SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 309, 26 June 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

TUKF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") First-class acceptances were received on Monday night for the first day's racing at Napier Park to-day, and the quality of the horses engaged is a distinct improvement on those which raced at Hastings last week. Continuance, Sir Lethe, Sir Frisco, Bollin, Rill, Prosper, Black Northern and other good horses' figure on to-day's card, and the Tacing should he excellent. Continuance is reported to be well again, and if he shows a glimpse of his i Wanganui form should run prominently in the Napier Steeplechase. Bismarck has been paid up for in the Hack* Hurdles, and should be well suited by the distance. With the sting out of the ground the Hawera horse may be seen to advantage. Napier scribes consider that the -rider of St. Toney in the Kidnapper Hurdles at Hastings left his run too late, .and on that showing the horse will have'a big following if started on Thursday at the Park. A fair crowd of steeplechasers remain in the Petane Hack Steeplechase. Should Tyrannic start, punters would not be long in finding a favorite, but in his absence Longboat and Whimper would not be without supporters. Bravest, winner of the Turamoe Hur- j dies at Hastings last week, is a younger J full brother to Corazon, and was bre4 by Sir Wm. Russell.

Idealism won very easily on the second day at Hastings, and does not appear to be harshly treated in Napier Park engagements. The Advance horse Prosper has a good record to his credit, all piled up in a few months, and although the handieappers have taken no risk with him to-day he is sure to have many friends if saddled up for the Settlers' Hack Handicap. The erratic Piriwai figures in the same race, but does not strike one as a mare likely to shine under welter-weighta Ceylon and Kirkby are reported to be well, and may run forward at the meeting. The big flat handicap at Napier Park will see a few old stagers under silk once more. Sir Frisco may not be properly wound up yet, and anyway would be all the better for a race or two. Lord Renown let a crowd of usually wise punters down at Hastings; and may run better to-day. Bonnie Boy, Mount Victoria and Moutoa Girl have recent form to commend them, but the race looks so open that punters are almost sure to fall in somewhere.

A Hawke'a Bay paper states that Mangaroa is going along nicely, and is to be given a special preparation for the New Zealand «up. Her owner's father, the late Mr. W. Douglas, won the race in 1893 with Rosefeldt and bred Tortulla who won tie Cup in 1901. • The New Plymouth pony Paul, by St. Paul, which wa9 taken across to Sydney with the ill-fated Boanerges and the nearly as unlucky Blakeney, was given a run at Ascot recently in the Fourteen Hands Handicap, a four furlongs flutter. Paul was an early favorite, but was knocked back in tlie betting, and eventually ran outside the placed division. Mr. George Price (owner) and A. Olliver (jockey) were called upon to explain why Paul did not fly in, and after Olliver had mentioned that when running third at the bend the "crook" Sydney jockeye "got to" Paul and bumped him out of the running, the stewards accepted the explanation and the trouble dispersed. Deeley rode one winner at Hastings, and with only two meetings left before he departs for Sydney the Auckland jockey has little chance of catching Jenkins' record. Fugue, who won the Stewards' Mile at the Canterbury Park (N.S.W.) meeting, was bred by Mr. Beaia, oi Wanganui. A petition requesting the Canterbury Jockey Club to consider the advisability in the interests of horse owners of delaying the issue of the handicaps for the Grand National meeting till after the Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting, was largely signed during the progress of the Hawke'9 Bay races. The petition points out the great disadvantage of penalties incurred for wins at Wellington, and states that owners would prefer to see the official handieapper allot the weights after the Wellington performance. The petition was framed at the instance of leading owners in the North Island, and will be forwarded to the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club in due course.