SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1921, Page 3

SPORTING.

MELBOURNE SCRATCHINGS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 18, 9.55 p.m. Melbourne, Oct. 18. The scratching of Saiitros, Green stead and Brank for all Flemington engagements, and Violoncello for the Cantala Stakes is announc-ed-—AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CHRISTCHURCH SCRATCHINGS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Listening Post was scratched at 9 a.m. today for all engagements at the C.J.C. meeting. He tas broken down. The Hawk was scratched for the New Zealand Cup at 10.25 a.m. Author Dillon was scratched at 3 p.m. for all engagements at the New Zealand Trotting Club’s uneeting. WAIPAWA ACCEPTANCES. Walpawa, Oct. 18. Following are the acceptances for the Waipawa Labor Day races:— JUMPERS’ FLAT.— Powder King 11.6, Raffle 10.5, Tatiroi 10.5, Signorella 10.1, Royal Gift 9.10, Mannikin 9.3, Ghori 9.0, Taihape 9.0. WAIPAWA COUNTY HANDICAP.—Ben Bolt 9.0. Tari 8.13, Woden 7.13, Hepta 7.13, Antler 7.9, Black Art 7.7, Arion 7.0, Crown Gem 7.0. WELTER HACK.—Black Art 9.4, Convention 9.1. Mokattam 8.9, Powder King 8.8, Gate Pah 8.1. Waraba 7.13, Morzonia 7.13, Finisterre 7.13, Suspicion 7.7, Tahumata 7.7, Invitation 7.7, Kail 7.7, Pera 7.7. ELECTRIC HANDICAP.—Lady Wolawa 8.8, Larkspur 8.4, Wamba 8.4, Mountain Peer 7.8, Wbarlti 7.5, Megan 7.3. EPSOM HANDICAP.—AntIer 11.13, Raffle 11.10, Signorella 11.6, Arion 11.3, Royal Gift) 111, Mannikin 10.10, Revelry 10.7, Anguish j 10.7, Ghori 10.7, Kumeroa 10.7, Taihape 10.7. RAILWAY HANDICAP.—Tari 9.3, Hyginas 8.10, Woden 8.3, Hepta 8.3, Lady Wolawa 7.3, Crown Gem 6.12. HACK FLYING.—Gate Pah 8.5, Larkspur 8.3, Wamba 8.3, Morzonia 7.12, Finisterre 7.11, Kilwana 7.7, Whariti 7.4, Marcus 7.4, Ctatbam 7.4, Suspicion 7.3, Forenby gelding 7.3. Mystico 7.3, Queen’s Ferry 7.3, Kail 7.3, Fera 7.3. MAIDEN HANDICAP.—Mystico, Tahumata, Huriawaka, Kilwana, Actor, Marquis, Mountain Peer. Chatham, Dark Star, Formby—Civilisation gelding, Boniform—Morganatic filly, Whareto, Queen’s Ferry, Slave Mart, Megan. TJ.C. DISTRICT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club District Committee was held last night. ’ Present: Messrs. L. A. Nolan (chairman), J. McLeod, G. Fraser, A. Alexander, S. Pitt, J. Gray, D. J. Malone, B. H. Chaney. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. A. E. Washer and A. Good. The Stratford Racing Club's programme for their Christmas meeting was approved. Jockeys’ licenses were granted to R. T. Eagar and C. Mason; a trainer’s license to W. A. West; and an apprentice jockey's license to A. Rutherford. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa”.) The next excitement in the sporting world is the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meet- , ing, which opens on Saturday. Acceptances ' for the first day are very large, and most of the best horses in the Dominion are included. Unfortunately weather conditions this week - have been of the very worst, and the track is likely to be heavy at Trenthara for the , meeting. . ‘

Sixteen have been paid up for in the Wellington Handicap, including Sasanof and other good horses. Sasanof has a big weight (9.13), but he is quite capable of carrying it with distinction, and should hold most of the topweights safe, though Rouen may be troublesome. Admiral Codrington and the consistent Printemps read well, and those who saw Esperance run at Masterton pick her out to win a heat shortly. On paper her chances look as bright as any.

The Shorts Handicap has attracted twenty, including Amythas, Silver Link, Listowel. The Hawk and other top-notchers. Amythas, If

started, is sure to be strongly supported, his Wanganui, running suggesting that /10.6 may not trouble him greatly. Silver Link will probably be in need of a gallop, but Listowel is very forward. The Hawk and Mustard Pot are not over-weighted, and the former will have most friends. Whatever beats Amythas and The Hawk will have to scamper pretty fast. A disappointing response has been made by owners of Wellesley Stakes candidates, and the race looks to be a soft, snap for Epitaph. April Polly, another of the Absurd clan, won easily enough at Masterton on Saturday, but has not shown the pace of Humbrag’s sister. Bumptious and Prosperity are nicely treated In the Taita Handicap, and Dainty Step, Bonnetter and Tinihanga will all have backers in the Wainui Handicap. Stylish Lady, Taipairu and Militaire should strip as fit as anything in the Rimutaka Handicap, and it la hard to go past Celmisia and Still Sea in the October Handicap. On the whole the winners appear to be well concealed, and If the weather clears up there should be some fine racing at Trentharn on Saturday and Monday. Visitors to Waverley on Monday will be surprised at the improvements effected on the local course since the last meeting held ttiere—two years ago. The splendid big ferro-concrete grandstand is now completed, and should accommodate the crowds for many years. The running track, which has been levelled, graded and otherwise improved, is perfectly set, and should ensure safe racing. The WaverleyWaltotara Racing Club is to be congratulated on its enterprise, and, given fine weather, Monday’s meeting should be the best yet. Racing conditions at Masterton last week were particularly unhappy. The course was slushy, slippery and dangerous, and in consequence several owners refrained from starting their horses there. On Saturday the weather was abominable, and this probably accounted for the totalisator figures registering some £9OOO less than last year. Some promisirfg horses were produced at the meeting, and fine dividends returned, but It would not be safe to take last week’s running as an infallible guide to future winners. Printemps again ran well, recording a first and a second. He paid a remarkably fine price on the first day, but had no earthly show of giving Kilgour 161bs over a mile and a quarter on Saturday. Kipling was strongly supported by bis party each day at Masterton, but could only register a second and a third. He may do better on a hard course. 0

Bonnetter, who had not won a race since last March, managed to struggle home in front of Bitters and Prince Martian in the Masterton Cup, but there was not a great deal of merit in her performance. Last year she finished third In this race.

Munus was backed as if the Maiden was all over on Saturday, but was decisively beaten by Ania, who returned a handsome dividend. The winner is a filly by Solferino—Anita, and is prepared by C. Pritchard at Trentham. A good sort of a filly, April Folly, by Absurd —Martian Princess, won the Cave Plate on the first day. She is owned by Dr. H. Gilmer, of Wellington, and should prove a good winner this season.

A false price was returned by Passenger in the Spring Handicap on Saturday. The Formby gelding begins slowly, but he came from last to fourth in a seven-furlong race on Friday, and tiie extra distance was all in his favor on the concluding day. How he came to pay a double limit dividend is one of the many puzzles of the turf. Gold Problem looked like coming in on his own in the Hurdles at Masterton on Saturday, but a faulty jump unseated his rider, and Kyoto, Kipling and Toddy were left to fill the places. Gold Problem appeared to be going so well three furlongs from home that his backers were edging towards the pay-out windows on the tote. The Final Handicap was responsible for two big dividends. The wiaaar, Bed Beb (AU Bad

Miss Bobbie) paid over the limit, while the runner-up, Merry Day (Merry Moment—Labor Day) was paying nearly three-quarters of a century to win.

Casualties at Masterton amongst the jockeys were: H. Burt, a fractured shoulder; J. Kaan, severe bruises. Strange to say, there was no medical man in attendance when seven horsemen were spreadeagled in the hurdle rae’e on the opening day. This is the sort of thing one meets with in prohibition districts. Did I say prohibition”? Gee! The place was swimming in booze!

The C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap weights appeared on Monday, and will take some sorting out At first glance Silver Link, Solfanello, Rational, Inah and Callaghan are striking, and such a race might not be beyond the powers of a speedy customer like Rational, although he has got his full share—B.l3.

The Dunedin Guineas has only- been in existT® years: yet in that Sir George Clifford has won the race five times. Winning Hits victory on Saturday was the fourth in succession to the credit of the Canterbury sportsman, Long Range, Royal Stag and Winter Wind having won the three previous events. Pluto, runner-up to Winning Hit in the Dunedin Guineas, is a chestnut colt bj’ Sutala— Procrastinate. Last season he started eight times but failed to win a race, though he ran three seconds and once third. He is said to have built up Into a nice three-year-old, and may be heard of at the Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan meeting.

Matters in connection with the New Zealand Cup are rather dull. Maioha continues to improve with the heap of racing he is getting, but Vagabond has lost friends by his displays. The Hawk promises to run a distance this season, and Pente is reported to be training on nicely. Bonnie Maid has gone back, but good lightweights like Admiral CodringJ >rinc e Martian, Pluto, Esperance and The Speaker are gaining friends. The Issue is still very open.