SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 150, 21 July 1909, Page 3

SPORTING

xmF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa"). Races at Trentham to-day. Beii Jonson was taken to Wellington specially for the Jumpers' Flat Kace. Locally-trained Waihuka, Hydraulic and Timothy are engaged at Wellington to-day. <Sir Frisco and Tauira were bad for "the hooks" on Saturday. Punters had all the best of it on the opening day at Trentham. Four first, two second and one fourth favorite were first past the post, and when hot favorite Te Kahurangi, with Jenkins up, le.l the field home in the last race, the Ring went home and wept bitterly. Tauira has incurred the maximum penalty of 141bs in the Grand National Hurdle Race, and if he wins to-day no further penalties -will press themselves upon him.' The fun of it! Southern pencillers, to evade- the Gammon Act, now advertise their nobles selves as "commission agents and woollbrokers." , The only I wool that many of them have seen is I that worn by the ''lambs" they consist- | ently fleece 1 Sweet Angelus was unlucky to draw an outside berth at the start for the Stewards' Handicap on Saturday and was slow to move. It. is alleged that McComb held St. Bill too cheaply in the run homeland the »St. Clements geldtag justgot there by a bare head. Timothy has been showing improved form *of late and is nicely placed iu the Karori Handicap with 9st lib. Waitarere (has gone lame, writes "Glencoe," and that scribe usually knows all there is to know about Pori-rua-traiaed neddies. The Porirua horse is an unlikely starter at Trentham and inav not be well enough to tackle Ric* carton next month.

Sir. C. M. Lepper goes to Wellington this morning to represent the Taranaki Metropolitan Club at this week's Racing Conference. Wliat a pity it is that our non-sporting ll.P.'s presist in making sorry tangles of racing legislation when we have a practical and honorable Racing Conference to carry on sport as it should be carried on—faithfully and well.

Taranaki Jockey Club's year, just concluding is something which redounds to the credit of the club's committee and able secretary. A profit of £1132 on the year's racing, and a credit balance where last year was an overdraft of a •cool thousand, speaks volumes for the Ability of all concerned. At last the T.J.C. have turned into the straight for better times!

With Tibs more aboard than when he scored last year, that good miler, Sir Frisco, was again a warm order for the Parliamentary Handicap and fairly revelling in the heavy going, the favorite was ill front from end to end, and at no part of the journey caused his backers the least anxiety.

Auratus, Tauira, Rendroek and .Wirral should provide an interesting race in the Victoria Handicap. The Winter Hurdles' winner will probably carry much money, but if Wirrall only behaves himself Ire may show a glimpse bf !>is much-boomed Wanganui track form. Waihuka may be given a run in this lace but will have to be a smart jumper to have a chance.

OrmondV 2-year-old filly, Dreadless, made an exhibition of her opponents in the Trial Plate, winning all the way and coming home a winner by ten lengths from the best of a badly-beaten crowd.

Wirral was on his worst behaviour on Saturday and before the start for the Peninsula Handicap got rid of his (ider. When re-mounted the Wanganui wonder bolted half-a-nrile in the wrong direction, clearing two fences in great style. When the field finally went off. Wirral rushed to the front and led for nearly a mile, when his previous exertions told their tale and he quickly succumbed. Under ordinary conditions Wirral would be a great "horse over a mile and a-half of hurdles, but requires some steadying before he would be likely to score in a longer race. The display of Tauira in the Winter Hurdles was really a splendid performi.nce, and the Maliaki gelding is now quoted with the favorites for the Grand National Hurdle Race, Taking up the running at the first hurdle, Tauira made no race of it, running wide to escape the broken ground and the favorite passing the winning post when several of the field were tackling the last hurdle. I Scottv, tlw second horse, was twenty j lengths behind the * winner. The probable starters and riders in the Wellington steeplechase, run over mile to-day, are as follow:—Capitol !0.3 (M. Deeble), ' Xadador 10.12 (J. Kali), Le Beau 10.12 (J. Pinker), .Mocassin 10.9 (H. Cairns), Tilson 10.G (T. Piitchard), Irish 10.3 (C. Cochrane), Lingerer 10.1 (F. Flynn), Te Arai 9.11 (.1. Deery), Aorangi, 9.9 (H. Futchcr), Wanganui 9.9 (H. Carr), Coy (C. O'Neill), Defeat 9.7 (J. Lyford). It is understood that Speeiosa will not see the post, and there is some doubt regarding Otus.

Quite a pacy crowd of jumpers are' carded for the Jumpers' Flat Handicap I to-day. There is not a slow-coach in the dozen engaged, Yosami perhaps be-' ing the exception. Ben Jonson, Scotty I and St'avboy have a big following, but Belario appears to be fairly well treated, taking into consideration his Wanganui and Taranaki running in the summer. Merrie Zealand ran a fine race in the Parliamentary Handicap on Saturday and hut for Olliver's judicious handling of Sir Frisco might have scored. Merrie Zealand is engaged jn the Waterloo Handicap with 9.13. Dawn was given a flutter over four lurlongs on Monday morning and went very well. Dawn wiTl probably sporl. | silk in the Waterloo Handicap.