SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 116, 2 October 1912, Page 8

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS.

(By "Aloturoa.") A Sydney cablegram states that Canute lias been scratched for the A.J.C. Derby, and Vice-Admiral for the Spring Stakes.

.the devil looks after his own," there's no doubt of it! The .only two fine days in Wanganui last week wore race days. The remaining five spasms were wet and wintry, and sportsmen must consider themselves lucky that they were able to enjoy their sport without getting wet-footed. There was a record crowd on the course on Saturday, and the sport was good to watxili. First day's form worked out as far as Hawick i and Fashion Plate were concerned, while new arrivals in Makara, Patriotic, Phroso and The Native accounted for other events. Mr. Skipwith had a wretched crowd of horses to deal with, and was hardly seen at hip best at the Darrier. The crowd gave him a warm time after one particularly poor start, but from all appearances one of the jockeys who was "left" had been gazing on the festive bowl too much that afternoon, and 'he neither got his horse into position nor made any attempt to leave the mark when the barrier lifted. The stewards missed a tine opportunity to preach a stirring moral lesson to imbibing horsemen, but there was "nothing doing!" Makara was specially brought up from Palmers ton for the Ow.en Handicap, and started favourite. The St. Clements gelding was only fairly fortunate in a ragged start, but Billy Price let 'him make up lost ground very gradually, with the result that he got in front fifty yards from home, and won cleverly. Piriwai was plainly suffering from sexual troubles and ran much better than expected. , Prosper had .every chance, as on the first day, but showed no brilliancy. Merry Frank and Master Sylvia were so badly left that they had no chance at all.

It seemed quite like old .times to see Jenkins astride one of Mr. J. Prosser's horses, and when he appeared on Aratiatia there was mo doubt as to what would be favourite. Postillion, Topic. Semaphore and Lady Mildred were well supported. The "correct card" threw out a tip which wasn't noticed. It read, "Signals—denoted by Semaphore." From a ragged start Lockwood and Semaphore shot out first), and- the race was merely a procession. Lockwood stopped at the distance and Semaphore ran in an easy winner. Avaunee Tan third practically all the way.:' The favourite was badly placed throughout and was carried wide at the home turn. Postillion was about third from, the . tail 'fend after .the field had traversed a furlong, but managed to get into fourth place at the finish. Hawick scored in the Brunswick Hurdles, a mile and a half, from 1 end, to' eild. Though looking very big the Porirua jumper led for'that distance in the longer race on the first day, but the public j would stand nothing but Coronetted and, Sandy Paul. 'The former made some sort of an attempt to get up to Ha wick three , furlongs from homie, but the other run- ■ ners showed no interest in thie race at] all. Mr.' H. Eva brought Higliden up from Awapuni for the race, but the old' gelding wouldn't (or couldn't) gallop a yard, and tailed off all the way. Koran was never near the front, and wasn't much backed, anyhow. The race was to all appearances a most unsatisfactory one, The time, 2min 53 4-ssec, was poor for the class of 'horses engaged, and considering that : the hack hurdles was run in two seconds faster time there was not much the matter. with the track. Fashion Plate made herself out to be a really smart mare by gathering in the Aram olio Hack Hurdles. Aviatrix cracked on a solid pace and led from the' start right up to fifty yards from 'home. Then Fashion Plate got a crack with the whip and saiied in an easy winner. St. Felix did not run up to expectations—he lias a great private reputation—and Timothy's showing -was much below hie previous effort at the meeting. Aviatirix jumped well, and is a mare worth watching.

[ Lady Lucy was produced far the Higgle Handicap, wearing front leg bandages, but looked well, and the New* Zealand Cup candidate is * reported to be standing up to solid work in view of next month's big liamdLcap. She was last to leave the mark on Saturday, but finished full of running, arid the gallop should do her good. The Native was in front over the last mile, and won very easily. Merrivonia might have been better handled. She was raced from almost last to second place between the six and four furlong poets, and though she got alongside The Native in tho straight, she lacked a finishing run, and had to put up with second money. Mulga Bill was well placed in the early stages of the race and then faded out of it. Men dip and Sandstream made up ground towards the finish, and may do better later on. Lady Menschikoff was fancied by her party and ran well, finishing close up, fourth. Byron came through in the straight and secured third place. The son of Martian was only started once at the meeting, and ho looked in good fettle. He may get amongst the winners soon. Otahu was solidly supported, but the company is above him, and. he was never near the front. Royal Marine was running on at the finish. Phroso, for whom a good word was spoken after winning at the Wanganui Hunt Club meeting, was second favourite to Sam Pan in the Moutoa Hack Handicap. Phroso got in front at the turn, and, although challenged strongly by Sam Pan, stayed 011 gamely and won by a narrow margin. Tiwa-ri was ridden a "watching" race, and Alluar ran

much below his first day s form. The money came hot and strong for Equitas in the concluding event, and R. Hatch essayed to.win all the way. NorthEast was not' backed with any degree of enthusiasm, and Jenkins failed to get him away with the crowd, the chestnut be'iri^'wallted'baek to-the'enclosure. Con the Shaughraun ran his usual good race, j and finished close up behind the placed Worses, ' Con is a much better sprinter! than most people imagine, and ha should pay his way this season. Patriotic was I close behind Equitas from the jwmp, and I got in front at the bottom of the' straight. Young Nodder, who was oil Patriotic, appeared: to be interfered with at that point, but he managed to get | clear, and rode his mount out strongly. I Lady Kileheran looked to be about leVel | with Patriotic at the distance, and then j fell back, only to come again with a ( great trust of speed over the last twenty j yaTds. Most people thought the lightweight had won, but the judge said 'Tafcriotic, by a head." _ Conomandel was in |

a handy position throughout and finished well. Lady Moutoa causal a lot of trouble lit tlir ban i. r, iui',l- h.vt man, lengths when the tapes lilted. Vocation was another of the unfortunate on'.s at the post, and did well to finish sixth. Kilrain was never dangerous, and cannot l>e the wonder our Fordell friends say he is. The light-weights, Ngafciruanui, Mallard and Muleteer got away badly, and were carried off their feet in the first half-mile.

Following were the principal winning owners at the meeting:—Messrs. \Y. and G. L. Stead, £420; Tinii Ptini, £195; Tlon. J. D. Ormond, £170; J. llarle, £140; VI. Bertram!, £135; F. Hall, £125; X. Wilson, £125; J. Foreman, £125; J. O'Meara, £105; A. Alexander, £9U; J. Jackson, £9O; J. IT. Prosser. £9O; P. Soames, £9O; and G. F. Moore, £9O. I Mr. C. Mumby won £25 as the result !of Sandy Paul's efforts.

Winning jockeys wete: —'R. Berry and W. Young, two -winfi each; W. Price, F. Meagher, G. Lee, H. Trucklebank, C. Carmont, L. Nodder, E. Murtagh, and J. Conquest, one apiece.