SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 225, 16 September 1908, Page 2

SPORTING.

AUSTRILYA

. ■ i, Sydney, September ij. uud ril"

HIISCO IJI.SUIAIJKICATIOMS J( F MU \ lit).

By ielcgrapli,—Press Association. Uanganui, i,hsl a.uiu , committee of the U'anganui u e . .mpoJHan Jockey Club to-iugm collided an appeal by F. Preston against tile Marton Jockey Club's deeisioa in squalifying Frisco, Ins owner and. nder, Oliver. After hearing evidence; Lhe appeal was upheld and tile disquaii-' licatiou removed.

Tl'ltF TOPIC,S. , (Hy "Moturoa.") lhe ltangitikei R.c. spring jneetinff opens at Hulls to-day. Wailethe passed through New Plymouth last night en route for Avomt lie, where the daughter of Lethe is engaged in the Cup, to be run next .Saturday,

Splendid Idea is quickly galloping into form.

l'roni Sydney we hear tluit Mahutonga is looking big ami well, and may, possibly stand nnotJier preparation. Janella mis ti Ist past the post in iaft yearns ltangitikei Steeple, but wad diaqualified. Janella is top-weight in today's Willowbank Steeplechase, run over 2>/i miles.

Lyrist ran well at Marton and on the second day at llorowliemia. The Oiiit'er gelding shapes promisingly over, the small sticks.

lhe Auckland K.C. have transferred the Hunt Club Cup and Hunt Club hurdle race from tlie spring to the win-, ter programme, a change which seems to meet the wishes of most followers of the hounds.

The Maiden Hack Race at Bulls last year brought out a warm duo in Aluakerry and Dusky Dawn, wtto liniuhed first and second respectively. To-day's race, although drawing a'large field, does not appear to contain aaythiii* ono-half as "slipp." It is reported that JC4OOO Ims bcea offered by an Australian sport-nun for California, who performed so brilluotly at the last Treiitham meeting. Pilot was going great guns at Riccarton last week, and Starlight was of no use to him at all. lie will proi buibjy be taken across to 'Stralia after racing at ltangitikei. Irish Rifts and Snndstrcam are considered likely starters ia the Spring Handicap at Hulls. A well-known locul sportsman, who has been following horse-racing closely for over thirty years, tolls me that he 'has never ia all his experience seen' sucli an awlul succession of wretched "starts' as at the recent Marton meeting. With one or two exceptions, . starters appear to have no power over tlie boys and they did just as they liked. On the other hand, soma argue that the lads have no faith ia' the starters, and are in consequence taking no chances of being left and' upset the fields by repeatedly trying to brvak away. So much depends upon reliable starting, especially at this' time of the year when sprint races ar«» tihe order of the day, that racing club* should look seriously at- the matter as one which is likely to materially affect their soason's* prospects. Many owners are declaring their intention of avoiding meetings where indifferent field-slippers operate, and Uiere is' ample room and heaps of employment open to a first-class man in that mo-t important branch of the sport. Cnicinelliv, who did not earn a winning bracket Inst season, will meaaura strides with the field in the Knngitoto Hack Race to-day. Jockeys T. Pritchard and R. Hatch each rode three winners at Horowhe-! nun. C. Jenkins and E. were up on two apiece. Master Delnval is bearing a healthy! appearance at present, and his owner, "Denny" Mornghan, hopes to have the ■ old fellow in his top form when the . N'ew Zealand Cup meeting comes along.