SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 2, 21 May 1914, Page 3

SPORTING.

' WANGANUI NOTES. (By "Moturea"). Wanganui, at noon on Wednesday, js alive with sports from all parts, Taranaki being strongly represented, and bearilytiiugged '•chasers, lighter-limbed tardfers, and thin-legged flat ravers are everywhere. The weather is fine, but a high sou'-westerly wind of piercing coldness has forced everyone into winter raiment, and to-morrow promises to be blustery and very cold. The tracks have dried up splendidly, and the going should be excellent. The big fenees oil the steeplechase course do not appeal t» be bo formidable aa last year, a noticeable improvement being the removal of the hencoop to No. 1 track, thus making the outside track (which has to be traversed on the last round) much less formidable. In the past this hencoop has been responsible for the downfall of many a tiring horse. The lawns and | ornamental grounds are a credit to Caretaker Ityves Webb, and on the wiliole this week's meeting should be a memorable one. Visitors to Wanganui will have an opportunity of attending the Wanganui Amateur Boxing Association's tourney on Friday evening, at which several good contests should be witnessed. The presence of »o many Taranaki-owned hurses in the various events'makes it almost like a Taranaki gathering. Our horses are going well on the tracks, and a-good share of the big stakes offering should go to the "butter province." The acceptances for the first day's racing are very satisfactory, eighty-four horses having been paid up for seven events. Ineuru's acceptance arrived too : tote, and Gladiole "and several others aTe missing from' the lists through oversights on their owners' part. Thirteen remain in the big steeplechase, but only eight figure in the Century Hurdles. The best fields of t&e day will probably be 6een out in the flat races, twenty being in the Purua Hack Handicap, twelve in the Borough Handicap, and. eleven in the Connolly Handicap. The hack 'chasers and hurdlers are a fairly good lot, and racing should be interesting throughout.

Of the horses engaged in the Wanganui Steeple notlung has been going better than Bercola. The Hawera horse gave a finished display on Tuesday morning, and Looks very fit. Glenmorc is reported to be an unlikely starter,, and tlhe stablo may rely on Kauroa. The latter, at the weights, looks more dangerous. The Spaniard arrived on Tuesday and lias done nothing startling since. Of the light-weights Jackman and Sportsman look very fit. Cornelian, after outjumping Aruake on Tuesday morning, advanced to the position of first favorite for the. Century ■Hurdles, and it is only a question of him staying the distance out. Esperato cut his leg very badly at Hastings last week and may not be seen at his best. Player and Huia ihavc many' backers, but Darby Paul may be Cornelian's -most dangerous opponent on the day. Goodwin Park looks well, but might be all the better for a raoe. Aruake, on whom A. J. MeFlynn will have the I mount, is considered a certain starter in the open evcat. With the crack horsemen, Deeley, Emmerson, etc., away in Oama.ru, owners will not have a very select crowd of flat ridere to select from, and the services of A. Olliver, J. Buchanan, W. Bell, .T. O'Shpa, L. Nodder and O. McCarten will be in good demand.

Tihe Connolly Handicap will probably puzzle punters, though Leonta, Goldsizc. Red Book and Mrst Consul appear to have many followers. On Hawera form, Cheddar must have a chance, but First Consul ran so well at Awapuni (wihen Bonny Helen only beat liim on the post by a head) that he and Red Book must be hard to "beat.

Postillion holds his place in the Bor- [ oitgh Handicap, and even with 9.1 may have to be reckoned with. Play-otf looks well anchored with 8.8, but Patron- | ale (8.4) reads well. Sir Moseley ran so ba<lly at Hawera that his friends have deserted him. and Wild Lupin may be the better of the Hawera-trained pair. The Great Mogul may run well, but Spalfish looks as likely as nny of the light-weights. Patronale, Postillion and Spalfish should give their backers a good run for their money. In the Hack Steeplechase, Rxotic and Silver Monarch (presumably Gondolier is reserved for the big steeple) will have plenty of backers. Kurnalpi, St. Gate and Sam Pan are all fancied for the hack hurdle race, and Square Deal, Master Lupin and Lady Klgiva will carry a lot of money in the Purua Hack Handicap. Patronale was brought down to the Wanganui meeting by W. Mantle, under whose charge the roan was placed after the Egmont meeting. Waterworks jarred himself on Tuesday morning and may not be able to start at tihe meetin™.