SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 8 June 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 19, 20—Hawke's Bay J.C. Winter. June 26, 27—Napier Park R.C. Winter, fuly 4, 6—Gisborne R. C. Steeplechase. Aug. 13, 15, 17—C.J.C. Grand National meeting.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Motnroa") This week's racing at Ellerslie lacked Che sensational, and few punters have reason to look back on it with anything but feelings of disappointment. The success of Napper in the Great Northern Hurdle Race was expected, but Hautere was little fancied for 'the other leg of ' the double, and the tetter's victory must have been a rare turn up for the layers. That, barring accidents,' Napper would have won the double in hollow fashion seems certain, and the death of such a good horse is to be regretted. His owner, the Hon. J. D. Ormond, has "had wretched luck this season, and Monday's misfortune must have struck him heavily. The bold running of Bully in the Hurdle Race came as a surprise, as lid the absolute failure of Darby Paul, the much-boomed Presently, and Black Northern. Paritutu was reserved for the Steeplechase, and was going really well when he threw out on the hill-top the last time round. Blue Mountain was running on at the finish, but Glenmore was troubled by the distance. Dorando and Okaihau were the only others to finish. The wretched weather made tlie course very heavy, and consequently many of the well-fancied top-weights had to give ' way in the "surprise packets." Maui- j nina won three races in easy style, and ] paid two good-sized dividends. The starting was indifferent, and this added ] to the confusion. The Taranaki horses 1 Bandy Paul, Crown Pearl, Royal Arms, J Darby Paul, and Smilax let down punters badly, but Coronetted returned a fair flividend in the- Jumpers' Flat Race, as ' Aid Zante, who filled the role of runner- j Hp to Appin in the Tamaki Steeplechase. Prom a Taranaki point of view the meetfag was a series of disasters. The features of the flat racing were the return $o form of Miscount and the consistency of Glov. Since the New Zealand Cup meeting Miscount had not shown a good gallop until landed at Ellerslie, and the bearer of the cerise jacket did not lack admirers when he went out to contest the Cornwall Hanticap. Although badly placed throughout he finished well, and the same story ' remains to be told of the Prince of Wales Handicap, in which he finished a dose fourth. On Wednesday the colt was fourth favorite in the York Welter, and won all the way. Gloy ran into second place in the principal flat handicap each day, and paid surprisingly j large dividends for suck a consistent { performer. Waimangu has returned to j form and ran two of his best races this ( week. Many people consider that the Auckland Cup winner (rot up in time to beat Salute in the Prince of Wales j Handicap, but the stands are so placed ! at Ellerslie that only the man in the box can really judge a fine thing in finishes.

The Waverley sportsman who sold Ambergris recently for a small figure would probably receive the news of the old gelding's success with mixed feelings. Of the eleven starters in the Orakei Hurdle Race the chances of Ambergris were so little fancied that he figured tenth in the order of favoritism. UraMium should have won,, but she was made too much use of, and several of the alleged dangerous ones falling, it was left to the outsider to lead the crowd home. Salute ran finely at the meeting, scoring »nce and going under by a bare head •o another occasion. The daughter of Soult had much the worst of the weights, and her success, considering how the mud was anchoring the topweights, was all the more surprising. Darby Paul cost his connections a heap of money at the gathering, and ■eemed to be unable to get going until too late. Probably the horse has gone off since racing at Wanganui. Before 1 earing Hawera he was beating Cornelian over a mile and a half, and the son of Coronet is not slow. Up to three miles Glenmore is a wonderful little steeplechaser, and in his recent starts he has had bad luck not to secure a stake. In the Great Northern Steeplechase he was leading with Napper as they ran down the hill the last time, but stopped to a walk in the straight. In the Winter Steeplechase the same thing happened. Glenmore looked a certain winner at the distance, and struggled on gamely under the whip, but Blue Mountain had too much pace •n the flat and got up in time to beat the Marton hOTse on the post by a head. Glenmore may be worth keeping in mind for Hawke's Bay engagements. The imported Government sire Lupin gained further advertisement at Dunedin by the success of his daughter Lugeon in the two steeplechase events at the D.J.C. meeting. The mare jumped splendidly and finished strongly under pressure in each race. Whimper and Glenfariff were taken down for the Wingatui teeplechase, but the former fell, and the chestnut developed "that tired feeling" long before the finish. Mr. H. Witney has good reason to be pleased with the progeny of Signalman. Ceylon and Mt. Victoria carried his colors with success at Dunedin. Last week, when Coronetted was sent to Ellerslie, I asked, "What for?" The question was answered when the Hawera horse romped home in the Jumpers' Flat Race and paid a good price. This is telling a tale against oneself with a caution! Khamsin once more ran up to his reputation as a mud-lark by winning the Raukawa Cup from end to end in heavy going. Down the line they had the news through early that Undecided had won, and it was surprising to hear how many good fellows had backed it. They all had the gag, "I told you so!" Mr. S. Messena's horses were offered for sale at the Otaki meeting, but bidfling was tame. Waipakn went to Mr. P. Spiers at £B6, and Waitoto fell to the bid of Mr. F. S. Easton for £lO5. The pick of the basket—Waiouru—was passed in at £l5O. Waikehua, Silver Cluse and Lady •Volga, for whom a good word was spoken qfter the Wanganui meeting, got amongst the winners at Otaki, but paid short prices. B. Deeley rode four firsts and several seconds at the gathering. Provided he stays in the colony until after the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne meetings he should beat C. Jenkins' record of 88 wins for one season. Piriwai is better behaved at the post nowadays, but both at Wanganui and at Otaki she stopped badly after going five furlongs. Punters will now have a spell until the Hawke's Bay meeting comes along, and after the plethora of racing last week and this they, as well as the torse?, require a rest.