SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 359, 9 April 1910, Page 3

SPORTING.

| RACING FIXTURES. J April D —Wellington Racing Club. April 9, 13—Avondale JocKey Club. April 20, 21 —Xelsun Jockey Club. April 27, 28—Hawke's iia.y J'.C. May 11, 12—Egmont Racing Club. May 21, 24—Takapuna Jockey Club . May 24, 20 —Wanganui Jockey Club. | DATES OF COMING EVENTS. —New Zealand.— April 9—N.Z. St. Leger Stakes. April 13—Mauawatu Stakes. May 24 —Wanganui Steeplechase. / June 3 —Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 4 —Great Northern. Steeplechase. —Australia. — July 2—V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. . July !)—V.II.C. Grand National Steeplcchase. , TURF TOPICS. ' i I (By "Moturoa.") j Concluding day at Trentham. _ ' The Avoudale J.C. Autumn meeting opens to-day. G olden Loop finished, "absolutely" in the Railway Handicap on Wednesday. There are more unlikely things thaa that Longner will join the ranks of double hurdle winners very soon. The favorite Audax was too big to do himself justice in the First Hurdles at Trentham, but if all goes well he should . get amongst the winners in a -few; weeks' time. \- Punters fell over one another to hack; Emblem in the Tinakori Hack Handi-; cap. and Hoctor Gray had the "faranalu filly right out in front from barrier rise to pulling up. Five first favorites) caught the judge's eye on Wednesday, and trie. painters could hardly go wrong. To add to the Bur Vons' troubles, a ten-shilling totalizator kept heaps of money out of . their bags, and the "double" Armlet —. Effort was fully kid on on all sides. I . Old Aboriginal was well backed in the I Thompson Handicap, but could never , get in the first flight; the pace was so scalding hot. Mr Donald's gelding won the Hutt Handicap last year with 7.4 in the saddle, and will carry 8.7 to-day. , Trugaflini raced with her u*>u*ii bad , luck oil Wednesday, and all but caught : Sharpshooter in the Waiwetu Handicap. . She has only gone up 21b. in weight, and perhaps the extra furlong in the . Hutt Handicap will be more to her lik-

illg. ; < Clifford's Husbaaidman, Who vrew a i good winner last year, has so far failed to reproduce his three-year-old form, and a long succesfcioa of defeats this season was added to when the soh of Treadmill finished in the ruck in the Thonvp- ' son Handicap. The Aucklander, Explosive, ran ft couple of good races on Wednesday, and may win a race soon. In the Muritai Handicap he meets St.. Felix on ' 91b. better terms than when the latter vanquished hiiu in the Silverstream Handicap. Pari tutu would only have to be half as good us he used to be to gwe a good account of himself in hurdle races up north. At Avondale to-day lie has 10.7 in a race that he won with 11.7 last year, but that wag the only vie-, tory that was credited to the bay geld- j ing throughout the whole of last Bea-' s^n. Lady Medallist was badly placed in the earlier stages of the Thompson Handicap, and did well to run up into fifth place at the finish. The daughter of St. Alwvne impressed this eteribe by the way she ran in the last Wangaaiui ■ Cup, leading the field at « solid pace for a mile and a half, awl no doubt she ■ would run better at distances over eight furlongs and up t.o twelve. She gave a taste of her quality at the Taranaki Cup gathering, and there is no doubt a mile and a quarter is just about 'her best distance. On past performances it isl just open to question whether Hawdicapper Pollock has net taken a risk in putting such a brilliant filly in the Autumn Handicap with 7.5. ■ Besides La-dy Medallist, the Poriraa stables claims another rep. hi the Autumn Handicap in the shape of Bi-i abolo. The black horse has been a ! sore disappointment so far, but ran well enough at the last Trenfcharo gathering and at Wanganui in March to suggest that with. Jenkins in the saddle he may have a chance to repay his owner for his unprofitable bargain. It just dc-1 pends how the race is run. The black i horse does not find his feet any too quickly, and if they cut H out from the jump he may be gone a million before the straight is reached. Looking through the acceptors it is hard to find anything that is likely to set a terrific pace—that is, with any chance of fleeing the journey out to the bitter end l . Taranaki horses are freely engaged at the Hawke's Bay Autumn meeting. I notice Coroneted, Clemora, Clemency, Golden Loop and NgatiTuamii in furious races set down for decision at that gathering. Echo created i favorable impression by the easy way she wait the Victoria Handicap at Elierslie recently, and she forma one of the dozen two-year-olds which have paid ivp for the Juvenile Handicap at Avondale to-day. What looks like providing an interesting race is the Pacific Handicap at Trentham, and Mr Pollock has the winner well concealed. Tenterhook may be a fair two-year-old, but it looks like asking her too much to give a year and weight away to such promising performers as Emblem and Golden Loops Mr Major's filly was responsible for a slashing gallop m the Tinakori Handicap, and should be even better suited by five than sfix furlongs. Still it is very open. The successful trainer, T. A, Williams, had Waiari and Sir Artegal in capital form at the Elierslie (Easter meeting, and report says that they have gone on the right way since and are likely starters at Avondale. North-East ran a fine race under the crushing impost of ftst 01b in the Thompson Handicap. Olliver tad him in a good position all the way, and he finished very strongly, just missing second place by a narrow margin, North-East meets Tumut on 41b better terms in the Suburban Handicap to-<lfty, but the six furlong journey will be more to the liking of the Merriwee gelding than the Thompson mile, and at the weights there will not be much between the pair. Perle d'Or and Sharpshooter were prominent on Wednesday, but will be meeting better company this afternoon. Last year's New Zealand St. Leger only drew a field of three, and Master Soult was first home in a very tame race. It is not likrty than more than three or four moderates will contest today's race, and the Wellington Racing

Club might just as well drop it as quickly as' possible. Tn another column will bo found advertised the programme for the Manaia Hack Racing Club's annual meeting, which takes place at Mr .1. D. Mitchell's Burbank Farm on Wednesday, April 27. The card shows eight events —seven Hat gallops aaid one trot. The Manaia Handicap is worth £35, and there are two races worth £25 and two worth £2O apiece. Full particulars will be found in our advertising columns. Nomiinations are due on Monday, April 11, and weights appear on or about the 118 th inst. ; ff „ ...