SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 213, 17 December 1910, Page 7

SPORTING.

(By "Moturoa.")

RACING FIXTURES. Dec. 23, 26, 27 —Manawatu R. C. Summer. Dec. 26, 27 —Taranaki Christmas Meeting Dec. 26, 29, and Jan. 2, 3 —Auckland R.C. Summer. Dec. 16, 17 —Cliristclmroli R.C. Summer. Jan. 2, 3—Stratford R. C. Annual. TURF TOPICS.

Tie Ohristchurch Racing Club's summer meeting will be concluded to-day. Christmas meetings will open on Friday next, when the Manawatu R.C. summer gathering commences at Awapuni. Kopu still commands a heap of followers for th® Auckland Cup. Jockey T. O'Brien is riding the chestnut in work at Ellerslie, and the favorite is doing splendidly. Danube is now on the way to Auckland, andi may therefore be counted a certain starter in thei Great Northern Derby. His meeting with the greatly im- i proved Birkdale and King Soult should provide food for speculation, and the struggle between the first-named pair at least should be highly interesting. Trainer R. J. Mason left Ohristchurch on Wednesday with five horses Miss Mischief, Peirene, Perle d'Or, Orton, and Danube. The quintette were in good fettle tefore leaving home, and should upset a few of the "rlry" things up north. , The famous Amurkan jockey, Danny Mailer, is 29 years of age. Last month he was engaged to steer a German horse in tli2 Grand Prix of Austria, and the horse duly won. This race is of international interest, and ro doubt the capable horseman was well rewarded for his few minutes' work. Los AuL'fJ'.s and Ingoda, who were treated to a spell after the Canterbury meeting, have now been put into work again, an.l are said to be looking well after their' period of leisure. Charlie Jenkins is making, a good recovery front the effects of his accident at Rlecartcn, and is almost sure to be well enough to pilot Diabolo at Auckland. Should he not be strong enough to undertake the strenuous task of "punching' ll«e lazy black horse over the two miles which lie between the start and the r nrsh of the Auckland' Cup, R. Hatch will have the mount, and he is a rare gocd substitute. Hatch is riding in his old form, and his luck seems to have taken a change for the better. Flitaway has proved to be not in foal, and the daughter of Clanranald has,been sent back to Riccarton to be prepared for the racecourse once more. She was a brilliant performer at her best, and if she stands a preparation may yet win many more races. ' The Wanganui mentor, Walter Raynor, has returned Coolstream to his owner in Stratford, the'horse having gone wrong. This is bad luck f for Mr. W. H. Gvde, as the black,gelding was in good fettle, and his winning form at Waverley gave promise of ihis turning out a good stake-earner. The leading horseman at 'Stralian pony meetings is R. Nash, well-known in Taranaki. The erstwhile New Zealander piloted no less than three winners on one afternoon at Ascot recently, and on several occasions has won two and three events. Truly one has to leave one's own mud-lieap to become famous! The Ashhurst Guineas is a poor drawing card for the little club which races on the cliff oyerhanging the Manawatu Goige. In 1908 it drew four runners; in 11909 a trio only; and this year only three horses have paid up. It is up to the club to rub out that race, or drop it over the cliff at once. It represents a good stake going to waste. Though personally not wedded to Sir Prize, this scribe cannot follow the disparaging remarks voiced by a Wellington writer re that horse. It is quite true that the chestnut started ten times last season without winning a race, but it must be remembered that, lie ran a close third in the New Zealand Cup. filled the same place upon the heels of Elysian and All Red in the Canterbury Cup, and, when broken down, was not far behind Milan, to whom he was giving weight, in the Egmont Cup. He failed with 8.4 in the Auckland Cup, but the other races he contested were run over courses too short to give a tried stayer a chance. The hard'going, up north may find his weak spot, but on paper he appears to have a fair chance in tie Auckland Cup. War Song is reported to be galloping in taking style, and punters might put a tick against the son of Royal rusilier for near at hand engagements.