SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 317, 17 June 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By iMoturoa.) ; The HaiW'ke's Bay Jockey Glut's winter meeting will open on Friday, and, judging by the acceptances received, the racing should be interesting. The payments for the jumping events arc not

quite as numerous as' expected, but a good class of horses is engaged, and the fields in the .flat handicaps, are tine. Nine only remain in the Ha-wke's Bay Steeple (about three miles), just as last year... , It.is a:poor lot for a.oOO sovs steeplechase, and one of the oldest established races of• its kind in the Dominion, at that. Some great performers have contested the event, notably Clar,-. ence, Chemist, .Denbigh, Whalebone, Mangaohane, Norton, Moifaa, Nadador and Audax, and the race has always been a fair guide to • Grand National " probables." This year's ifie'.d includes Glcnmore M.2, who won the race with a stone less in the, saddle two years ago, and another tried horse in Soporific, who won so handsomely at Wanganui last month. The remaining seven arc very moderate performers, and on recent form Naupata and The Diver have most to recommend them. Glcnmore has shown poor form since 1913; in fart, did not win a race last season; so' followers of form must prefer the chances of Soporific. The latter is a' hold jumper, and should not be troubled by the fences at Hastings. Loupuki has yet to prove himself proficient over the big fences. On Otaki form, Naupata should hold Bonny quite safe. The for. mer appears to stay well, and being a solidlv built customer may do things this season. Sportsman has run some good races in his day, but his jumping is not as sure as it was. The Diver fences cleverly, but the distance may trouble him. Maku was recently sold for a few notes, and reads like an insult in such a-race. Country Boy has a reputation, but may require experience. Soporific and Naupata ■ may be favorites on the day. Ten remain in the Hawkc's Bay Hurdles, and they are a good lot. Hereford lias ,not struck form yet, but when he does it will (be a case'of collecting. The handieappers are giving him a ehance since he failed at Wanganui and at Ellerslic. hut that'was not Hereford's best by a long chalk. Trentham may see him improving, and there are some fine stakes offering, at Rieearton later on. Flavor is. well in with 11.0 but may gallop to get into the pink of condition.; Immensity Wed badly at Auckland, anil this may tell against, her. Aruake is hitting out better now that the sting is out of the ground, and may be dangerous if the. going is soft. Cornelian will have to fence a heap better than he did at Wanganui to have a chance, but against that he is eoncecded to be in better nick now. V\ has plenty, of pace, but Queen's Post and Arafciatia will % 0 with her as far as she. .likes. Waipunoa showed such remarkable improvement ■in the Century Hurdles that there is no saying how much better he is than Haweva form indicated. The race looks very open, but Queen's Post, Waipunoa and Hereford arc sure to have plenty of friends.

'Merry Lad, Bcilli'n anil Grey Renown read nicely in- the Woodland Hack Steeple, and if .Bollin jumps at a Il well he should nm prominently; Master Webb may lie a hot order in the Hunt Club Steeple, in tyhichrour old friend Kura .figures. Judging by Ruatangiita's performances at Otaki,.the pace will foe solid in the Whakatu Hack Hurdles. Doon is another prad with plenty of pace, and is given a, great chance on Wanganui (first day)'form.

Tlio Heretaiinga Handicap looks open, 'but Beldame, Wild Lupin and Ilymettius will come in for support. Tile remaining flat race, the Winter Hack Handicap, lias attracted twenty-three liorses, including Toki (.wli o won at Ellcrslic recently), Ifaumakaha, Plunder, Danger Signal and other*. I't should provide a better finish -than the Ladies' Bracelet, which it replaces on this year's programme.

Mr. James Hawkins's colt, Lord Multilid, was recently handicapped within 5.0 of Spurn, a weight-for-age winner on the other side. And that for winning only one race!

Ohaminade was put under the hammer iu Auckland the other day, but was passed in at lOOgs. The mishap to Morecam'be turns out to be a ease of badly strained tendons, and tlio horse 'was a'ble to get back with the rest of Orinond's horses last week.

The. Mnltifid guiding Toki has ibeen schooled recently, and jumps well for a beginner. The Auckland Racing Club will disgorge £3313 as the result of Government tax over the recent winter meeting. Although beaten at Ashburton, Our Thorpe got to the end of tbe Cup race in the good time of 4.34, wbicli enables him to qualify for the, New Zealand Trotting Cup in November. Daylight Bill's schooling over the big fences has not been particularly brilliant of late.

lAfter a brief let-down, Warstep is ] in easy work again in view of spring engagements. ENGLISH RACING. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright London, June 15. The New Derby resulted:— Pommern ■ 1 Let Fly B Bossendale 8 OYER-RACIXG IN WESTRALIA. Perth, June 18. Starting with a credit o.f £3055, tbe Westralian Turf Club ended the year with a debit of £3856. This is laTgely attributed to over-racing. The club voted ffH)o<) to tbe war funds.