SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1916, Page 7

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN RACING. Australian-N.Z. Cable Association. Sydney, August 21. Colonel Soult has been scratched for the -Metropolitan Handicap. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Dannevirke Steeplechase meeting takes place to-day. The acceptances are fine all round, but the weather is execrable, and the Dannevirke Club will he fortunate if the gathering is got off in anything but rain and mud. Under the circumstances punters may find the task of picking winners anything but a parlor pastime. Marton is in the boom for the Dannevirke Steeples, though a capable fencer like Kirkby has always to be reckoned with, Light-weights may have all the best of the heavy going, and possibly Rounmnia, Waiorewa, Ooldbearing and tfylami may find favor in the minos' events. In all cases the issues appear to be very open. New Zealand Cup weights appeared on Monday, and the 'critics are now busily engaged tearing the handicaps to pieces. There is a good deal of "rubbish" engaged in this year's Cup, and consequently Mr. J. 'Henry has had to hoist the good ones particularly high. 'Eligible heads the list with 9.3, closely followed by Balboa 9.2, and Chortle 9.1. Then follow Bee 8.10, Merry Roe 5.9, Colonel Soult 8.4, and Indigo 5.3. Of the top-weights Eligible. Colonel Soult and Indigo read best, but it seems iiardly likely that the winner will come from that division. Rorke's Drift and Black All are well in with 7.13, and Welcome Nuggett is about right with 7.11. The three-yeitr-old Kilboy has 7.7 (weight-for-age), and he is likely to be one of the early favorites. Lower on the list Bjorneborg 7.0, Master Moutoa 0.8, and Despatch Carrier -0.8, are the most promising of the lightweights. The Bar Vons may be depended upon to make Kilboy, Eligible and Colonel Soult the early favorites. Balboa carried 5.5 when he beat Blackall (7.7) by a head in the Auckland Cup. On that form Blackall appears to have the best of the 'Weights in the New Zealund Cup. Kilboy's last appearance as a two-year-old was in the Challenge Stakes at the Canterbury J.C. autumn meeting. His weight-for-age was 0.10. but he carried 7.3, and won in hollow fashion from Emperador !),3, Koesian 7.1, and Eligible, Flying Start, Egypt, (!reen4reet and other smart ones. J The seven furlongs were flung behind in 1.27 1-5 and the lvilbroney colt finished like a stayer. He is at present in 'Stralia, but will be back before the Cup meeting. Marton entries include a whole host ot Taranaki-owned horses. Amongst those engaged are: 'Paraoa, Analogue, Lord Multiiid, Golden Grafton, Astor, Depredation, Lady Amai, Rewipoto, Los Angelos, Glenroy, Ticino, Captain Miro, Crawford, Patronymic, Key, Expedition, Maniaroa, Maid o' Cowrie and Harbor Light.