SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1916, Page 7

SPORTING.

KACING FIXTURES. Jan. 2!).-—Takapuna J.C. Summer. Feb. 2,3.—Egmont R.C. Summer. Feb. 3, s.—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. s.—Canterbury J.C. Summer. ' Feb. 9, 10.—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 24, £6.—Wanganui J.C. Autumn. THE EGMONT MEETING. (Notes by "Moturoa.") The Egmont Racing Club's summer meeting which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday next, should attract a big crowd of sports from all parts of this coast, and judging by the splendid acceptances received on Thursday evening the racing should be well worth watching. The course is in splendid order, reflecting great credit on the caretaker, Mr. Alf. Morse, and the secretary (Mr. J. Turton), and his assistants have all arrangements well in hand. Convenient train services from New Plymouth, Wanganui and Whangamomona have been arranged, and given line weather the gathering should be a most successful one. The enforced postponement of the Takapuna meeting has proved an unfortunate thing for 'the Egmont Club. Probably owing to the delay of the Takapuna gathering a number of horses have been forced to drop out of their first j day's—if not both days' engagements at Hawera. Master Lupin, Denise Orme, Munster, Glucian, and possibly others have been affected by the clash. The Egmont Cup field has dropped to a moderate seven, quality rather than quantity being represented. The absence of Rewi Poto, Square Deal, Maniaroa, Master Lupin, and El Gallo robs the race of gome interest, but the issue is little the less open, and opinions may be divided when Merry Roe, Welcome Nugget, Emperador, Ineuru, and Co. line up on . .'cdnesday next. The weight of Hawera money may send Welcome Nugget out faverite, but 8.10 may stop him. Merry Roe has only to start to command a following, and Ineuru, on Stratford Cup form, may be 'the most dangerous of the lightweights. A nice lot of a dozen remain in the Flying Handicap, including Bimcter, Tree Lucerne, Glenroy, Play-Off, Sedd-el Eahr and lesser lights. The Taranakt division is a very strong one, and possibly Glenroy and Tree Lucerne will hold their own with outsiders. The minor events have all filled well. The horses weighted for the Ohawe Hurdles hold their ground, while thirteen remain in the Waipapa Hack Handicap; 'twenty in the Mere Mere Hack Handicap; and eleven in the Whareroa Welter.

It is a difficult matter at present to size up the strength of the fields likely to contest the classic events at Hawera, but it is safe to say that Rewi Poto and the best of the local sprinters will have to meet some top-notehers from the leading New Zealand stables, and these races should be the most interesting of the meeting. TURF TOPICS. After two disappointments, the Takapuna summer meeting 'threatens to break out to-day. Provided the course is in good order there should be some interesting finishes at the meeting. Track gallops point to King Lupin, Denise Orme, Merry Roe, Lady Elysian, Gallupin, and Master Kegel as about the fittest horses likely to be seen under silk at Takapuna. Welcome Nugget was in fine form at Trentham, but after a gruelling week of it returned home without a winning bracket. He was a close fifth in the Wellington Cup with 7.13 up, and subsequently carried 7.12 into second berth behind Bee in the W.R.C. Handicap, and finished outside a place with 8.5 in the Consolation Handicap. Welcome Nugget may not be improved by his Trentham efforts, but if himself he should run well at Hawera.

Some people are puzzled over the weights to be carried by certain horses at Hawcra on Wednesday. The solution is 'that the weights were declared on Saturday evening after the liandieapper had viewed the first day's races at Foxton. Paraoa therefore" has no penalty to put up, but Kaniki and Florist, which both won on Monday, are mulcted in 101b additional.

The English-bred filly, Week End, is rather riotous sort of equine. At Trenthnm, she kicked up her heels, bit, bolted and generally acted like an outlaw. One Hawke'a Bay trainer, on whom she tried lier new boots, will be suffering from a Week End for some time.

Master Lupin has been pleasing' the touts at F.llerslie recently, but the question remains, how will he. get on with the sharp turns at Takapnna ? Wangamii nominations received on Thursday night are first rate. The two principal first days' handicaps have filled as follows: Wangamii Cup Handicap (one mile and three quarters).—Mtillingar, Ladify, Lady Penury, Master Lupin, Colonel Soult, Square Deal, Moulu, Bee, Emperador, Nones, Sir Alba, El Gallo, Thoolomi, Housewife. Byron, Maniaroa, Bertrada, Ineuru, Miiirinl.v. Tangihou, Kooya, Balboa, Welcome -Nnjaiet. Flying Handicap (six furl i ..':.--Astor, Interlude, Denise Orme, a.on I'ark, Flying Start, Bonny Dream, Recorder, Centre, Emperador, Nones, Bimeter, Depredation, Sea Lord, Play-Off, Tango, Kaniki, Thoolomi, Mia Cara, Panmure, Pariforai, Postillion, Tyson, Chortle, Crown Pearl, filenroy, Tete-a-Tete. Zeus, Tree Lucerne. In "addition King Chiara, Rewi Poto, Wild Lupin, Royal Chef, Munition, Vestalis, Coropet, Maid o' Cowrie, Pergola, Paraoa, Iceberg, Veto, Hushman, Styrax, Collector, Florist, Syntax, White Blaze, Depredation. Bisogne, Coronita, Sylvan Dale, and other Taranaki horses figure in the minor events. Collector has two wins on the flat to his credit, ar.l wi'h 0.3 in the Ohawe Hack Hurdles "lawera he may bo ].labelled "daitji ■-*' He jumps very well for a new ,i"i>.

Vladinn, who c'n-nnod up ihe stick events at the Taranaki holiday meetings, is enjoying a spell, but will be brushed up shortly for Wanganui engagements. Ton 'fere bobbed up again at Canterbury Park on January S, carrying D.3 to the front from a good field. The race was run over 1} miles and 100 yards, so the Maniapoto—Gallantry gelding appears to be staving on well. The little grass trial track on the Hawcra course was open on Thursday, •the first time, perhaps for twelve months, and the trainers did revel in it, for tho Hawera trainers do love a grass gallop. This does not say nay to their judgment because one of the most suc- , ceasful trainer in New Zealand will not gallop on any other track if he can get a grass, but'there are some horses who do most of their work on the sand, and win races. I understand Hawera lias I one of 'he best sand tracks in. New Zea--1 hind.