SPORTING NOTES.

Shannon News, 9 March 1926, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

Starslieli got mixed up with some wire and could not be started at Woodvill'e. The chestnut gelding Sottana has been schooled over hurdles at Awapuui and shapes well for a beginner. Sasham, trained at Trentbam, registered three successes at the Marlbor ough fixture. Molto, who ran second to Kyla in the Trial Stakes at the - Marlborough meeting on the first day, is trained by D. Webster, at Otaki. Speculation was not brisk at the Marlborough meeting, there being a shrinkage of £5509 on last year’s figures. J. B. Gaisford has in work on the Bulls tracks Euphonium and Eoauau, while a few juveniles go through light exercises. J. Morris has a big string under his care, including Ngata, Martulla, Kubv •Ring, Brigadier Bill, Blood Red and Waramau. v H. Moss, of Bulls, has an addition to his team in a five-year-old gelding by Guianforte. The other members are Kilburn, Awa, Rillett (Acre —Rill) and Whiritas. Rowley was. raced at the Woodville meeting, but was carrying too much condition to do himself justice. At Ms best, the son of Polydamon is a solid customer over a mile trip. Rampion, who won the valuable Sires’ Produce Stakes at Fleming ion on Saturday, has been regarded for some time as the best two-year-old in Australia. The Te Awamutu trainer, G. A. Reid, has leased the Gazeley gelding Rippling. Archeen is also in the care of Reid, and he has the two animals engaged at Dannevirke. There is a useful sort of filly in work at Riccarto, named Frivolous, in A. E. Wormald’s stable. ■ She will be raced at the Banks Peninsula meeting next Saturday. , Commendation is doing all asked of him on the Awapuni tracks. It has not yet been definitely settled as In whether he will be seen in action at Riccarton or Ellerslie at Easter time.

In view of a possible trip to Australia Count Cavour is being kept moving along though nothing very serious is being asked of him. If the Solferino gelding do'es make the trip he will probably be accompanied by Charlatan. The Riccarton lightweight, C. Eastwood, who had both collarbones broken and also received abrasions to his head and face at Blenheim, is generally regarded as the most promising lightweight who has ridden in the South Island in recent years.

. In the past one ; or two good coups have been brought oft’ through Valencia, a horse always more or less sore throughout his racing career. At New Plymouth last Friday, Valencia was sold for £9 10s. Valencia was a moderate performer, and although he brought off some coups doubtless there is the other side of the picture. The three-year-old Mandane sustained a slight cut on a leg at Ellerslie during the holiday racing, and she had the bad luck to get it infected. She had a very bad leg for some time, but it is now alright, and she has resumed work at Fordell. It was bad luck for Mrs. Blackmore to lose the services of this filly at the height of the season, but if she can be brought back to her form her presence will make the autumn classics and handicaps very interesting. B. Jarden, of Christchurch, wellknown in trotting circles, is leaving after Easter on a visit to America. Before going he will dispose of his Yaldhurst property and also his diorses. The yearling full-brother to Thespian, by Absurd—Leta, sold at Wanganui recently for 2250 guineas, is said to be a very fine specimen of the thoroughbred family, and it goes without saying that much interest will be centred in -his displays when he carried silk. “Tarleton ran a good race in the Midsummer Handicap at Riccarton, and a win may soon come his way (says the Christehurch Star). It is worth recalling that each season hp has raced the big Nassau gelding has shown his best form in the autumn, so he should be worth keeping in mind for events ahead.” „ | The Awapuni racecourse comes in for !

some very flattering comments from the pen of “Cardigan,” of the Australasian, who visited it during his brief journey through the North Island last December. He also refers in complimentary terms to the Manawatu Racing Club’s capable secretary. “The elub owes a great deal to the energy and initiative of their secretary, Mr. J. M. Johnson (he writes), whose one aim in life seems to be to study the comfort of the public who patronise Awapuni, to make the track perfect to race-on, and to have the surroundings beautiful to look upon. I have rarely if ever, seen such a well-kept racecourse, and the lawns, flowers and plantations are a joy to the eye. The course itself is as level as a billiard table, and is exactly a mile round and left-handed. The turns are easy, and the six-furlong start is in a lane, allowing a run of almost three furlongs before a turn is reached. Seven-furlong races also start from a lane. The course is a perfect oval, and trainers have the use of a grass gallop on the inside of the proper course, and, of course, a plough track. The training track is splendid, the going being every bit as good as the course proper. On a clear day it is possible to see Mt. Egmont from the top of the official stand. The appointments at Awapuni are first-class. The official stand, or stewards’ stand, as it is called in New Zealand, is not largo but complete. It is a long way from the judge’s box —somewhat the same as at Flemington—but I believe when the occasion is propitious, a new stand is to be built. The main public stand is roomy, and in an excellent position for the public to see the race.”