SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 239, 15 February 1911, Page 7

SPORTING.

TARANAKI AUTUMN MEETING.

CUP DAY. (By "Moturoa.") To-day is Cup Day —Taranaki Cup Day! The magic of those few words will find an answering who, will awaken a cheerful throb, in tne hearts of all true sportsmen. It, is the day of davs in the sporting calendar of Taranaki. For thirty-six years the sport of kings has claimed premier popularity in this province, and, in the history of the Taranaki Jockey Club, prospects of a successful meeting have never appeared mori! ro>v than this year. Thanks to a more dhcient management, the Metropolitan Citib has raised its head out of the mire of mediocrity. It is on the upgrade once more. Men who have the interests of the sport at heart are straining to place the old club amongst the front-rankers. The public appreciate their efforts. Confidence is restored, and the lengthy list of high-class, horses carded for to dty's races bear.? ample testimony to the high esteem in which the club is held by outside as well as provincial horse-owners. The local course i 3 in fine'order, albeit a trilh- hard after the drought, despite the copious watering recently, which, however. has had ! omc effect. The rae-, ing track shows signs of the careful at-' tention lift towed i.pcn it by the club's caretaker, "lie lengthy acceptance list proves the good work done l>y Handiwpper George Morse, and with Starter C. O'Connor at the Lanier the local club could not be better served. The Taranaki Cup, run over a mile and a quarter, has drawn eighteen horses —. horses from Auckland, Napier, Wanganui, Foxton, and Palmerston, as well, as provincial ones. Lady Medallist fills the role of honor with *9.11 against her, name. A big weight truly, and one that I has never been carried to victory in the history of the race; but who can denyi that the Porirua mare has a great chance? Her form at Wanganui, andi more recently at Trentliam and at Hawera, stamps her as a brilliant performer over ten furlongs, and who knows but that a record may be fractured to-day ? Then comes Mendip 8.10, raised 171b fori a double win;at Hawera. On Egmontl Cup form Lady Medallist should hold) the bay gelding safe. Mendip will be meeting the mare, on 161b worse terms' to-day, and over a distance which ap-l pears to be more to her liking. Flingot's | latest victory was in the Foxton Cup, in I which the moderate Voctgang made a' race of it with the Pnlmerston-trained I horse. North-East is iji good nick, and is sure to run well. The other Wanganui horse, John, lost many admirers when he failed at Hawera last week. Five Auckland horses—Uranuim, Sir Artegal, Tattoo, Zinnia, and Monoplane—are engaged, and the best of the quintette may have to' be reckoned with. Public opinion seems to favor Monoplane and Uranium. 'Die Foxton' owner, Mr. S. Messena, landed the prize with Waitapu in 1009, but his representative this year—Waipaku—does not find many admirers. Vi is generally reckoned to be leniently treated, and color is lent to the idea by the fact that Mr. Henrys has handicapped the daughter of Merriwee on harsher terms at Woodville. Highdcn failed utterly last week, but Lady, Menschikoff may be expected to run better to-day. Goodwin Park finished strongly in the Atkinson Stakes, and should be benefited by the gallop, and Shining Star ran prominently there, and must be given a fair chance. The race looks open, but when the totalisators open there will probably be heaps of money for Lady Medallist and North-East (of the heavier-weighted ones), and Vi and Shining Star (of the light-weights). Ladv Medallist won the Taranaki Cup with Bst up last year. Waitapu, winner in 10O!t, is engaged ill stick events at the meeting.

Vi will probably be ridden bv E. Lowe to-day. Uhlando and Lady Medallist, previous winners, will probably sport silk in today's Cup. Mr. E. J. Watt's team, Montiform, Esmeli, and Winning Post, will not start i at the meeting. They were railed home on Friday. Golden Loop and Master Sylvia arc galloping strongly, and may reward Mr. J. Smith with a win shortly. Hohungatahi is looking bright, and well, and the Auoklander promises to run better than he did Here last year. Jockey H. Gray is mentioned as the likely pilot of that promising liorse Soultiform. The Porirua team. Lady Medallist, St. Felix, Laius, and Torbelle, are in great heart, and may give a taste of tltciv galloping ability before the meeting closes. Wanganni scratching*: Cup. Lady Medallist; all engagements, Full Rate. The Australian-bred horse, Ribston i Pippin, who gathered in the hurdle race so easily on the second day at Pahiatua, will be piloted by H. Telford at the Taranaki meeting. The horse is a good jumper, and endowed with pace. Contralto was unlucky to lose the last race at Ifawera last week. Mr. D. ,1. Goodwin has the mare in a forward condition, and a win for the llawera sportsman would be well received. Aviiunce is in good trim, and should be all the better for her racing at IJawera. There will be no Montiforms to beat at New Plymouth. North-East has been pleasing the touts recently, and it is about time he won n .stake for Alec Nail. The Wanganni owner has so far had no return for the .£<(>(10 he paid for the horse in the spring. A Wellington paper reported thai Mr. MeManaway wanted to buy North-East back after racing at Hawera. I am told his offer was in the region of £3OO, so there is no wonder that no deal was made. Contralto and Rouge Dragoon have been scratched for their engagements on the first day. Tattoo is said to have broken down. Trafalgar has been withdrawn from the Australian Cup. as he is undergoing special training for the Champion Stakes.