SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 26, 24 February 1909, Page 3

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.'') The Duiicdiii Jockey Club's autumn meeting, which opens to-day, promises to be one of tlie most successful ever held on the Wingatui course. The quality of horses engaged may not be firstclass, but the exceptionally numerous acceptances give promise of large fields and interesting racing. Recent years have .seen racing interest on the wane in the Otago district, and it is pleasing to note this season's revival of the sport, and hopes are expressed that a good meeting will raise the standard of "the game" in the -South. The Dunedia Cup has drawn a dozen acceptors but a final payment of five sovs., due half an hour before the start of the race, may cause a few to drop out. Glenculloch heads the list with 8.4, but tlie Clanranald horse will have to improve on Canterbury form to have a chance of succeeding. 'Prim has -been galloping well of late, and the recent racing seems to have improved her. Lowe's pair, franui and Truganini, are -oil the spot, aud R. Hatch will probably pilot the stable's elect. Southern reports point to the likelihood of Truganini being reserved ior the Publicans' Handicap, run later in the day. Both equines were galloped a mile on Monay morning, but were not out to break records, the clock reading 1.50. Grand Slam does not seem to have recovered from a split hoof which troubled him at the recent Canterbury meeting, ,but Tikitere is running on nicely. The others are an indifferent lot and appear to be. llattered by being placed in Cup company; still, light-weights often give moderates a chance to distinguish themselves, especially in such a weak fiel as promises to-day. Clifford's team for Wingatui includes Glenculloch, Sharpshooter, Applegarth, and De Witte, who have all been galloping strongly at Riccarton. J. Lowe's team, Truganini, Iranui, Effort and Advantage, are very fit and will have the services of Hatch.

The Champagne Stakes' candidate, Mulitfoil, by Multiform from Lady Rosslyn, appears to be "groggy" ia tlie knees, ami a short turf career is anticipated for this well-bred one. .J. Lowe will probably leave for Australia with Artiilerie after the Dunedin meeting. Beneform recently burst a hoot, and is considered an unlikely starter hi the Berwick Handicap. Lady Disdain, Valdimar, Truganin and Contender are a quartette of Publicans' Handicap runners who have sliowa winning form lately. Heirloom, on the minimum, is another whose track form has been particularly promising. The six-year-old Mack gelding Black Bannefe by Banner—Avondale, in training, is advertised for sale in this issue. Black Banner ha« won several rawss this season, including a hurdle race at the Taranaki Christmas meeting and the Waihi Cup, and can muster up a fair amount of pace, as well as being able to jump proficiently. Owners and trainers should bear in mind that nominations for the Taranaki Jockey Club's autumn meeting close with the secretary, Mr. E. P. Webster, at 9 p.m. on Friday, 26tli inst. The programme will be found in our advertising columns. The Auekland-bral two-year-old bnowfoot (Soult—Helen JlccGregor), who was recently purchased by a Sydney hookmaker, arrived there last week, and has been put into work at Raiulwcik. Snowfoot has no startling performances to his credit in Maoriland, but. there is a great demand for Soult's progeny at present, and his future in 'Stralia will be watched with interest.

Motoa, Idealist, and Vernicle have dropped out of the Newmarket Handicap. Strange to say, the New Zealander Sonltline was one of the outsiders in the St. George's Stakes, run over nine furlongs at the V.A.T.C. meeting, but the Soult gilding was out in front from the rise nf the barrier, and won all the way in ridiculous easy style. Knultline's vie lory in the Caulkeld Futurity Stakes on Saturday was a highly meritorious per formance, and Mr. 1). Twoliill appears to have sold the speedy Auckland-bred gelding too soon. Sonltline was giving Irishman, the runner-up. thirteen pounds on Saturday, but in the Newmarket Handicap the Hibernian meets Sonltline on very much better terms, and penalties will probably set the latter prad an impossible task ill the great Victorian sprint event.