SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 243, 4 March 1913, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (liy "Moturu.;.") Winners should not be hard to pick at Dannevirke to-morrow. Timothy stored a long overdue win in tlic Okoiii Hurdles on Saturday. Taranaki-trained horses won the tour hurdle race--, at (lie Wanganui meeting. What price Masterpiece? The last (on the (ji-dt day) shall be the first (on the second). The besi b;t on Saturday was Postillion, who just cantered home as on Thursday. Miru could not gallop a yard in the Wanganui Stakes, notwithstanding that A. Olliver was in the saddle. The grey was never near the front. Sandy Paul's douhlo win was very pleasing to Mr. Mum by. The latter was smiling right round to the back of his neek on Saturday, and a good salesman might have sold him a motor-car, a racehorse, or a perambulator on the spot.

For n colt that on form could not be bcat'pn, Autumntis paid a good price in the Jidkson Stakes. A crowd of punters who should have know better went for Peronilla and Gladiole—and lost! Staying is not T'eronilla's strong point. In the Juvenile Handicap she was rolling all over the course at the end of five, and in the Jackson Stakes, when up with the leaders at the home turn, she just curled up and finished last. Crown Pearl had A. Olliver on board when he went out to contest the Farewell Handicap. lie moved strongly in "prrlitn." and was fourth favorite on the chaff-cutter. Phroso and Crown Pearl, Nos. 1 and 2 respectively, anticipated the starter, and the Taranaki horse went off with the tapes streaming behind. The others were scrambling for places, and something got on to Xukuatu, breaking the latter's off foreleg above the knee. The leading pair escaped the scrimmage, and were never headed. Phroso had the rails all the way, and easily held Crown Pearl at a safe distance. The winner paid a false price. She is now a vastly improved mare, and could hold her own in any company. ■

Knutsford and Timothy carried most of the money in the hack hurdle race,, the running in which was very suspicions. Timothy ran Knutsford to, a standstill three furlongs from home, and then several others suddenly woke: up. Timothy had too big a lead to becaught, ' and to all appearances some wise guys dropped a lot of money... "hard." Thu'otlfy would probably haye, won, anyhow'.'bnt the stipendiaries might have asked why a couple of horses werepulled out'at the home (urn. to, appay.-,. ently, let Psercola take the shortest wayhome. The month- was on Kn'utsfgrd, each day, but' the 'Birkenhead gelding has a lot to learri about jumping befpi;<v he will cany any-.of .mine. ■< . ■■! The loss of Xuknatu was a sevpr.e, knock to thc,-Wanganui sportsman. "Mi;.,. Wire Tokina" They say he refused 800 guineas for. the. chestnut recently, and good 'judges .reckoned Nukuat>u would turn out a brilliant sprinter. Mr., Duncan had just had the satisfaction qf seeing Xukuatu's full-brother, Austin,, romp home jn the Harrison Hack Ham/ dicap. and before the glow of victory had been dimmed disaster broke in and spoilt the lot. There is no pleasure (as the monkey said) without pain! Candidly, this scribe reckoned Lady Menschikoff barring interference a really good thing for the Wanganui Stakes. That she beat all but Masterpiece was very pleasing. Masterpiece is unnatural! She returned a fine price for second place, and ran a really game race. They ran 2min. 35 2-sscc., so there was no waiting on the journey. A few weeks ago I expressed the opinion that the Coronets were only one-day horses. Whereat several friends scoffed.. As if to back my argument, Con the Shaughraun and firattan finished a long way back in their races on Saturday, after showing up well—fourth and third re-peetivoly--on the first day. Luke Wilson was substituted for F. D. Jones on Labor Day in the Wanganui Stakes, and the daughter of Soult was sent out first favorite. She did not go after Masterpiece until half a mile from home, and then had to put up with third place—within a length and a half of the winner.

Eduam, tlio dam of Labor Day. went under the hammer on Saturday morning, and fell to Mr. Anstis' bid at So guineas. Tlio Xukumaru sport was offered something in flic region of 1.10 guineas shortly aftewards. but declined to part with the mare. One of the disappointments of the Jackson Stakes candidates was Culprit. She was one of the first away, and was with the leaders at the bend. In the run home she dropped back to second telast. Multiple's running was a surprise to his party. Mr. Parker only had a solitary pound on the son of Multifid, and did not give him a chance. Just before they turned for home, the Gisborne nag was about six lengths back, but he came through on the rails and finished up very fast, a length and a half behind Autumnus. Only seven horsemen got amongst the winneis at the meeting. O. Kmmerson •5. W. 801 l 3, A. MoFlvnn 3. A. Ollivcr 2. and P. Flvnn, W. Halloran and W. Weller, one each, were the lneky ones.