SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 47, 13 July 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. July 17, 20—Wellington Racing Club. COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. July 17 —Wellington Steeplechase. AUSTRALIA. Jaly 13—V.R.C. Grand National Steeple chase. TURF TOPICS. {By "Moturoa.") Trentham races and steeplechases or Wednesday. Prince Soult is alleged to be first favor ite for the New Zealand Cup. The Victorian Grand National Steeplechase will be run at Flemington to-day. The Winter Cup candidate Ladrone is bounding along in good style at Otaki. Autumnus' full sister will race amongst the two-year-olds next season as Equinox. Australian papers report that Golden Slipper, the record high-priced turf failure, is in foal to Wallace. What may 'appen to the best of 'em! Appro, whose recent displays have been full of promise, has broken down badly. Shipped from Bluff to Melbourne on Monday, the four-year-old mare Aeroplane (Stepniak—Ventalero). Her place will be in the matrons' paddock. After failing at Gisborne the Jferriwee gelding Wee Rose was disposed of to Sir. J. Selby for 30 guineas. St. Lumsdcn has boon put into commission again at Patea after a lengthy •pell. What for? Apparently improved by racing at Napier, Nedra and Sir Lethe have been surprising the Clareville touts, and the pair will have many admirers in next week's engagements. Quick recoveries! Jockeys T. Pritchard, A. Julian and Rangi Thompson—all smashed up recently—expect to be in the saddle again at the Grand National ineeting. The laws of nature stand still when jockeys are concerned. So far the only New Zealand Cup horse to win a race since nominations closed is Alpheus, who scored the slightest of victories against the weakest of fields in the Bracelet at Napier Park. Gisborne statistics! Principal winning) owners: J. Williamson £255, J. Bunting £205, and D. Moraghan £176. Jockeys J. Dwyer and C. Brow T n piloted two wiraers apiece, and Deeley one winner and two seconds. Chas. Jenkins informs a southern scribe that his record for one season numbers SO firsts, so that Deeley, who left for Sydney yesterday, is still in the rear, with a creditable S8 victories. For winning at Gisborne Armagh does not put up a penalty in the Hack Steeplechase at Trentham, and even a Tall-eyed Chinaman could pick the favorite in that event. Bronze is to be reserved for weight-for-age events in Australia. The Highden flyer was withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup before weights appeared. That surprise-packet Bally is said to be going well, and will probably sport *ilk at Riccarton next month. The Egmont Racing Club performed a generous act in granting the EgmontWanganui Hunt Club £l5O. The Hunt Club meeting will take place at Wanganui on August 20. Bookies are barred, but you may bet your best girl a 7s 6d pair of gloves to a bob tie on any event. John and Darby Paul work regularly together on the Wanganui tracks, and their tasks have been most promising. John appears to hold his rival safe over a distance, and should be in great trim when the National Hurdles come up for decision. The other members of P. Coffey's team, Compass and Ngatiruanui, have been acquitting themselves well, and all were booked to leave for Trentham yesterday. By the same train. F. Tilley's horses Goodwin Park, Kilrain and Postillion, were to go to Wellington. The trio are reported to be in good nick. Goodwin Park will contest the Winter Hurdles, Kilrain the Te Aro Handicap, and Postillion the Trial Plate. The last-named is worth watching. The V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race bore a New Zealand flavor, the winner turning up in Wingarara—owned by the er-New Zealand sportsman. Lou Robertson—and Tidden by J. N. McGregor. Mr. Robertson specialised in trotters in this country, but "mixes 'em" in Victoria, and has won many races with the champion trotter Dan Patch, as well as the hurdler Merrie Monarch, and others. The following anecdote may have whiskers on it, but it is worth recording as an example of a cheery sport's wit. While manoeuvring a horse and cart in the street the whole concern backed into a large plate glass window, and the latter went the way of all fragile things. The shop-keeper tacked up a sign: "Result of Backing Horses!" and bustled round to draw his dividend from the Plate Glass Insurance Company. Already a good crowd of visiting horses are quartered at Trentham, and their work is keenly watched. Captain Jingle. Amaru, Continuance, Tui Cakobau, La Reina and a host of others are reported to be galloping well. Lance Chest, winner of the Princess of Wales Stakes at NewmaTkct, is a three-year-old gelding by Carbine's best son in England. Spearmint, winner of the Epsom Derby and Grand Prix de Paris. Spearmint is quickly making a name for himself in England, and promises to prove himself a big advertisement for old Carbine. The ex-New Zealander Iteumac went lame shortly after going to Sydney, but is said to have recovered now, and has resumed work at Randwick. Reumac, when well, was a great little fencer and, judging by the good rim experienced by second-raters in the stick events across the Tasman. will quickly pay his way. Gaby, who was recently shipped to Sydney, has been entered for the Ascot Thousand. When a member of Fred Tilley's team, the pony showed glimpses of great speed, but he w;>.s a hard horse to train, and won few races. A. Mf-Flynn's five victories at Gisborne place him at the top of the list of winning riders over hurdles, his score being •il'tceu firsts as against 'Tartar'' Julian's fourteen. McFlynn is in great demand for forthcoming stick events. This is alleged to be a true bill.—A well-known trainer received a telegram the other day. and. not being too well up in the nri of rending, handed it on to the "head lad" with the remark: "Just read that at the top of your voice, and see what you think of it." The lad read U out and said: "Why! It's from your brother. Bill." "Of eonrse il is." laughed the trainer: "blimc! I .-hould have known his writing!"