SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 159, 4 January 1912, Page 7

SPORTING

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa") St. Gate and Ngatiruanui were the <.:i'v double-winners at Stratford. First Mate broke down the first day. Starter Thompson exercised a heap of nciticsire .with Xgatiruanui each day. Three of the progeny of Maniopoto won fo-ir races at the meeting. MukUer ran very indifferently in the County Handicap, and the stewards might have asked for an explanation. There was some boo-hooing when St. Bill got beaten in the Ngaere Handicap, but sane persons recognised that in carrying Ost 13l'l> over six furlongs in a trifle over lmin ISsee, considering the holding state of the course, the Wanganui horse was just about doing his best. Avaunce's poor showing the first day did not prevent a big crowd rushing the mare for the -County Hack Handicap, and her performance on the second occasion was many degrees better than the first start. However, the hot order had to put up with second berth behind St. Gate, who, as mentioned in these columns on Tuesday morning, ran very much better with a stronger horseman in the saddle.

Royal Dragoon ran like a really good, game horse each day, and his finish under pressure in the Cardiff Stakes proved him to be of the right stuff. After being badly placed to the turn, he beat horse after horse in the run home and was galloping over •everything at the finish. He should repay watching over a five or six-furlongs course. St. Luap was splendidly brought >'i for the County Handicap on the sec" •' day and started favorite. The black c '• never got within striking distance <-f the leaders, however, and finished up fast in third place. Bad luck still dogs the footsteps of Ambergris, and it seems as if Hurt Gardner will never win a race with the bay gelding. In the Makuri Hurdles he was only headed in the last bit, and showed much improved form. He has run second in any number of races, both over the sticks and on' the flat. Te Roti is coming back to his best form, and should win a race soon. Up to a mile the chestnut is fairly speedy. Mortite is a much improved horse at the barrier, but pulls very hard in the early portions of his races. When the whips are out the Wairiki horse suddenly loses all interest in the. race. Con the Shaughraun was much off cdlor the: first day and was in such a bad way on Tuesday morning that starting was altogether out of the question. Chase Mab showed want of condition and raced in the rear both days. Manawakaha is not the champion some people reckon, and let down his party very badly in the last race. Jockey W. Price topped the list *1 winning horsemen with three wins. F. Flynn and F. Coleman scored twice, and others to gain a bracket were R. Lambess, Alf. Olliver, Carmont, Goldfinch, Mcintosh, Monk, E. Copestake, Mr. Brough and Mr. Higginson.

Mr. Alex Hall was the most successful owner at the meeting, his two horses, St. Bill and St. Gate, scoring three firsts and a second, and winning stakes to the value of £205. Mr. Dan Hughes, by the aid of Xgatiruanui, who won a double, gathered in £lO5. Others to win stakes were: Messrs. M. J. Goodson £95, G. Clareburt £BS, W. Mcßeth £BO, T. Hopeful £<ss, Mrs. S. Gower £65, M«srs. S. Pitt £OS, W. Coffey £OO, D. King £SO, \V. A. Bradford £45, G. H. Gibson £4O. G. Smith £4O, C. MnmW £25. T?. Campbell £2O, Burrell and Taylor £ls, Mrs. J. Fogarty £lB, Messrs. J. Melville, H. W. Johnson, D. J. Goodwin, R. Hicks, C. Anders, C. Ruscoe,. M. Gardner, and G. F. Bonnor £lO each, J. T. Radford, J. J. Fitzgerald, P. Johnson, J. Ryan, Hikaka, J. M. Laurent, Carroll and Orton, and L. G. Bremer £5 each.