SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1921, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES,

July 16—Wellington R.C. Winter. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 28, 30—Gisborne R.C. Winter. TURF TOPICS, (By "Moturoa.”) Concluding day at Trentham. Grand National weights on Monday. CCoalltion will be hot stuff lu the Wellington Steeples. Winners we're hard to pick on Wednesday and look little better to-day.

The track at Trentham on the opening day was a bog, and badly beat the top weights. Dick was unlucky to lose the Vittoria Hurdles, apd may make amends to-day.

For a change Alteration run up to hi» track foruu, and the Winter Hurdles was a jog for him.

Kareao ran a decent race in the Parliamentary Handicap, finishing fourth. Probably a mile would suit better.

Grotesque, by Absurd—Bronze, was a very hot order in the Trial Plate, and was the only favorite to score on Wednesday. Projector accompanied Mattock to Tren. tham, and has only to reproduce his Marton form to show up in the Kia Ora Handicap to-day.

Hawke s Bay horses had a great innings at Trentham on Wednesday, but Taranaki supplied two winners—Alteration and Silent Dick —both of which returned good prices. For a green horse Yankee Jack ran a good race in the Hack Steeples, and should strip better to-day, when he will be meeting Silent Dick on 151 b, and John Bunny on 61b better terms.

The Steeplechasers' Flat Handicap was run at a wretched pace, but Coalition never looked like getting beaten. Mattock pulled too hard in tie first mile to have any show.

Both on the course and away from It Omahu was heavily backed on Wednesday, but Coalition easily stalled him off In the straight, and backers of the Marton horse had to be content with a very small second dividend. Paddington Green was one of the best backed in the Hack Steeples at Trentham, and was going so well when he fell that his supporters were only wondering what would ba second. “Pad'ntbn” is a prad that might win a National,

Hyttus owed his Vittoria Hurdles victory to Alan McDonald’s superior horsemanship. A mile from home McDonald slipped the Held, and though the Hymettus gelding was stopping at the finish, he lasted long enough to win by a Lead. Hyglnas went well for about two miles in the Winter Hurdles, and should be better suited by the shorter distance in the Final Hurdles. The quartette that finished in front of him were all In receipt of chunks of weight. Despite their big weights and the holding nature of the track. Strategy and Molyheaux l disputed every inch of the Parlicmantarf Handicap, and it was only in the final stages 1 that they succumbed to the light weights. Arch Salute and Miss Muriel. StrategyJ should be in the picture again to-day. Mr. Eric Riddiford, owner of Coalition, cn-. deavored to buy Sea De'il after the Winter Hurdle/ Race. What a Hao National double he would have if the deal comes off I

Master Sfrowan holds the weight-carrying record, 12st. 51b. In the Wellington Steeples, and Plain Bill was the only otter horse tv win with 12st or over. Coalition is asked to carry 12st. 111 b to-day, but public opinion is that, weight cannot stop him. First Line won the Wellington Steeples last year with 10.8, and has 81bs onoro to carry this time. Unfortunately, the Foxton horse’s training has been interrupted, and he is hardly as fit as when ho won.

Another previous winner engaged to-day is Master Strowan, who 13 le.t off with 61bs leas than when he led the field home In 1018. Master Strowan Is said to have berne a well trained appearance when produced in the Steeplechasers' Flat Race on Wednesday, and he 'should beat more than beat him in the cross country event.

Alteration's splendid schooling exhibitions at Trentham prior to tire meeting should have earned him more support than it did in the Winter Hurdle Race, in which he was allowed to pay a good two-figure dividend. If my memory serves me right this is the first time his number has been hoisted since he deadheated with Blue Cross in tte Avondale Cup of 1919. Although in his seventh year. Alteration is a remarkably well preserved horse, and his owner-trainer, Mr. J. George, deserves credit fot his perseverance with tho handsome son of Elevation.

Sydney papers to hand give particulars of Insurrection's defeat at Warwick Farm, where he afterwards won a race, as cabled. In the former race there were five runners and all finished in a bunch. Insurrection was beaten by half a head, with two horses a dead-heat a head further back, and the last horse a neck away, half a length only from the winner. According to tho report of the race Insurrection was travelling fastest at the finish, so that his subsequent win would be confidently anticipated. Messrs. Dwan Bros, appear to have a useful pair in Rose of Athens (Demosthenes— Ruse Shield) and Lord Desmond (Demosthenes—Northern Rose). Each filled the role of runner-up in its respective engagement on Wednesday, being beaten by good, well-seas-oned sprinters. The pair should do big things next season. At Albion Park (Aus.) tho other day Nod, by Cooltrim—Drowsy won the. Plate. The winner’s full sister. Punka, is well known in New Zealand,- but unfortunately her promising career was cut short by an accident at Wanganui, a ligament being cut almost through. The death Is announced in Napier of Meltchikoff, who had to be destroyed as the result of a recent accident. Meltchlkoff was an aged bay gelding by Menschikotf—Lady Melton, and won the Vittoria Hurdles at Trentham just twelve months ago. At Belmont Park (Perth) the other day ft big bookmaker got the fright of his life. He laid £lOOO to £1 that nobody could pick the winners of four selected events. One of his clients picked three, and Rosy Red, the selection for the fourth, went out a screaming hot favorite, but after leading 'to within a few yards of the post, was beaten by a neck. It is not recorded how many pints of perspiration the Bar Von lost during the running ot the final event. ' Mention of £lOOO to £1 bets reminds the writer of his share in a treble wagqf of the same amount. Two "legs” connected, and my odds stood £2so' to 5s about Wairiki for the third—the New Zealand Cup ot 1903. Wairiki was one of the prime fancies for the event, and the layer of the treble bought me out for £4O on the morning of the race. How Wairiki was bumped on to tho rails when making his run, and eventually finished n close third to Canteen and Achillas is well known. Under the circumstances the writer was lucky to "cry off," for £4O in the hand proved belter than £250 in the busrfl