesting racing. As usual, a convenient train service will run, and there should be large attendances on both days. There is a big field in the Maiden Fiat, and in most of these events anything is likely to win. The local owner, Mr R. A. McDonald, is represented by Bayana, a mare by Birkenhead out of that, good mare Matiri. Treadmill’s stock is in evidence in Punishment, Released and Rimutaka, and there are two of Gold Crest’s stock in Peep o’ Day and D’Aubepines, whilst Waimanga also has two representatives in Lady Ben and Lady \\ aimangu. The Flying has attracted a nice field, and \tlie Husbandman gelding Savory looks well at 8.0. Yankee Dan, 7.10, is another who should run forward, and Good Mark, a place-getter at Palmerston North at the Christmas meeting, may be found in the money. The Hawera mare Miss Beauiorte (Guianforte—Excel) is reported to be doing well on the home tracks, and is expected to run well.

The steeplechase is always a popular event with race-goers, but the field is not as large 1 or representative as the value of the stake merits. Ngakanui and Te Maire are both going well, and , bar accidents, should be both in at the business ’end of the journey. The big race of the day, the Raukawa Cup, has the good field of 15 engaged, and includes some of the most successful performers of the present racing season. The top weight, Marqueteur (9.13), has won some good handicaps during the past few months, and if the King Mark gelding retains his torm should give the opposition a busy time. Another Cup candidate in Dissertation is in winning form, having got home flirt at the recent Wanganui meeting, and is sure to run well. Marqueteur’s stable mate, Volo, is also to be taken into consideration, and .‘Sum:;/ Corner lias run successfully in tnc .‘South Island.

The Otaki handicap has 13 acceptors, who should provide a good race. Martulla is credited with being a smart filly, havmg a, mile race to her credit at the Palmerston meeting, whilst Lady Nassau was a winner at Wanganui. The .event is very open, and should have the punters thinking. Next to the Cup, the Taipua Handicap is the best, sprint of the day, and is well filled with acceptors, no less than 18 being on the card. The top weight, Kinsem (9.11), and Civil Form (8.5) have both started successfully of late, and pretty well all the others can go the distance in smart time. The Weraroa stable lias a representative in American Beauty, and there is no telling what may happen if she gets out in front.

The day will conclude with the Birthday Handicap, which claims 13 starters. Basso, the winner of a couple of heats at Tauherenikau at Easter, is at the top of the handicaps with 9.13, and there is a useful one among the others in Manchester (San Fran—Brilliant Step), who deadheated with Island at Nelson and ran a second at the same meeting. Whizz Bang is also going well, and landed a stake at Feilding just lately.

C. Stratton, the local horseman, has been retained to ride Complimentary in the Maiden Race, which horse is owned by the Bulls spbrtsinan, Mr n. McManaway. R. Johnson, the New Plymouth trainer, passed through to" Otaki with Savory and Carabine yesterday. The Otaki Club will have the 10/ tote in operation which should he. an attraction to the small-punters. Trainers are taking full advantage of the Otaki tracks, and some good times have been established.

A local racing judge fomv.wds the following selections for Otaki to-mor-row, with the intimation that they are the result of proi > iged mental strain: Our) Five-eights Yankee Dan, was Ambitious. He loved and was Beloved by the dark American Beauty, Miss Beaufort, who in turn was loved by the Noble Prince Randall. Such attention was certainly Complimentary to our Brown Lady, but she did not think the Prince a Good Mark, so chose to sing her Sweet Song in the Sunny Comer under the hedgerow of Leithfield, the Manchester home of our hero. On Capping Day that Demoness, the Merry Queen gave a grand party, when all were invited. Among those present were the Lady Pallas (attended by the pretty maid, of the Dainty Step, Martulla), who was Beloved by the famous explorer, Orellana, just then away on an Island writing a Dissertation on his exploration; the Lady Nassau, dressed quaintly in Tussore, distribuMfl Sweet Heather for luck; the. Lady accompanied by the Battle; Kr^H|

Sir Fisher; Prince Jewel, with his spouse, Princess Marion; Helen Rufus a Gold Problem in Satin; the villain D’Aubepines, and his accomplice Miss Rule, she who attempted to Blackmail at Auckland tftie great Basso, Kinsem, for a Dollarpiece. It was thought rather Comic, but she received due Punishment, and was Released at Peep o’ Day. Kikini was there, and dispensed the Bitters. In the meantime, Orellana had topped a Misty Wave, and arrived at the party just as the gaiety reached its highest point, when he claimed his beautiful lady. Yankee Dan, thus inspired, declared himself unto his lady. But the joy prevailing was likely to be dampened by the Blackmailers), when Glenropo dispersed D’Aubepines with a Whizz Bang, and Patuki accounted for Miss Rule with a Black Arrow. So the gathering ended happily.