SPORTING.

Shannon News, 8 September 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

The Marton Jockey Club’s one-day spring meeting takes place to-mor-row. Trainers Wright and F. Cannont-, of Foxton, are taking a strong team to Marton to-morrow. f.ie Horowhenua Racing Club’s track is being got into fine order by Mr E. Yuile, and should be at its best by the- time the annual meeting comes round on November 15. The plough is to he turned over in readiness for training operations. Mr T. Bevan's Absurd—Liquify mare Believe is showing the effects of her treatment in Trainer Yuile’s hands, and will be in good shape for racing m she coming summer. Also in E, Yuite's care is Mr F. Nicholson's ilu-ee-yeur-uld mare Cairn. The upstanding daughter of Mountain Knight—Waifiporipo has only been broken in a lew months, and is being given easy work. Gold Problem has been spelling for a. long stretch out at Raiigiotu, bul is being brought hack to Wcraroa at htie end ol the month, and will be put into commission for the Christmas and New Year racing. Trainer Yuile expects to take'the son of Gold Crest on the West Coast circuit again during the holiday meetings. T. George, who won'a race in Australia recently, is leaving on Saturday on his return to New Zealand. The Thompson Handicap winner, Printemps ,is again in regular work at Trentham, and considering the amount, of time that he has been up he. is more forward than might he expected. He is to be a runner ai Wanganui. The smart son of Absurd, Petunia, is in work again, and probably will he raced at Marton and Wanganui. He is being trained at Otaki by W. Bowden.

When 11. Gray rode Isle of Wight to victory at Liverpool, his mount started second favourite, but was hidden during the running, and writing of the the occurrence the ”Special Commissioner” says: —“The Molyneux Stakes, contested by only six horses, provided a fine finish between Isle of Wight and Francis Joseph. The pair were out by themselves on the stand side all the way, and must have been quite unobserved by the layers, who offered 10 and even 20 to 1 Isle of Wight in running. Francis Joseph made a capital effort, but failed to get up by a neck.

Mr R. S. Silver can always be relied upon for a candid criticism, and in his report of a recent meeting in England, said: ”Tlic remainder of the sport does not demand much comment, except that H. Gray rode an extremely good race on Dervish, when Sir Hugo Cunliffe-. Owen’s colt won the Royal Stakes from Pomar. He showed excellent judgment throughout, gave his mount a breather up the hill, and, without losing his place, came at the right moment in the style of an excellent horseman. Gray is following in the footsteps of the majority of imported jockeys by becoming a better rider as he gains experience in this country. The late Danny Maher improved until lie became one of the finest jockeys who ever rode across Newmarket Heath, and the same can be said of Lester Rciff —when he ai ms trying. F. D. Jones has 'definitely decided on a trip to the North Island for the spring meetings at Marton, Wanganui and Avondale. He will bring Urgency, Blusli and the Nassau —Medley two-year-old Prosperity may make the fourth member of-the team.

Amythas, winner of the race last year, is missing from the nominations for the Eclipse Stakes, the first weight-for-age race of the year, to be run on the concluding day of the Wanganui meeting. Trespass, who beat Anyth as the previous year, is in Ihe field, also Thespian, Marqueteur, Rouen, Highland, Lucius, Vespucci, Pluto, „ Haurangi, Stork, Gasbag, Winning Hit, Kinsem, all the material for a great race.

From Sydney comes a story of an amusing coup engineered at the last pony meeting at Richmond. The Novice Handicap dwindled down to two starters, Like Jewel and Master Ghat. The first-named, on looks and performances was installed a good favour to, while in the estimation of the cognoscenti Master Chat wanted more than anything a square meal, while his coat showed a total absence of any attention. The result was that Like Jewel hardened in the betting to a Gloaming price, while-twenties or more could be had about the despised Master Chat. A rumour reached the ring about a starting price commission away from the course for Master Chat, but was quite ignored. In the race Master Chat waited on the favourite until a furlong away from home, then ran past and cantered in a comfortable winner. What those bookmakers said who run an S.P. business is not recorded, for the commission, though not substantial, was very real, and after all the odds did not require a large outlay.