SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1919, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Aug. 20—Egmont-Wangamii Hunt Steeplechase Sept. 3.—Marlon .I.C. Spring. Sept. 4.—llangltikci Hunt Steeplechase. Sept. I(l—Dannevlrkc It.C. Spring. Sept. 11— Dannevirke Hunt Steeplechase. Sept. 13.—Fakuranga Hunt Steeplechase. % TUHP TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Eamonl-Wanganul Hunt Chili's meeting takes place on the Waverley racecourse tomorrow (Wednesday), and induing by the numerous acceptances received the gathering should be worth making the trip io attend New riymouth, Stratford. Hawcra, Patca, Waverley] Wanganui, and Bulls staliles will he represented, and a good class of horses will be seen nut at the gathering. Ten have paid up for in the Waverley Handicap, including Hushman, Tiranga, Rnbur, Starengo, Carmel Arch, and Trombone, and an Interesting face should en3ile if Hushman and Starengo go to the post Eleven figure Inn the Maiden Handicap, of which Simon and Applaud may be best at the weights. The Kakaramoa Mack Handicap has attracted n good field of sixteen, and tbey include smart sprinters like Enpari, Sea Sprite, White Hanger, Nemaline. Egmnnt Parle, Signorella, and Te Toa. If Sea Sprite, Egmont Park, and Te Toa face the barrier they should be well supported. The hunters engaged run more to quality than quantity, hut the fields should be sufficiently large to provide interesting racing. Six are engaged In the Egmnnl-Wanganui nunt Cup, but Stetson and Argn overshadow the opposition, and barring accidents Ihese tried horse*, both winners at Awapunl recently, should finish ir. the order named. The Maiden Steeplechase has filled better, nine being carded. Here again Cornelian and Argo are a class above the others, and the distance should suit the Hawera veteran. Decside should have too much pace for tits six opponents In tho Hunters' Hurdles, and may prove fitter than flrattan and half a 0 do7en others in the Bracelet When trainers were faced with the necessity t>f walking their horses to various meetings a - loud wall went up, hut now things have settled down, and the horses seem to be all the better for the change. In fact one trainer told "Moturoa" that, far from being knocked up by a 100 miles trip, his three horses arrived home in much better condition that when thev set out. All three looked fresh and well, and tho way they rushed their "tucker" was a treat to sec. It does not say much for our lonp distance performers when only half-a-dozen are considered equal to tho task of carrying more than Bst. over two miles in anwh-'ng like I respectable time, hut this Is what Mr. ,T. E. Henry's New Zealand Cup weights tell us plainly Menelaus, Kllmoon, Mascot. Rorlte's Drift Bonnie Maid, and Red Ribbon are, the six selected, and though between them thev have accounted for the New Zealard, Auckland, Dunedln, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, and Wairarapa Cups, most of them are getl'ns older and at the present time are not fit tn rank with horses like Sasanof, Warstep, Midnight Sun, and other notable Cup winners. '\ie misses such horses as Gloaming, Desert Gok;. Snsanof Afterglow, Surveyor, and Snub, but unfortunately the call of bigger stakes In Australia has accounted for our "cracks On i 'he other hand there seems no reason why Star >,-dy runka, Uncle Ned, Dusky Eve. WnrnlW Onslaught, Olendower, Tin Soldier, and Client were not entered. They arc a poor lot to % sav the very least Wilh x Menelaus engaged It was anticipated tin Mr Henry's would start his handicap with the his *nn of Martian. Menelaus won in 1117 with »■!. "» fl li>st s<,ar c ' lvrle(l sn to third place His only win In the 191819 season was in the -Wanganui Stakes (l>i mile's) ' In which ho was lucky to boat Dusky Eve at ft difference of 1) lbs. Kllmoon has youth on his side, but with R.f, he. has plenty of weight He only won once In the Dominion fast season, scoring In the Wellington Han.llcan (Hi miles), with 7.9. Subsequently he r-.ii second 'to Gloaming In the Now Zealand li'»rbv ; second to Snub In the Canterbury Cup second with 7.13 V 2 to Devotion In (he Metropolitan Handicap; second to Gloaming in the Great Northern Derby: and second with 0 0 to Adjutant In the Midsummer Handicap (IV. miles). He was unplaced in the Auck and Cun with J 9 Mascot won the Auckland Cur. with C.13, and tho Summer Cup with 84 hut since then she has only one placet; performance, second In the Wairarapa Cup with 9G. to her credit. Rorkes Drift is verv mueh. on the ancient side, and though he has won two Dunedln Cups and other big races he never showed up beyond a mile and a half Bonnie Maid came Into prominence In tho Champion Tlate, In which she finished a good third to Gloaming and Menelaus beating Client. Snub, Sasanof. and Rose Pink a I wf a She won the Wairarapa Cup with ST.' 'cutting 'out the ten furlongs In 2.5 V. and the Hawke's Bay Cup with 80, belting Star Ladv, Dusky Eve, Kllmoon and others In 2 34. She finished outside a place in the Auckland and Wanganui Cups Red Ribbon Is another of tho aged division, and after letting her party down In (he Auckland Cup won the A.BC. Handicap, I'A miles, with 7.10, and dead-heated with Rewl Toto in tho Wellington Cup, carrying 8.1. A third In the Woodvllle Cup with 9.G, and three unplaced performances followed. Taking the top-weights seriatim their prospects do not look rosy, but Bonnie Maid is the one most likely to improve, and her chances look tho best. Abovo 7st. and up to Bst, thoro are seventeen horses, and here the most dangerous ones appear to bo placed. Volo has a handy weight, 8 0, but has yet to prove himself over tho distance. Ho is in his sixth year, and may not prove as good as he (was last season. Nobleman is a good horse when well, and with a Wellington Cup and two Manawatu Cups to his credit he must be given a chance with 7.13. Vagabond won four races last season, but his limit appears to be a mile and a quarter. Nobleman should hold both Vagabond and Wardnncer safe at even weights Gay Lad so far has only won sprint events, and he Is booked for Australia, so may be left out of present calculations. Cynic has been showing winning form lately, and at Ml Is the pick of the division under notice. He seems to run kindly for A. J. McFlinn, and tho little Aucklander could get'down to within a pound or two of the weight at a pinch, l'.ose rink is tho next to stand out. She had a hard season last year, but raced consistently, and with G.IIK: was second to Sasanof in the New Zealand Cup. With 7.4 she must have a chance. Battle Song won the Napier Cup with 7.10, and is likely to have friends, theiigh the distance may find him out. Kllrush Is another that has won up to ten furlongs, as has Eleus, and tho consistent Southerner may heat both Battle Song and. Kllrush. Hctiiua looks as well as any of the three-year-olds, though Lucid is bred from a great distance marc, Lady Lucy. In this division, Cynic, Rose Pink, and Iletaua appear to read best.

Twenty-nine luivc got In under "st., and few nre liUelj- to bo worthy of more. Risinghem, Ilurry Up, and Sonino may stay, and tlie latter seems the most likely one of the trio. On the whole, the ones this scribe gives a chance to are Bonnie Maid, Cynic,, lioso rink, Hetaun, and Sonino, with a preference for Cynic. The stakes distributed at the Grand National meeting gladdened the hearts of forty-four horse-owners.. Mr. It. Aqton-Adams, for whom Lochella. won tho Grand National Steeplechase, and Oraftella the Hunt Pup, w top with £l2lO, just heading Mr. W. Garrett, whose total was £ 1205, the winnings of the veteran Sir Solo in tho Grand National and Sydenham Hurdles. Mr. C. .T. Bennett took £7Oll for G.iziquc's Winter Cup, Mr. V. Easton £SOO with Gang Awa' and Master Strnwnn, nnd Merry Lad added £450 to Mr. T. E. Whclch's banking account when he strolled home In front of Polthoguo In the Lincoln Steeplechase. Auckland scored when f.'old Kip picked up £445 for Mr. 11. S. Keeling, and Mr. .Tas. Bull, though ho did not win u race, took place money to the value of £43s—a poor return lor the loss of a horse like Master Lupin. I'orm Up's efforts pul Ml'. 11. W. Brown up £:S!i(l, whlcit was not much for a brace of wins in open company at. sueli an important meeting. The C.I.C. evidently expects to catch flat racers with a well-endowed Winter Cup, but the other stakes are nothing lo write homo about.

"BUI" Slattery tool; £MO for Parana's two seconds, and with.a shade n( luck should I have scooped up considerably more. Lionskln opened Sir Ocorße Clifford's winning Recount with £2RO, and Sipiaiurc rewarded Mr. C. Walker with £23o—the result, of a second and two thirds Ilebekah and Imarlbhon won £240 for Mr. .1. ,1. t'orry. Master Mouton £230 for Mr. H. Raynnr, and 3b.uawapanea £22 a for Mr. .1. S. Barrett. Mr p. .1. Hushes' share of the spoil was £l2O It is amuslnc to hear tiie different, pronunciations of the Winter Cup winner's name. Ciaziquo. The host to date is (Jaz-or-nuay. Previous winners of the race. Osliak and Penates, were ■often referred to as Oat-stick and Peanuts I Jockster .7. Hearty was the most successful horseman at the (irand National meeting, scoring fivo wins, three seconds, and two thirds Incidentally he won three junnihiß races "In concussion" —a most unusual performance ,1. Tapp steered two firsts and a second, H. t,orrlKim two firsts and a third, and S Itcid two firsts 11. dray did no jood on the first two days, and did not wait for the last spasm. Mention of Horton reminds ine that. this popular rider is to lie ronsratulatetl on joining the ranks or the benedicts on Wednesday last. As the newly wedded pair left the church, Iholv car bore the made lcccurt, "The winninK double," while the car bearing the bridesmaids were labelled. "The runners" up" Sports will have their little Jokes! The other day some follow with a lililnj Tor flftures published tha . Information that Mr. .Tas. Hull's horses hud Jumped ovor 300 fences In rnces without n mishap. When M?f>ng start* to "sklte" something Is cettaiu

to happen. Muster Lunin. nrolinldv the I>i>s( of Jlr. Hull's string, broke .1 log in the Lincoln Steeplechase, though lit? tliil not full, oertuinly. In fact, one spectator assures me that tlio game old battler actually Rot over two obstacles on three. lets only, and was then pulica up. Master Lupin won ;i Wauganui Cud and a Great Northern Steeplechase, and with ordinary hick would have gone on winning for a season or two.