SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 173, 20 January 1912, Page 7

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. Jan. 20, 22 —Foxton It.C. Jan. 20, 22, 24—Wellington R.C. Summer. Feb. 1, 2—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Kb. 1, 3 —Canterbury J.C. Summer. i'\ b. 7, B—Egmontß—Egmont R.C. Summer. Feb. 14, L5-—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The flags will be flying at Trentham to-day, the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting. The principal events on to-day's card are the Wellington Cup (one mile and a half) and the Telegraph Handicap (six furlongs). Good acceptances have been received for the big races, and the issues appear to be very open. It is a matter to be regretted that there is not a really brilliant twelvefurlong horse engaged in to-day's Wellington Cup. Public opinion seems to favor the chances of Midnight Sun, Merrivonia, Coromandel and Birkline, and each of these horses has shown improved form during the last three weeks. In recent years top-weights have had a bad run in the Cup, excepting, of course, Advance and Achilles—a brilliant pair. It is safe to say that there is nothing nearly so high-class engaged to-day. Ante-post "pickers" were strong followers of Miss Mischief and the defection of the Canterbury pair was a heavy blow to them! Miss Mischief won last year, and had she been paid up for on Friday nigh! would have started the hottest favorite of recent years. Mrvonia is running into her old form, !> t most backers prefer her in the autu

Our Hawera friends are not silent as

the chances of Mendip, and if well the bay son of St. Paul would be sure to run a solid race. Midnight Sun won at Ellerslie, and will lose nothing by having Ben Deeley in the saddle to-day. Aberbrothock won at Masterton, but his showing in the Manawatu Cup on Boxing Day was distinctly disappointing. That day Meagher had the mount, and probably Jenkins will more out of him this afternoon. Bliss is too much of a flash-in-the-pan for most people, but Undecided has recently shaped like a stayer and is aided by a trifling weight. Gray will pilot Coromandel,. and the Wanganui horse waß looking. very well when railed south on Wednesday. He ran very solid races at Ellerslie and should give a good account of himself. Birkline has recently come into favor, and bdth at Awafluni and at Marton was running on well at the finish of his races. Whether the Palmerston horse can get to the end of a mile and a half remains to be seen. Patriotic has many admirers, and with Ost 101b is evidently handicapped as a non-stayer. The weight-ad-juster appears to be taking a risk with the son of Patronus. Of the lightweights Royal Marine is most admired. Taking it right through the- handicap is a very good one, and will take some picking. When the field lines up this afternoon. Midnight Sun, Mendip and Coromandel may be the most fancied ones of the sixteen engaged. If anything upsets calculations it mav be Patriotic Fifteen ,smart performers still, remain ih the Telegraph Handicap, Equitas as usual being on top. The mare will be failed upon for a great effort to succeed with f)st 121b when opposed by Culpnt, Ireland and Co. This should be one of the best races of the day. •The Foxton R.O. annual meeting takes place to-day and on Monday. Big' fields are promised and amongst those encrn<TP(l are the Taranaki horses Hi«h- ---'"• -o--., Avaunce, Bay Paul, Con the Slmugnraun and others.

Coromandel has gone to Trentham, and consequently will not start in the Foxton' Cup. Sir Antrim is likely to start favorite, and there should be money for Midian, Queen of Scots and Rauparaha. if started. In the Jiving Handicap Lady Moutoa, Te Kahurangi and Kohinoor are reported to be well fancied by their connections. Odessa is reported to be in good nick for forthcoming engagements. Sir Knox has been scratched for all engagements at Trentham.

The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club made a profit of about a thousand pounds on the recent summer meeting. Th.it disappointing horse! Prince Hassan, dropped dead last week. Reported from south that Orton has turned rogue and even won't face work on the training tracks. Canute was landed nt Trentham in £rreat heart, and may ishine amongst the twn-year-old division before long. Bracken and Beacon,are showing fair 'form over the schooling fences. T]ie following horses have been entered for the Trial Plate (seven furlongs), to be run at Trentham to-day:—Lady Vollev. Mallard,, Mira. St. Petersburg, Big Blast, Tripoli, Outward, Toanui,. Kimona, Makara, Heatlwbrae, Lady Aolan and Sir Donald. (V.'mnd's Outward, who won at Ellerslie, ivlikelv to haw most followers.

At the Ballarat Miners' Turf Club meeting recently, the Balhausen, Handicap, one mile and 75 yards, went to the New Zealander, Merrie Zealand; The time. Imin 40 4-flsec., was a local record for the distance.

Air Delatour purchased at Auckland the Senton Del aval gelding, Rose Pink, •■>om Mr. T. H. Lawrv, and has placed hurt .in the hands of F. Loorn.b. Details to hand hv the last Australian mail show that the victory of the exN"w Zealander. fiunboat. in th.e. Hopetoun Cup. at the V.A.T.C. meeting, was easilv achieved. He was hacked a,s long as the bookmakers would lav against hin, and in consequence were relieved oi a lot of bullion.