SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The acceptances received 011 Monday evening for the first day of the W'aiiganui Jockey._Cliilvs v,-inter meeting are good all round, and .practically every worse of any class entered has been paid Up for. In spite of rumors to the contrary, Braeburn has boon brought across tor the Wanganui Steeplechase. which he won with Hist. last year. He subsequently won the fiisborne Steeples .(;! miles) under 11.3, .beat Fagot by a length; and the 'Napier Steeples (,'i miles) with 11.3, beating Merry Lad, Captain Mackay, Naupata, Glenmore] and others. His form at Haslings shows him to be in good nick, and he must have a great chance. Styrax has 11.2, and reads badly in comparison 'with such proved fencers as Braeburn, Fagot;' and Gluepot. Arlington is a bold fencer and baß pace, but has to be taken 011 trust for a long journey. Jaclrinan and Marton appear to have seen their best days, but the evergreen Nita raced well 'at Hawera, and has been jumping in great style at Wanganui. Camp (guard's showing over the fences has not been inspiring, and I have not seen St. Elmn or Imposter jumped yet. Popular opinion is that Braeburn will start a firm favorite, with Nita and (Uuepot next in demand. A field of eleven is very satisfactory. A dozen remain in the Century Hurdles (•2'4 milesj, but of these Tatinii and St. Elmn have other engagements. Kurapai and Leonta fill the roll of honor with 10.10, at which weight the Wanganui horse appears "best treated. Bon Keve. 10.7, is the big boom, but the race is by no means a certainty for him, though he may run well. Record, 10.G, is likely to render a good account of himself, unless he bleedi, as 011 the first day of tho Wanganui autumn meeting. He is very fit. Luperino has a whole army of Auckland backers, hut 'will have to ims'ove on Awapuni form to have a chanco. Of the light-weights Tatimi reads as well as anything, and I believe he will be reserved for this event. Mahzoltof has lost admirers, but Golden March and Sir 'Fisher are coming into favor. Possibly Bon Keve and Leonta will share favoritism, and the latter (and Record) will run great races. ■Barring Rewipoto the "heavies" have dropped out of the Connollv Handicap, but the thirteen holding their ground should provide an interesting race. Rewipoto will liavo to strip at his best to have a chance of giving away 271b to Hendra, 321b to Antwerp, 331b to Gang Awa', and 431b to Detroit. If a good boy could be secured for the latter the race might be easily picked, but local opinion seems to favor Gang Awa', who is very well just now. Antwerp is also leniently treated, and on Palnierston form cannot bo left out of it. A splendid field of eighteen figures in the. Borough Handicap (fi furlongs). Chakwana and Miaeara Iwth have 8.0, at which the former looks to have a big advantage, though Wanganui may be guaranteed to go solidly for the Fordell mare. Play OH', Stareiigo, and Revocation have also performed well, lately, but none of the light-weights flatter' much. Whatever beats Cliakwana and Starengo .will have to "shako a leg."

A dozen hack 'chasers include Czaromis and Merry Jack; and nineteen hack hurdlers include' Tatimi, Calais, and Otter. Fifteen remain in the Puma Hack race (B'/ s furlongs), and of these Rylstono and Henry Clay may stay the trip out as well as any. Splendidus is a splendid jumper, but Montana shapes as if he never saw n fence before. The Waif, who figure's in the Hack Steeples, once pulled a butcher's cart; round the streets of Wanganui. Calais has been .jumping well since arriving at Wanganui. and Postillion (who will start on Saturday) has also shown improved form. V Chakwana is sprinting in her old style. . 'flay Off will have to lie lucky at the barrier to-morrow to -keep near Interlude, Chakwana, and Starengo over the early stages of the Borough Handicap. Grey Guard gets over the tall umuer in fair style, and may run well at tjrt meeting. '