SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8099, 2 May 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

E6MONT ANTICIPATIONS. [By " Motcroa."] One of the moat popular fixtures in th« district is that of the Egmonl Racing Club, and no doubt as usual n strong contingent from New Plymouth will journey to H&wera to-day and tomorrow to witness the Winter meeting of this club. The acceptances, on the whole, are good, and with fine weather patronß should enjoy a pleasant day's racing. A telegraph office will be erected outside the gate. The following horses may secure places in their various engagements In the Bailway Handicap, of six furlongs, which starts at 12 noon, seven runners are down to take part. I shall select St. Bill 1 St. Claimer 2 Le Beau 3 to All the places, The Tawhiti Handicap, of 6 furlongs, is the nest event on the card and probably, the places may he filled by Showman 1 Compass ... 2 Silver Shell ... ... 3 A field qf twelve is down to contest the Hies Hotdlss, and the order of passing the Judge's box may be Valkyrie 1 Rangiwhenua 2 Romany King 3 It seems strange to find that a field of only five figures in the Haweba Cur (a distance of a mile and a-quarter). Grenade heads the list with 9.0, the next in order being Star Rose with 8.11. In the Autumn Handicap at the last Taranab meeting, the Daystar horse won by about three-parts of a length from Grenade, at a difference of 8 pounds. To-day the two meet over the same distance at a difference of only 3 pounds, but- still I think the Waitara horse will again beat Mr O'Brien's. Claremont ran a good race at Patea, and is in to-day's race carrying two stone less than he did in the Easter Handicap at Patea, although, of course, he was only meeting hacks, whereas to-day the St. Cyr gelding will have to contend with racehorses. I will place Claremont 1 Star Hose 2 Grenade ® In the Waihi Hahdicap, I like Toddy or Maharanui. The Mokoia Hace, of 7 furlongs, comprises a field of ten. ! The following may bo the placing: - Waitapu ... 1 , " Becreation 2 Kaiuiero 3 The last event down for decision is the Telegraph Hahdicap, of 5 furlongs. I would suggest St. Maria 1 Lady Lancelot 2 White Star 3 as being the most likely to fill the places. TURF TOPICS. (Ny motuboa). Mystification is a four-year-old son of Apremont and Mystic, and was bred by his owner, Mr George Hunter. He has won several good races, but the gelding's success in the Thompson Handicap came as a great surprise. It is rumoured that Melodeon has oeen sold to an Australian sportsman, who is now on a visit to the colony. Machine Gun has been purchased by Mr Chas. Baldwin (manager of Durham Park stud), so that we may presume the bay son of Hotclikiss has biddcD farewell to the turf, and to New Zealand. Vexation, who at the beginning of the season gave promise of making a name for. herself as a hurdler, has been a vexatious disappointment, and T understand has been sent back to Mr Curiie's station at Wanganui to take up stud duties. Although Mr Stead left both Isolt and Cunieform in the St. Ledger, neither faced the starter. It was thought that perhaps the champion Achilles would have to extend himself in the race, but as we know, sncha meeting of flyers did not eventuate. As Cunieform did not appear at either Bicoarton or Wellington, it would seem that he was not altogether himself.

Old Cannongate again appears in the Great Northern Steeples.

Sir George Clifford, it is slated, lias some promising youngsters coming on: Fairhavein (Pilgrims Progress-Elusine), Glencullock(Clanranald-Malowla), Hcd Bain (Clanraaald-Catherine Wheel), also Goldbeater, Sister Anne, Guidirife, and Cockleshell, all byClanranald. The aumbcr 13 has generally been considered .unlucky, but it does not appear to be so in racing lately. The number against Mystification in tbe Thompson Hanfljoap was 13, also in the Eatter Handicap at Auckland Malgaeiflie'a was tbe thirteenth name on tha eard, but was scratched, and the field consisted of 20 runners. No. 26 was the next thirteenth in tho raee, and this proved to be Mobility. The strange part of it, also, is that each horse commences with tbo letter M—the thirteenth letter in the alphabet.

If Ossitn had won the Sydney Cup, it is said Mr Crick (the owner) would have taken something like £IS,(XX) out of the ring. How could owners in New Zealand win this amount ?