TURF TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1915, Page 7

TURF TOPICS.

(By "Moturoa.")

handicaps are always interest-.' ing, particularly to those who are in the ha,bit of picking out a fuw well-treated horses to follow during tflie ensuing season. Marton weights were declared yesterday, and now offer food for speculation. A good number of Taranaki horses are engaged there, and the gathering promises to bo an interesting one. ■Mr. Geo, Morse had a fine Tot to Weight in the Marton Handicap, one and a quarter miles. Haakayne is favored by, the distance, and though lift does not win often, still his occasional victories are of such an impressive order that be could not have been let in under Oat. Awahou, on Wangmnui form (both summer and winter), is not overweighted with SAi, and will probalbly hold Lady Louisa 8.8, Mummer 8.0, Maniaroa 8.0 and Kaminohe 8,0 quite safe at the weights. Mr. J; Bull's other candidate, Master Lupin, is also handily weighted With 7.13. Royal Anns lias broken down and may be passed over. Glenroy 7.0, is sure to have many friends, .but (Red Book, on the same mark, has more pretonuio.jis' to get the distance. If jiu. lias not slowed El Gallo his par, nave little to complain of with 7.5. Fortify and Shaki are both well trealed. On the whole it is what might be termed a flattering handicap. The Ormond elect is always hard to Ibeat in tin < race, and most danger may conie from Awahou. I

Crown Pearl heads the list in the Railway Handicap with fl.O, but tihe ancient fellow may not he equal to conceding his stable-mate Glenroy, 41bs. With the exception of Rangitiro and Mia Cara the rest will not claim many friends in Taranaki.

The minor events look open. Of the big crowd of twenty-seven more or leas "rummies" in the Hack Hurdles, Queen's Post 10.10 and Scrutineer 9.3, read well. Captain Mnokay and Nau-pata deserve all their weight in the Hack Steeples! and Hylafcus, Tangihora and Iceberg may find supporters for the Welter. Fidelio.and Hygeia are leniently weighted in the Electric, and Rufus may prove too hot for the moderates in the llynt Steeple.

TJie Fangitikei Hunt meeting takes place on the Marton racecourse on the day following the Marton meeting, thus inducing visitors to make the trip to see two days' racing. Penalties incurred at the Marton meeting will upset ißangitikei weights, but there is sure to lie a number of hot favorites -seen out at the Hunt meeting. The system af de'laring double-barrelled weights—unavoidable in this instance—is mot a good qne, as the Tarajiaki Joetkfiy Club (whose autumn meeting follows the Egmiont meeting) has already experienced.

From all accounts Harbor Light was very unfortunate to miss the National Hurdles. He was ridden a beautiful race, and after running into second position at the home turn, was Closing on Ilurakia, when a stum'blc after landing over the last fence caused his rider and he to part company. Morning's fine brace of victories, at the Grand National meeting make it apthat he should have taken ofT the big steeple on the opening day. If Harbor Light and Morning had been the winning double what a time the Bar Vons would have had