SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 110, 25 September 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (133' "Moturoa"). Tie Avomiale Suriurr meet.,, 4 opoiifi today and will he concluded on Saturday. Splendid am-;;lances liave liccn received for tliu lir-i u.i.\ » evfiils, the principal races on tin* card being the -ivundalu Cub and -Aw>ndale Stakes.

Run over mi: popular distance of one mile and a quarter, the Cup crowd mHit have been a better lot, and the withdrawal of tli,- lop-weights is a matter for regret. Public opinion points to Blerwt, Prince Soult and Master Wairiki proving dangerous. Blerioc's position in the alleged betting followed on the withdrawal of La Reina in the fillv's favour and on the mare's recent form"the stable must rate Cleriot verv hiylilv. As a two-year-old Prince SoiilUvas facile princeps (as they say on jam tins) up North and there is no reason why such a brilliant performer (with high Derby possibilities) should not run solidly'to the end of ten furlongs at this stage of his three-year-old career. blaster Wairiki is a horse of moods—mostly bad ones—but on traek form cannot be left out of the reckoning. He is said to be at his best now. The race looks fairly open, and other horses who have been running well lately include Uranium and Sea Elf! Twenty two-year-olds have been .paid up for in the Avondale Stakes. Five claim Soult as sire, three Obiigado and a trio C-hiten. Youngsters generally run very greenly in their first flutter, and tins race has more than once resulted in the unexpected happening. The Hague (Slepniak-Peaee) comes from Napier with a good reputation, and the most promising Ancklamlers are reported to be Monojack and Merry Roe. The Wanganui Spring meeting iwill commence on Thursday, and despite the heavy rains of the last few day* the tracks are in fine order. Brown Owl and Winning Way were brought up last week and more recent arrivals include Bon Keve, Oxenhope, Oakum, Mallard, Lock-, wood, Neirene, Multiply, Our King and ' Nebulc'>s. A big crowd are due to-day, including many horses which were raced ' at Otaki this week. Acceptances are fairly good and to-morrow's gathering promisees to be highly successful.

It appears (hat Mr. Jervois George nominated Crown Pearl, per telegram, for the Henderson and Flying Handicaps at Avondale, but through an error in transmission the horse wan only entered for the shorter race. Mr. George has secured a certified copy of his telegram, which shows that the horse was entered for the Flying, but that was of no avail, and on Friday night Crown Pearl and Duro were allowed to drop out of their Avondale engagements.

Thirty-one horses are carded for the Maiden Handicap to-day, including Haku, Prince King. Manuwera and other moderate performers. The Taranakiowned Karalah (Coronet —Vaecilate) figures in the race, and is said to he a fair sort of a horse.

The Wanganui Guineas have only drawn eight three-year-olds, but if Our King. Brown Owl and Bon (Reve start, which seems certain, a keen race should result .

Red Lupin will he given a flutter in the Henderson Handicap at Avondale. in which the local pony has only Bst 81bs. Xaumai and Monorail are another speedy pair engaged. Tt is amusing to see the hollow-backed hurdler Hcyboy in such company, but they race in all shapes, don't they?

A very moderate crowd will sport silk in the Hurdles. The two miles journeywill probably stop some of them, but Lloyds -will probably be running on at the finish. Paisano's easy victory at Rosehill last week under 12st slhs would prove an eyeopener for 'Stralians. The four topweights. Paisano. Black Northern, Pakau and Rucmac were New Zealand bred', and Hon Quex and John were to be found lower down the scale. Paisano is engaged at the big meetings next month, and ishould do well across the water.

Ifautern has been preferred to Armagh by the Williamson stable for the Avondale Steeples and the selected one will probably carry a lot of money to-d.iy. Two of those engaged are graced with ominous names. Stroller and Bump! Although withdrawn from the Cup La Reina has been accepted for the Islington Handicap, run over seven furlongs to-day, and aha and Taimainupo are said to be the most discussed ones in the race.

Taranaki horses figure largely in the Wang.tnui acceptances, and there is every 'prospect of Lady Menscliikotf, Royal Marine, Con the Shaughran. Piriwai. Sampan. Master Sylvia, Sandy Paul. Darby Pan! and others being seen under silk this week.

Ermengarde showed a disposition to stop at the end of live furlongs last seaon. but it was hoped that the speedy "Ilighden" filly would get over that with age. Her running in Sydney recently is merely a repetition of last year's -performances, and Sydney scribes have written her out for the Epsom and other mile events.

Royal Soult is reported to be bounding along in good style at Arondalc. and his connections consider the little fellow -will be equal to keeping Taketumu, Monorail and Co. !)ii*y in the Flying Handicap this afternoon. The Fordell trainer. Fred Tilley. has all his charges in good nick, and Equitas. Postillion and Kilrain will have a lot of followers at the Wanganui meeting.

'Sydney scribes were much impressed witli the Taranaki-owned Shuja's tuiinina at Tattersall's meeting and expect the son of Soult to run well at Randwick next month. In the Spring Handicap at the llrst-nained gathering Shnja led into the straight and was just beaten by a good (me in the favourite Danaus' (Bohadil—Danaide) after a stirrimg fini-h. Behind the pair were brilliant fcorses like Samlbafh, Vice-Admiral, Cadonia. .Tacamar. Matouree and others, and the mile and a quarter was flung behind in 2min Bsec. Shuja started at a Ion" price and would have returned a healthy dividend if backed, as he probably was. for a place. Canute h the only New Zealander remaining in Cn.- A..1.C. Derby, but. the ,-,,!( has been doing bnuiy of late, and jean have very little chance of winning the coveted blue ribbon next month.