SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 41, 9 July 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

NOTES BY "MOTUROA." N.Z. OUP ASPIRANTS. Tke fact- that dosing time for entricj for MIC New Zealand Oup was delayed until last Priday evening did not havo any marked etiect in the number of hordes entered for the big Riccartoa l:iiiulica|i. in fact, only sixty-six hordes were noniin.iti'd, a number thai is inlow the average of recent years, and uf thtttc quite two-thirds have done nothing to suggest that their chance of fo 1 - li.wing in the footsteps of Sinapis w. piiv better than that of "Buckley." It horses were gifted with human intelligence quite one half would be flatt-T-J ed to death if they saw their names u: { the list! Coming back to the "good una" entered we lind Sinapis (winner of the N.Z., Wangannd, and other Cups), S r Solo (Auckland Oup), lvilrain (ilaiuwatu and Wellington Cups), Sea Pi l .; v (runner-up in last year'* N.Z. Cup) and the weight-for-age "cracks" Merrie Ro >, Ohorubini, War Step and Bonny Helen: while useful ones like Koonya, Boil Reve, Thrax, Expect, La lteina and Lord Renown are al6o engaged. The most noticeable absentee seems to be Olonc! .Sodt. ' aranaiki is not strongly represented iii this year' 3 Gup. Tie locally-owned (but Fordell trained) Bojiny (Helen looks the most promising candidate. Maniaroa looks a commoner but seems to be a great stayer, and that is what made ordinary-looking customers like Kilmarnock (afterward# Sir Prize), Uhlundo, and others, dangers over a disItance of ground. Royal Arms is in again and may improve with age. Ch&minade lias always been going to do aomething big, and a N.Z. Cup nomination just makes it appear that his party are as stnguine as ever. It is a fine trait, but one likely to prove expensive where racehorses are concerned. On the face of it, Taranaki's prospects are not very bright. WELLINGTON ACCEPTANCES. The Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting will break the spell of monotony on Wednesday next and the following Saturday. As a guide to National prospects the Trenthan gathering commands a powerful interest, and judging by the lengthy acceptance list for next week's racing line sport should be provided. The Taranaki horses engaged include Bercola and Exotic (Wellington Steeplechase); Darby Paul, Kurnalpi, and Royal Arms (Winter Hurdles); Gerberga and Mulga Bill (Steward's Handicap, and Cheddar, (Vittoria Hurdles). Paritutu has declined his Steeplechase engagement, and Crown Pearl'? name is missing from the list for the Steward's Handicap. Darby Paul takes on the hurdle race in preference to the | crosß-cwuntry event. Most of the local I horses will arrive at Trenthain on Sa-t----j uxday or Monday, and their track form ■ there will be followed with interest. The 1 various events have filled splendidly, as ! the following figures -,how: —Wellington Steeplechase "(19), Winter Hurdles (IK), Parliamentary Handicap (11), Vittoria Hurdles (12), Stewards' Handicap (21), Hack Steeple (10), and Te Aro Hack Handicap (24). CURRENT TOPICS. Ngatiruanui, when trained at Ha- !• wera, was always considered a possible Grand National Hurdle Race winner. Endowed with hne pace, and being u ( quick jumper, he seems joist cut out )tor the task. H is pleasing therefore to know that the brown Maniaopoto gelding is getting a fine preparation at hilerslie for the star item of the National meeting. In «omipany with Admiral Soult he has been fencing admirably, and Ills showing on the flat at the Auckland winter meeting shows that he is just about at the top of his form. Montaft, winner of the Victoria (■rami National Hurdle Race, was ridden by the ex-New Zeilander 11. Cairns, ami would probably have started favorite in that event last Saturday. Despite rumors to the contrary Blue--tone is likely to race at Tr'cntham n. \i week. The grey, has Ix-en standing l u»i to hard work, and judging by what some owners say, has frightened a good few out of the open flat handicaps set down for decision on Wednesday next. Te Onga and Admiral Soult continue to get through good work and are likely to race at tie Wellington tneetin". ■Jockey A. ,1. llcPlynn will ride Admiral .Sou It. Mr. \Y. R.. Tuck is not without hop"s of getting old Antarctic amongst, the winners once more. Trainer -Jimmy'' eanhey has expended mountains of caie on the old fellow's preparation, which consists- of hours daily of hill Work on the sand dunes which di.-tij;-ure Wangaimi's seaside. F. Flyun came over on Monday to =ehoo! the horse, and all going well the '"■•serisii will sport the "cerise an! French jjrev" at Tientsin next week. Weight* fo r the Grand- National, and for the Winter Cup, arc due on Friday week. Glemnore ha?, dropped out of the Wellington Steeplechase, but the mectin" bet ween Peary, The Spaniard, Bercohi. Jackinan and Exotic should be worth going a lonsr way to see. j Amongst the more noticeable withdrawals from first day's engagements , at, Trenthan] are.—Mvsteriach. .VJumjmer, Merry Lad, La" Reina, l.eontn, r layer. Kilmeny, forest Prince, and Goodwin Park.