SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 244, 24 March 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa".) Considerable rain has fallen at Bulls this week and the course h bound to be fairly sticky to-day, when the Kangitikei Baring Cluli's annual meeting will he commenced. Acceptances are fairly good, and include King Chiara, Ratana, Boldstroke, Katua, Sylvan Dale, Classis, Tyson, Incuru, and other Taranaki horses. The meeting will wade to a close on Thursday. Punters in search of winners at Bull* should keep their optics skinned for "mud larks." There used to be on* really bad patch on the Eangitikei Club'.track, and considering the rain the "patch" may have spread round the track until it has met on the other fiide.

Winners at Masterton and Opunake have been rc-handicapped for Bulls as follows:—Scott Memorial Handicap. Coldstream 9.C; Ohakea Hurdles, Katua 9.12; Ngatiapa Hack Handicap, Martingale 8.0; Carnarvon Hack Handicap, Martyress 8.3. The above were, ior some unaccountable reason, not wired through, but they are official.

A sextet figure in the Scott Memorial Handicap. Coldstream may be troubled with 9.G, and may find Ineuru and New York hard to extend at the weights. Naupata has only to run up to Wanganui form to warrant solid support in the Ohakea Hurdles.

Sylvan Dale may carry a lot of Taranaki bullion in the Pukenui Welter. Vladian and Ladoguer will also be well 'backed.

The Rangitikei Cup promises to be the race of the day. Probably seven horses will go to the post—this is if Sir Alba does not frighten more out. Ararat has a nice handy weight, and is fancied by the Fordell "heads." The Wanganui Cup winner, Master Lupin, is also very fit, and Mr. J. Bull is right after that cup. Probably Master Lupin and Sir Alba will be the Lest conditioned horses there to-day.

If New York is reserved for the Carnarvon Hack Race nuntcrs may not require much prompting. Martyress :s also in winning vein, and Fore is said to he galloping well. The race looks open.

Austin may carry the hopes of a ho?t of Wanganui-ites in the Parewanui Welter, but he ran like a rogue at Masterton last week, and appeared to he anxious to savage several of his opponents there. Fore is nicely treated with Bst, and Ratana 9.C has nothing to complain of. A big crowd of moderates figure in the Trial Plate, including Coropet, Black Ada and Mahlstick. If the former runs up to Opunake form he may prove a worthy Taranaki representative. Sir Moseley, who threw in the sponge at Hawera on Sunday, was an expensive horse for Taranaki sports. Coming from Hawke's Bay with a big reputation, he was purchased by Mr. A. W. Gillies for something in the region of <KX)gs with the object of mopping up what looked like a "soft snap"—the Egmont Stakes. How Rcwi Poto and Gladiole put in all over him that day'is history, and unfortunately for his party his three-year-old brilliancy was never regained. A win in the Winter Oats at the Wanganui winter meeting, nnd, appropriately enough, another in the Farewell at New Plymouth, were th,» only bright spots on an inglorious round of the calendar. A good horse, undoubtedly, when well, but the question was always asked: "What was the matter with Sir Moseley?"