SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 156, 30 December 1911, Page 7

SPORTING.

j RACING FIXTURES. I Jan. 1, 2-Auckland R.C. Summer. Jan. l, 2—Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer, •n. 1, 2--Stratford R.C. Annual. 1, 2- -Marton R.C. Summer. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") S; 1 rates on Monday and Tuesday. Golden Loop was off color at the Taranaki meeting. Pearlic -uaid ran a second and a third at the Auckland Trots on Wednesday. •Uruto is mentioned as an unlikely starter at Stratford. If Piriwai starts at Stratford she will carry a heap of good money. Fleetweok is coming on now, and may get amongst the winners at Hastings. The locally-owned pair, Crown Pearl and Royal Arms, were unfortunate at Ellerslie on Tuesday, both finishing sec- \ ond> in their engagements. The champion consistent horseman at the Taranaki meeting was W. Ayers, who rode seven seconds and two winners.

Bob Barlow was riding in good form this week, and was up on three winners. The apprentices, 0. McCarton and Carmont, rode two winner* apiece. St. Bell was not greatly fancied by his party for the Flying, and paid a handsome price accordingly. St. Gate was confidently backed each day, and ran two fine races.

Shining Star is bearing a bright appearance, and appears to l>e very :'t. but he turned it up viey badly in i.,.Christmas Handicap the iirst day. Muleteer followed up his win at Wo.>lville, where he returned his supporters a hatful, by milking no race of the Welter on Wednesday. The Malatua gelding was for a long time a rank disappointment, but now that he has taken it into his head to gallop should win a good race or two. Arthur Olliver was seen at his best in the Palmerston State, ajul it was owing mainly to his superb horsemanship that he was able to rash Boanerges- to the front in the last chain and beat Rangiatua by a head. True Shot was unfortunate at the barrier here, but with an even start may make amends at Stratford next week. ' The Santa Rosa—Gipsy Belle double was a great let-off for the double layers at Auckland. Santa Rosa was practically friendless, and the Porirua mare paid ever s o many "goldans" when she dashed past Equitas in the straight and fairly ran away with the Railway Handicap.

Just when Brilliancy appeared to have a winning' chance in the First Hurdles on Tuesday he stopped suddenly and went back. A different tale had to be told the following day, when the Hotchkiw gelding ran away with the hurdle race in the fairly smart time of 2min. 50 2-5 sec—several seconds faster than Pleiades took to win the first day. Brilliancy is well now, and should show up again next week.

As expected, Winning Way gave his opponents no chance in the Great Northem oal Stakes. Brmingarde was better backed than Clifford's flier, but he was never in it from the word "go!" Many who saw the Auckland Cup run reckon that Domino was rushed to the front too early—seven, furlongs from home. As it was, Mr. Ring's horse was only headed in the last furlong, and he was dead tired when Santa Rosa sailed past, and could not respond. Svr'lv {lie most popular victory of the local meeting was that of Master' Sylvia in the Farewell Handicap. Con the Shaughraun appeared to have the race in safe keeping at the turn, but Master Sylvia came brilliantly over the! last bit and beat Con home. The big bay son of Coronet was unlucky each day, but looks certain to win a race next week.

Jargon has been a particularly good winner for Mr. M. J. Goodson this season, and his brace of victories this week set him down as a particularly smart customer. In Epsom Lass and the. Con the Shaughraun he beat a good pair, and should win again before the weiglitadjnsters get wise to his ability. The crowd behind Iney had the win of their lives at Awapuni. The mare paid a good healthy price for second place in the Cup, and the money simply poured in for her in the Summer Handicap. "The Kelly Gang" are good betters when they are on it, arid they went Nap on Tuesday and Wednesday. Star Ro*e is about a spent light, and his position at the top of any handicap just now is only cool, unadulterated flatter}'.

Our Waverlcy friends must be making their fortunes this season, and a good number of them had ibright faces when Moahau cantered home in the van in the Huatoki Plate.

Sylvia Park was represented by four winners at New Plymouth Moahau, Plantation, Park Tide and Master Sylvia. Midnight Sun ran over a terrible lot of ground in the Auckland Cup, but should make amends for it shortly probably over a mile and a half course.

Waipaku's victory in the Manawatu Cup was the greatest runaway this scribe has ever seen. When half the distance had been covered the Foxton horse looked to be about 100 yards ahead of the next best, and the crowd stood paralysed as the outsider kept going strongly right to the end without a sign of "coming back." Of course Waipaku should never have been allowed to gain such a break, but wliabever way the race was run there was only one horse in it that dav.