SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 24 December 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Dee. 2d, 28.—Taranaki ■).('. Christ mai. Dec. 2l>, 2S.—Dunedin J.C. Summer. Dec. 2<i, 2S, 211. --.Manawutu !!.('. Summer. Dec. -,' i, 20, Jan. 1, Auckland K.O. Summer. Jan. I, 2.—Strut ft : vd H.C., Annual. TCKI' TOI'KS. (liy "Moturoa.") Once again thi-. scribe tenders to readers of these notes a very happy ClirWlius, and a successful lime at the trariiosi for Tarnm'k: :.jmrU will he tieTaranaki Christinas meeting, wliicli promises to be unite as successful as former gatherings. ilaee meetings will be held all over (he Dominion, but outside our own meeting our interest centres mainly on ftllcrslie and Awapuni. where a number ol' our noises are engaged. To return to the Taranaki meeting: The programme opens with the Huatoki Plate (seven furlongs), for which eighteen have been entered. There are some very ordinary nags amongst them but Combustion, (llemoy, and possibly Conguard may s-hmv up well. Watine and Qui) Vadis may share favouritism in the Stewards' Hack Handicap (six furlongs). and Kalua and florist will be well supported in the I'.ahotu Hurdles. To:; Tere figures in two eumts, the Borough Handicap and Lcpperton Welter. He is in good form at present and should play a prominent part in the settle- 1 ment of cither event. I'ewi I'oto will '• carry 10.2 in the Christinas Handicap (!] miles), and admirer;! of the black horse reckon that weight will not stop him. Wild Lupin and Sir Antrim (if started) may run well with their light imposts. The field for the Flying Han- % dieap may be a very smalf one. Play > Off is engaged at Awapuni on Saturday, and Astor is in Wanganui. If Play Off starts here lie should run well, but in his -.'bsence Kaniki (on his track form at Hawera), may lie travelling as fast as anything at the finish. Combustion, Olenroy and '/Ann look as dangerous as anything else in the Warea Hack ■Scurry. Everything is in apple-pie order for really enjoyable meeting here on Saturday and Monday, and there ..tiould be a record attendance. Tiie Auckland Cup promises to see about sixteen horses go to the post. Reputation has paralysed the betting, ami good prices can be obtained about almost anything else. Sinapis, Warstep, Royal Irish, Prince; Merriwee and SoultikofT all have admirers, and if Reputation is beaten it may be by Soultikoff or Warstep. The race looks very open, and is anything but a Reputation Stakes! Twenty should see the post in the Railway Handicap. Downham is the ''hot still!'," but much depends on a start in such a field. Patronale has been galloping so brilliantly at Ellcrslie that he is bound to run well, and Rauci and Prince Soult are also very fit. Kitty Bellairs is a quick beginner and has a rough chance. The fireat Northern Foal Stakes will see Arran pitted against the best of the southern two-year-olds. The Aueklander may bcat'all but Desert Cold. The Shortlan'd Plate (one mile) has attracted Austin, Fisher and other fair "milers." Hadj and Shaki are nicely weighted ill the' Robinson Handicap, * and Monojaek in the Christmas Handicap. The Orafton ] Hurdle Race looks like providing a race between Te Onga and Admiral Soult. Tin; Manawatu Cup, does lot appear to have filled very well, but last year's winner (Kilrain) is in, and Ladoga, Kooya and one or two others niay be reckoned on to run out twelve furlongs. If Kilrain was in his old form there would be nothing else in it, but at present both Ladoga and Kooya are fitter horses. Victoria has ail outside chance. Ararat will carry n lot of wealth in the Trial Plate at Awapuni. Oerberga will carry the Highden colours at the Manawatu meeting. The handicappcr has given her plenty of weight. Royal Arch is in a class of his own in comparison with the Nursery field at Ellerslie. Square Deal is in fine form at present ami will win a good race at any moment. Cirandson eame a bad cropper at Wanganui recently, and may not race at New Plymouth. I'angitero looks like playing a big , part in the settlement of the' Juvenile at

nicnorcliy continues to gallop nicely and should win a stick event at the Christmas meetings.