SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 40, 17 June 1915, Page 8

SPORTING.

v,Notes by Cicero.) Tlie Hawke’,s Flay Jockey Club s Winter fixture, which opens to-morrow, lias drawn good acceptances numerically, but when one considers the big prize money offered, the class ol horse., (with lew exceptions) are poor. The opening event, the Woodlands Steeplechase, drew nine acceptors. Urey Renown showed excellent form at Redding and Trentham, but subsequently ran badly at Wanganui when much faniced by his party. His turn may come to-morrow, when his most dangerous opponent will be Merry Lad.

No less than twenty-three figure in the Winter Hack. Toki shaped like a good horse at Ellerslie, and il fancied uy his connections to-morrow, will take a power of beating. Ten accepted for the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. Hereford (11.3), who heads the handicap, ran a lair race in the Great Northern Hurdles, and on the second day at Ellerslie gave Harbor Light weight and ran him to a neckin the Jumpers’ Elat, a good performance. Player (11.0) is a good horse when well, but has been off the scene for nearly a year. Two of the lightweights in Queen’s Post and Waipunoa will play a prominent part in the settling of this event. The former only ran fair in the big hurdles at Ellerslie. out was badly ridden. Her party aie confident ol the result to-morrow. W aipuna was supported at W anganui by a number of good judges, and eventually finished fifth in the Century Hurdles. Queen’s Post, Hereford, and Waipunoa should provide a good contest.

The Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, ot £SOO, received an acceptance oi nine, and many a time a better lot have saddled up for a hack or hunters’ steeplechase. On form Soporific looks good, but previous to Wanganui Leapuki was doing good work for Attwood, and was fancied by that level-headed trainer tor the Wanganui Steeplechase. Naupata showed winning form at Otaki, whilst Bonny always has a jumpers’ chance. Soporific, Leapuki and Bonny should run well forward.

The lot engaged in the Whakatu Hurdles are not good. Huatangata and Boon have pace, but \ ascular, on Ellerslie running, has a lighting chance, if in anything like the condition of eighteen men tils ago (his last appearance in public) Master V\ ebb will be in and dried in the race tor the Hunt Club Cup. The first day’s racing will close with the Hereteannga Handicap. Hymettins is very fast, but has failed to strike form for some months. B ild Lupin ran consistently at Otaki, and will receive strong support from his party for the race under review, as they consider the son oJ Lupin will be difficult to beat.