SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 237, 25 February 1913, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. ("By Moturoa.") Last -week Wanganui trainers were taking sprinting turns in a general prayer for rain. Jupiter Pluvius took heed on Friday and sent the moisture down good and strong. Friday night it teemed, Saturday and Sunday it f fell in bucketfuls, ami this morning (Monday) the whole bottom appeared to have fallen out of the rain barrel. At time of writing—noon—the weather looks like clearing up. The tracks are wet, but under a strong westerly are quiekly giving up their superfluous dampness. Everything promises to be in fine trim for Thursday's heats.

At present there are few horses here and Die training work isn't worth mentioning. Autumnus and Masterpiece continue to run along nicely and good gallops are expected of them on Tuesday morning, Mr. K. J. Watt's trio—(..'lied-, dar, Jason and Ventura—arrived on Saturday and did easy work this morning. A big crowd of horses will <be railed through to-day and more will arrive tomorrow.

A dozen horses remain in the Wanganui Cup, the most noticeable defection being Dearest, Bronze is a scalding hot bookmakers' favourite, and Masterpiece, Cheddar, Labor Day and Lady Menschikoff next in the alleged betting sheets. Hood reports come from Awapmii of Bronze's gallops, and. with only lib more in the saddle than she won" with last year she must be hard to beat. Masterpiece is looking a ball of muscle and will be dangerous if in a mood for racing. Lady Meiisehikoff failed to see it out last year with 7.9 against her name, hut with 0.9 the tale may be a very different one. Domino ran third last time with the same weight as he.will carry on Thursday. A further payment falls due to-night (Monday), but, all the horses are expected to hold their ground. The latter is the general opinion, but this morning's paper may prove this scribe a prevaricator. Racing was ever so, Horatio !

Several scratching pens must have been worn'to mere stumps in connection with the minor events at Wanganui, but still sufficient remain in to ensure good racing. Lucerne, Patronale. Orattan. Tree Lucerne, and other Taranaki horses have dropped out of the Petrn Handicap and the race looks like proving a battle between Postillion. St. Luap and Black Lupin.

Vocation is tlio most noticeable withdrawal from the Juvenile Handicap, .hut (he stable will he represented bv a smart one in Imagination. Pcronilla. Jason, and Princess Moutoa are well fancied. St. Serf. Styrax and Kathleen Mavonrneen have declined their engagements in the Wiritoa Handicap, hut Patronymic and White Crane still hold their positions to represent the butter province. Monologue is much discussed and Patronymic. Postillion and Bckkho all have partisans. Xgatiruanui lias been withdrawn from both hurdle races and ('ornrdian from flic open event. Sleaconibe reads best in the birr vaee and Allure, Serenitv and Aem a-amongst the hacks. Master Sylvia will be nmontrst the runners in' (his event, but it is hard to imagine what Clemency was left in for. "Most of (]>» ton-wields have been withdrawn from (he Stewards' Handicap, but foil the Sliaiisrhrann. Palriotic and Ped Lupin arc still in. Kat.ua and Manawakaha were not uaid nn for. Tf Patriotic gallops a> well as he did at Hawern he should not he far awnv at the finish, and Con (he is always fit- for a smart, aallop. Cevlon is one of the best treated in the handicap.