SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

WANGANUI NOTES. (By "Moturoa"). First day's form worked out very well. . at Wangamii on Saturday, Moutoav' Queen and Thames again being; first home, while Lady Middleton, Bunting nnd Chakwana—all of which won place money on the opening day—got amongst the winners. Rockfield was only produced on the second day, arid won rather easily. The one unsatisfactory item on Saturday's progran/he was Deeley's failure to gather up his lead-bag when he went out to ride Thames in the Harrison Hack face, and the subsequent disqualification of the favorite for carrying 4Mbs under. It was an unfortunate affair, and in the case of an "old hand 1 ' like Deeley the oversight demands explanation. The latter is easily forthcoming. Deeley received a bad spill off Depredation in the Wanganui Stakes, and while still more or less dazed weighed but for the Harrison Hack race, in whjth he was to ride Thames. He was then called in to give evidence irt the inquiry ilito the Stakes mishap, and left his lead bag in the jockey's room. As soon as the stewards had heard his story he was bustled out to mount Thames—the other ho/-es having gone to the post. How Thames won easily, and was disqualified, makes disagreeable reading; but there is the explanation and it rings true.

Bunting carried fist in the Wangamii Stakes, 'd won the-race rather, easily in 2.3-1- .1 record for the race. The previous best was 2.35, which was shared by Master Delaval, Marshal McDonald, and Ladoga. The Australian sportsman, E. J. Watt, has previously won the race with Melodeon. Bunting was a good favorite, and coupled with Chakwana in "doubles" was quoted at About the same price at Egypt—-Tete-a-Tete at Hawera. He was ridden a confident race by Ashley Reed, and appeared to be going easily at the finish. Indigo ran a better tace than he did in the Cup, and finished well. Bjorneborg, ridden by Harold Young—C. Price being on Client thi3 time —was always near the front, and vas a close third. Client, who again began badly, and who was interfered tyith when Depredation "threw out," was galloping very fast in the fourth place at the finish, and had the race been run over a quarter longer the Fordell ;iag would have won again. Colonel Sonlt looked all to pieces, and was done with half a mile from home. Depredation was sore, but was going nicety when,lie foil. Sunbird ran creditably, finishing just behind Client. Housewife again made most of the pace, but she collapsed more suddenly than In the Cup race. Analogue ajso failed badly, though his panj fancied his chance greatly, That it takes a heap of weight t" bring together good horses and moderate ones was again exemplified in the Farewell Handicap. Tete-a-tete had 10.2, Chakwana 8.7, and Nystad 7.11. Below the trio were fair sprinters like Interlude, Veto, Tree Lucerne, Greenstreer, and Madam Klfltori. but. they might just as well have been left at home, When - -it came to racing, the three cracks scorched away from the lightweights, Nystad, and then Tete-a-tete, looked like winning, but in the end Chakwana settled the question In the ganust possible fashion, coming on the outside with a i wonderful run, and boating Tete-a-tete by a bare length, tvitl) Jfystail c|nse up. Veto was fourth. A. Reed rode the winning double. The star item was the Jackson Stakes, nnd all eyes wore übulge when Dimeter, Hymestra. Estland and Blrkcnvale paraded. Bimoter looked very well, hut , the public would have nothing by or- , mond's colt, Hymestra. Bimetcr broke the line, but at the end of li furlong tha favorite was well clear. Setting a tor- , rid pace, he had nearly three length? ; clear nt the bopd, but in the run home ! tired, and Bimeter, codling with a dazzling burst of speed, won in the Japt stride. It. was a great performance on (he part of the black horse to carry Ost I over six furlongs'in ,lmin 13 3-ssec, and [ to give Hymestra several lengths and a beating over the last two furlongs. Hymestra by no means disgraced, hut F/Stland, who finished with a rattle, did not shape sa well as ip the hands of little Clarke, who rode ]iiiji at New Plymouth. Birkenvale ran a decent rare, and is a promising sort. Lady Middleton's victory in the Ail* , tumn Handicap was, mainly owing to .1, o'Shea's_£aj)abie l'idin'g. Of course, the winning jockey never rides a bail 5 race! That's a common axiom, b\ L it . cuts no ice in the racs under noffto. AfD ter Coropet had led the field, a mel'i'y dance right to the turn, Lady Middleton, Ararat and Devotion settled down for a stirring race home. Lady Middleton's rider did not lose an Inch of ground as they came into the straight, and he '. needed every ilioh of the advantage gained. for Ararat and Devotion 4vew up s perceptibly, anil looked almost certain I- to boat the leader. O'Shea rode a desperate race, and just landed his mount a winner by half a head. The favorite. Golden Grafton, was fourth, but .sho began ,too slowly to have a winning chance. A*tor ftliil. Ppraon performed Imdly. There was very little between Moutoa Queen and Slarcngo on the opening day i.lld with an advantage of ftlbs Starengo (p'Siiofi) \vas most heavily supported in the Matarawa Handicap on Saturday Starengo slipped tiie fi.eld early, but in the run home Moutoa Quepn again proved the better, carrying her 0.5 home k in front in the creditable time of I mill 14 3-r>see. Lady Edith, Cora Ora pnu War Loan followed. 1 The "man in the street" will te|l yon 8 aII sorts of yarns about the Fardel! S Hurdle race, but if there was a joke ii I booineranged on the jokers. In otliei I words it fame undone! Kurapai, vhc 0 was in the Cu[' field on Thursday, was "i favorite, but most.of tlio w i »it foi - Marton (Traill). Kurapai and Mm-toi: II W'QiQ prominent in the turn, but goinj It along the i.ack Record ran into the load Id Harbor Light then got a bustle on, and al the turn looked like beating Hseorij. Tju litter jumped better, however, and vov by a nock. Harbor Light swerved at most of, his fences, otherwise hehnighi have reversed the pasitions thf

(vinner. Marton. was a fair third, a'nd Kurapai next. Grandson was out of place in such a field, anil his jumping would ii'.ike strong men close their optics, and breathe hard! Haupfii had shown si\ne fine pace in (lie Tnyforth Welter (81 furlongs) on Thursday, and therfr were many who 'gave the big ungainly mare a chance in the Okoia Welter (G furlongs) on Saturday. She began smarter than usual.' nnd piloted the field until well in the straight-. Heft' O'Shea brought the favorite (Roekfield) along, and it was only a case of ''collect." Crown Head beat (he rest badly. The Harrison Handicap and the Thames ilisqnali/ication have already been referral to above. Pohelie led along the lack, but Thames had mm uoing hn beat at the bottom of the straight, and appeared to win ,with a stone in hand. But a stone in t}J: saddle is worth two in the jockey's room. Following were the principle winning owners at the meeting:—W. Duncan £B3O, E. ,T. Watt, Australia, £OOO, ft. D. Greenwood £405, 11. E. Troutbeck £420, V. and E. RWdiford £225. F. S. Easton £lflo, Walsii and Quarterman £175, B. Geonom £IOO, F ,T. Lysnar £l.f>o, F. Moore £145, T. H. Lowrv £llO, Miss M. Brewer £lO5, J. E. Palmer £IOO. Winning .Toekcyf.—B. Deeley 3; C. Price, ,T. O'Shea, A. R"cd and H. Young 2 each; G. Young, lv. Copestake, A. McDonald, J. Olsen and T. Avery 1 each. The Danuovirke meeting takes place to-day and to-morrow. The following horse? are nicely weighted, and may run well during the two days:—Teka, Beltane, Parisian Diamond, Black Heart, Sweet Tipperary, Ohoreka, Sir Wallace, Multieipal and May Morn. . .