SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1916, Page 7

SPORTING.

WANGANUI NOTES. (By "Moturoa,") 'Writing from Wang&nui at noon oil Wednesday "Moturoa" has little doubt that the Wanganui racing carnival, two days gallops and two days trots, ia going to prove as big a success as that of last year. The weather is beautiful and the influx of visitors is apparently little affected by the war, though conscription would do a great benefit to racing by roping in a big army of gaily attired guessers, "half-pie" jocksters and card sharpers who have bobbed up again. Racing could spare these gentry. They are a curse, and are mainly responsible for the hard words that are said about a grand old sport. Still, the kill-joys must have something to partly justify their antagonism. Thanks to racecourse detectives a big proportion of this scourge never gets on a racecourse, but they reap their harvest from tlie mugs who think they can pick the double, or play cards or some other gentle pastime at which the "sharpers" excel. It is surprising the credulity of some folk! Practically all the horses engaged on the opening day have arrived. Hyttus, Centre, Vascular, and Mandoline comprised the Karamu team which arrived on Monday night. Fred Davis has brought the Jackson Stakes candidate, Tete-a-Tete, and Bjorneborg. Chortle, Multiplication, Merrie Land, and Multiply came on Tuesday afternoon, and Ladify in the evening train. Other recent arrivals included Tree Lucerne, Welcome Nugget, Collector, Styraxi, Flying Start, Sedd-ul Bahr, and Pariform. The winding-up gallops on Tuesday morning were very interesting. The Cup candidates, Colonel Soult, Tangihou, and Master Lupin galloped well over a mile and a quarter, Mullingar shaping poorly. F.mperador put it all over Housewife in a sterling mile gallop, and El Gallo went six furlongs in good style. On the morning's work Colonel ' Soult and Tangihou pleased most. The sprinters given fast work included Nones, Bimeter, Avon Park, Tree Lucerne, Interlude, Moulu, etc., and Nones showed to most advantage. Flying Start only did slow work in the morning, but lie was spun up over five .furlongs later in the day, acquitting himself -well. The lesser lights, Florist, Bronk Delaval, Zola, and Mandoline all went well.

The final gallops on Wednesday saw most of the big guns doing sprinting work only. Multiply, picked up by Chortle at five, ran six furlongs in 1.10. • Both finished together, and it was a good gallop, Ladify and Sir Alba did slow work, and Colonel Soult, El Gallo, Housewife, Emperador, Master Lupin, Lady Penury and others only sprinted. Welcome Nugget went round slowly and then galloped a mile with Collector, the pair finishing together in 1.51. Welcome Nugget ran on the extreme outside of tho course all the way, so the go was net .", bad one. St. Gate and /Sfyrax went round the hurdle.?, bctli fencing safely though thoro *■«•: not mucn dash in' the performance. Styrax did not appear to relish the hard going, and was lame on returning to the saddling enclosure. Tree Lucerne looks tucked up, and ttic touts will not have him here. The Wanganui Cup should draw at least ten runners—a nice, handy field. On track form Colonel Soult, Tangihou and Master Lupin appear to he as fit as anything engaged, and the pub"c may find it hard to choose between tho trio on the day. The Auckland division reckon Colonel Soult will "walk in," and their confidence may not be at fault. Welcome Nugget is sure to carry a lot of Taranaki money, but the distance ivay tie him up. If Emperador starts he will surprise the touts, as his track work has not been suggestive of distance racing. Tangihou 13 in form again, and may be the Colonel's toughest opponent. The Flying presents a whole bunch of difficulties, and it is hard to say what will finish up favorite. Nones, Chortle and Flying Start are in big demand in doubles, and if the first-named goes to the post she will have a very big following. The minor events will probably see Multiplication, Lady Penury, .Florist, Ararat, Bonny Dream, Flingot and Moutoa Queen in big demand on the machine.