SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Jan. 2(1, 2S—Takapuna J.C. Summer. lan. :;i—Pahiatiia R.C. Annua]. t'Yb. 2—Canterbury J.C. Summer. Eeb. li, 7—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Fob. la, 14— Egmout !!.('. Summer. Feb. 27 Daimevirke Summer. C.J.C. HANDICAPS j Christctiurcli, Jan 24 The handicaps of the C.j.C. summer meeting are .as follows: HORNBYJV-ELTER— Asc-alaphus Euripos 9.11, Kin§ Star 9.5, Jeannol> '.iM, lied Book 9.2, Belair 8.13, San Sebastian 8.9, Merton S.B, Kilrnsli 8.5, Redowa 5.4, Aehillcdes 8.3, Kimbolton 8.1, Majcstiuoif Henriette 8.0. MIDSUMMER HANDlCAP.—Adjutant ,9.9, Margerine 0.0, Municipal S..">, Ascualphas 5.2, Rose Pink S.O, Wardancer 7.13, Red Book 7.12, Thames Sjuuiglt 7-i, Harlequin G. 7. LYTTELTON PLATE.-Torfreda 5.2, Sir Fanciful, Indus I.ionskin 7.13, Starlike, Scornful, Counterscarp 7.7, Canamana 7.5, Loclcweir 7,1, Preface 0.12. CRAVEN PLATE.—Margcrir.c 0.3, Brimbletye 8.13, Comely. Winter Cherry 8.10, fiameeoek 8.8, Daytime 8.7. Disdainful 8.1, Euripos S.O, Retail- 7.10, Battle Eve '7.9, Merton 7.5. Tvne (1.7 HALSWELL HANDICAP. - Thames 9.0, Partisan 8.7, Golden Prince 5.2, Kimbolton Lufl' 8.1, Ma'jestikofl' 7.13. Poionius 7.12, Henriette 7,11, Ari':ia 7 8, Erroneous 7.7, Carol Singer. Gccural Petp.in, •Spvglass. Ave Readv 7.0. POST HANDICAP.—Winter Cherry 9.1, Comely fl.O, Gamecock 8,11. Daytime S 10, Multicipal S.B. Rosepink 5.4, Kingstar, Wardanccr 8.0, .(cannot 7.11, Sultterfnge 7.9, Spangle 7.7. 'Partisan <*.!, Thcstius 7.0, Kilrtish f1.12, Redowa li.ll, Aehillcdes (J.lO, Marsinali C.7. C.J.C. MEETING. Cliristehurch, Last Night. Adjutant, lirambletye and Gamecock have been scratched for all engagements at the Canterbury Jockey Club summer meeting at 4 p.m. to-day. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa") The Takapuna summer meeting opens :o-day and concludes on Monday. Acceptances for to-day's events are very numerous, and amongst the lot paid up for arc the X:.'\v Plymouth-trained horses Polthoguc. Silver Link, and White Rlazo. Tliis trio is likely to be well hacked, not being overweighted and being in good iettio. The Takapuna Cup, H miles, be&rs a very open appearance. The distance may trouble the majority of those carded, but Colonel Soult, Cynic, and Mulliitgar are likely to see the journey right out. Gluepot is n much-discussed candidate in the Orcwa Hurdles, while Ditto is the Auckland elect in the Maiden. Local sports will be on Polthogue, and should get a good run for their money. Mangamahoe has 9.4 in the Trial, but should be able to carrv that burden. Nothing hut Shining Light, Hincnmaru. and Spanner will go down with northerners for the Calliope Handicap, but manv good judges are picking the locally trained Silvpr Link to keep them all busy. Tf Loi'd Kcnilworth was reserved for the Stewards' Handicap he would most likely start a firm favorite. In his absence Fabriquette and Hopfield should be well supported. While Blaze is nicely treated in the Zealandia Handicap, run over seven furlongs, a distance that should suit the grey better than the Cup race. Cardrona, if fit, should also run well with 8.1. No less than 28 figure in the Ferry Handicap, a wretched five furlongs scramble which caters for a ugeless class of horse. Possibly All Talk and White Sox may not be quite as bad as their opponents. The numerous entries received for the Egmont Racing Club's summer meeting assure Taranaki sportsmen of some excellent racing on February 13 and 14, besides serving to show the popularity of the club. A splendid class of horse is engaged, and the presence of such good ones as Estland. Flnmark, Demos. ISirkcmale, Cherry Mart. Xystad, Koesian, N'obleman. Chortle, Toaterc etc.. should prove a great ''draw." Weights are not due until the conclusion of the Taranaki autumn meeting. Nobleman's Wellington Cup victory appears to have been a very soft affair, but the fact that Multiply broke down during the running of the race removed one very dangerous opponent. Commencing with Waverlev. the Nobleman crowd haw been invincible—and they knowhow to bet, too! Paddingtmr Green showed greatly improved form (judging by Stratford) at Irentham, but he was not quite good enough, and had to put up with second berth each day. In the Douro Cup lie was labelled "can't lose," and he only got licked by enough for tlu> judyn to swear to Nairn's remarkable reversal of form has been the subject of much comment, and possibly more will be heard about it. She was never in 'netter nick than at Trentliam; in fact, she beat Croesus over four furlongs one morning. She died away to nothing -on the first c'-iy, but gave a new jockey (Harold Young) (lie easiest ride lie ever had on the concluding day. There is always a lot of chatter after an apparent reversal of form, lint, the public could not have iwigged much on Saturday if they let such a tine priei- oi l^iesdi? Visiting trainers and horses are already rolling up for the Taranaki .T.C. autumn meeting. R. O'Donnell arrived on Thursday with Koesian, Wishful, and Ron il'Or, and D. King brought up Mattv and another. R. O'Donnell broke tlic journey at Wnnganni and motored out to Bushy Park and Koatanui, where lie has several brood mares and youngsters, After Rose Pink's splendid form on the Coast she ivas allowed to pay a false price in the Foxton Cup. Trials and Rude carried the bulk of the money, but had 110 show with the winner, who led all the way. Waiinatao had an couallv easy victory in the Anniversary Handicap, winning from end to end, and paying a very fair dividend. Revocation was amongst the runners, but shaped badly and finished a long way back. I .ad v Amai. after a long spell of "outs.' got her name amongst the winners in the Hack Hurdles at Foxton. She took charge a mile from home, and came in on her own. Sensitive lost his rider at. the first fence, and Mairua turned turtle in front of the stand. Cello was ridden a very poor race In the Himitangi Handicap, and should have been in and dried. First. Line managed t.o win the Maiden on Tuesday, but there was little merit in the victory. All of the crowd opposed to the Advance gelding were as rough as sandpaper. Coolpan paid a Desert Gold price at Foxton. but lie had to lie shaken up to win. Thoso who backed him down to

such short odds got (lie shock of their live*. Desert Gold's defeat at Trent limn was td l>'- expected. Hrilliant as she is, she could not. lie expected to "tin all distances and bent all coiners. At Kllerslie she was asked to run out twelve I'urlonss, and lately she lias been trained for such distances. Her brilliancy over ' freak - ' distances is bound to be marred. Thi! best horse the Dominion ever saw [could not do the things I)es?rt Gold is asked to do. Mr. ,f. L. Ileiirvs has been appointed iiandicapper to the Poverty Bay Turf Club. Mr. H. Covlc's weights for the Taranaki meeting are not to hand at the time of writing, lint their appearance will liven matters up locally. Acceptances for the first day are due on Friday next. The new racing track at Takapuna is now =aid to he in excellent raping condition The repent, rain* have benefited it considerably, and the grass t ias come on splendidly. , There should be some fast times recorded there to-day.