SPORTING NOTES.

Shannon News, 21 May 1929, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

Will Do Better. Rangi Sarto recorded » great performance when he filled second berth to Brigadier Bill in iho \vanganui Steeplechase, ;he Sarto gelding’s earlier activities having, been restricted to following the hounds and probably some jumping in private. The old fellow stood up to his task well, but did not have sufficient pace to catch Brigadier Bill in the run home. A Great Northern Possibility. The performance of Mister Gamp in the Century Hurdles was full of merit for he came through his field on the last circuit and was lying second five furlongs from home. Two furlongs later he had deposed Comical, and thereafter the race was over. As lie finished full of running, the Bronzetti gelding will gain many friends for the Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie next month. He has been penalised for this win and will carry 9.13 in the big race. A Good Hurdler. Comical ran a bold race iii the Century Hurdles, he filling the role of pacemaker practically throughout, and it was only the strong finishing effort of Mister Gamp made the difference between'Victory and defeat. It is reasonable to expect that Comical will be wonderfully improved by the race. Locarno was running like a winner entering upon the second round, but he dropped out of the picture over the last half mile and Atareria came from the back to beat him for third money. Partnership.

. A partnership has been registered in the ownership of Prince Humphrey as between Mr C. G. Maciudoo and his trainer, JTT. Jamieson. Hitherto the three-yeair-old has been raced solely by Mr Macindoc, in whose colours he has notched some important successes. The hind leg that Prince Humphrey had injured at Flemington has healed well, and, although it i 3 a little enlarged, it is hoped that he will stand another preparation for racing. Otaki News.

P. Higgott has been presented with San Pedro by his former owner, Mr Sid Easton. The same trainer has also taken in hand Pale Star, whom he received from Hastings, while Playground (Acre —Pleasure), who is owned by Messrs S. Sievers and H. J. Palmer, is being moulded into shape by hinr. The last-named is stated to show distinct promise. All Star, who was being trained at Otaki, dropped dead on the course last Friday. Unlucky. Propaganda appeared to be the best Of good things, beaten in the second division of the Purua Hack Handicap for the Starstream gelding was out in front the whole way and his rider seemed to take matters rather too confidently in the straight. When challenged by Plying Binge inside the distance, Propaganda could not hold the challenger off and went down to defeat by half a head—a nariow margin which might well have beer, otherwise. Nominated for Otaki.

Paitonu’s victory in the Connolly Handicap was an impressive one, the manner in which he shot clear of the ruck at the distance to smother the leaders being remarkable. It is evident that the Bisogne gelding is now seeing out a*mile and a-quarter in better fashion, and it is unfortunate that his connections had not nominated him for the Cornwall Handicap *at Ellerslie next month. It is apparently intended, to take Paitonu to Otaki to contest the Raukawa Cup on Saturday week. Will Meet Paitonu Again.

Lady Limond caught the public unawares at Wanganui on Thursday when she was runner-up to Paitonu in the Connolly Handicap. The Limond mare Avas out in front early, and, but for the finishing effort of Paitonu, would have stayed there to the close. A difficult animal to train, her appearances of, late have been few and far between, and as a result the public were unprepared for her forward -showing. Had she scored she would have returned her backers in the region of a quarter of a century. She will probably meet Paitonu again in the principal race at Otaki.

Unfair to Owners. It was a poor inducement for owners to start their representatives in the Purua Hack Handicap when the doubtful policy of the club ordered that the winner only take the stake in each division. Probably tuch was responsible for the withdrawing of no less than fifteen of the original acceptors. As matters now stand, the minor placegetters are liable to re-handicap despite the fact that they (lid not annex any stake money by their efforts. The local owned Propaganda was one who was affected in that respect. Beaten only by half a head, he gave the ha-n----dicapper an inkling of what he is capable of, but the unfortunate part of it is his connections do not receive any recompense whatever for the gelding’s ■effort. It is hard to understand why the Club declined the invitation to open the totalisator twice as they have every right to do and if that had been done ownero would, at least, recover some expenses with a second dividend. From the fact that exposure of form by running second or third would, in al‘ probability, incur, extra poundage in the next public appearance, it will appear that as things were, every encouragement was given the “sleeper.” G.N. and A.J.C. Handicaps.

A number of New Zealand jumpers haA e been accorded a nomination at the Australian Jockey Club'a winter

meeting. The principal events to decided are the A.J.C. Hurdle Race, about two miles and three furlongs, to be run on June 3rd and the A.J.C. Steeplechase, about three miles, set down for the following Saturday, June Bth. The handicaps for the former event includes six New Zealanders, Wedding Mrfrch, Stormy. Glendowie, Beaumont, Romany Abbey and Zircon while the steeplechase claims Wedding March, Glendowie, Tuki, Roman Abbey and Zircon. Some of these jumpers have also been nominated for the Great Northern events about the same date and the weights allotted in each instance make an interesting comparison. Following are the weights:—

Hurdles ♦a G.N. A.J.C. (Topweight) 12.0 11.8 Wedding March 11.5 11.2 Stormy ' 0 ___ 10.11 Glendowie — 10.5 Beaumont — 10.2 Roman Abbey 9.0 10.0 Zircon .9.8 9.3

Steeplechase G.N. A.J.C, (Top weight) 11.10 12.2 Wedding March 11.5 11.7 Glendowie 11.4 11.4 Tuki — 11.0 Koman Abbey 9.0 10.5 Zircon 9.9 9.9