SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 205, 27 February 1912, Page 2

SPORTING

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Here, in Wanganui, racing people and horses from all parts are gathered in view of the forthcoming meeting. Golden Loop and Master Sylvia put in an appearance on Friday, and Royal Arms, Crown Pearl and Rawinia arrived on Saturday. Byron and Autumnus came up on Friday's train, Bon Ton and Heatherhrae being left in Canterbury, Domino arrived from Auckland on Saturday afternoon, but Maxwell is not due until to-day (Monday). Training operations have not been particularly exciting, but a large number of horses are given slow work each morning. Tuesday's winding-up gallops should be worth watching. On Friday morning St. Petersburg defeated St. Felix over «x furlongs in 1.17—a good gallop. St. Gate easily accounted for Dirge and Aloha over a smartly run five furlongs. Other horses to do half-pace work were Electrakoff, Autumnus, Byron and Gipsy Belle. The quartette look well, and thould pay their way at the meeting. Next morning Royal Arms did a couple of rounds at a solid pace. The Cup horse looks very well. Crown Pearl rattled over five furlongs in great style, moving freely. Rawinia put in two rounds on the plough in workmanlike style, tt att's team, which arrived the previous afternoon, put in slow work. Mr. T. Quinlivan has brought over four horses, Royal Scotch, Midnight. Sun, Theodore and Montiform. All bore a well-trained appearance. Autumnus skipped over five furlongs, and Byron did likewise. Coromandel was on the track, and pulled hard over a couple of rounds at halfpace.

On Monday morning the weather was beautifully fine, and a large number turned out to see the gallops. Very little fast work was done, however. Dearest (H. Telford) ran a short mile and a half in 2,39. Telford started off from the wrong post, and the trial was probably 60 yards short of the full distance. The gallop was a fine one, and the Porirua mare will have about & stone and a half less to carry in the Cup. Midnight Sun, Domino and other Cup candidates were not bustled in their work. Golden Loop, with a flying start, covered six furlongs in 1.16, or a trifle better some made it, and Master Sylvia cut out five furlongs under similar conditions in Imin. 3 l-ssec. (Both were good gallope. Electrakoff, Montiform and others moved nieely over sprint courses. Eawinia was out on the plough, and went well. Theodore dashed over six furlongs fast. His action is very ugly, nut he covers the ground all right. One of his hind legs bears an,ugly scar high up, but the horse looks well, and has built up a lot since this scribe last saw him. The other gallops were not remarkable.

For winning the TaTanaki Cup, Lady iMenschikoff's weight has been raised 101b, bringing it up to 7.9 for the Wanganui Cup. Mr. Morse has not altered Bronze's weight. Acceptances for the first day of the Wanganui meeting number 110, as agains 77 last year, and the gathering should be a most successful one. All sorts of rumors are current regarding candidates for the Flying Handicap. Byron may possibly be scratched, and well-informed people reckon that Theodore will be the aeleoted one to carry Mr. E. J. Watt's blue jacket. The writer does not consider this likely, though Theodore is looking and going well. Jenkins will probably ride Theodore, and H. Gray is mentioned as the likely pilot of Eoyal Scotch—that is if Byron is withdrawn. Gipsy Belle is at her best, and is sure to run well.