SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1919, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.")

"Moturoa" heartily reciprocates the good Wishes of sporting friends for a joyous Christmas and success at. the holiday meetings. Tho Taranaki Jockey Club's Christmas meeting promises splendid sport on Friday and Saturday. Fields will bo good all round, and racing should be first-class. There seems to bo no reason to get away from first-glance fancies, and Depredation, Esthonla, Sweet Memory, Egmont Park, Khartoum, Te Toa, Kareao, Simon and Passin' Through should all show up brightly at the meeting. The Auckland Cup has closed with a final pigment of fifteen, and there is not a bad one in the crowd. Karo, Dusky Eve, Vagabond, Snub, Battle Song, and Affectation all have friendE, and the result is admittedly very open. Vagabond, Battle Song, and Dusky Eve appear to be the fittest, but Uncle Ned may run a much better race than his position In the betting suggests.

Fifteen remain in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, and of these Silver Link, King Lupin, Hymiestra, and Murlhlku, may be the hardest to beat". With anything tike a good run the lop-weight should be handy at the finish. .Multive and Sonnlno may prove the fittest of the hurdlers likely to be seen out at

the AR C. summer meeting. Rose Wreath, Wake, Oak Abbey, and King Abbey may show Up in tho minor events. The classics appear to lie between Gloaming, Humbug, Moorfowl, Rossini, and Crenides. Humbug should give Moorfowl all she wants in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, and Crenides may prove equa! to beating Rossini in the Great Northern Derby. Gloaming should go through without defeat. The Manawatu R.C. Summer meeting will attract big fields and big attendances on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Some very heavy wagering has been done over the double, and the Imported Airowsmith has been coupled with everything in the Cup. At present no money la available with Kilrush, while ridiculously short prices are quoted with Punka, Crenides, First Salute, and Dribble. Crenides, Demos, and First Salute have recent fonra to recoip* mend them, and Acre, Jutland, and Admyra may all keep Arrofvsmlth busy in the short rsce.

Gang Awa' looks liko adding to his winning record over hurdles at Awapuni, and Statuette, Nursing Sister, Parorangl, Tesßaress, All Cerise, Arch Salute, and Festival may run prominently in the minor handicaps. Winners at Woodville have incurred the

following penalties at Manawatu: Hurdles, Zeus (101b) 10.13; Gillies Hack Handicap, Matty (101b.) 0.1, Parorangl (101b), 8.11, Iteparoa (101b), 7.5; Manawatu Cup, Crenldes (71b), B.G; Tararua Hack Welter, Some Girl (101b) 8.6; Fltzherbert Handicap, Arrowsmith (101b), 7.7; Grandstand Handicap, Goldsbthe (101b), 8.1. Hallo well (Hallowmas—Kill), and Turplnite

are going to Awapuni, but Wapplng will not make the trip. The first named Is a nicely turned colt, but has not sported silk yet. and I may be better in the autumn. Mr. W, Jewtll, of Marotlrl, will act as deputy stipendiary steward at tho Taranakl Christmas and Stratford New Year meetings. Mastiff lias gone wrong, and Is an unlikely starter at the holiday meetings. Acre looks ai'l the better for bis racing at FeHdlng, fin/1 r.hould bo worth following at Awapuni during the holidays. His Eminence got into the limelight the other day, not as a racehorse, but as the prad that was alleged to have been used to carry

a stolen pig! Such Is fame. Snub's work has not been very brilliant of late, but he is not a good track horse, and

generally shapes much better with the colors

If Gray rides Vagabond In the Auckland Cup he should start as good a favorite as Karo. Vagabond won the New Zealand Cup very easily with 7.13, and 8.10 may not trouble him at Eilerslie.